Modern Kitchen Gadgets - Bane or Boon??!!
I am trying to recollect if I got up from the wrong side of my bed, yesterday morning !
When I went to the kitchen to switch on the Coffee Maker, the light did not burn. I knew there was some short circuit problem, but the time being too short to request V to look into it ( not that, he is an electrician, but just with a hope that he might prove to be a handyman? !), I took out my old brass coffee-filter, given to me when I got married.
I emptied the milk sachets into the microwave mug and opened the microwave door. There was a big noise and I saw sparks! I dared not venture. So, I searched for my old saucepan and boiled milk on the gas-stove.
When we were having our coffee, V (who was not aware of what was happening in the kitchen), casually mentioned that after a long time, coffee was really tasting "heavenly" that day. I just smiled and nodded – compliments from him are hard to get and so I just wanted to lap it up, without telling him "old is gold", any day!
Another gadget which I am most dependant is my hand-blender cum mincer. My blender is literally my right hand – I very often forget that I have one in flesh and blood.
To make sambar and rasam – I microwave tamarind and tomatoes and use my hand blender to churn. Thereafter sambar and rasam are just a child's play.
Mincer is my dear companion to effortlessly mince onions, green chillies, ginger etc.
Now, please don't laugh, this time for New Year, I gifted myself a spare handblender cum mincer, because that is one gadget, I cannot manage without. If one conks without notice, the other will come to my rescue – that was my calculation!
I need not elaborate on the mixie at all. It is our very "kai kodukkum deivam". On days it refuses to work, I cook dishes which do not require grinding like Vatha kuzambu, Podi potta sambar etc! Molakutal, morkuzambu etc get a holiday till the mixi is repaired.
Grinder is God's gift to the South Indian Woman. I am never in favour of the now available readily ground idli & dosai mavu. I also fully make use of the other two attachments of the grinder – coconut grater and atta kneader. Friends, atta kneader assures you of soft phulkas, on a uniform basis every time. When we knead atta for rotis, we feel our hands start paining – the machine does it mechanically & effortlessly!
Oh, how can I forget my electric rice cooker? For perfect grainy, but soft cooked rice, that is better than pressure cooker.
Now that I call myself "health conscious" (at least for the time being), I make full use of my vegetable and fruit juice maker. Try a glass of carrot juice with ginger and a hint of pudina ! You will feel energized. Citrus fruit juicer has replaced "hand squeezing" of oranges, lemons etc.
Now, coming to the main point!
My aunt was here last week on a visit. For
70 +, she looked a trim woman, with no extra weight around her waist and hips. I was asking her what the secret of the same was. She was mentioning how
she still grinds chutneys in ammikal and grinds idli batter in the old fashioned kallural, refuses to use the kitchen slab for cooking, but keeps the gas-stove on the floor and cooks so that she is continuously and regularly bending,
does not use the dining table but sits on the floor and eats, like how we used to do many years back.
Squatting on the floor comfortably is a forgotten exercise for me.
She was also mentioning that she hand washes the clothes, not using the washing machine, so that her hands, particularly the fingers do the wringing of the clothes and are very flexible.
All the above provide her the necessary exercise for her entire body, which we just do not bother about. She is free from low back pain, spondylosis and not to forget, the famous knee pain which any 40+woman, is now prone to!
Now tell me, are the modern gadgets a bane or a boon?
Love,
Chithra.
When I went to the kitchen to switch on the Coffee Maker, the light did not burn. I knew there was some short circuit problem, but the time being too short to request V to look into it ( not that, he is an electrician, but just with a hope that he might prove to be a handyman? !), I took out my old brass coffee-filter, given to me when I got married.
I emptied the milk sachets into the microwave mug and opened the microwave door. There was a big noise and I saw sparks! I dared not venture. So, I searched for my old saucepan and boiled milk on the gas-stove.
When we were having our coffee, V (who was not aware of what was happening in the kitchen), casually mentioned that after a long time, coffee was really tasting "heavenly" that day. I just smiled and nodded – compliments from him are hard to get and so I just wanted to lap it up, without telling him "old is gold", any day!
Another gadget which I am most dependant is my hand-blender cum mincer. My blender is literally my right hand – I very often forget that I have one in flesh and blood.
To make sambar and rasam – I microwave tamarind and tomatoes and use my hand blender to churn. Thereafter sambar and rasam are just a child's play.
Mincer is my dear companion to effortlessly mince onions, green chillies, ginger etc.
Now, please don't laugh, this time for New Year, I gifted myself a spare handblender cum mincer, because that is one gadget, I cannot manage without. If one conks without notice, the other will come to my rescue – that was my calculation!
I need not elaborate on the mixie at all. It is our very "kai kodukkum deivam". On days it refuses to work, I cook dishes which do not require grinding like Vatha kuzambu, Podi potta sambar etc! Molakutal, morkuzambu etc get a holiday till the mixi is repaired.
Grinder is God's gift to the South Indian Woman. I am never in favour of the now available readily ground idli & dosai mavu. I also fully make use of the other two attachments of the grinder – coconut grater and atta kneader. Friends, atta kneader assures you of soft phulkas, on a uniform basis every time. When we knead atta for rotis, we feel our hands start paining – the machine does it mechanically & effortlessly!
Oh, how can I forget my electric rice cooker? For perfect grainy, but soft cooked rice, that is better than pressure cooker.
Now that I call myself "health conscious" (at least for the time being), I make full use of my vegetable and fruit juice maker. Try a glass of carrot juice with ginger and a hint of pudina ! You will feel energized. Citrus fruit juicer has replaced "hand squeezing" of oranges, lemons etc.
Now, coming to the main point!
My aunt was here last week on a visit. For
70 +, she looked a trim woman, with no extra weight around her waist and hips. I was asking her what the secret of the same was. She was mentioning how
she still grinds chutneys in ammikal and grinds idli batter in the old fashioned kallural, refuses to use the kitchen slab for cooking, but keeps the gas-stove on the floor and cooks so that she is continuously and regularly bending,
does not use the dining table but sits on the floor and eats, like how we used to do many years back.
Squatting on the floor comfortably is a forgotten exercise for me.
She was also mentioning that she hand washes the clothes, not using the washing machine, so that her hands, particularly the fingers do the wringing of the clothes and are very flexible.
All the above provide her the necessary exercise for her entire body, which we just do not bother about. She is free from low back pain, spondylosis and not to forget, the famous knee pain which any 40+woman, is now prone to!
Now tell me, are the modern gadgets a bane or a boon?
Love,
Chithra.
Total Comments 52
Comments
 |  Well in the beginning I was sure I was going to say Boon but as I neared the end very doubtful..Chithra..Yet another well written blog.. I think it depends on which way you look at it..In today's world where everything moves fast these mechanical conveniences are a boon I think.. I would have said just for the working woman but not really so.. All moms have to multitask these days so we do use these conveniences but dont have to compromise on quality.. keep blogin:) |
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| |  Dear Chitra Lucky to be the first one to comment here.. Superb analysis. Please don't laugh.. I tend to compare our modern gadgets with our manual,external right hand.. servant maid. One day's absence makes you spin around. I am unable to clearly demarkate here.. boon or bane,but can proudly say that my mom's upbringing has equipped me to handle matters smoothly with or without gadgets. I use the other gadgets in moderation only but microwave,mixie and washing machine are my best friends.(I do hand wash myself, it's not the maid's job here!) BTW being a lazy loaf & cleanliness freak I think , to maintain the the gadgest free from dirt ,stains and grease takes a lot of effort. What say? Regards Sowmya |
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| | Dear Chithu AC overtook me when I was typing the matter.. alpa santhosam pochu.  |
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| |  I am going to add another gadget to the list of Kai kodukkum deivams. It is the onion chopper. I will not trade it for anything else. I can never produce those silvery, symmetrical squares without it in a million years. For today's fast-paced world we need to be dependent on these gadgets. We can then squeeze some time to visit the gym and get our body parts to proper shape and flexibility. |
| Updated 30th March 2008 at 10:25 PM by sundarusha |
| |  Chithmam, I am one of those who still uses the traditional filter.and hand blender (mathu) and a simple blender. Veda always scolds me for this, saying that I don't know to live life comfortably. My Dad brought sumeet mixer the first batch released, but did not allow us to use it for quite a few years for the simple reason,that I will not appreciate the traditional grinder and ammi kallu..the same went for servant maid..he used to tell me..i will give all the luxuries but what if it becomes a bane for you in later years... Somehow that discipline ingrained does not leave me...My MIL used to say that I don't know how to live in luxury... I still cannot understand if they are a boon or bane..According to me half of the gadgets are a bane... Saturday evening had been to a PTA, there one of charu's classmates mother canvassed for AMC cookware..she said that it is so nice that she has just thrown away the cookers and other pans...and she told me it makes life easier..I said I am comfortable the way i am ..(BTW..did not want to antagonize her there but was thinking what will she do if there is no power will they go out to eat  ..)I feel anything if balanced well is a boon..and I know i am going to be in the minority here. |
| Updated 31st March 2008 at 12:06 AM by Shanvy |
| |  AC, my dear Boni friend !Yes, it is a boon & a bane, rather two in one. Without using them, we become more independant besides on the way to becoming trim.But still, having got used to them, it is not easy to do without them ! Love, Chithra. |
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| | Sowmya, my Honey !All these gadgets came "into existence" in Chennai, many years after I got married. So I was using ammi, attukal, handwash etc etc... for many years! If I show you the photo of "then Chithra" & "now Chithra", you will comment. Eppadi iruntha neenga ippadi ayittaeLae! But now living in a flat with restricted space & facilities for those things, I give myself the inevitable excuse for using them less! Love, Chithra. |
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| | Edaa, Palakkattu "chodi" kutti!Enda ingnanai miss cheithu? AC, being a Maduraite, marched past you - is this not enough proof, MOLae? Love, Chithra. |
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| | Welcome to my blogs, Usha !What is this onion chopper you are talking about? Is this the centre pressing one? Please rush to me the details, Usha! Poor me, chopping onions with hands, but using the mincer only selectively for fine pieces. So, we ignore the "natural gym" facility at home & prefer to finish household work & rush to the "gym" !! That is what modern life is all about, sadly . Love, Chithra. |
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| | Shan, you are the more practical....minority. Last time when I went to Madurai, I bought a small coffee filter, all over again. I thought, when I feel like "relaxing", I will make myself a cup of coffee from that decoction. Ofcourse, keerai-mathu is very dear to me inspite of potato-masher. I prefer the knife to aruvamanai more to avoid squatting on the floor. I now wish, I had not given it up !! If you continue the same way till you reach my age - you will be a Super Woman! Love, Chithra. |
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| | This onion chopper is not an electric appliance , but manual. What I meant to say was that we are always trying to figure out less time -consuming, effective methods in keep up with the fast lane. |
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| | Dear Chithu Whatever be the reason... AC is a palakkad "maatupon" right? Influence illama poguma?  We are born with chodi and DILs acquire extra chodi (however smart they may be before entering our naadu!) Eppadi parthalum palakkad touch iruke? There again you go.. "palakkad chodi...."  BTW I was talking about Thanjavur not Madurai.Chith you from Thanjavur as mentioned in " Mountain mole hill" post? Since when?  Regards Sowmya |
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| | Honey, we have more "thudu thudippu'than chodi ! BTW - digression. My nativity is Thiruvarur in Thanjavur district & my grandfather migrated to Madurai. In fact, V claims that all palghat people originally belonged to Thanjavur & migrated to the west coast in search of greener postures! I tease him that he is "secretly" envying my Thanjavur nativity !! Love, Chithu. |
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| |  chithu, Nice blog once agin.....Very interesting topic....I cannot think about washing clothes in hand anymore.....for my mom already uses W.M/c for the past 10+yrs and i was always brought up in comfort  .Kitchen gadgets.....my god, i do use them fairly,but as you have mentioned it roghtly its aboon as well as bane!!! Dunno how will i be when i reach 40+.....let me dare not to think abt it... |
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| | Aish Babes, I can make outthat you belong to today's generation ! well, there is nothing wrong so long as you use your "exercising" capacity also, in whatever way, you find time for ! Otherwise if aches & pains started for me in 60s, you are likely to go in for the same, earlier, as you say in 40s - God forbid ! Love, Chithra. |
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| |  Dear Chithra Ma'am, Like they say you cannot have the cake and eat it too , so you've got to compromise. Now if you want taste then you need to work for it otherwise you can make do with the speeders like grinders, blenders etc. Idlis and dosas or merely chutnis taste heavenly when ground in ammikkal . What is really ironic is that we will not do housework and employ machines or maids for them and then we go and spend about that same amount of time in a gym or health center. I truly admire all those who stay fit like your aunt because of the domestic exercise. If you compare the ladies who do the housework , they are far more active than those who do not have enough time. Each work is fantastic for the body viz. washing clothes , drawing water from wells., sweeping , moping etc. And of course a healthy body = healthy mind. Guess I am deviating from the topic but I guess the lack of time and the need to maintain the subsistance, leaves many with no chance to enjoy the niceties of life. And so dear appliances you are the need of the hour! Love, Devika |
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| | Dear Chithra.. Liked your post very much. I always admire my mom for she is much more energetic and active than me, for her age !! And her secret is the amount of manual work which she does. Even today, she prefers to wash most clothes with hand (I have to force her to use washing machine many times). She just could not get comfortable with vacuum cleaner - so velakkumaar still rules the VC. My mom also used a kalloral and ammikkal for a long long time. Kuniju nimirndhu vela seyyara habits are not there too much in me and am too lazy and too reliant on gadgets. I still believe that despite modern technology every woman, including me of course, shd at least know and be comfortable with the manual way of doing things. What if, one fine day, thanks to global warming and energy crisis, all electricity switches off and we are thrown back to the good old days of ammikkal? :0 :0 I dread to think of this possibility. Love Pavithra |
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| |  Dear Chithra mami, Talking about gadgets and old age and shape......... My dh's grandmother died in the grand old age of 96 but till few years before to her death she used sit down and cut veg in arruvamanai. No knee joint pain. She used to squat on the floor and get up in a jiffy. She used to wash her 9yds saree herself. Great was her strength & stamina. Though I cannot use arruvamanai not because I am endowed fairly well, but just did not learn to cut in the same. But we still have our family dinner daily squatting on the floor, which my dh enjoys a lot. Though w/m is there from past 8 yrs still would like to wash some clothes by hand hence had a washing stone erected last week. We are a mixture of both - not tooooooo gadgety nor too handy. Inbetween like trishanku. But I also love to have gadgets and a spacious beautiful kitchen like shown in all ads. And if at all power goes off in the middle of grinding............then God alone has to help us. All said & done, gadgets are needed so that we can save some time and try making all your recipes. |
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| |  Dear Chith Again an interesting blog. Yes it is both a boon and bane. When elders say the jobs without the use of gadgets helped them to stay healthy it is true. The exercise they got from those jobs really helped them. Unless and until we compensate it with exercise we are going to face the consequences. There is no doubt about it. The things like grinding in ammikallu, carrying the water pot in hip, taking the outer part of coconut and scrapping it are all the few things which is completely forgotten by me. So as you said allotting a time for exercising is a must. Love Vidhi |
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| |  Dear Chithra, A thought provoking blog. My mom lived up to 93 years. She used to wash her 9yds sari, not only that, even her bed sheet every alternate day. Till I moved to Kilpauk, I used to wash my clothes, though I have a WM. I used this once aweek for washing bed sheets, pillow covers and other furnishings. When I took a job, I bought a mixie which had a plastic container for grinding batter and a small steel one for chatni etc. My mil opposed to use the big one due to madi/acharam. So I used to grind in attukal. Though we bought a dining table, as it was too cold to sit on floor in winter at Jamshedpur, we were unable to use it as my mil opposed. Now I have all the modern gadgets. Yet I had no servant maid for sweeping, swabbing and for cleaning vessels. At least these were keeping me some what fit. After coming to Kilpauk as for my daughter's advice I am keeping the servant. For working women modern gadgets are really boon, but they have their vices. Love, PS |
| Updated 31st March 2008 at 08:30 AM by Pushpavalli Srinivasan |
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