This morning I opened my laptop to add my daily post. I knew what I was about to present to you, but was distracted by an entry on Facebook by my friend Padmini Natarajan, otherwise known as Padmum, a member of our Friday LBC – Loose Blogging Consurtium.
Padmini hails from Chennai, formerly known as Madras, in Southern India. She is a published author of cookery books and a regular writer in magazines and papers in her part of the world, covering a broad selection of topics, mainly to do with her Hindu way of living.
This morning she presented us with this video, the first in a series:
It shows us the importance of milk in a Hindu household, both for ritual and cooking purposes.
As a child growing up in Dublin, we woke to find the regular order of six pints of milk sitting on our doorstep. It was used for drinking and cooking purposes. I had an allergy to all things dairy, so did not drink or eat anything made with milk or butter. It never stopped my using them in the kitchen when helping my mother with the cooking and baking.
Enjoy the video it is short, about eight minutes.
As I think you know, we drink only soya milk when we’re at home. Apart from avoiding dairy milk, it stays fresher longer (up to two weeks in the fridge and many months if it’s unopened) and is cheaper. Jenny often uses it when she’s cooking.
i did try drinking soya milk, but didn’t like the taste, so I decided that since i had managed quite well for the first sixty years, I would continue on without it.
Like Nick, we use soy milk instead of cow’s milk.
My son in law is now using it.on cereal. I use orange juice. I suppose we all find our own way.
My wife and myself grew up on farms, Nothing but “milk”.
Now look at me.
Mayo, I have almost forgotten what you look like these days!
The simplicity of an Indian kitchen (in India) always surprises me. Such intricate and delicious meals without all the bells and whistles you find in most American kitchens, the irony being that sooo many Americans–despite their fancy kitchens–use so many processed and “instant” foods (just add water, etc.). The sound quality was not as good as I hoped, but I did like the explanation of how milk is (or was) used in daily Hindu rituals. I’d like it if Padmini made another video explaining how the cow became so revered. Hubby explained it to me, and I certainly better understand the Hindu “worship” of the cow. In fact I have a very hard time myself now if I’m presented with a beef-based dish at dinner. I’m not allergic to milk, like you, fortunately, but I don’t like the taste that much actually. But I do use it a lot in cooking and Hubby keeps us supplied with freshly homemade yogurt with it. No commercial yogurt is any better!
Alice, I think this is the first of a series by Padmini and I look forward to the future videos. I am learning all the time about the way of life and customs from India.
What can I say? Thank you.
Ramana, your sister is very talented!
Raised on whole milk and Real butter, I love them both. But, with getting older cows milk has become a digestive problem. So I tried an assortment of other milks, most didn’t help and tasted terrible. Now I use Almond milk and all is well.
Brighid, I have yet to locate and try almond milk. I do like almonds, so it may work for me.
@Rummy– it seems your sister got all the talent in the family.She did a “GREAT JOB”.
Because of her ,I’m going ro drink more milk. but the other stuff — not so much.