I started helping Ma in the kitchen by serving tea to my grandparents, and I still remember how difficult it was to balance the cups on the plates! I was in the 3rd or 4th grade I think. But though there were lots of spills, my Dadu(Granpa) and Thamma(Granma) always had a smile on their face when I took the tea up to them. And boy, was I proud :)
My Ma is a great cook. Like in most Bengali families, in ours too, kitchen was a very important part of home; and eating, well, the most important part of life. Usually, Thamma's last question for Ma each night before going off to bed was - "Kal ki ranna hobe?", which essentially means, whats the menu for tomorrow! Everyday food in those days was no less than a 4 or 5 course meal, most often lunch and dinner menus were completely different. And taste was never to be compromised with! And though we enjoyed the food, I am sure the women did not always enjoy preparing them. It was more like a chore, that HAD to be perfect each day! I realized that early on, since whenever I dozed off on my school books, my Ma would wake me up saying - "Porashona karo mon diye, nahole ranna kore din katate hobe...". (Study my child, or you'll spend your days cooking.") Not that the two are related in ANY way at all!
My Dad loves spicy, fried food...and why not, those are the ones that are the most tasty after all. And he even liked to cook sometimes, experimental dishes he used to call them. So SOMEtimes on SOME weekends, very rarely that is, since my Thamma never approved of her son taking charge of the kitchen, it was Ma and Thamma's "chutti" (day off) from cooking, and it was Baba in action, with me and my little brother acting as helpers. And on those days, the menu shifted from pure Bong, to totally different cuisines..like Green Crauche (a green preparation of cabbage, and aptly named by Baba), Aaloo Bonda, Stuffed Peppers, variety of salads etc.
I developed an interest in cookery shows while I was still in school. I loved the bright stoves and utensils they used. Gradually I even started preparing a few of the simpler recipes they taught. Turned out, most of the dishes I made, were successful! Yeah yeah, what are parents and grand parents for after all?? But whatever, I felt happy when my parents and grandparents were full of praises. My brother, an avid foodie, however, was not so easy to conquer.
I got married to a handsome gentleman, great smile, very friendly, and well, very passionate about food. We love to eat, try various restaurants, experiment a lot, and share the love for food. I am an amateur cook, but I have come to realize over the years that I love cooking. And this blog I shall use to document my cooking experiences, who knows, it might be helpful to those who love to cook, but have little time to spare in the kitchen, just like me :)
Please subscribe to my YouTube channel for more chit-chat, recipes and healthy tips/tricks and don't forget to follow me on Instagram@tulibh
My Ma is a great cook. Like in most Bengali families, in ours too, kitchen was a very important part of home; and eating, well, the most important part of life. Usually, Thamma's last question for Ma each night before going off to bed was - "Kal ki ranna hobe?", which essentially means, whats the menu for tomorrow! Everyday food in those days was no less than a 4 or 5 course meal, most often lunch and dinner menus were completely different. And taste was never to be compromised with! And though we enjoyed the food, I am sure the women did not always enjoy preparing them. It was more like a chore, that HAD to be perfect each day! I realized that early on, since whenever I dozed off on my school books, my Ma would wake me up saying - "Porashona karo mon diye, nahole ranna kore din katate hobe...". (Study my child, or you'll spend your days cooking.") Not that the two are related in ANY way at all!
My Dad loves spicy, fried food...and why not, those are the ones that are the most tasty after all. And he even liked to cook sometimes, experimental dishes he used to call them. So SOMEtimes on SOME weekends, very rarely that is, since my Thamma never approved of her son taking charge of the kitchen, it was Ma and Thamma's "chutti" (day off) from cooking, and it was Baba in action, with me and my little brother acting as helpers. And on those days, the menu shifted from pure Bong, to totally different cuisines..like Green Crauche (a green preparation of cabbage, and aptly named by Baba), Aaloo Bonda, Stuffed Peppers, variety of salads etc.
I developed an interest in cookery shows while I was still in school. I loved the bright stoves and utensils they used. Gradually I even started preparing a few of the simpler recipes they taught. Turned out, most of the dishes I made, were successful! Yeah yeah, what are parents and grand parents for after all?? But whatever, I felt happy when my parents and grandparents were full of praises. My brother, an avid foodie, however, was not so easy to conquer.
I got married to a handsome gentleman, great smile, very friendly, and well, very passionate about food. We love to eat, try various restaurants, experiment a lot, and share the love for food. I am an amateur cook, but I have come to realize over the years that I love cooking. And this blog I shall use to document my cooking experiences, who knows, it might be helpful to those who love to cook, but have little time to spare in the kitchen, just like me :)
Please subscribe to my YouTube channel for more chit-chat, recipes and healthy tips/tricks and don't forget to follow me on Instagram
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