My book of home recipes is such a treasure. These recipes were hand written by me almost 10 yrs ago when I was getting married and moving to the US! These are all from either my Paati or Mom - I had no idea what went in Mor Kozhambu or Sambar or Vetha Kozhambu! I did not know how to make chappathi the right way. I think all I knew at that time was to make potato fry -but a good spicy yummy potato fry! Nothing else. So, if anyone started to talk about food, I would run and get my book to write it all down!
The book itself was actually a 2001 yearly calendar book given to me by one of my dearest thatha who passed away a few years back. So, this indeed is very special to me. He said it was perfect for me to write down recipes if I needed to and so I started to do just that.
This year book had a wonderful and unique picture of Ganesha each month and there were little Ganesha's all over the book.
So, there you see under Feb/March, I have my recipes for the basic stuff - Beans Parupusili, Rasam, Lemon Rasam, Mor Kuzhambu and Vetha Kozhambu!!
I swear my handwriting was better than this in school - and as of now, I'd be glad if I can write half as good. I struggle now to write a few words - my fingers are so used to typing on a keyboard and not curving with a pen!
And here's my recipes for Oma podi, Thattai, Seedai etc!! Like I was really interested ...
This is one of my favorite Ganesha's in the book. He is pretty cool with his little mouse!
And here's my Thogayals, Thokkus and Podi's!
I laughed hysterically when I read this again - here is my recipe for Rasam podi. After I list the ingredients, here is what I say - " Mix all and if no sun to dry, dry roast in warm kadal and grind" Hahahha..what was I thinking - that there will be no sun in America?? Maybe my east coast cousins told me that then! Thank God I'm on the West coast where we have sun all the time! I can now make my paati's traditional rasam podi!
Looking back, I've come a long way. But, I still have a long long way to go....looking forward to the journey though!
Enjoy! Peace Out!
Beautiful book and how wonderful it is for you to remember all this can be felt. Thanks for sharing your pleasant and happy memories
ReplyDeleteThese first recipe books are such a treasure that they remain the last too :-) My husband recently told me I should digitize everything. Probably worried what would happen if our 3 year old decided to toss it into the fire, what if I couldn't cook without the book ;-). But I persist with scribbling little pencil notes in the same old book...
ReplyDeleteOMG, this brought back such memories. I too have a similar diary/calendar where I would hurriedly jot down my mom's recipes :-) I keep thinking I should re-write everything neatly and index the recipes, but then I already know by heart which recipe is on which page :-) Thanks for sharing, I love your blog and the recipes!
ReplyDeleteSuch hand written recipe books are indeed a treasure. Those were the days where we depended on writing rather than documenting in Word. So they are indeed treasures. Today, we don't even know how our handwriting will look like!! :(
ReplyDeleteWoooow!! cute idea and you will feel the happiness after 10 yrs while seeing the diary get remembrance about the past incidents in your cooking/kitchen.I too have same kind of stuffs like my 6 th ,8th,10th std books and my handwritten notes to show to my hubby and to my kids.
ReplyDeleteI have a diary too but mostly with recipes for baking. When I was younger, I was only interested in baking!
ReplyDeleteI do have diary with recipes, but unfortunately i left everything rite now in India...really miss it..
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your beautiful and pleasant memories with us:) Beautiful book and the Ganesha looks so cute:)
ReplyDeleteI cannot cook even cook dhal without my diary. how sweet to remember those, Lovely memories anu !!
ReplyDeleteFantastic treasure book.
ReplyDeletehey anu... same pinch :-) i too had to make a recipie diary because my mom forced me to write down all the basics of cooking just a month before my wedding.Unfortunately i left it in india...and now after 7 months into marriage i kinda know wot ingredient comes in wot dish :p
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing...twas like deja-vu
Awww... my mom has one of those. I am not as organized. I used to have bits and pieces of paper notes in a million places... I have tons of news paper clippings too. Now I have a spreadsheet electronically. I can type faster than I write!
ReplyDeleteWow u have hand written recipe book?? fantastic dear, my mom has one too :D
ReplyDeleteI stopped by here from a-kay's blog. Love the way your little daughter explains how to make pizza :) You have an awesome blog and now one more added to the list of your avid followers :)
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