What’s your favorite thing to cook?
The presence of water had caused a flood. There was movement on the surface as the water moved around. What was beneath it could be seen partially apart from what emerged above its surface. It was a mess; I could only feel helpless at the disaster that had presented itself. That was my first experience of making instant noodles and also my first of cooking anything in life.
I have come a long way now and now the instant noodles don’t turn out to be as much of a disaster as they used to be. However, they are not my favourite thing to cook and rather I have reduced eating them.
I have done a limited amount of cooking and it was only after marriage that I took interest in it. I can prepare a very limited number of dishes; a subtle way to say maybe I can cook 2 or 3 things. My wife is also in a similar situation, but together it is 5-6 things, so I guess we might be set for life.
My mother is a good cook and I don’t think I can put in numbers everything she can cook. My late grandmothers, both maternal and paternal, I would say were the best cooks in the family, they could cook dishes from all across the nation. Sometimes I wonder what would I do the day the warmth of a home cooked meal by an elder would leave my life.
So, my favourite food to cook has been through a lot, after all it has been on its journey, first eating it cooked by someone else, then moving away from it during the teenage fast-food years, and then came instant food along with heat and eat food items. Eventually many of us become conscious of health and also of our finances and those not addicted to the previous stages of food, come back home to the food they once enjoyed before moving away.
My favourite thing to cook is omelette. It may seem quite simple, but I took my time to learn to make it something someone will not dislike. It can be made quickly, it’s fulfilling, it tastes great, it can be paired with lots of things and thoughts and it is one of those things I guess I will be cooking till I can possibly cook anything.
Written by Anuran Chatterji
Early Morning Memories 