This is the second part of my first post; ‘When lockdown turned my loved ones into MasterChef Part 1.’
Apoorva Sikka from our ‘Smoker gang’ group; is a South Delhi girl but is nowhere like the ones shown in the famous ‘South Delhi girl’ videos. She is bubbly, lively, friendly, and classy. Her elegance and sophistication are visible in her food too.
She shares her encounter with cooking, ‘’I have always been a foodie but due to my work schedule, I never got the time to cook for myself. With this opportunity to spend time at home, I have finally applied my love of food in the kitchen. I prepared an avocado cheese toast, different types of milkshakes, and dark chocolate fudge just to name a few. I’ve found that cooking is my therapy and helps me like no other activity to reduce my stress and the negativity around. I am looking forward to trying more recipes and experience food in its glory!
My ex-boss, Piyush Lilaramani, who never behaved like one but has rather been my friend always, is presently a Communications professional.
He shared his lockdown cooking experience,” My wife and I, we both are in the communication field. In the hectic days of lockdown where we spend most of our time on our respective laptops or calls, we take out some time to cook good food to cheer ourselves, which can also spare us from the habit of ordering food from outside. While my wife, Sanjana, and I have learned some new dishes, it turned out to be a major stress buster for both of us. I love to assist her in the kitchen while she is taking advice from my mother in law, Mallika, or watching YouTube recipes. We have prepared prawn spaghetti, guacamole with poached eggs, and shakshuka till now to name a few.”
Piku, aka, Priyadarshini Mazumdar, shares her viewpoint, ‘’Staying away from family and with work from home in the self-isolation phase was becoming a bit difficult for me initially. However, I soon decided to channelize my energy towards something which would provide me happiness and solace. And what better option could have been for a foodie like me other than cooking. The lockdown has also given me an opportunity to start my YouTube channel (Sweet and Chilli peppers). While I cook every day, you can check out selective recipes of keema dosa, keema cutlets with sweet potatoes, stir fry vegetables and soft shell tacos with Mexican salad, salsa and creamy cilantro dip on my channel.’’
My newlywed best friend Arushi, presently enjoying the marital bliss, says, ‘’ I am from UP and recently got married in Maharashtra, in a different culture. Not having much prior experience of cooking, I began trying my hand at desserts. Presently, I am spending quality time with my husband, Aditya (Adi) as he is a Merchant Navy officer and will go for his sail soon for a long period of time. Hence, this is the time we have to be with each other. Adi loves to cook and his jovial style of cooking intrigues me to join him in preparing different dishes. Moreover, since both of us have a sweet tooth, I wanted to make unique desserts and not just limit myself to the staple food. Hence, I prepared banoffee pie, banana pancakes with caramelized apples, blueberries, and honey. I tried the eggless version and surprisingly the taste was the same as the egg variety which we eat outside. During an anniversary celebration in my family in this lockdown, I tested making a cake with suji that too in a cooker and it turned out to be pretty good. Until the time Adi doesn’t get his joining date, I am looking forward to pampering him with different delicacies. ”
Aru and I used to always have our post office dates or Friday nights usually at cafes nearby our office, especially The Big Chill.
Our Sindhi friend, Bhavika Kateja, expresses her situation, ‘’ Since, I am living alone and have to manage all the chores, cooking is my therapy and kitchen is my happiness abode. It’s been a few months that I have shifted to a new country and I am still settling in. The colors and the whiff of the food give me the much-needed motivation and strength to keep going.’’
She has prepared many dishes; however, her garlic chilli noodles and hash browns pictures took my breath away.
My cousin, Pragya, is an excellent cook and an amazing baker. She has been baking for quite a long time now and vouches for leading a healthy life. You name it and the bread will be ready. One peep at her Instagram profile will make you drool! Spending the lockdown with her husband, Ankit, they are gorging on delicacies such as vegetable pizza, banana muffins, jaggery muffins, and different kinds of bread. And all of this my cousin is preparing at home from scratch. The moment she sent the pictures for my blog post, I literally felt like digging in on the food via the screen. Her Instagram page, ‘Breads by Pragya’ is just mind-boggling and mouth-watering.
Another cousin of mine, Bhanu is also resorting to food to keep herself happy and distracted from the negativity. Trying to maintain a balance between work and household activities, food is her companion and is helping her to survive through this phase. She has already prepared kadhi, khasta puri and chole, pav bhaji, fruity chia seeds pudding, samosa, and the delectable pancakes along with our North Indian food like rajma, bhindi, etc.
As for my place, ghiya, tori, tinda, sitaphal rule our supper, but my parents ensure to include my favorite dishes too. We have collaboratively prepared rajma chawal, aloo tikki, bhel puri, aloo puri, my late nani’s recipe of soup-rice, masala idli, and atte ka chilla, aloo gobhi, and pasta.
Seeing my friends and family, I can say that we have learned the art of cooking. Coronavirus had one major positive result, while for some it helped developed their culinary skills and invoked their interest for food while for others, it helped them reconnect with their long lost passion.
Do you have any special recipes? Comment below and I will help spread it with the world.
The Scribbler's Dais 