About fifteen years ago, I began to pay attention to Amma talking to guests about Appa: ‘He is unable to eat food cooked by anyone else for a long time, you know? I know how to make things the way he likes it. I know not to make radish sambar the very next day after making rotis and chhole, because I know it will cause gastric discomfort to him.’
Later, I remember hearing my aunts say the same thing about their husbands – that their husbands are comfortable and happy eating only the food cooked by their wives. Food cooked by others would be eaten too, without complaint, but not with the husband’s heart in it.
I used to find this rather cute – husbands getting so used to their wives’ particular style of cooking that they missed it when it wasn’t available. I longed for that kind of familiarity with my husband’s palate, too.
******
The last few weeks have been quite busy for me, and I have been extremely held up with work and other things. There has hardly been time to cook properly, and the OH has mostly been eating out or at Amma’s or at my MIL’s place.
Two days back, I woke up on a lovely Saturday morning to him whispering in my ears: ‘I know you are busy, but can you please make something for me today? I am simply craving for the kind of food you cook.’
Both Amma and my MIL are fantastic cooks, but, apparently, the hubby had been missing the little, ‘different’ touches I add to the food I prepare. He had been missing the unique food tastes we have cultivated as a couple. In his words, ‘Even if I am eating outside, I keep thinking how my wife would have made this curry differently and more deliciously’. I could feel he meant it.
Feminism went for a toss. I was delighted.
Lemon rasam, aloo roast and a curry of methi leaves were promptly prepared on Saturday, served with steaming rice, and thoroughly enjoyed.
*******
Life has, indeed, come a full circle.
Simple joys
@Priya
Lemon rasam, aloo roast and a curry of methi leaves – I didnt read anything else except this…I want want want
big tight hugs to both of you
@R’s Mom
LOL. Trust you to notice that first.
Thank you!
hehehe ans we don’t realise how these small small things make a difference to our lives & how they bring smile to our faces
@Smita
True.
@Sandhya
Isn’t that the sweetest thing!!!
@Smitha
Yes, it was. It made my day.
Hehe this is so sweet
In our home the reverse also happens… when I crave for something that only hubby can make right… the way I like it
@Lifesong
Thank you!
The reverse happens in our house, too.
How sweet!!! I’m afraid my husband has never said such a thing to me
But how sweet of him to have missed your cooking 
Can I come over one day to sample the aloo roast and lemon rasam….or wait….make it the undhiyo please!
@Aparna
Thank you!
You are most welcome. Do drop in for lunch/dinner after you guys shift. Would be happy to cook for you. I don’t know if you would like it, though.
That is so cute! My husband says that to me too and I know I am not a great cook! Btw, the lemon rasam sounds very interesting to me, will try it out soon!!
@Chattywren
Thank you!
Do try out lemon rasam sometime. It is a great change from the ordinary rasam that we make often.
Food. Doesn’t it always connect the dots of happiness!
@Zinta
Almost always, yes, it does.
So cute! K says this to me when I return from solo trips to India and it is so heart warming even though I know am an amateur. Stay blessed!
Lemon rasam – hmm. never heard of it! Must try!
@Kismi
Thank you!
Arre, lemon rasam is something Tam-Brahms have been making since ages. Amma has been making it forever.
Will share the recipe soon.
awww!
@Babushka
Sucha sweet moment!
@Perspectives and prejudices
Yes, it was.
This is so adorable
@Jas
Thank you!
How sweet
Lemon Rasam sounds interesting !
@Girl in jammies
Thank you!
“Feminism went for a toss.” Haha, as it should sometimes!
@Su the writer
Oh, yes, it definitely should go for a toss sometimes.
Whatte cute.
@Arch
Thank you!
How sweet…:) Lemon rasam receipe pelase!
@Metherebel
Thank you!
Recipe coming up soon. 
You are one lucky lady
I guess its a long way to go for me, whenever I cook and it turns out a bit out of the mark, Zack will ‘beseech’ his mom to make it correctly the next time.
Sigh
@Visha
Thank you!
Don’t lose heart – I took my own sweet time to come up with recipes that we both love and to perfect them.
I can vouch for this from the MIL’s point of view. My son/s extol the cooking abilties of their wives even of dishes that they loved me, their mother make earlier. Curiously instead of making me feel bad, it makes me smile gleefully. And as in your case, reverse is also true. The DIL loves some of the dishes the boy makes
@Zephyr
The OH is very smart that way. He has reserved certain dishes for me, for his MIL and for his Amma, so that we can all cook for him and no one feels bad.
Very, very nice! (I know my kids prefer my cooking, but hubby doesn’t seem to.)
@Suko
Thank you!
It’s the same with me. Even though Mom cooks most of the times, I simply crave for the way Geet cooks.
I think this is a universal phenomenon.
And of course, the vice versa is also true. She loves it whenever I cook.
@Amit
Lovely lovely post! As a couple we, too, have started enjoying “our own” kind of food…it’s what makes our meals together special. And I am not a good cook either!
@Wanderfool
It is such a wonderful feeling when that happens!
It’s so true for us too! I never realized how much The Techie got used to my cooking (experiments) until I went home for a month for something urgent. He had enough of eating out by one week. By the time I came back, he was thinnner and was looking more like his bachelor days! (And the house was a mess – But I was too sympathetic to complain
)
@Priya
Hey there! Welcome to my space!
LOL @ too sympathetic to complain.
Awww !! how sweet. And what has feminism got to do with cooking for our loved ones
PS: It’s lemon rasam and aloo roast at our place tomorrow.
@Sudhagee
Wow!