Man can Cook

UNTIL reality rudely knocked, I saw myself at the acme of nearly every human endeavour. Explorer, writer, cricketer, drummer... but never in...

UNTIL reality rudely knocked, I saw myself at the acme of nearly every human endeavour. Explorer, writer, cricketer, drummer8230; but never in my teenage dreams did cooking, in any form, ever make an appearance. On a clammy night in the Amazon rainforest, someone else would be roasting the Giant Horned Frog.

As time passed and the daydreams withered, that character flaw stuck, helped along by an affinity towards inertia and an irrational fear of pressure cookers Here8217;s a remembrance quote, just in case: M was terribly, sniff, scared of cookers, he always thought they would burst in his face.

But in Karen Anand8217;s Simple Cooking for Smart Men Popular Prakashan, Rs 195, I saw not only an interesting story to tell, but also a chance to test the efficacy of the book.

If SCSM could get me, king of clumsy, kitchen alien, to make a half edible dish, then it could get any slob to. The book, by the way, is an interesting read, even if you don8217;t intend to do any cooking. Divided into eight sections the basics, party-eats, fit food, make-boss-happy types etc, it promises to put the chow on your table, fast. Among its user-friendly features, and I found this to be a boon, is a glossary that lists local names of ingredients nutmeg=jaiphal and the people who stock them across the country.

Step 1
Last Sunday, I headed over to my fianceacute;e8217;s place8212;my kitchen8217;s hopelessly understocked8212;all set to make Coq Au Vin or chicken in red wine. I shopped for bay leaf tejpatta, thyme and other green, leafy things and picked a nice-looking bottle of olive oil. But I froze at the 8216;Set brandy alight over a flame and pour into chicken8217; bit. Sounded a bit too tricky, and after we arrived at a quick consensus both my guardian angel and the little horned being agreed it was quite unnecessary, I went in for a quick change of plan.

In came Jardaloo Murg8212;one tender pre-cut chicken, garlic paste, cloves, cinnamon, onions, apricots and a classy bottle of Lea 038; Perrins Worcestershire sauce. The stage was set.

Step 2,

	MALE ORDER
	8226; The 8216;women are better cooks8217; perception is just hogwash, says Anand. Tradition ensures they just have more practice 8226; Men love gadgets in the kitchen, though they don8217;t use most of them 8226; Keep it simple at first, don8217;t overreach 8226; Keep your kitchen decently stocked 8226; And to make fluffy omelettes, add two tbs of water to the egg mixture

Five onions, thinly sliced: Why can8217;t somebody genetically modify these tubers and expunge the sting!

Soak apricots in hot water: What8217;s the connection?

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Add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves: This is simple, but just how is all this going to turn into a nice gravy? There, the onions are well-browned.

Splashed hot water and scraped up all bits in the pan.

Add ginger, garlic, chilli, jeera, fry for one minute: Ouch! These oil pings sting.

Add chicken, brown well, add salt, cook till chicken is tender: Figures.

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Add Worcestershire sauce three to four tbs and heat through, add apricot, the drained off water: Yes, Karen.

Step 3
8216;8216;I think it8217;s done,8217;8217; said my fianceacute;e, looking up from her book, after the chicken had cooked for some more time. In the handi was a dark, muddy-coloured gravy that smelt tangy and sweet.

I switched the stove off, let the thing cool for a while and then scooped up a bit with a piece of bread.

Now, if I may say so myself and who else will, it tasted darned decent8212;sweetishly spicy and much better than most of Mumbai8217;s much-hyped eateries. The best thing were the softened, glazed-with-spice apricots.

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I scooped another bit to ensure that I had indeed tasted right. The time taken for the entire exercise was around 35 minutes, give or take 10 for the time I to-and-froed for guidance.

With a flourish, I served it with some rice. 8216;8216;Very good,8217;8217; she said. 8216;8216;Though maybe, we could have made it a little more spicy.8221;

Good, she didn8217;t say my mother cooks much better than you do.