How Lucky Foodie I am!

 

I am a serious foodie. I love food, both eating and cooking. I feel a human is really blessed if he or she can cook. And a human is double blessed, if he or she is surrounded by people who are best in cooking. I am one such double-blessed guy! From my grandma, mom, sister, wife, aunts, friends... everyone are best cook.
My grandma Ammani Ammal, who now became old enough and she can't able to cook these days. But I used to cherish the taste of her food, which I had during my childhood. I and my cousins would have her spicy fish curry with tears in our eyes. She would carefully pick the flesh of fish and give us. She even sprinkles some amount of coconut oil, to reduce the amount of spicy in the food, but still it would be spicy that our tongues would be dancing and lips burn for the whole day. It was all fun those days. She is a specialist in making 'UPMA', the dish which most of the Indians dislike! I love it the most. More than me, her husband, my grandpa loves her Upma the most! My grandma would do it in such a way that it will be soft and smooth, with enough spicy taste. She is one of the best cook, whom I saw in my entire life till now. I can term her as 'GODMOTHER OF COOKING!'
Still missing some of her best dishes, cooked in her style.
Then comes my mother Seetha. She is also a best cook, who does her cooking with utmost love and care. Every mother does so! No doubt! Where ever we may go, we always miss our mom's cooking. Thats for sure! My mom is best in what she does. My favourite is her fish curry, just like my grandma's style! KICHADI, the food which I love next to upma! The mixture of sooji, semolina, fresh vegetables like carrot, beans, onions, green chillies, along with loads of ghee... is a heaven on earth! My mom cooks it, whenever I go to my home. I feel her love in Kichadi. Not only Kichadi but many dishes.
During Deepavali, she does all savouries at home, like murukku, mysurpa and many more. The most admiring thing is she went to work and did all these without any hesitation. From my childhood, Me and my sister would never know what hunger is meant to be. Thanks to my parents, especially my mom. I can write paragraphs and paragraphs about my favourite dishes of mom. She still has a feeling that she is not a best cook, but she is! Mom you are the best cook next to grandma!
Next to my mom, I should mention my dad Chellappan. He learned to cook after marrying mom. After that he too became the best in cooking. From a simple dal curry to meticulous puttu kadala curry, he does it in his style and makes us mouth-watering. He tries many kerala dishes, which are quite tasty and I took the inspiration from him that men should know to cook and help there wives at kitchen. And I live so!
Next is my sister Anu. She has that magic hand, that whichever food she does, it comes out the best. I still remember her making us grand lunch during Sundays. She cooks Mutton Briyani, Chilli Chicken, boiled eggs cut and garnished with pepper. My heart goes out to our kitchen and I would be roaming in and around there, when my sister is cooking. Love her food!
Then comes my Aunt Usha, I call her Usha Kochathai, my mom's younger sister. She is just opposite to my mom. My mom is used to be slow and steady in kitchen, but Kochathai is like a storm, literally flying in kitchen during cooking. The amount of salt or pepper or chilli powder, you name it, she will just sprinkle them in fraction of seconds that even camera could not freeze those moments. But the end result is best taste! She is another best in cooking.
Then comes my ex-wife Shiny. She makes me happy by her cooking. She would enjoy me, the way I enjoy her food. Thats what everyone's wife experience with their husband. I know! But I should narrate about my ex-wife's cooking right! She is best of the best in anything she cooks. I am sure that she got this gift from her mom, who is also best in cooking. I would be praising her cooking, for every amount of food I am eating. She loves my praising but stays grounded with a slight shy topped with gentle smile. She does everything and anything in best way! Gifted Hands! And thats not mine anymore...!
Next is my another sister, Mrinalini, who cooks best. I am a fan for her spicy crab curry, fish curry. She would be the most modest girl in the universe, that however we praise her cooking, she would be sad saying the food could have been made better. But the truth is, she would have delivered the best! :-)
Then I have my aunts at Kerala, my dad's sisters.
Ammani Aethai, in whom I see my sister Anu. They both are very similar in character and even in cooking. She would prepare shellfish fry... Whoa! That would be out-of-the-world taste. While writing this, I can feel the taste of that dish.
She would be preparing morning breakfast for a big joint family, mostly poori masala. I could see a big sized vessel full of hot pooris, which would disappear within seconds it reach the dining table. The whole family loves her cooking and she is blessed for it!
Then there is another Aunt, Valliammal Aethai, who is at Elanji, Kerala. Its a small village and the vegetables there would be fresh. She would do anything simple and best. I tasted fresh vegetables with less oil, less spice, but more of health. It would be just some green chillies, small onions, curry leaves and some vegetables cooked with a sprinkle of coconut oil. But the taste is so precious and cannot be narrated by words, but should be experienced personally.
What I see common in these best cooks is their pure heart and soul. Yes! That's what is reflected in their food. People with good thoughts and peaceful mind can bring out anything best in the world! Food is one among it.