I'm on a mission

I started cooking (which means more than being able to make an omlette) sometime in 2008 (anything before that was too amateur to consider). Although there was purpose, there was no passion. And though I have never made anything too salty or too spicy (it has always been just right), there was a lack of character to my dishes. There was no exploration. It started and ended with something quickly made to ease the appetite.

Things have changed since my son started eating solid food. What they say is true, being a mom does transform you. A mother cooks with love, and love brings passion. My cooking has matured since the newbie attempts of 2008. Now I explore, and the intention is to provide home-made, healthy, balanced and nutritous meals to my son and myself. A mission always brings out the best in me.

I have two cooking teachers right now - my mom, and the internet. And my newest mission is this - I really like one cooking channel available on the internet (she shows authentic south indian and other recipes and I'm a big fan of south indian food). There are 140 recipes available on it right now. My mission is to cook each recipe available on the channel. That's it, cook all of them. I'm not following any particluar order. And I don't cook something from here all the time. It just depends on the availability of the ingredients, time or what I feel like cooking or eating that day. And though I may already know how to cook a lot of these dishes already, trying it a different way is always fun. Each recipe is wholesome, challenging enough, and seriously flavorful. Everything I have made yet from this channel has been a very satisfying meal. Then again, it may just be because I am partial to the South Indian style of cooking :) The beauty of cooking is, you can make the same thing a thousand different ways. There are no rights or wrongs, and whatever way you choose, becomes your distinctive style.

When I am writing this, the following recipes are done from the channel (successfully!) -

Sooji Toast
Semiya Upma
Shahi Paneer
Beans (South India style)
Dal Tadka
Daddojanam (South India style curd rice - my son LOVES this!)
Masala Corn
Vegetable Pulav
Mushroom Rice
Green Chutney
Chana Masala
Rava Dosa

Not much, but a good start. A goal keeps me interested, and keeps cooking from becoming just a chore. I obviously don't follow any recipe a 100%, there's always a little me in everything I cook. Luckily, my son loves what I cook for him (most times, atleast). Which is really what it's all about, actually.

And this evening I'm baking him a chocolate cake - a popular favorite of both mother and son :) This from a woman who as a child never once got into the kitchen to watch her mom cook!