I came across this pic in the Kerala Tourism page sometime back and it promptly transported me back to childhood summer holidays that were spent in Kerala.
The kitchen has always been the heart of every traditional Indian home . I have the fondest memories of the kitchens in Kerala. Some homes still have them. Families would burn wood and of course dry leaves to set the fire going for the day and the fragrance, trust me, had a charm of its own that lingers in my mind. In fact, There be a loft above to store the wood required for the oven.
I have a lot childhood memories of times spent in these kitchens . Every one was involved in some aspect of the food preparation. The men would bring the groceries and vegetables. Pretty often, vegetables would be brought in from the garden behind the house . So would the coconuts – an integral part of South Indian cuisine . All the women were involved in cooking the food . Some would grind the masala, some would be stirring up delicacies at the oven side and the older people along with the children would chop vegetables into precise shapes and sizes . And of course , there would be a lot of jabbering. The spices and the grated coconut would be ground manually on the grinding stone. So was the batter for idlis and dosa. Meals would be wholesome , very healthy and delicious and would be served on banana leaves.
Times have changed a bit and I am very glad I could be a part of an age where every thing was so mechanised or mechanical. This picture has certainly churned up beautiful memories.
Image : Kerala Tourism
