Food for the Soul

Last week was a culinary adventure for me. I was contacted by Nadine, a Jewish mommy to teach an Indian cooking class for strictly Kosher moms at her home. The aim was to teach some easy recipes and raise awareness and funds for a cause close to her heart - The Duchenne Foundation, also known as muscular dystrophy. This was a an exciting opportunity for me, and for the first time I was teaching and cooking outside my kitchen for 10 ladies and for a charity event and to top it off, in a strictly Kosher home!

Now let me explain what a strictly Kosher home entails. First of all, all food had to be ordered and brought into the home. Though I have cupboards full of spices which I was happy to bring to the class, none of them could be used. All the Indian spices were had to be new and opened in her  home. I couldn't bring any of my spices, not even the dry red Kashmiri chillies which I had to source at the last minute as she couldn't find it in her local grocery store. Naturally all the chicken and lamb were bought from a Kosher butcher adhering to their strict guidelines. Meat and diary are not mixed either, so marinading meat in yoghurt which is typically done or having a cucumber raita on the side was a definite no-no.

After all that was bought, I was introduced to her large kitchen which had two sinks, one for meat and one vegetables. Then the utensils, pots and food were to be kept in another area and not mixed. It was a true education for me! Not to mention slightly stressful!

In the end, I cooked a simple chicken curry, spicy minced lamb with peas, french beans stir fried with mustard seeds, curry leaves and garlic and cumin rice.


The ladies enjoyed themselves and were pleased to learn something different, I hope to run more classes like this in the future!

Then on Friday, I took part in the Kensington Mums motherhood exhibition, where moms met to discuss their views on what motherhood means. 45 moms were involved in this project, and it will be showcased at Beaufort House in Chelsea in June. We had to write on a blackboard a word to complete the sentence ' I am a mother and...' I was torn with what word would encompass exactly how I felt. Motherhood has effected me more profoundly than I ever thought it would. In the end I decided to complete my sentence with 'fulfilled'. We were videod for a minute about this and I really got in touch with how crucial it is to find that balance. Since I was a little girl, I have desired to be a mother. But motherhood isn't just about bringing up children, which I only learnt after having my two. I had this fixed view that you finish university and use your degree to find a job. However, then you have children and this isn't always possible. How do you bring up children and do something productive and find that sense of self again? Is it even possible? It is through my kids that Spices for my Sweets began, it is these little people who have given me that sense of equilibrium and have restored me again and I am grateful for this.

After a wonderful morning with the other moms, I strolled down to Books for Cooks which is a cosy bookshop in Portobello solely selling cookbooks and at the back they have an experimental kitchen. I had the most wonderful lunch by myself and I relished every single minute. On the way back, I went into Jamie Oliver's Recipease which is a kitchen concept where chefs were demonstrating to students. It was a feast for the eyes! I finished the day picking up delicious pastries for my kids
and husband as a big thanks, as really, I owe it to them. I got on the tube back to my children and was looking forward to seeing them again, what a day it had been! My heart was full of joy!