My earliest and fondest memories of my love for food are from India, a melting pot of global cuisines. A country which can take any cuisine from any country, and gives it its own soul and identity.
Starting from when I was 5 – I remember being propped up on the kitchen counter as Maa would so lovingly cook food for the family. At my grand-parents’ house, I remember there always being laughter, eating right from the pan, cousins and aunts and uncles bustling in and out of the kitchen, as my Daadi made Samosas or my Naani made Halwa.
Growing up, I remember the 5 Rupees my Baba (grandfather) would hand me every morning, and I would skip down to the next-door pastry shop and buy myself a Potato Puff or an Ice Cream. I remember the hot Jalebis and Kachoris my Nanaji would get for as at the crack of dawn whenever we visited him.
As an Adult, during the cold Delhi winters and starry-blurry nights, I remember laughing the night away with my cousins with piping hot Carrot Halwa in one hand a warm drink in the other. I remember the Sardi-Ki-Dhoop (the Winter Sunlight) and wedding shopping, and eating some piping hot Chaat or Honey-Chili Potatoes.
Somewhere between sitting on my mother’s humble kitchen counter and the starry Delhi nights, food and cooking because of source of creating memories, a serious stress-buster, and a passion project.
Over the years, we moved countries, and as I grew up in the United States, even as a 10-year- old, cooking became my mechanism for coping with whatever life was throwing at me and as a way of creating new memories and holding on the past ones. Cooking was an escape. It was nostalgic. And very soon it became a Passion. I explored every cuisine there was to try, ate the classics, discovered my LOVE for Pizza, and experienced some of the best Restaurants a city could have. I found joy in cooking spread of foods for my friends and family. I especially enjoyed cooking for my Daadi – having her explore the cuisines of the world by making them Vegetarian, Onion-Free, and Garlic-Free.
Because Food & Cooking became such an essential aspect of my life & memories, I felt that I needed to channel that love out to world -- share with you all my stories, my recipes, the soul of vegetarian and vegan cooking, and hopefully help one of you create a happy memory around my recipe. And that is how Saffron Moments was born. I often get asked, why “Saffron Moments” – well because it stands for who I am:
Saffron: A flower (also the meaning of my name) and a unique-exquisite spice, for which a little goes a long way. For me ‘Saffron’ always reminds me that it’s okay to be different, it makes you that much more special. The beautiful hue and fragrance always reminds me of my India.
Moments: Food for me has always been about creating moments and memories.
So, from the archives of Saffron Moments and my fondest memories, sharing below with you all, a recipe near and dear to my heart, the Potato Puff, or Aloo Pattice as they call it India. The same Puff I would buy every time Baba gave me 5 Rupees. Oh, the happiness 5-Rupees can buy – ask me, I know! And now you shall too!
Check out the post below and swipe on the post for the detailed recipe. To read more about my adventures, my recipes, and food memories, please follow me at @saffron.moments and share with your friends and families.
At the end, I want to thank you all for reading and following along on my journey to discover and grow. I want to say thank you to my grandparents, my parents, my husband, and all the friends and family who have inspired me with their foodie adventures, cooking and cravings (looking at you Husband, haha) and helped me create abundant memories and recipes for myself, and for you all through Saffron Moments.
Pankhuri Garg Tamotia
( United States Of America )