Sunday, March 2, 2008

Yum-Yum-Yummy !

So I finally do it. FINALLY!!

Okay I accept I am one of those naïve ones who never really understood what a bliss cooking is. Oh the delight, I tell you.

Till recently that is…

Taunted and teased by almost everyone- The Guy, friends, bro and even mom…”I bet you can’t even boil water”, “don’t tell me you can actually make yourself decent coffee or tea or anything at all…”, “Aww…the kid can’t cook…” BLAH BLAH BLAH…

I decided to pull myself out of the humiliation muddle.

So BIRIYANI it was. Yes, at the very first go. I’m a daring person you know. Blush*Blush*Blush!

With the recipe book in hand I told mom I wanted to give it a try. With an enforced smile she wished me luck and hurried away…

“I’ll ask the maid to help you.”

But I could see a ‘please-don’t-blow-up-my-kitchen’ look on her face.

I said that would be fine with me. I think she muttered a lill prayer and left home. But that’s just my thinking. Common I do think at times. Stop smirking.

So the ingredients were arranged. Yes, I just love having all those things aligned right in front of me. The onion, coriander, chilies, bay leaves, ginger etc, etc. Kinda gives you the empowered feeling. Well, it did to me.

So the ghee was heated. Onion and company plunged right into the pan. That special tickle-tackle sound. Hmmm…

Suddenly the onions started turning golden to brown. I mean faster than they should. Panick. Panick. Panick.

“Dekho na… pyaaz kuch theek nahi lag rahe…”

The maid came in. Turned the regulator to medium. The fire took a chill-pill. She gave me a ‘you-know-nothing’ look.

Aah…I took offence. No seriously.

The rice was cooked separately. Man, did you know you’re actually supposed to cook the rice and chicken separately for biriyani. Well, cool if you did, I didn’t.

I mean if you have had it all your life together I thought you cooked it together as well…

Whatever…

So ultimately with the kesar, daalchini powder, yoghurt and many more complicated stuff and too many ‘why-do you-even-try’ looks from my maid the food was ready. And boy…it looked good. Smelled heavenly.

Raita was solely my creation. I made sure my maid did nothing with it. Yeah the salt was doing a kind of guest appearance there when we tasted it later but then I guess…that’s traditionally expected of a tyro.

After a whole Sunday morning and a great deal of effort the blessed thingy was done.

It tasted good. I swear it did.

And before I actually start bragging…all you people who know me can come over to my place for my next adventure. If and when.

Risk factor involved so kindly use your discretion.

Bbye.

PS: The kitchen did look like…uhmmm…blown up. After I was done that is.

3 comments:

Pallav said...

The Guy... and every one else have been proven idiots.... :P
If we can trust your honest words that is...
BTW you write really really well....
You have a knack of turning simple incidents into memorable tales... :)

Bibartan said...

One more genuinely good writing from the "latent" factory. Simlpe story written in a very interesting way.

Good read, nice phrases.

Vikash said...

congrats. you finally did it. :)