So I finally took the plunge and have set up my own cookbook page. So for all those that are sick of seeing photos of food on my page, you will be happy that I have separated the two. My Mum (Mam) and Papa (Ramesh or Ram) are like the two slices of bread and I am the jam in the middle. The best of both worlds sandwiched together to hold the best filling. Mum taught me to cook. I remember it like yesterday, everyday after school my sister’s and I would run upstairs to avoid the kitchen, but some how I would always draw the short straw. Mum would shout, “Is anyone coming to help me?” My sister’s were clever and they would not reply, but I would always feel guilty and would go and help mum in the kitchen. I started to cook from about the age of ten or eleven years old. I was like Mum’s sous-chef in the kitchen. First I started cutting vegetables, and then learnt how to make chapatis (rotli‘s). Eventually I was cooking full dinners on my own without my mum instructing me. Papa loved to eat. On the other hand, my papa did not cook or should I say would not cook. He never even made his own tea for breakfast! There is the one story Papa would tell us over and over again. The time when he made lentils (mugg) and rotli’s. The mugg was overly spicy and and rotli’s were square. However I do remember how happy it would make me feel when he would say, “su saru saru kavanu bhan-avoo?” (“what have you made to eat, something nice?”)
I dedicate my work to my Papa, who passed away on the 15th January 2015 and my mum who I am yearning to find her passion for cooking again. Papa you are always in my thoughts and whenever I cook I think of you. Papa, I am not just eating jacket potatoes and pasta! Lol! ☺
The Ram Jam Mam cookbook will be out soon, keep a look out for more details. All photographs and recipes* are copyrighted to Ram Jam Mam 2015.
*Unless specified
