Stories of Love, Nostalgia And Memories |The Ingredients To My Cooking
What’s the one item in your kitchen you can’t possibly cook without? A spice, your grandma’s measuring cup, instant ramen — what’s your magic ingredient, and why? Photographers, artists, poets: show us KITCHEN… that has been the WordPress Daily Prompt and I am waking up to it.
If there is one ingredient that I can’t possibly cook without, then that is some story. A story with some magic attached to it along with my childhood memories and nostalgia, the aroma of cooking from the kitchen, each dish arriving on the dining table, cooked with much love by some loving hand – either my Ma‘s, or my Thakuma’s (paternal grandma) or my Dida‘s (maternal grandma) or some Mashi (aunt) and much later, my Mum-in-law’s. Today, that secret ingredient is sourced from antique cookbooks or handwritten recipes, that have been duly passed onto me. Each recipe unfolds from some story or the other. And each story surrounds around some delicate and delicious food moment that I have experienced in my childhood. I intend to pass on the same magical ingredient to my girls – the Z-Sisters. Along with my collectibles and memorabilia from the kitchens of my childhood – some old pots and pans – some torn pages of recipes – a few tattered cookbooks – many rusty silver spoons – and innumerable stories surrounding them all. Capturing the secret intangible ingredient through old photographs, old pots and pans…
Before signing off, one advice that has been re-iterated by all these special mentors of mine – it is resonated in the Bengali phrase ‘je radhe, shey chulo badhe’. Translated, this would probably mean ‘she who cooks, also takes care to do her hair’… So cook and serve, but serve beautifully. And most importantly, look beautiful. As a reminder, the little mirror (below) has been passed on to my girls from my beautiful Mum-in-law!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Disclaimer: Please note that this post is not a sponsored post and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. You can see more pictures of my travel and food journey here.
Below are the posts from my blog that have already captured a bit of the secret ingredient…
Narkel Naru or Coconut Jaggery Truffles … my Thakuma’s recipe
Hot Garlic Pickle | The Pickled Diary – Episode 1 … my Mother-in-law’s recipe
Pickles | Mother (-in-law) Of All Pickles! … my Mother-in-law’s recipes
Notun Gurer Payesh/Traditional Bengali Rice Pudding … my Dida’s recipe
Khichuri As Harbinger of Hope & Kolkata Soaked In Rains … my Ma’s recipe
Traditional Bengali Cuisine | All The ‘Slight’ Details … my essay on Bengali Cuisine
Purple Haze Yoghurt with Purple M&Ms … my kids’ recipe
Cuppa-Corn Sweet Yellow Moments… my kids’ story
Thank You for sharing!
32 Comments
JayEim
Beautiful memories and memento’s…..that is what life is all about.
IshitaUnblogged
So true… thanks you so much for reading this special post:)
lapetitepaniere
One word “Wonderful”.
IshitaUnblogged
Many words can also not express what I feel inside – touched Linda:)
Stacy
This may be my favorite of your posts so far, Ishita. I love that you shared your treasures with us, both the family heirlooms and the photos of your beloved relatives. I can’t express how nostalgic this makes me feel for my own grandmothers and the warm times I spent in their kitchens. Thank you, my friend. I know your heart a little better now and that makes me smile.
IshitaUnblogged
Stacy, Stacy, Stacy… I am lucky to have friends like you around me. You have always made me feel super special. I am so touched by your love, always!
Sally
I love that there is a first rice ceremony. Beautiful props and really enjoyed this very different post.
IshitaUnblogged
Thank you Sally! I think all of us are going through that ‘different’ period – kind of a breather, I guess. This post was absolutely unplanned. Saw the daily post and suddenly stumbled out with a whole lot of emotions. I remember that in my earlier post (long, long back), you found the first rice ceremony very interesting 🙂
Life in the Food Lane
A post from the heart, your photographs speak a thousand words, or should I say lovely peeks of memories. By the way, I enjoyed your Dubai “Food Oscars” post, and particularly the points you raise. A really good read, makes me miss our blogger get togethers, discussions, and munches.
IshitaUnblogged
Oh Francine, I miss you so much. And thank you very much for the feedback. About the Food Oscars post, care to copy paste the comment there, so that it may come to the attention of any *concerned* person (assuming that they will ho into my post!). I am going to shoot you an email right away.
spicesandpisces
Beautiful post. I have inherited a rice serving spoon from my Mum-in-law and will get two things when I visit India next time from my Maa. A salt jar and a rice measuring cup made from Parachute coconut oil metal can. I have two gun metal glasses and two plates (knashar thala ar glass) which are my Dida’s, given to my Maa during her wedding. They are treasures. Few sondesh molds made by my FIL’s grandmother. 🙂 Your post made me nostalgic Ishita. Loved it.
IshitaUnblogged
Thank you! A rice measuring cup made from Parachute coconut oil metal can? That sounds very interesting for sure, And thanks for reminding me about the ‘sondesh molds’ – I also have one – have just updated my post with that. But definitely that’s *young* compared to your treasure which belonged to your FIL’s grandmother? Surely, a fossil by now, what say? Amazing indeed!
spicesandpisces
Yes, in not so well off households, people came up with excellent alternatives to an established method and the parachute coconut oil can is one such thing. Once I get a hold of it, I’ll surely post a picture of it. The molds are in perfect shape. I am yet to make sondesh in them. They are more precious/priceless to me than the gold I inherited.
IshitaUnblogged
I am really curious. I have seen another mug – the kind that is used in the jails (!!!) to measure rice. Oh yes, these are real treasures for sure. More expensive than jewellery!
spicesandpisces
I’ll definitely get it next time and send you a picture of it. It looks ancient although it’s only 35 years or so old.
IshitaUnblogged
I can imagine! Thanks for sharing:)
spicesandpisces
🙂
darjeelingexp
Beautifully written!
IshitaUnblogged
Thank you Madam. You didn’t share your secret ingredient though – no leaking of any *trade secrets*, hya? You have the ingredients passed onto you through your genes Asma 🙂
spicesandpisces
Oh, I totally forgot to mention that the jhinuk bring backs so many memories. My brother’s childhood. Love it again. The sondesh mold is outstanding. Mine are much smaller and less grand than yours. Loved it immensely.
Kulsum
Beautiful and precious heritage Ishita!
IshitaUnblogged
Thank you Kulsum… wanted to share with a few passionate food buddies 🙂
Pots and Patterns
Ohhhh this is soooo wonderful. I wish my mom collected such stuff instead of throwing them away to make room for better newer things .
Guess il start my own
IshitaUnblogged
Actually, my mum hasn’t been collecting as many – it’s my mum-in-law mostly. Hope my mum isn’t listening though.
Madhu
A special and heartwarming post Ishita!!! I could relate to every word. And you wrapped it up with a perfect quote. I am coveting that fish mould!! 🙂
IshitaUnblogged
Isn’t it so pretty? I will never use it to make Shondesh though!!!
Madhu
I wouldn’t either! 🙂
Chef and Steward
Isn’t it a treat to have inherited from the lovely kitchens of so many great women and these women have preserved all these little elements of history for you now to treasure? I adore the celebration of cultural heritage as you know and this is just that!
IshitaUnblogged
Oh Absolutely! These things acquire new meaning as one matures (in age) and is away from home. Thanks for dropping in 🙂
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