Family traditions are the threads that weave the fabric of our shared experiences, binding generations together with cherished memories. These are the rituals we do on a regular basis - whether it's the annual holiday gatherings filled with laughter and love, or the simple Sunday dinners where stories are exchanged over homemade meals, these traditions create a sense of continuity and belonging.
Ho ho ho and getting into that Christmas vibe here! Every weekend I have been taking out a few select favourite decoration pieces, adorning the various corners of the house..
The last couple of weeks I’ve had my head down (mostly) and have been trying to get a lot of paperwork and organization done. The big “T” has been looming in our house and I have been procrastinating on this for as long as I possibly can.
As the last of the golden leaves have fallen and the magnificent Autumnscape is replaced with barren trees and frosty fields, December comes around and I begin to crave spices, warming stews and curries. My kitchen itches for me to bring together flour, sugar and spice and that bottle of rum to plump up the dried fruit and maybe a nip between whisking and beating. While outside the gravel-grey skies are bare and the biting winter winds have stripped the last of the leaves from the trees, inside the inviting glow of the candles promise cosy warmth.
The last thing I expected to really get hooked on in terms of food, when I first moved to Germany, was bread. Having lived in many countries I was used to a great variety of bread, mostly flatbreads. In my arrogance - or call it ignorance - I was sure that while Germany had some great bread-types – think of the pumpernickel, others were overrated – for me the pretzel!
Easter for me is an adopted festivity. Being an Indian Sikh I took to this colorful spring tradition when I married my German husband almost 17 years ago. As a Sikh we are a very tolerant religion and are more than open in celebrating the rituals and traditions of other religions. I was raised mostly in the Middle East and the US where as a family my brother and I were encouraged by my parents to take an interest in the traditions and cultures of all our friends.
Breakfast is for champions! And according to the trend it is sneaking its way into the other meals of day. We have a tendency to put an egg on everything and serve up “breakfast for lunch/dinner” – a trend that I follow myself, especially when the traditional eggs, bacon, grilled tomatoes and baked beans are concerned.
The German in me lives for the impressive variety of breads available to me. My Indian-self craves the rice with almost every meal and the Italian-lover me, is captivated with the pastas and risotto and the kid in me could live off creamy mashed potatoes for quite a few days. Over the year my intake of simple carbohydrates adds up to extreme levels.
We are a household of two different religions and cultures. Both our worlds were so far apart as we grew up that we were separated by a wall - literally. My husband was born and raised as a Catholic in the “GDR” or what is known as East Germany. A child of the 70s and 80s, at a young age he saw the wall come down in his early twenties. I am a Sikh, born in Bombay and raised around the world from the US to the Middle East. Fate definitely played a big role in bringing us together.
There is something very special about the Nordic baking craft. It lies in the sheer simplicity of mixing basic ingredients to create something so enticingly good. I am particularly enamored by their yeasty breads and buns, probably because of the liberal use of warming spices like cardamom, cinnamon and even saffron. There are no frills, no frosting or glazing. It is back to the basic of yeast, flour, eggs and co. … and of course a good dose of cardamom.
I’ve been forcing myself to slow down. If you can imagine a Formula One car at full speed coming to a near halt of an old 1960s VW Beetle you should get the picture of the backlash I am having. Finding myself in a new routine and a different job situation has turned things around for me, giving me what everyone is referring to as “more time.”
I’ve seen a flood of Holiday Christmas posts, ideas, gift guides and menu ideas all across the web for the past few days. I went and buried my head in the sand, hoping if I stayed there for a while Christmas this year would blow past.
One of the most comforting aromas for me is the one of freshly baked bread emanating from the oven and filling the house with it’s sweet, yeasty perfumes. I live in Germany and have the most wonderful variety of fresh bread available from an abundance of several bakeries to choose from. I am spoilt for choice. The short distance I drive each day from home to work, which is about 4 kilometers, there are 6 bakeries, 2 of which offer organic bread and baked treats. Yes I am spoilt for choice.
As March turns into April and we turn our clocks forward to “save time” I was surprised to look at the calendar and see that another holiday is upon us. Time is flying and there seems to be no saving it. Easter is but a few days away and this year Easter Sunday also chimes in Tom’s birthday.
I tend to be like a mad scientist in her laboratory mixing and concocting. There's an idea of different ingredients floating in my head and I begin writing it all down in my diary. It's a process that takes days, sometimes months, before I even begin to actually play around with the ingredients in the kitchen.
I can hardly believe my stay in Dubai is coming to an end. I’ll be flying back to Germany tomorrow and just thinking of the cold there makes me shiver. But the 22 – 26 degrees C we’re enjoying here has warmed us up right to the core. Wonders what sunshine does to the soul and mind.
Parts of me are waxed, my toes are pedicured and fingers manicured, my favorite sundress and peep-toe heels are packed and I am raring to go!
I braved it to the markets yesterday and survived! Waded myself through the now melting snow and fought the overcrowded aisles to get my provisions for Christmas. Every year – year for year it’s pretty much the same scenario.
There are certain times in my life when I feel like I need to break free. Free from the usual. Beak away from what I do everyday. Don’t get me wrong – I love my life – especially where I am today. I have everything I could desire and am happy – right down to the core. I am a Gemini you see, and every now and then my terrible twin comes out of the hiding and asks “What if …?”
I have often shared several of my childhood stories with you. Food that triggers memories of my grandparents, parents or close relations is something I often cherish. It makes preparing that particular dish all the more special. While stirring the dal or whisking batter for a special cake, I will find myself smiling at the memories of my mother or my grandmother.