In the beginning, food was a nightmare. DH is a Hindu, lacto-vegetarian twice a week for devotion, and loves his chili 7 days a week, and I had a hard time trying to find recipes that he would like and that would also please the kids.
I suppose I am what you call a flexitarian. I try to eat less animal flesh, and I sometimes go on vegetarian diets for a period of time. It can be for philosophical and economic reasons, or for health reasons. I firmly believe that health starts with food, so it is important to use spices and herbs as much as possible. In this I take example on my mother, who claims to be a big meat eater but often goes on strange mono-diets following her intuition. I remember how after a few trips to Italy she went into the habit of doing meals out of red bell peppers and white bean and french bean salad.
I suppose I am what you call a flexitarian. I try to eat less animal flesh, and I sometimes go on vegetarian diets for a period of time. It can be for philosophical and economic reasons, or for health reasons. I firmly believe that health starts with food, so it is important to use spices and herbs as much as possible. In this I take example on my mother, who claims to be a big meat eater but often goes on strange mono-diets following her intuition. I remember how after a few trips to Italy she went into the habit of doing meals out of red bell peppers and white bean and french bean salad.
My children however thought food was a good way to make mummy remember daddy.
And for a while they rejected anything remotely Indian. Fair enough.
During the journey I found out that for my husband salads and soups are definitely not favourites, he even thinks it's not food but snacks. However I converted him to charcuterie and wine easily. About this I have mixed feelings ; if you eat too much of that stuff it's bad for health and at the same time extreme right parties have been trying to use charcuterie (made of pork mostly) against muslims and immigrants lately.
It also took me time to realise, he will accept to eat beef but not cow, and preferably when they are cooked outside the house. In fact, as my Tamil teacher explained later, most Hindu Tamils don't like to consume meat from a female animal. My Indian colleague however loves her steack unconditionnally.
I tried many recipes from many books but DH didn't especially like my Indian recipes until I found out this remarkable website which describes tasteful yet simple Indian family recipes :
I had to buy a pressure cooker and that felt so empowering.
Then the day I freely adapted a vegan chili using the One Page Cookbook, I got a lot of praise and felt very smart. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship with the One Page Cookbook. At last I feel I understand the basics of Tamil cuisine !
However I do feel slighly alarmed by these specific recipes intended for hotel rooms, using such ustensils as a kettle and an iron. Next time I go to a hotel I'll have to remember to check the iron before using it on clothes !
