Ask any foodie about the best food he or she ever had and pat will come the reply, "Maa ke haath ka khana". Now, you are thinking that how come every mother is the best cook in the world. I think a mother cultivates the habit of cooking good food for their babies. They make sure that the spices are balanced, nutrition is right and temperature just as the baby likes it. My husband once complemented me saying "You have become a better cook after becoming a mother". I bring to you a story of a woman who learnt so many dishes after motherhood, in spite of the fact that she did not like cooking earlier. Meet Dharti, mother of 2-year old Dhiti. She has tried everything for her kiddo, right from baking fruit breads and cookies to churning up delicious ice-creams. Psst...She even inspired me to bake cookies and even carry a meal-box while visiting restaurants :)
Heyyya Dharti!!!
I have seen you transform from a newbie mother to a full-on mommy. It's great!!
How has motherhood changed you?
I can get up in the middle of night and cook, if Dhiti gets up and says "mumma khau che" :) I never imagined myself like this because I love my sleep a lot and cooking was the last thing I could think of worth doing.
What is your main focus as a mother?
I want my daughter to be happy, healthy and a positive person.
You were not that much into cooking earlier. What influenced you to cook for Dhiti?
Dhiti is underweight and also a picky eater so my first priority is to give her nutritious and wholesome meal. Secondly, she being underweight we can't afford her to fall ill and loose any further weight. So me and my husband Jaimin made it a point to develop her good eating habits and what is better than home cooked food. This concern for her transformed me into fair cook from a miserable one! :)
You have not exposed Dhiti to preservatives in food. You make sure you cook for her. Reasons?
I am just trying to give Dhiti a healthy lifestyle during her present formative years. However, once she starts understanding then she will be free to decide about her dietary choices. We have come across multiple instances wherein children who do not have healthy eating habits encounter numerous problems later on right from low immunity, obesity, blood pressure etc.
Dhiti is just 2 years old. I think that when I can cook food with fresh ingredients then why should I give her food with preservatives. Believe me, its not that tough at all I could find plenty of blogs and ideas by some simple googling.
When you travel, you pack foods for your lil one. Our readers would like to know what could be packed?
We started with a road trip when Dhiti was 11 months old, I remember carrying a hand grinder cum blender with me!!! -You will be amazed that I even carried all masalas in small packets so that I don't have to use those in hotel !!
- Being a gujju thepla is a must.:) It also has a good shelf life.
- Churma laddoo with jaggery can be good choice for energy requirement. One laddoo per day is fine.
- Khajoor and dry fruits laddoo
- processed Cheese cubes
- Home made wheat bread (its really easy)
- Corn (you can store boiled corn in freezer, microwave it with butter and salt pepper.)
- Dry bengal gram chutney to go with Idli or Dosa
- Masala puris fried in Ghee
- Mamra
- Home-made wheat or ragi biscuits
- Home made wheat based chocolate cake
- Home made cerelac (http://itsybitsymom.blogspot.in/search/label/Recipe)
- Ragi atta
- Fruits
- Dry fruits
If hotels open the kitchen allowing you cook for lil one, what equipment could be carried?
I have traveled thrice with Dhiti till date but I was amazed to see that all hotels allow using their kitchen if that is for a kid.
I take one small kadai, small microwave bowl, knife, peeler, spoon, small plate
What can be cooked here? (in relation to above)
Khichadi, roti, rice, dal, daliya, porridges, soup
Last time after she turned 2, when I traveled I allowed her to eat the hotel food such as dal khichadi, dal, rice, poha, upma, idli. I do not see any harm if the food is freshly prepared, non spicy and served hot.
What will you dish up quickly when you enter kitchen?
-- Moong dal and bhakhri
Your maa ke haath ka khana is
--- bliss
Your funniest memory of food...
(Laughs) I think i have told you about this. Jaimin( my husband) is very finicky about eating at someone's place. If he sees untidy kitchen then he will never eat there. So this was before marriage he was coming to meet me at my rented apartment. So excited me got up early in the morning, cleaned the house(including fans), prepared food. I made bhindi that day. I had cleaned the bhindi properly and then cut it but then I thought let me clean it again just to be extra sure. I cooked that bhindi which came out to be sticky unaware of the fact it happened because of me washing it again after cutting it. Still I made him eat that bhindi. So this was my first impression and display of my cooking skills.
Your all-time favourite cuisine
--- It used to be punjabi cuisine but now its everything with fresh ingredients except Thai Green Curry.
Your non-food passions
-- Dancing.. I know classical dance Bharat Natyam, I have done basic and advance course in Salsa, hip hop and Jive. But out of all folk dance is my favorite as it is full of expressions.
It was great hearing from you Dharti. Readers, who would like to ask her any questions about recipe can comment below. She will be more than happy to answer it.
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