I have become my grandmother!

Since the Coronavirus crisis hit us like a ton of bricks, I have ‘met’ a lot of complainers and whiners. These are the people who complain about the virus, about the national lockdown, about social distancing, about essentials shortages, about closed malls and gyms…you name it!

I’m not saying these complaints are invalid. Far from it! Many are valid and therefore completely understandable. But personally, I much prefer to focus on the positives that this crisis has brought to my life.

And one of these positives is that I have become my grandmother!

Those of you who know me are probably saying, “Huh???!! When did this happen?!” ☺

Let me clarify.

I have not become A grandmother. My kids are too young for that. ☺ I have become MY grandmother.

Thanks to Coronavirus and the lockdown (yes you read that right – I did say THANKS!), my kitchen – in fact, my entire home – has undergone a sea change. And that too in the best of ways!

Earlier, my kitchen was a space to whip up some edible sustenance (nutrition optional!) in the quickest way possible that would allow me to ESCAPE from the heat! But now it has become the hub of ‘nutritious’ activity in my home. It is a fully-functional space where a different, unique culinary masterpiece (if I may say so myself!) is created every single day with love and care, and with a focus on both taste and nourishment.

Experimentation is welcome. Shortcuts are not.

Taking food for granted is unacceptable. Treating food with respect and as a blessing is encouraged.

I have become my grandmother!

Fast foods are a thing of the past. Slow-cooked, nutritious, balanced meals rule the roost. 

Unhealthy binge eating while watching TV is now a no-no. The new rule is: we eat timely, balanced, sattvik meals – no exceptions!. Mindfulness is now a huge part of our food experience. We pay more attention to what we cook and we really enjoy what we eat.

I have become my grandmother!

Simple Indian comfort foods like dal chawal, khichdi kadhi and idli sambar continue to find a home in my kitchen. But now, complex dishes with exotic flourishes and incredible flavours are equally welcome! From Indian to Thai, Italian to Chinese – there is no world cuisine that my kitchen and I have left unexplored over the past 3 months. In fact, we recently celebrated the Great Shah Food Festival that originated in my very own kitchen!

Read more: Lockdown stories – The great Shah food festival aka GSFF

And it’s no longer a place for simply cooking! It is now a place where at one time or another… 

Something is fermenting…

Something is sprouting…

Something is whipping…

Something is laid out for drying…

…you name it, it’s happening in my kitchen!

We now make our own noodles from scratch.

We make our own idli/dosa/uttappam batter.

We no longer use frozen or preserved ingredients.

We make our desserts at home.

We make our favorite Bhakarwadis at home! 

We make our podis and masalas at home.

Everything is freshly bought, freshly cooked and freshly eaten.

Now my kitchen is truly the heart of my home!

I have become my grandmother. And I couldn’t be prouder! 

 I would love to hear your lockdown stories. Leave your comments below.