I have found out to my surprise that I do not like to eat out, at least on my own. Though there are many nice restaurants within 500 metres from the flat, as I visualise them, none seems appetizing (a pun!). So the only option is to cook. As I dont know how to cook in limited quantity (Baiju also has the same problem), I end up cooking for a week. So every weekend, the haunting question is what to cook?
Last night I had gone walking very late at night and it was past midnight when I reached back. Luckily being Ramadan, the grocery shop was open. After roaming around finally bought Chicken, Liver, Cabbage, shallots and okra.
But first for breakfast. Uma had taught me over phone last week how to make Upuma. It came out fantastic except that I had forgotten to put salt in the water and had to sprinkle later. So today I again decided to go for it and again it was great except that I had put a bit more salt than required, as if I was putting in some curry.
The Cabbage thoran, I got instant instructions over phone (I woke her up as she was taking an afternoon nap - she is patient with me.. sometimes...). But I think I put in too much coconut...
For Sambar, I used the shallots and okra. It has come out tasy. In fact all the dishes did. One thing I can do is admire my own cooking and enjoy it too..
All in a days work.. I think I take too long cooking. It was 3:30 pm (started at 11) by the time I had finished. Have to learn how to be quicker. Problem is my inability to multitask and getting all the vegetables cut, all the condiments lined up etc. takes up time.
That was enough food for thought, I hope.
This is my first attempt at blogging. I hope over time to move on from the mundane to the less mundane...
Hahaha! this is a fun blog! why dont U get together with UR younger bro and experiment new recipes.... :)
ReplyDeleteLeave the younger brother out of it. I am on my own existential journey exploring the subtleties of Sri Lankan cuisine.
ReplyDeleteRaju, I am all for productivity. That means sacrificing some freshness. Do not know what is available there. Here I use prefried onions for gravy. Frozen cut onions & vegs for stirfries. No salt added diced tomatoes in a can. You can puree them or use them as is depending on the dish. Dice onions, peppers and Tomatoes in bulk a week for omletes & raitas. The Progressive vidalia wizard dices an onion in a seconds. I use them for peppers & tomatoes. Tomatoes have to be sliced for it to dice. I use Shaan brand pre mixed masalas. They are really good at what they do. We can talk more if u r interested.
ReplyDelete