I have never liked cooking but always enjoyed eating. Well, throw in different ingredients at the right time to get a sumptuous meal is what I have learned over my meager experience in cooking. That too something developed over the years. The irony is I cook every single day, 3 different ones since the last few years. And the verdict I still don't 'enjoy' cooking but it is not difficult as I thought it to be. But I can't or rather I don't prefer to cook the same old stuff every other day. Rice, curry, roti, dosa etc. I do enjoy cooking something different once a while. It might be a sandwich, desert or anything. And I know there are a few things which I made and did not work out and a few things turned out to be good. Cheese macaroni with the usual Amul cheese slices available is one of my favorite. Because my son also likes it and its simple. Then there is fish masala which I made with tamarind paste because tomato was not there and turned out to be my husband's favorite dish. Chocolate cake using the cake mix, easy fix sandwiches and I have reached a mug cakes. Somehow I prefer less ingredients, lesser processes, quick recipes with good outcomes. It sounds greedy. But I have achieved that task somehow and the most important things you will find in my kitchen are pepper powder, fresh cream, tomato puree, ginger garlic paste and chicken stock. I prefer to throw in the cut things into the pan and cook it and serve straight. One this path the 'One pot chef 'show has helped me to make ice creams, mug cakes etc. And that too using everyday available things in the Indian market. I would really love to try out a lot of other things which is shown in the show as you have to just mix in the ingredients and throw in a pan or microwave! But I don't get the right ingredients here and hence restraining myself. I enjoy cooking when trying different things. Unfortunately, my family prefers the same things cooked same way! But the entire thing is I am not looking for appreciation rather I am looking at appeasing my own cravings. And that is what therapeutic cooking is all about.

“No one to blame! . . . That was why most people led lives they hated, with people they hated . . . How wonderful to have someone to blame! How wonderful to live with one’s nemesis! You may be miserable, but you feel forever in the right. You may be fragmented, but you feel absolved of all the blame for it. Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.”- Erica Jong. I felt that is true. It is am immense relief if we can just blame others and circumstances and chance to all our short comings instead of taking on our own head! And if we don't blame others we blame ourselves and fall into the imminent vortex of depression!