Forced to Cook

You all know we hired a cook named Srinivas. He comes in at 9am everyday to make lunch and dinner for us. He used to come in at 8am until we were bested by a neighbor who offered him breakfast in addition to his pay if he came in early to her house. Srinivas is cheerful. He likes the children. He speaks English. And when I give him negative feedback he takes it in a way so that I do not feel so bad. When you go to someone's house in India it is a major affair. They make the most elaborate dish they can and they pile it on your plate. There always seems to be an unending pot of whatever your stomach desires. It is fabulous to be a guest in India. Well, it is fabulous to be a guest in India as long as you aren't doing it every day. If you come for a short visit from abroad family and friends soon get wind and begin calling you to their homes, which is lovely, but after a couple days of being served like a queen you also begin to feel a bit like a stuffed Christmas goose. It is always my habit in India to try to be out of the house for one meal. If you can skip a meal, cause there are 4 meals a day here, then your tummy just might not pop. So I would like to say I had this in mind when my in laws traveled nearly 24 hours and awoke in my house. They drug themselves out of bed, coerced Flip into hugs and then looked around for breakfast. I offered them freshly cut mango and homemade yogurt with granola, joking that I am still part American and I need my morning cereal. But the truth is I do not have the work ethic of the Indian woman. Most of the woman I know cook 3 meals a day from scratch. They serve everyone and eat last. But me on the other hand- if my feet hurt, I try to figure out exactly what I can make from a seated position. If I am tired, I pull out a box of Mac n Cheese. And if I just don't feel like it, I force the saddest looking leftovers upon my family. This is why I have Srinivas. So I quickly tried to correct the situation by telling my in laws Srinivas was coming soon and he can make anything they like. I unfortunately am not too versed in Southern Indian cuisine so my menu ideas are limited. I also promised them a lunch of mujjige huli, carrot paliya, puliyogare rice and chapatis. When lunch time rolled around they seemed very content with the food. And true to form, my in laws assured me anything I serve is ok and they don't expect me to make anything special or slave away in the kitchen for them. They came to see us and plenty of people will have them over for meals. Let it be known I love my in laws and I have always appreciated their acceptance of me just how I am. And so I sighed a big sigh of relief. And then we started planning all the foods they wanted Srinivas to make the next day. But the stars were not with me. Srinivas had a death in the family and was out for 2 days. I had to cook! And Mac n Cheese was not going to cut it. I did pull out left overs, but I did manage palak paneer, a couple of salads, homemade chapatis, and bindi paliya. And while it was not that good, it was not that bad either. But luckily for me and the rest of my family Srinivas came back today to make yummy dosa, 2 kinds of chutney, sambar and paliya. We can all eat again.