Wednesday evening I attended a cooking class at our local Vo-Tech with my MIL. Knowing she has an affection for Indian food I thought this might be a fun way to thank her for watching Kid Three during Bible study this fall.
Our instructor, Sitara (maybe that was her name?), was a lovely Indian lady who apparently is skilled in the art ridiculousness of Feng Shui and Numerology as well as cooking. MIL and I both passed on those discussions. Forget the new age hocus-pocus -- we had been lured there with high expectations for an educational feast.
And a feast it was, indeed.
I already knew I didn't like
curry (which isn't a particular spice but rather refers to spicy Indian dishes of many kinds) yet I maintained an open mind hoping I may enjoy it this time. I wasn't entirely prepared to handle all those Indian spices...
Cumin,
Turmeric, and
Garam Masala. Let's just say I will be ever-so-
violently scribbling through those on my grocery list, especially Garam Masala, the grand nemesis to my happy tastebuds.
Maybe these are good individually but combined - not good for me.
The class was fun. I really enjoyed watching her cook for us and tell all about Indian food but I started to get nervous. Not only did she add a very healthy dose of the spices, she added about sixty jalapeno peppers...seeds and all. (It may have been slightly fewer than sixty, my eyes were watering and nose was running so I could have been a little distracted.)
The aroma of all that food cooking was wonderful so naturally when it came time to go through the buffet line I was duped into thinking I suddenly liked Indian cuisine so I didn't deny myself a good portion.
You might be surprised to know it doesn't help to blow on your food to reduce the hot and spicy sensation opening every sinus cavity you never knew you had. Temperature aside, this stuff was HOT. I downed two glasses of water in no time trying to douse the flames of the 6 alarm fire on my tongue.
Not wanting to be disrespectful to the cooking host I did my best to eat what I could and "rearrange" the rest on my plate to give the appearance I had devoured it! Thankfully, my MIL leaned over and relocated some of my Aloo Mater to her plate. (Thank.you.)
The class participants had to clean up and then it was time for dessert. The Invisible Me d.e.s.p.e.r.a.t.e.l.y. begged for a 9 x 13 pan of Duncan Hines double fudge, still-kinda-gooey-in-the-middle brownies. (Yeah, the whole pan.) But I settled for a square of Raas Malai (you know, baked ricotta cheese & sugar with crushed cardamom seeds. Not brownies.)
I went home with an appreciation for Indian food even if I didn't share the same affection for it as the others in the class -- some of them were downright giddy. I also went home with indigestion and a special rumbling in my tummy signaling there may be repercussions from such a cross-cultural indulgence...
Tonight at the Heinecke house, we'll be having an all American dinner of chicken in which no one will need to use their shirt sleeve to satisfy a runny nose because of spicy food. And for dessert? Do you even have to ask? Brownies, baby. Brownies.
...
It really was a fun adventure!
Are you a fan of Indian food?
8 comments:
I love indian food! But no one else in my house does so therefore I don't cook it much. Plus, because of all the spices I don't like the smell that lingers in the house for days after I cook it, but I've been known to indulge in an indian buffet or two ;) It definitely is a love or hate food.
SS
I like curry, but Dirk doesn't, so we're not very experienced in Indian dishes.
Fun hearing about your experience!
Spicy is good, but I have to be in the right mood. The running nose is a real distraction when trying to eat.
I love indian food. My favorite is tandoori chicken. But I do love some curry too. And I prefer my raas malai without the cardamom seeds. It is definitely something you have to work your way into liking. Like asparagus!
I kinda like it too. I LOVE cooking classes at FT. Were you at the one on Rockwell, with the big mirror over the cooking area so you can watch??
I like it. I have to be in the mood for it though. I like The Taj. It's an Indian restaurant up on NW Expressway in OKC. They've got a lot of milder dishes and some really good desserts. They also have good chai.
Not a curry fan. I have tried to like Indian food but it just isn't happening.
When do we get to see some vacation pics? :)
i looooove indian food, and my husband and i will eat garam masala on pretty much anything...most recently sweet potatoe fries. yum.
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