Hiya All
Here I am bloggin my thoughts, ideas, journals and ofcourse my inevitable ramblings. Greatly appreciate you'll stopping by and add comments if you will. See ya!
Here I am bloggin my thoughts, ideas, journals and ofcourse my inevitable ramblings. Greatly appreciate you'll stopping by and add comments if you will. See ya!
Guys and Cooking!
Posted 11th March 2008 at 08:46 PM by Anandchitra
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It’s a definite given I watch food cooking shows or should I say fashionably say Food T.V. shows ... I do not even mind if its in a language I do not understand. I once watched a French cooking show and learned how to make the roux and even learned the pronunciation being all FRENCH, get it!! But I digress. These days there are so many shows featuring MEN cooking that it is but natural for me to compare them with the fair sex. The most striking feature for me of course is the natural flair with which they cook and present themselves. Whatever be the clothing they always appear natural and never artificial. Also less hype too. That to me is just so much more pleasing compared to some female presenters who yap yap yap ALL the time as if they have too! Well then comes the method in which they cook. That is too natural to describe. They just pick up a pot and a pan and get some spices ready and move around the kitchen with so much ease that it’s no small wonder their concoctions look more than good enough to eat. Let me share here a portion of a meal I saw on TV. today. Take 2 heads of garlic and cut through the center. Place on a small sheet of foil and fold the foil on four sides. Also add little water before folding all sides. Bake in oven at 250 degree for 45 mins. Remove and open foil to see garlic totally melted and mushy. This can be used as spread on bread and if toasted you get garlic bread! Yummy!!<o:p></o:p>
I have fortunate to see 2 and a ½ men cook.
One my Father in Law and one my husband and the ½ my kid. (Forgive me kiddo). My fil learnt to cook at a very early stage and that continued throughout life. When my mil was unable to move being afflicted by arthritis, he used to go every morning to the market to buy fresh vegetables. After finishing his daily pujas he would then start his cooking. For the most part he would be so unassuming that unless you watched that was what he was going to do. I forgot to mention that the day began by cleaning the kitchen before he even made coffee. And I mean real clean. I also used to admire the way he used to get ready to grind idly. He used to fill2 bottles with water and keep it in the fridge and then soak the ingredients and then clean the grinder then get the cold water out and proceed. Of course all this in the middle of so many other things to do as well. Coming to the other man, my husband, he improvised cooking as he went along and learnt more new recipes too. The thing that I liked is the fact that he would have it all ready for me.
And then the more important boy who has started making cookies and brownies and thayir sadam. These days I hear from so many women that men don’t do enough in the kitchen and even in the house its surprising to see so many men cooking on t.v. Could it be that they only do on t.v. and not in real life ??? So here’s to all men cooking 
. I would like to dedicate this to my father in law and if you know of any men in your life who cooks or if you have a favorite t.v personality do share. <o:p></o:p>
It’s a definite given I watch food cooking shows or should I say fashionably say Food T.V. shows ... I do not even mind if its in a language I do not understand. I once watched a French cooking show and learned how to make the roux and even learned the pronunciation being all FRENCH, get it!! But I digress. These days there are so many shows featuring MEN cooking that it is but natural for me to compare them with the fair sex. The most striking feature for me of course is the natural flair with which they cook and present themselves. Whatever be the clothing they always appear natural and never artificial. Also less hype too. That to me is just so much more pleasing compared to some female presenters who yap yap yap ALL the time as if they have too! Well then comes the method in which they cook. That is too natural to describe. They just pick up a pot and a pan and get some spices ready and move around the kitchen with so much ease that it’s no small wonder their concoctions look more than good enough to eat. Let me share here a portion of a meal I saw on TV. today. Take 2 heads of garlic and cut through the center. Place on a small sheet of foil and fold the foil on four sides. Also add little water before folding all sides. Bake in oven at 250 degree for 45 mins. Remove and open foil to see garlic totally melted and mushy. This can be used as spread on bread and if toasted you get garlic bread! Yummy!!<o:p></o:p>
I have fortunate to see 2 and a ½ men cook.
One my Father in Law and one my husband and the ½ my kid. (Forgive me kiddo). My fil learnt to cook at a very early stage and that continued throughout life. When my mil was unable to move being afflicted by arthritis, he used to go every morning to the market to buy fresh vegetables. After finishing his daily pujas he would then start his cooking. For the most part he would be so unassuming that unless you watched that was what he was going to do. I forgot to mention that the day began by cleaning the kitchen before he even made coffee. And I mean real clean. I also used to admire the way he used to get ready to grind idly. He used to fill2 bottles with water and keep it in the fridge and then soak the ingredients and then clean the grinder then get the cold water out and proceed. Of course all this in the middle of so many other things to do as well. Coming to the other man, my husband, he improvised cooking as he went along and learnt more new recipes too. The thing that I liked is the fact that he would have it all ready for me. And then the more important boy who has started making cookies and brownies and thayir sadam. These days I hear from so many women that men don’t do enough in the kitchen and even in the house its surprising to see so many men cooking on t.v. Could it be that they only do on t.v. and not in real life ??? So here’s to all men cooking . I would like to dedicate this to my father in law and if you know of any men in your life who cooks or if you have a favorite t.v personality do share. <o:p></o:p>
Total Comments 36
Comments
 |  AC Men cooking, I have seen 2(Vyas and my Dad) and 1/4 (my DS) cooking. People tell me vyas cooks well. and he has a roommate who also cooks well. Seriously more than the cooking I like the way my DS cut the onions..(maternal pride??  )and veda cuts veggies so well..only when his mom used to ask him..  . now i have to put a request form before buying yam (I am allergic to cutting it..)What a coincidence, yesterday night one of our friends visiting vyas from dubai, called and told me "Bhabhi, I am having lunch at home. mast khana. both vyas and srinu mast khilaya?. I like to watch sanjeev kapoor. but i like the simplicity of the pakwaan show that comes on DD1.simple dishes and you feel you are at home instead of a great set. seriously the cleanliness that comes across the shows, irritates me. come on they do mistakes, but they have the retakes to correct those...in real life we don't .. MY FIL enters the kitchen to pass comments..ofcourse after watching with a microscope...  |
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| |  Maternal Pride Ofcourse my friend and I am also allergic to yam cutting..Today while watching a show the guy cook did not have juicy lemons so he called to the back to get good lemons atleast 4 times..I hear about FIL..what to do..And some shows that are simple are so much more nice to watch..In todays news they have recommended the men to help out more in the kitchen.. |
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| | AC, You've kicked it up a notch to speak. And are you going" bam " too? I love to watch food network. My favorite is good eats with Alton Brown... he is just too funny. My sons love to cook. Older one is learning to make Molagu rasam now. ( thats his most favorite), and my little one can make mac and cheese and maggi ( with a little help from me ofcourse). My brother is great cook, but will leave the kitchen like a pig sty!! DH can make a decent meal, but will not enter the kitchen unless absolutely necessary!!. But my aim is to make good chefs out of my kids. It is a question of survival these days. Don't want to be getting calls when they are in college saying they have nothing to eat!!! Nice one . V |
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| |  Dear AC, The men at home my dad used to pack my lunch when I was in school, he was a fair cook, my hubby is better, he can make the usual fried stuff and empty the oil can. That's the way he likes to eat on weekends for all of us it's a battle with the bulge. FIL was a great cook and used to cook for MIL when she was bed ridden. Nice topic. My DDs are just helping around as of now. |
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| |  Dear AC, Blessed are you with 21/2 men cooking....... Great going indeed. I have seen my dad cooking only when there was a necessity as most of the time I use to take the role. Now my brother, he cooks good and my kids enjoy his sambar. And my dh.......leave me alone is the motto. After a lot of training, he has now learned to buy good vegies from market (rather to my liking quality etc) I am really looking forward to men cooking and we enjoying............ till then keeping my fingers crossed. |
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| | Vandhana you have such a way with words that when you reply to me I feel you have made my Day my friend which you have now. By telling me to teach the kids so as they can survive in college and thereafter I'm glad your there. One thing I do know for sure many young girls do not like cooking and the recently married brides i know skew up their noses at the thought of cooking or even entering the kitchen. So i am setting out to teach rasam and thayir sadam to my baby. And you know these days so many packaged goodies are availavle that would make semi homemade a lot simpler ?! |
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| | AC, And then there are your blogs! Girl, you blog and bowl! I loved this piece. And loved the part where the part where you talk about your FiL cooking. Mine started cooking the same way when MiL went down with arthritis. He turned out to be a super cook. My husband can make delectable Italian food, so I never bother going to an Italian bistro. But after he cooks an hour, it takes me days to clean the kitchen. My personal fav in TV cookery shows is James Martin- he is delicious (cooking ,I mean). Vandhana- if your lil son can make mac and cheese, he is my favourite. I might kidnap him. |
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| |  Men and cooking, My husband is a great cook. He knows just two recipes. Sambhar and Macroni. I cannot be in kitchen when he cooks. I get all restless to do things my way. So I leave him and give him feedbacks. Tv cook show - Food Network at 9 or 10 in the night. I am catching up with men chefs on TV  ..They do have a different style to cooking as you said. Nice topic to have touched upon. |
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| | Enjoyable topic AC. You have a real talent to come up with these! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> My husband claims he is a good cook, which I will not refute. But he cooks only on an absolute need basis. In the last decade he has probably cooked only 5 times or so. That too not a whole meal but just one dish! So I always raise my eyebrows when he starts saying he likes cooking! J <o:p></o:p> My Dad is like my husband. My Dad was in Germany for a few years back in the late 70s and early 80s. He was forced to cook then because of the lack of Indian stuff there. He does a good job but again he does not do it unless it is necessary. <o:p></o:p> My son who is 5.5 yrs shows a lot of interest in cooking but I wonder if it will only remain at my husband’s level of interest. I am going to try hard to make him better than his Dad in terms of frequency of cooking. He recently made a chapatti and was I proud of him or what?! Maternal pride, like Shanthi said. <o:p></o:p> Vandhana, your sons’ wives will be lucky. Good teachings V! And I love watching Sanjeev Kapoor. I like his simple humor the most! My son and I are great fans of his show. My son was recently telling me that when he visits India next he may not be able to stay with his nana-nani (my parents) 'cos he may stay with Sanjeev Kapoor instead! SS |
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| |  Hi AC, Gr8 piece of writing. About men and cooking......in my house everybody cooks.....its a bare necessity for all.....DH used to stay in hostel since college and his experiments with cooking is really gr8 and most of the daily edible items, I learned from him during my first year of marriage......Even, he used to cook on regular basis now-a-days, like 3-4 dishes minimum in every week......(we cook hardly 6-7 dishes in every week)....and cutting veggie for any item is his responsibility because I am too slow and the number of times I wash my hands and the veggie in between cutting makes all the kitchen towels to drop waters....... Now, I have two bros, and I am really proud to say that they even cook a lot better than me.....(OK, I am health concious and use very less oil....so food doesn't taste so good, but after all it's healthy......). Both of them are staying alone and in USA, one can't go to resturants everyday to eat, so they have to cook to survive......... Now, I heard from my hubby that FIL cooks, but never got a chance to eat his dishes....... And my father, he is also a good cook but he used to cook only when its bare necessity......but now-days with so many resturants in every nook and corner in India, he has never felt the bare necessity to cook........he prefers that way..... And then all my maternal/paternal (Mama and Chachu) uncles......they are really good cooks.....one of my uncle even used cook for small occasions/party at home......he is the best among all the cooks, I can say that........ But to my gr8est surprise, I never saw these men cooks to learn cooking from recipe books/taking notes during cookery shows unlike me........ So, I have really never felt that cooking is women's job.......given the chance, men are better evolved cook than us...... About my fav cook in TV shows, it is Angad Bedi (Cook Na Kaho) and Sanjeev Kapoor (Khana Khajana)....but Karen Annan, has all the very good recipes in his collection........ Regards. |
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| | Make fried stuff and empty the can Oh My dear Janani..I dont what it is with Men and fried stuff. Ofcourse I too like it but can live without it. But dh has to have and he's soooo lean its totally unfair. And how can one who is making not try some ???!!!! Well glad your daughters are helping out now. They are our future generations and we need more like your daughters!! |
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| | How long are you going to keep your fingers crossed my dearmost Lalitha....Just a nudge and tons of encouragement might do the trick for you..ofcourse be prepared for the cleanup!! |
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| | It takes you days to clean after your husband cooks Vidya my sweetheart a big NO. Why dont Men clean up after themselves ?? Most seem to be that way !! Mac and cheese the eternal fav.. I saw on t.v. squash puree being added to reduce the heaviness.. also wanted to tell Vandhana about it.. No kidnappings are allowed.. he is a very very cute kid I have seen photo so STAND IN LINE my friend :) |
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| | You're catching up with Men cooking on t.v. that too at night !! I knew you were one naughty gal Meens ..calling u this since i read you like this name.. Sambhar and Macaroni..strange combo hmm? We all get restless as it is OUR domain after all what do you say?? Thanks. |
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| |  dear AC, i thought i posted here, and never saw my comment so am doing it again, all my gurus were men, my grandpop and then my 7uncles including my dad and then my fil who owned a hotel and would tell me how to convert the hotel stuff to homely taste. i remember after my wedding both my mothers wanted to visit and i was at wits, because that time morning lunch is from hotel and the evening dinner is made at home as it is mostly tiffin so now my fil, said nothing to worry i will teach u and ur mothers will never know and when i took his guidance true to his words my mother's were both bowled over said nothing like this and i have improved a lot in the south indian cooking and i could see my fil winking at me paarthiya. so it has been a wonderful experience with my thatha starting with rasam and then bhajji his fav, my dad kittu a very good organiser before starting cooking his table must be clean and all things ready like tamarind, cut veg and dhall and rice all set in front and scraped coconut, curry leaves and so on. my uncle papu chithappa was damn good at kofta, abt which i have written i bet my moustache with, in my articles. then in the end my husband during the late years used to make a thaladam kind of sambhar he would always mix up the masalas and prepare an alaadi sambhar with good flavour and priya was his ardent fan , appa sambhar madiri varavey varadu, and only i fall short here, because the kitchen used to be spick and span when my hubby was alive, being a hotelier he was very strict about it..thanku for bringing back memories..sunkan |
| Updated 13th March 2008 at 01:09 AM by sunkan |
| | Sundari I am so glad your earlier post got missed so you posted again..a gem of a post to TREASURE..thank u thank u.. so casually you write all the men in your life inter twined.. just like all the seperate ingredients go together to make a great meal.. |
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| | Dear AC, Nudging is not enough to move my man. Only necessity moves him and that never arises in my house as there are 3 ladies and one of them pampers him to the core maybe my son in law will fulfill my desires. That is the reason keeping my fingers crossed. |
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| | We both will keep our fingers crossed for you.. If its any consolation think that you dont have to cleanup after them! :) |
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| | SS your reply is better than my post ..trust me..I mean it its a pleasure for me to read yours.. "So I always raise eyebrows:... Thats true aint it they always claim that they like cooking.. maybe some fashion trend ??? Your son its different dont you think.. more because its in OUR hands how we mold them..You just need to keep him involved.. hope young girls dont see this but really todays girls couldnt care less about cooking !! so our boys need to fend for themselves :) BTW in which t.v does Sanjeev Kapoor come..I hope its sun t.v. as my brother has got it and what time so I can try catching it! |
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| | Meeta is it my imagination or havent you been making the "rounds".. your style is free flowing one .. so relaxed to read.. hope you are in the journalist profession cos you got talent my friend..I am really ROFL because of your dripping kitchen towels..hehehe.. You said it that food doesnt taste that great with less oil and okra is a standing example..my son says nani makes better okra but I know they are soaked in oil.. I truly agree that these MEN dont need to take lessons or refer to cooking books.. You did not mention clean up after them so maybe your MEN are neater than others.. Also in which t.v. do Angad Bedi and Karen Annan come?? |
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