Home Cooking - My Way of Life

Since my parents decided to spend their time babysitting (truth is they spoil my Third Angel to the max) for the past 10 months (Ahmad Fitri Rusyaidi now learns to stand up on his own, much to his self-inflicted pains, bumping his well-rounded head on the floor), I did not allow Mak to cook. Yes, you heard me because most of the time, people downplayed me staying with my parents, that I have things easy and prepared for me. Bo Hoo!

Well, Mak has spent so much time since she's 9 in the kitchen - cooking up the storm. As a result, I, too, bore her brunts that no girls should go and play in the morning because they need to learn how to cook. There were times I spent hiding under my bed, crying in silence as I had to forgo playing 'masak masak', 'rounders' and 'getah' with my league of friends.

Shishhh, I digress - as always.

So, I forbid Mak (hehehhehe like I told her to stop ironing everything and anything when she reached 60) to cook. The first couple of months, we ate, mostly, take-aways and urghh, they sucked (especially to me who could detect MSG too easily) and most of the time, those food found their way into our bin. Such a waste!

Slowly, we cooked during sunday a dish or two for the following week. Kept in the freezer, Mak would heat them up. Lately, we have upped our 'production', cooking a dish or two for each weekday of the following week. Imagine opening you freezeer full with food of various tastes and colours. And also imagine me standing for hours (tutup kedai pukul 2 pm every sunday) - shishhh, they arent't really caloric-burning activities sadly.

No. I am not complaining for all the works and time I have to spend cooking - cooking is my mental therapy (ops, I'm quite a psychic nor psychotic OK)!

In fact, I would like to praise myself for taking up this way of life, which has showed me food indeed could bring the family and the loved ones together at heart when you cook with your heart and soul (I love Kylie Kwong's latest series).

I love the way everytime Mak asks me to cook this and that (yeay! I have more Brownies' Point from my mommy!). I admire Ayah's determination to buy the best ingredients (for the past 37 years, Ayah took helm at 'pergi pasar' department and Mak - she's the Queen). I share with my sister in law on tips to cook - fast and for a blast! I never forget to cook something or two for my brothers, especially my youngest brother (in case, he comes over on Sunday). For me Little Angels, I always ,make sure I keep my larder fully equipped for a pie, a tart, a cake or puddings - anytime of the day!

Apart from the joy of serving people I loved, cooking for them comforts my soul (smile, pray and share while cooking makes me feel I have transferred all my love and devotions to them), softens my heart (i'm more forgiving and understanding) and makes them closer to me.

Apart from natural goodness home cooking could offer my loved ones in terms of health (less sal t, less fat, more greens etc.) and hygiene (did you know that more malaysians suffer from TB due to eating at places served and cooked by foreigners?), I think I save more money. Yippe!

So, when was the last time you cooked for your loved ones? Try it, more often and see the difference yourself :)