I believe the most important feature of food preparation is the cook’s attitude. Ayurvedic philosophy assumes the cook’s ability to infuse his or her food with positive or negative energy; an angry chef is more likely to prepare a meal that’s hard to digest. And if you ask me, lot of the problems in our country would be solved if only women were happier and less frustrated while they cook.
As a kid, I was infamous in my house for being fussy about homefood and not eating vegetables but I eat them all now and love all foods when I cook 'em myself. My mother is a wonderful cook but there were days when her Mother-in-law's ghost would haunt our kitchen. I thought of putting down this post because I realized I am capable of making the same mistake.
Now my mother-in-law has been acting so funny since my daughter came along, when I was pregnant, she would call me and tell me ‘Don’t worry, even if it is a girl, a girl is also fine. (Trust me when I say this Avantika, I am a girl and I love girls though I would have still loved you if you came into this world as a gay or a boy or whatever category of transgender there is). I never give your grandmothers’ words a second thought, you should not too.
Nowadays, my Mother-in-law calls almost every week to let me know how much she loves my daughter and one fine day she just woke up after 10 years of my marriage to call me and tell me that she only says she loves Avantika because I took away her son from her. Forgive your grandmother, Avantika, she probably had a horrible mother-in-law herself or is just possesed by negative energies.
As for my husband, it seems our family of three comes second after his first family (hmmm... typical wife complaint, don't worry these are temporary feelings that come and go). I feel caught up in a chakravyu of confusing thoughts that I can’t escape and its time to cook. So, with no one to talk to, I find myself cooking while chanting mantras and reading and writing more often.
Avantika, I need to let you know I don’t feel angry towards your dad or grandma, when they act so funny unlike my mom who used to express anger over my grandmother’s foolish remarks, she would even apologize for it or use humor at times.
Such indifferences between the genders and generations that we experience are a part of our growing culture and the human nature, I just don’t feel ashamed of spelling out my troubles. The first step towards solving problems is acknowledging that they exist after all.
I think of my own grandmother as I do of your grandmother and wonder what separates them from me; Time? ‘Education and opportunity’? Knowledge? self confidence’? The more I separate, the more similarities I find.
In situations such as these I find myself turning to a religion and science I never knew existed as it is. I must say here that a lot of the misconceptions I had about religion, I learnt from my mom and the right ideas I have about religion are also because of what I learned from my mother. I see myself finding now answers to the many unanswered questions I have had all throughout life, buried and hidden within religion, philosophy and history and even the politics of our country.
There is a whole generation of women in our country who never had the kind of choices I had and you will probably have. And yet that does not put us in a better spot than them. I could separate myself from the problems of all these women and pretend to ignore their plight but it is like ignoring a pain in part of your own body. Sooner or later its going to increase and haunt me in some way or another as it has in my mother-in-law’s current Avatar.
There are such women in all age groups even today. All over the world. I could write a thesis on how the cultures and societies and the education system of our country has failed women in particular and how they still do.
And when women fail, everyone fails. It was also said by Arjun in the first chapter of the Bhagwat Geeta but in a more orthodox sense.
adharmabhibhavat krsna
pradusyanti kula-striyah
strisu dustasu varsneya
jayate varna-sankarah
When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Krsna,
the women of the family become corrupt
and from the degradation of womanhood,
O descendant of Vrsni, comes unwanted progeny.
sankaro narakayaiva
kula-ghnanam kulasya ca
patanti pitaro hy esam
lupta-pindodaka-kriyah
When there is increase of unwanted population, a hellish situation is created
both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition.
In such corrupt families, there is
no offering of oblations of food and water to the ancestors.
Individual problems are often a microscopic version of bigger problems that exist in the society or a world that has forgotten the purpose of its existence. Religion in particular is more misguided than any other field but that does not imply Atheism as the best pathway to enlightenment.
I believe Faith can impart strength and it takes courage to recognize and bow before a higher power while standing alone as an atheist can drain more energy out of you.
The mind that creates these problems also guides you towards their solutions.
And here’s what Krishna says in the Bhagwat Geeta much later:
yam imam puspitam vacam
pravadanty avipascitah
veda-vada-ratah partha
nanyad astiti vadinah
kamatmanah svarga-para
janma-karma-phala-pradam
kriya-visesa-bahulam
bhogaisvarya-gatim prati
Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power, and so forth. Being desirous of sense gratification and opulent life, they say that there is nothing more than this.
Alas! Most religions of the world use just that - flowery words that seek to create fear and helplessness to make you submit to the ‘Maya’ of goodness or to the wrong set of values.
The Bhagwat Geeta is quite scientific in its approach that way.
I can read and feel awesome but I can’t change the world nor solve all its problems now so I get into the kitchen to cook with an open mind and a positive outlook towards life. Nope! Cooking is not my route to escape the problems, I have actually started believing that one can change their world one meal at a time. Rather than problems I see myself armed with a new mission to accomplish and new skills to acquire, new things to learn about. This is a skill I was passively acquiring all throughout my childhood and it was all probably for this day and time.
Food prepared in a place you can call home, with care and love, for people you love, even the desire to feed people out of love can impart more positive energy into the body and the food than any number of chemicals that you add to the pot placed on fire. And of course the right chemicals can help out a little too. Just always remember that the food you eat builds your body and shapes your thinking to a certain extent so choose it wisely.
दीपो भक्षयते ध्वान्तं कज्जलं च प्रसूयते |
यदन्नं भक्षयेन्नित्यं जायते तादृशी प्रजा ||
dIpo bhakShayate dhvAntam kajjalam cha prasUyate |
yadannam bhakShayennityam jAyate tAdRishI prajA ||
Lamp eats darkness and produces [black] soot!
What food [one] eats daily, so will [one] produce.
Here’s the recipe for a spice mix I call my ‘Everyday Seven or ED7 Spice Mix’. Using these Spices in your cooking regularly is also said to strengthen your emotional health.
Here’s what you need to mix and store in a jar:
3 parts ground cumin (Jeeraka)
2 parts ground coriander (Dhaniyaka)
2 parts ground turmeric (Haldi)
1 part ground black cumin (Shahjeera)
1 part ground paprika (Shimla Mirch ka masala)
1 part ground black pepper (Kali Mari)
1 part ground dried ginger (Sunthi)
Why we use Spices:
Spices are like super foods in any Indian kitchen. These are every day spices that enhance digestion and also nourish our dhatus (or tissues) besides serving a specific function each that contributes towards long-term emotional strength. A premade spice mix, provides consistency of taste and convenience besides the combinations always provide enhanced bioavailability of nutrients.
Cumin, ginger and black pepper provide the pungent and bitter taste, they all burn Toxins or Ama that is formed off undigested foods. Ama is the root cause of most diseases physical and mental and even emotional.
Corriander relieves excessive thirst and cold while pacifying Pitta and improving digestive strength. If you have been following most things I said, you may have learned by now that most spices we use have a tendency to aggravate Pitta so using the right proportion of corriander is important.
Turmeric purifies the blood besides being antibacterial, anti-inflammatory amongst many other benefits which include nourishment of all seven dhatus.
Shahjeera improves memory besides supporting digestion and providing iron an essential nutrient for women in particular.
Like most spices, the dominant flavor of this spice mix is Pungent, Bitter and Astringent so use accordingly when planning a meal. Another important thing to remember about spices is that they are seeds which contain both essential oils as well as water soluble compounds so dependent on where you add it while cooking (to the tadka in the fat or to the gravy or main ingredients) also makes a difference. I don't usually add ED7 to tadka.
Happy Cooking!
As a kid, I was infamous in my house for being fussy about homefood and not eating vegetables but I eat them all now and love all foods when I cook 'em myself. My mother is a wonderful cook but there were days when her Mother-in-law's ghost would haunt our kitchen. I thought of putting down this post because I realized I am capable of making the same mistake.
Now my mother-in-law has been acting so funny since my daughter came along, when I was pregnant, she would call me and tell me ‘Don’t worry, even if it is a girl, a girl is also fine. (Trust me when I say this Avantika, I am a girl and I love girls though I would have still loved you if you came into this world as a gay or a boy or whatever category of transgender there is). I never give your grandmothers’ words a second thought, you should not too.
Nowadays, my Mother-in-law calls almost every week to let me know how much she loves my daughter and one fine day she just woke up after 10 years of my marriage to call me and tell me that she only says she loves Avantika because I took away her son from her. Forgive your grandmother, Avantika, she probably had a horrible mother-in-law herself or is just possesed by negative energies.
As for my husband, it seems our family of three comes second after his first family (hmmm... typical wife complaint, don't worry these are temporary feelings that come and go). I feel caught up in a chakravyu of confusing thoughts that I can’t escape and its time to cook. So, with no one to talk to, I find myself cooking while chanting mantras and reading and writing more often.
Avantika, I need to let you know I don’t feel angry towards your dad or grandma, when they act so funny unlike my mom who used to express anger over my grandmother’s foolish remarks, she would even apologize for it or use humor at times.
Such indifferences between the genders and generations that we experience are a part of our growing culture and the human nature, I just don’t feel ashamed of spelling out my troubles. The first step towards solving problems is acknowledging that they exist after all.
I think of my own grandmother as I do of your grandmother and wonder what separates them from me; Time? ‘Education and opportunity’? Knowledge? self confidence’? The more I separate, the more similarities I find.
In situations such as these I find myself turning to a religion and science I never knew existed as it is. I must say here that a lot of the misconceptions I had about religion, I learnt from my mom and the right ideas I have about religion are also because of what I learned from my mother. I see myself finding now answers to the many unanswered questions I have had all throughout life, buried and hidden within religion, philosophy and history and even the politics of our country.
There is a whole generation of women in our country who never had the kind of choices I had and you will probably have. And yet that does not put us in a better spot than them. I could separate myself from the problems of all these women and pretend to ignore their plight but it is like ignoring a pain in part of your own body. Sooner or later its going to increase and haunt me in some way or another as it has in my mother-in-law’s current Avatar.
There are such women in all age groups even today. All over the world. I could write a thesis on how the cultures and societies and the education system of our country has failed women in particular and how they still do.
And when women fail, everyone fails. It was also said by Arjun in the first chapter of the Bhagwat Geeta but in a more orthodox sense.
adharmabhibhavat krsna
pradusyanti kula-striyah
strisu dustasu varsneya
jayate varna-sankarah
When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Krsna,
the women of the family become corrupt
and from the degradation of womanhood,
O descendant of Vrsni, comes unwanted progeny.
sankaro narakayaiva
kula-ghnanam kulasya ca
patanti pitaro hy esam
lupta-pindodaka-kriyah
When there is increase of unwanted population, a hellish situation is created
both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition.
In such corrupt families, there is
no offering of oblations of food and water to the ancestors.
Individual problems are often a microscopic version of bigger problems that exist in the society or a world that has forgotten the purpose of its existence. Religion in particular is more misguided than any other field but that does not imply Atheism as the best pathway to enlightenment.
I believe Faith can impart strength and it takes courage to recognize and bow before a higher power while standing alone as an atheist can drain more energy out of you.
The mind that creates these problems also guides you towards their solutions.
And here’s what Krishna says in the Bhagwat Geeta much later:
yam imam puspitam vacam
pravadanty avipascitah
veda-vada-ratah partha
nanyad astiti vadinah
kamatmanah svarga-para
janma-karma-phala-pradam
kriya-visesa-bahulam
bhogaisvarya-gatim prati
Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power, and so forth. Being desirous of sense gratification and opulent life, they say that there is nothing more than this.
Alas! Most religions of the world use just that - flowery words that seek to create fear and helplessness to make you submit to the ‘Maya’ of goodness or to the wrong set of values.
The Bhagwat Geeta is quite scientific in its approach that way.
I can read and feel awesome but I can’t change the world nor solve all its problems now so I get into the kitchen to cook with an open mind and a positive outlook towards life. Nope! Cooking is not my route to escape the problems, I have actually started believing that one can change their world one meal at a time. Rather than problems I see myself armed with a new mission to accomplish and new skills to acquire, new things to learn about. This is a skill I was passively acquiring all throughout my childhood and it was all probably for this day and time.
Food prepared in a place you can call home, with care and love, for people you love, even the desire to feed people out of love can impart more positive energy into the body and the food than any number of chemicals that you add to the pot placed on fire. And of course the right chemicals can help out a little too. Just always remember that the food you eat builds your body and shapes your thinking to a certain extent so choose it wisely.
दीपो भक्षयते ध्वान्तं कज्जलं च प्रसूयते |
यदन्नं भक्षयेन्नित्यं जायते तादृशी प्रजा ||
dIpo bhakShayate dhvAntam kajjalam cha prasUyate |
yadannam bhakShayennityam jAyate tAdRishI prajA ||
Lamp eats darkness and produces [black] soot!
What food [one] eats daily, so will [one] produce.
Here’s the recipe for a spice mix I call my ‘Everyday Seven or ED7 Spice Mix’. Using these Spices in your cooking regularly is also said to strengthen your emotional health.
Here’s what you need to mix and store in a jar:
3 parts ground cumin (Jeeraka)
2 parts ground coriander (Dhaniyaka)
2 parts ground turmeric (Haldi)
1 part ground black cumin (Shahjeera)
1 part ground paprika (Shimla Mirch ka masala)
1 part ground black pepper (Kali Mari)
1 part ground dried ginger (Sunthi)
Why we use Spices:
Spices are like super foods in any Indian kitchen. These are every day spices that enhance digestion and also nourish our dhatus (or tissues) besides serving a specific function each that contributes towards long-term emotional strength. A premade spice mix, provides consistency of taste and convenience besides the combinations always provide enhanced bioavailability of nutrients.
Cumin, ginger and black pepper provide the pungent and bitter taste, they all burn Toxins or Ama that is formed off undigested foods. Ama is the root cause of most diseases physical and mental and even emotional.
Corriander relieves excessive thirst and cold while pacifying Pitta and improving digestive strength. If you have been following most things I said, you may have learned by now that most spices we use have a tendency to aggravate Pitta so using the right proportion of corriander is important.
Turmeric purifies the blood besides being antibacterial, anti-inflammatory amongst many other benefits which include nourishment of all seven dhatus.
Shahjeera improves memory besides supporting digestion and providing iron an essential nutrient for women in particular.
Like most spices, the dominant flavor of this spice mix is Pungent, Bitter and Astringent so use accordingly when planning a meal. Another important thing to remember about spices is that they are seeds which contain both essential oils as well as water soluble compounds so dependent on where you add it while cooking (to the tadka in the fat or to the gravy or main ingredients) also makes a difference. I don't usually add ED7 to tadka.
Happy Cooking!
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