Cooking And Complimenting

It's a picnic of sorts at home with our sons back with us now.
Enjoying, trying so many dishes and having a gala time preparing and serving a variety of food.
Feel so happy when all the food disappears as fast as it appears.

Honestly can't say whether the dishes are nice or not. Everybody eats whatever is prepared. Either all are hungry and so they eat. Or they just eat what is prepared whether or not they like it. No choice for them really, eh! :D

My sister from Chicago always says it's with pleasure and devotion we cook for the family. Our role must end there. The like or dislike of whatever food put on the table depends entirely upon the luck of the person(s) eating it. If they compliment, well and good.

I feel very happy to get compliments for an item well-prepared. But I know it's never good to expect everyone to have only good comments each and every day. If they don't express anything, never feel bad! I have never failed to thank anyone who has cooked and served me with food.
Well,
thanking for being served and complimenting good food are two different things.
Anyone who cooks each and every day, will know how much time and labor it involves and most times it is done with much love and care for family or friends.

At functions like marriages/house warming, etc., it's been my habit to taste every single dish served. I never forget to seek out the host as well as the contractor/caterer and compliment them about the good dishes that I relished without fail. I take care to mention only the best out of the whole, so that it comes from my heart and does not appear artificial. If the food was just OK, I would still go over and thank them anyway.
I always take care to compliment them only after I have finished with eating. Otherwise, the hosts/cooks/servers have a habit of heaping on some more of whatever I praised, despite my protesting that I can't eat anymore.

Even for complimenting about good food, 'timing' seems very important just like the comedy scenes in movies. With food one has to be doubly careful as the stomach can withstand only so much.

In the Hindu religion, serving food to one's fill is considered the best among all charities. As this is the only time when we say 'no' to more than our capacity to eat. Hmmm... those were the days when the concept of doggy bags were not yet popular!!
But not so with charity of money, materials, etc.
More is always welcome. Storage or carrying is no problem. Bags can always materialize from nowhere to store any quantity being given away.

Cheers.

Mahalakshmi

Charity Meals For Stray Dogs

There's a temple right next to our flat complex.
A mother and daughter duo have a (roadside) temporary shop to sell flowers by the side of our gate. They buy loose flowers from the wholesale market in Parry’s corner and weave them into garlands here. We have a good view of their activities from our windows.
Two cats, one a golden brown and another, a grey-white, join and give them company when they set shop twice daily.

It is so nice to watch the cats display their affection by waiting and welcoming the two ladies and caressing themselves against their sarees with their tails held upright. The ladies pat them and settle down to work while the cats rest beside them keeping an eye on all those who come to buy stringed flowers.
And then there is a man who comes peddling a bicycle to drop off food packets for the stray dogs. It is cooked rice mixed with some boiled milk. A philanthropist, some streets away, has the rice cooked in huge quantities, engages this elderly man to leave portions at street corners where stray dogs frequent. Her philosophy is, dogs do not hunt but depend on humans for food, so she wants to do her bit for their cause. Cats join in and so do some humans!

The old man carries a big bucket of food, ladles a portion on a piece of paper kept inside a plastic carry bag. He leaves these carry bags on the roadside for a set number of animals at each spot. We know how territorial these animals can be so the man leaves only those many packets! All street dogs know his timing and they wait for him to come at the appointed time in the mornings and evenings.

These 2 cats too wait for him. On occasions, when I am home, I have watched this activity with much interest. But what I saw other than this food distribution is also disturbing. This man would keep two portions for the two cats. He would also hurriedly pack four additional portions in a single carry bag and hand it to the ladies. They carry it home. That’s their lunch and dinner! Wonder whether the animal-lover knows whether a portion of her charity is shared by humans too!!

Mahalakshmi.