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  • Category: Miscellaneous

    Share your cooking interests!

    There was a time when cooking was supposed to be the job of the housewife and no one else bothered for that. With time when husband and wife both started to go for a job the cooking opened for everyone in the family and husbands as well as children started to take interest in this activity.
    Cooking as a hobby is a great pastime as well as learning experience. There are so many tricks and tips in the field of cooking and the final dish quality depends on them to a great extent.
    Are you interested in cooking? What are your cooking experiences? Please share.
  • #777633
    I had some experience in cooking. After joining in PhD I opted to stay outside with my cousin and we both used to cook our food. Those days gas stoves are not very freely available. We used to cook on a kerosene stove. We used to make Tomato Curry very frequently as it is easy to make and the time required is also less. Later on, I used to cook in my house whenever my wife went to our native place. I used to cook only rice and dal. We used to have pickles in our house and I was managing with those pickles. Sometimes I used to cook curry also. I used to give clinch boxes to my two sons when they were going to school.
    These days I am not getting any chance to cook. Either my wife or my daughter-in-law will be making food ready. But if necessary I can cook. My elder son is fond of cooking. During COVID-19 19 every Sunday he used to make special dishes for lunch or dinner. But my second son is not having any interest in cooking.

    drrao
    always confident

  • #777638
    During my college days after doing my UG course I had to leave for another town to pursue my PG and there I had first opportunity for cooking because I was not comfortable with outside food and had to start cooking on my own. The initial experience was discouraging as I could not make many items and simply survived on rice preparations. Then I got another student to share my room and then I learnt how to make a chapati from him. He knew a few things and I was benefited much by his little knowledge in the field of cooking.
    My next phase of cooking only started after 3 years of my PG when I got a job in a remote place where only coal was available for generating heat in a coal stove as even kerosin oil was not available. That made me to learn as how to cook food items using a coal stove which gave heat for a limited time and required refilling and re-ignition in between. From the neighbours I learnt a great deal of cooking tips like soaking of lentils overnight and things like that and was successful in using the fuel (coal) economically.

    Knowledge is power.

  • #777643
    Staying away from your family will definitely force you to cook because you can't rely on junk food for long time. I am a person who doesn't like to eat outside food because it causes upset stomach most of the time. Only home cooked food suits me and being away from family has taught me to cook for survival. I started with omellete, which is usually my breakfast when away from family. I have an induction cooktop to avoid hassles of gas refill. The only problem with induction is that is doesn't cook chapatis properly. It looks more like papad on induction.

    Usually dal chawal or khichdi is easy to cook for anyone because of pressure cooker and limited amount of ingredients needed. During my hostel days when mess food was the only option, it became a necessity to learn cooking just to remain healthy. Nowadays, most of the people have learned to cook because of YouTube and many people enjoy cooking.

    Humble yourself or life will do it for you!

  • #777645
    I started cooking after my graduation stage. I had the abundant opportunity to prepare my breakfast and dinner. In the starting phase, I started preparing Poha and Puris to suit my tastes. The preparations did not take enough time for either of the two materials. Poha did not need any other edible than some pickle to suit the taste. The art of making perfect puris too a lot of time in mastering perfectness but anyhow, I was able to make the same ultimately. The other accompaniment was curd in the initial stage was either boiled full cream milk or a curd. However, later I had been a master in the preparation of variety of vegetable dished both fried varieties or the curries of the different vegetables.
    In the dinner, I used the same curry made for the breakfast and the preparation of four pieces of bread was not difficult with a little practice.
    However, I developed a passion for cooking and by the time, I got married I was able to make a variety of dishes - both veg and non - veg ones. Later, my wife was appreciative of my tasty dishes.

  • #777649
    Many members have responded to my post and I also feel to share my experiences in cooking.
    During my school days I learned cooking from my mother who was preparing food for the joint family. She often required our help and while offering that we had learnt many tips and tricks and quick cooking ideas.
    Most of the dishes prepared at that time in our house were the common Indian dishes and it was only the festival time that we used to cook some speciality items. So, I had good experience of cooking right from my school days and had no difficulty in managing the kitchen after my marriage.

    Thoughts exchanged is knowledge gained.

  • #777669
    Cooking was considered earlier as it is meant for women. This was misspelt as women are fit for cooking only and used to state that 'adupoodhum penkalukku padippetharku' which means education is not necessary for women as they are fit for only cooking in the kitchen. It was not the real meaning. Women are normally with very strong patience comparing to a man. Simply we can see the houses wherein no women lives as we can see very haphazard but the house have even a small girl looks differently. Because of the patience the women are considered as equal to Goddess of Earth.
    This is just preface. We can come to the point. Cooking is normally needs patience and perseverance which is normally dealt in women. If men are involving cooking the concentration, perseverance, patience should be there for an effective outcome of food.
    I know cooking and learned from my mother and aunt. Even now from our relatives I learned some sort of methods in cooking new dishes and items.
    My last brother even prepare special sweets and savories during the festivals and an old lady lived backside of our house used to call my last brother for preparing sweets and savories for suggestion without minding the age.
    In those days we read that the Bhima of Mahabharat and Nala of Nalavenba are best cooks even thought born in Kingdom.

  • #777689
    I would like to add some more cooking experiences here that I gained after my retirement from the active service life.
    After my retirement I had interest in learning microwave cooking. Initially it seemed a difficult task but after some practice I found that a microwave oven was a good option for cooking low oil low fat dishes especially the vegetable curries and dry vegetables.
    Only difference that I found between the conventional cooking and microwave cooking is that in microwave cooking we have to use sufficient quantity of water to avoid any charring or burning of the food items. This is more crucial in preparing dry vegetables where we have to put little water.

    Knowledge is power.

  • #777692
    Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies, but I have certain preferences when it comes to the kitchen and the dishes I prepare. I prefer to cook in familiar kitchens, as I feel more comfortable and confident in my ability to prepare tasty meals. I particularly enjoy making hot and spicy food, although I am happy to help out with sweet dishes as well. My favorite dish is Chole Bhature, although I find that I don't always make it to my satisfaction. One dish that always turns out great for me is potato parathas, which I like to add paneer and peas to on occasion. My family loves my parathas, and I am always happy to prepare them for special occasions. Overall, I consider myself a versatile cook, able to prepare a wide range of dishes. However, I tend to cook based on my mood, which can lead to some experimentation in the kitchen.

  • #777707
    Those who are interested in preparing low fat or without oil dishes can also use electric fryer or microwave, the gadgets becoming so popular and common now a days.
    Thoughts exchanged is knowledge gained.

  • #777711
    Dr Bimal Charger, a renowned heart specialist talks a lot regarding the vegetable dishes prepared devoid of oils. He opined that people, especially heart -patients should switch over to vegetable - preparations without oil. He demonstrated even how potato -bean curry, potato - cauliflower, brinjal dishes are prepared containing no oil at all. Water is added to fry the ingredients and finally the ultimate dishes prepared by the doctor was mouth - watering.
    What is needed is to change our style so that triglycerides and bad cholesterol should remain under check.
    His recipes are really boon to the heart patients due the circulation of healthy blood within the body system.


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