Happy place

I wasn't in my favourite mood this weekend. Blahness that just sat in my head and constantly annoyed me like a horrible song on a neighbour's play list on repeat mode.

Sulking didn't help. Nor did vain attempts to put me in a better mood.

I know this will bite me sooner or later, but read on. In the movie 'Namesake', Tabu was asked by her friend to close her eyes and think of what made her happy. Sitting in the car and looking out the window, I did that. I instantly knew what would make me happy. I came home and took out one of my favourite books - The MICA yearbook.

I read through every word written for me, by me, for everyone else, by everyone else. So many people who made a difference to those around them. So many people for whom, now, I could write tomes about because I know them better. So many of you I wish I was in touch with more.

There were many memories that book brought back. That I'd played Monopoly and not just badminton. Co-cos, Chotta, Sankalp, pre-reads, my cushion, paan, MCSA, all my varied groups of friends, Kelkar Ka Dhrishti, Cake-com, parties (where I looked drunk and where I looked out for the drunk), Surya movies, Athithi, endearing nicknames, ragging, fad of wearing mismatched chappals, fractures, placements, room assignment, assignments, walks, TT, the fights, the love.

Some refuge this was. If one was mad about something, he could turn around and find someone that would make him happier. That is my happy place.

Philosophy... Really?

With last night's class, I realized that I've grown. Just a little deeper than you may think.
We've learned this over and over again. "Don't count your eggs before they hatch".

Last night, I waited for MANY eggs to hatch. I resisted the urge to count them till I could not wait any longer.

So I had 3 bowls in front of me. One for the egg shells, one for the yolks and the third for the whites. And even then I didn't count.

I weighed.

540 gms of yolks and 900 gms of whites for the Sacher Sponge cake.
350 gms of whites for the Butter Cream done the Italian Meringue style.

My thumbs have micro cuts from the egg shells. The pay off? I'm an expert at separating eggs. And the butter cream was heaven on a slice of Génoise layered with raspberry compote.

Wish come true

As a kid I watched Martin Yan, Julia Child and Jacques Pépin not knowing how big they were. In fact I don't think I cared who was cooking on TV. This was entertainment.

I sat with my bowl of Maggi and two slices of bread watching them julienne, chop, dice, sauté and carve. I probably knew how to cook mussels before I knew what muscle was where in the human body. I watched those chefs de-vein shrimp and have recently wondered why they didn't do it anymore. Of course I've only seen them now in the super markets already de-veined and prepacked.

Sanjeev Kapoor was an inspiration too. Charming and always making food seem so easy. I remember a particular episode where he taught us how to make chocolate cake and wished I could cut and fold the batter like he did.

And yesterday, my wish came true.

I wore my chef's uniform and grinned like an idiot. I carried my "kit" with pride. I've peered through all my knives over and over again. I was thrilled to see the little KitchenAid mixers and the giant 20 quart industrial mixers. I was happy doing Baker's Math. I LOVE my new whisk and can't wait to use the baby offset spatula on the Génoise sponge we baked yesterday.

At the end of class we rinsed, soaped and sanitized the dishes and the kitchen floor. My new work shoes kill my feet. I can only have dinner after half past ten most nights. I had to cut off my lovely, long, beautifully shaped finger nails.

But who am I to complain when I would go to sleep smelling of a wonderful warm bakery for a long time to come.

Lesson 1 and probably the most important of them all

Cooking is an Art; Baking is a science - Don't mess with the proportions.