Cooking up a Storm: Back-Then to Now!

My earliest memories of being in the kitchen date back to when I was about six or seven years old... I would take some atta, roll it out into a loosely shaped geometrical figure and say "Mamma - I made roti!" My Mum was sweet (and patient) to actually take that loosely shaped geometrical figure, roast it as it is, eat it and say it's the best roti she'd ever had.

My very first memory cooking dates back to when I was eleven. I was in middle school at the time and one of the classes I took in school was 'Basics of Cooking.' This was one class I thoroughly enjoyed (even as I changed high schools across the country) and I remember always looking forward to learning something new and trying it out at home. So, as I continued to learn about pastries, cakes, breads, cheeses, pastas, sauces in school, I made my family members my guinea pigs and tried these things on them at home. They might disagree - but I think they were lucky to be given this silver-lined opportunity!

As days went by, I not only was more interested about cooking and different types of cuisine, but also started enjoying the process. I would try various Italian dishes at restaurants and come home and experiment with different recipes. I'd spend a good few hours in the kitchen making that Penang Curry, being convinced that I could never make Thai food, only to realize that Thai basil and galangal make a hell of a difference. I came to a realization that yes, mushrooms don't brown well if you crowd them! I loved these revelations. I made this process of trial-and-error my own.

Before I knew it, cooking, instead of a 'chore', became a 'hobby' of mine. And now, my passion. The kitchen is the one place where I felt relaxed, confident, calm, and collected. I felt at ease. A lot of the credit goes to my Mum for being there during my goof-ups. She was always there - to laugh with, to clean up after, and to generously compliment my efforts. Without her, this process of trial and error would not have been half as amazing as it has.

So, why am I talking about cooking all of a sudden out of nowhere? I (finally) watched Julie and Julia today, and I loved it! I could resonate well with Julie. After having a frustrating day at work, the kitchen was where she found her solace. I'm not idealistic about one chef like she was - I'm quite secular in that regard. But somewhere in her, I could place a part of myself.

Movies are a lot more enjoyable when you can relate to a character (and one of their passions), aren't they? A few of my friends have been urging me to start a blog where I can share recipes and my experiences in the kitchen. Does it sound like the right time to cook up a storm in blogsphere? I think so!