A Toddler Tries to Cook

Summer holidays continue! I was slowly running out of ideas to entertain my daughter. In the past one month we have done it all. Well almost, I guess. Gardening, learning dance moves, watching movies, swimming, painting, art-n-craft, candle making, shopping, clay modelling, playing puzzles, beading a necklace, going for a holiday, spending time with grand-parents and even studying! Then I got one more idea. COOKING! And surprise, my daughter loved it. Now she wants to do more of it every day!

CHAPATI (INDIAN FLAT BREAD)
We began with a very simple ‘chapati’ (Indian flat-bread) making. A little bit of flour and water and we were ready to go. She loved messing around trying to knead it into a dough. Once that was done, she pulled out small pieces from the dough and began to roll it into a circle with the help of a ‘belan’ (rolling pin)! It turned out more like the map of India and America but she was happy. And so was I. The last part of ‘chapati sekhna’(cooking the bread in a heated pan till blisters appear on it), the mommy took over. Then we were both happy to put some jam on eat it! Yummy!

ALOO CHAAT (POTATO SALAD)
I gave her peeled and cut pieces of potato after which she took over. The little one put the pieces in a bowl and mixed with it chaat masala (a mixture of Indian spices), jeera (cumin) powder, imli (tamarind) water, chopped dhaniya patta (coriander leaves), pomegrante seeds, and salt and pepper. Then stirred the mixture with a spoon (and went on stirring because that was the most enjoyable part for her!). After more than ten minutes she finally gave up! The end result, however, was quite a tasty evening snack.

MANGO LASSI (INDIAN MANGO MILKSHAKE)
Summer’s here and so is the number of mangoes in the house. Here’s our filling summer quencher for you. Healthy and yummy. All the little one needed to be given was a cup of plain unsalted yogurt, two mangoes pulped out, sugar and water. She poured it all into the blender and was more than happy to see it swishing around inside. Then she poured it carefully into small glasses (and one even into a play cup for her favourite doll) and served it to us. A frothy, tasty and healthy drink (heaped with dollops of affection) we thoroughly!

SHAHI TUKDA (INDIAN BREAD PUDDING)
The final one was a dessert. My mother tells me I loved making it when I was young. Turns out my daughter enjoyed it too. I handed her a few toasted breads which she tore in half (she refused to let me cut it in a more clean fashion with a knife!) And placed them in a dish. On this she then poured the mixture of milk, milkmaid (condensed milk), cardamom powder and sugar (this mixture was boiled before and put in a bowl and cooled before handing it to her). Then the dish was placed in the fridge for it to chill. After dinner, it was sprinkled with slivers of almond and we were ready to dig into the sinfully delicious sweet.