Daadi Amma Maan Jao!

Do you remember this classic number? Trust me people, blessed are those who have not one but two sets of parents, pampering and supervising, overseeing and looking after them, every step of the way. The second set of course being doting grandparents. I'm one of those lucky grandkids who had the fortune of having her Aaji (grandma) around till she was well above 80, and Ajoba (grandpa) till he turned 89.

You know there's a local saying, that if your children are milk, grandchildren are the cream on the top. And believe it or not, but that's how the Aaji-Ajoba treat their grandkids. We were completely spoilt and sheltered by them. Of course, the strict dad ensured that the laad-pyaar didn't get into our heads.

THE IRREPLACEABLE GRANDMOM

I have very fond memories of Aaji. She was my second mom. Mom was a working woman, so we'd spend loads of times with her. 

Back from school, to be welcomed at the door by - Aaji!

In need of a tenner for a secret snack treat. The Jeannie - Aaji!

A card game stuck for the lack of a fourth partner. The Knight in shining armor - Aaji!

Critical study times. The Supervisor - Aaji!

Food craving at unearthly hours. Chef to the rescue – Aaji!

She was a fab cook to say the least. And I wish I had jotted down her recipes to the t, somewhere. Yes mom knows many of them, but even there are a few lost along the way. Plus the added magical touch she would lend to the food, that ain't coming from anywhere. 

Again, a significant part of the pampering that I mentioned earlier, was never letting us step our foot into the kitchen. We were to focus on study and careers, and things like cooking could happen when the time was right (which in my case turned out to be post marriage). I understand only now, how I missed the opportunity of getting trained under a Masterchef I had right within the confines of my own home!

THE WOMAN

But of course, apart from being a grandmother, mother, a wife, a socially active neighbor, she was how can we forget a woman! And so naturally, like many of the world’s certain population, she had moods to be caressed by others. And at such times, she would just shut out the other person.

As silly kids, who are on the brink of adolescence, the things that I mentioned above unfortunately tend to slip from our minds. We are so self-occupied and busy in our own world, that we end up taking our loved ones for granted.

I loved my Aaji to bits. And even if I didn't, my dad would've never tolerated rude behaviour in the house. He would've straightened us up immediately. But I guess I never really looked at her like she was an old woman, she was more like a friend, and that would lead to arguments and back-answering at times.

Had my crazy friend been around today, even a simple plain dal-rice cooked by me would've made her proud and super-happy. And on a day when she would be sulking out of anger, I would've coaxed her into giving in, with these comforting homely Daadi Amma Maan Jao treats. At her age, the Sugarfree Natura twist on the traditional dishes would’ve been just perfect, satisfying the taste buds, and yet being surprisingly healthy!

Sugarfree Natura Doodhi Halwa

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons Ghee

1 medium sized dudhi, grated

1 small bowl mawa

3 small bowls milk

One spoon cardamom powder

A few saffron strands soaked in warm milk

4-5 almonds, slivered

8 to 10 pellets of Sugarfree Natura, or 6 to 8 tablespoons of the powdered one, adjust as per taste

Method:

In a heavy saucepan, boil the milk and reduce to half.

In a separate pan, take ghee, and once hot, add grated doodhi.

Fry for a few minutes, and then add the reduced milk.

Once the milk reduces further, add mawa.

Add Sugarfree Natura, once the liquid evaporates.

When almost done, add saffron and cardamom powder.

Garnish with slivered almonds.

Serve hot or cold.

Sugarfree Natura Basundi

Ingredients:

1 litre Milk

One spoon Cardamom powder

A few Saffron strands soaked in warm milk

A couple of Almonds, slivered

10-12 pellets of Sugarfree Natura, or 10 to 12 tablespoons of the powdered one, adjust as per taste

Method:

In a heavy saucepan, boil the milk and reduce to less than half.

Keep collecting the cream along the way and retaining it in the vessel.

Add Sugarfree Natura, once the milk has almost reached the required level.

When almost done, add saffron and cardamom powder.

Garnish with slivered almonds.

Serve hot or cold.

http://sugarfree-india.com/


PS. The post is Sponsored, but absolutely not fictional. The experiences, feelings and opinions are my own.