“Would you be coming for dinner and mahjong on Sunday?” My maternal grandmother asked me over the phone this morning.
My maternal granny, 69years old, raised 4 children single-handedly when my grandfather died some 30 years ago. After her 2 daughters got married and had kids, she looked after 5 grandchildren for them during the weekdays. They return to their parents only during the weekends. The exception grandchild, who did not live with her, is me.
The story that goes into why I was not placed in her care is that I cried non-stop for the 1st week and she had no choice but to call my mother to come back and fetch me home. I have never felt really close to her as I visit her only during festive seasons and family gatherings. However, we started getting closer since I returned from France, with her great-grand-daughter in tow. She always calls to hear the voice of her only great-grandchild, invite us over for a session of Mahjong Game and dinner.
‘Ah mah’ as we all call her used to sell economy fried bee hoon (Stir-fried Rice Vermicelli noodles) that was very popular with her customers. She still loves to cook and cooks very well. Her dishes are dashed with a mixture of Asia flavors. She can cook chinese dishes, such as Pork Ribs Soup and Stir-Fry Chicken with Ginger and Spring Onions. Her Malay dishes such as Asam Sotong (Squid with Tamarind) and Nasi Lemak (Rice with Coconut Milk).
My granny can also cook Curry Chicken really well. Special Spicy Chili with Ikan Bilis (Chili with Small Fishes) and Fried Onions for garnishing dishes are also popular with her neighbours. Many times, people will ‘order’ her classic dishes from her and she will whip up a storm in her tiny kitchen.
Sadly enough, none of her children inherit her talent for cooking. Every time we have dinner at her place, she will always probe and ask if the dishes taste good. If it is too salty or sweet, we were sure to let her know as she herself is diabetic and needs to monitor her own diet. Everyone is quite frank with her. If it tastes good, she will ask if we want to learn how to cook it.
What about you? Do you have any recipes inherited from your grandmother?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
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3 reactions:
You really need to write and publish your grandmother's life story. She sounds so interesting. My maternal grandmother was also diabetic. We lived with her after I was 7 years old. She's the one who taught me to sew. She was a good cook, but I rarely cook anymore and when i did it was out of necessity for the most part.
Thanks Julia,
I am glad that I published her story here... :)
Thank you for sharing this story!! To answer your question, my grandmother isn't really much for cooking, but she does make the greatest shortbread cookies! (She's Scottish, after all!) I don't have the recipe but I will have to get it from her someday!
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