Welcome to the adventures of a Culinary explorer...

Welcome to the adventures of a Culinary explorer...

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Comfort Food

This morning, I lay in bed till 10:30 am, and woke up from the smell of fresh biscuits and poached eggs. Breakfast came in bed (Indian mothers pamper like none other), followed by freshly squeezed juice. The eggs tasted great, everything did. Something wasn't quite right, not with the food, but with me. I dragged my robe cased body around the house like a zombie, didn't even care for my precious morning tea. Mom and dad left at 11 o'clock soon after to do the regular weekend grocery shopping. I usually go with mom (and get distracted by the bread aisle), but I had absolutely zero motivation. I bopped around the house, scavenging for ways to get my mind off of crappy high school drama. (Dear lovely little chilluns who imagine high school similar to "High School Musical", let me pop your bubbles now. Disney lied.)


I layed on my bed, on the couch, my brother's bed, and nothing seemed to work. My brother, Aakash, cannot hold a conversation if he's on the computer, which occurs most of the time, including now. I closed my eyes with Aakash's computer humming and the clock tick-tocking in the background. The two sounds fused together into a hypnotic chant, and I found myself drifting to the buzzing lullaby. And before you know it, the doorbell breaks the spell. Aakash got the door, and my dad came barging in and commanding for us to get the groceries inside and put away while mom and him ran another errand. Dizzy from half sleep, I staggered to get the bags inside (this was my first purpose of the day).

Bags of grocery are very similar to the little treasure chests in Zelda that play an exciting tune when opened. One by one I opened these bags (Zelda treasure chest music playing in the background) and collected the edible treasure. Cheese buns, chibata, mushrooms, Kashi dishes, banana peppers, cheese, more cheese, tea snacks, cookies, Tusconi, honey almonds, an assortment of yogurts, and oh so much more. (Reader, have you tried the new Yoplait lite flavored yogurts yet? They come in flavors like key lime pie, chocolate mousse, pineapple upside down cake, and many more. I tried my first today--a chocolate mousse. DIVINE. Who knew yogurt could be fluffy, chocolaty, AND have good portions of Vitamins A and D, and protein? Must try.)

For lunch, mom called to ask if I could slice some onions and start sautéing. After putting all the treasures away, Aakash and I got to the onions. The pan hot with melted butter lay agape to be fed. Onions simmering in a pan with butter sing to me. This time they sang, "It's OK Henna, don't worry. We'll always be there for you, golden brown and ever divine." (I guess that'd be somewhat of a rap. You get to figure out the beat.) I stood there with my spatula, stirring the onions around, their fumes intoxicating me with more purpose. "We got you girl, food will never let you down. We love you."
The singing got louder. The bell peppers, tomatoes, cottage cheese, and spices combined to form a plethora of pep talk operas. And before you know it, my family was huddled around the sizzling butter scented kitchen like a pack of hungry, happy bears. Their laughter seemed to fuse together with the food singing in my head. The beat became hypnotic, echoing with only one repetitive chorus.

"We love you."

5 comments:

Callie said...

I totally agree Henna, food is the best picker-upper especially when you're with the people you love. Hope the rest of your weekend is fab!

-Callie

The Skillet by Henna Bakshi said...

Aw thanks Callie. It's the warmth of simply the unconditional dependancy on food I admire. *typing while snacking on honey roasted almonds... YUM!* =]

Katie said...

LOVE those yogurts, Hen, especially the chocolate mousse one. I'm sad your morning was so dreary, but I'm glad food is always there for you. I wish I had such direction in my writing. Love ya. :)

Renegade...Hasta el Amor Siempre ! said...

I know of many a people who in the busy and fast pace of their lives just guzzle and gorge the food but forget to savour it...your writings would make them relish it more and I confess make me wanna reach out to the refrigerator...Buen provecho !

The Skillet by Henna Bakshi said...

Katie: Thanks so much girl. The most drama food can give you is maybe spontaniously combust. But that's about it. Lol
Renegade: That makes me happy. Eating is very much an art, just like cooking is. Relishing is the best part of culinary. =]