Well, you know what they say about sharing recipes?
There are many of us….myself included, who hate to share recipes.
We hold them close to our chest much like cards in a game of poker. I don’t know why. Is it because we love a certain ‘special recipe’ to be just ours? It brings us so much pride and recognition that we can’t bear to have someone else bask in that same glory?
My husband takes many a dig at me, its something that just infuriates him. I was totally serious about not giving out my recipes and always joked about it, laughed it off as being a trait well embedded in my genes. I can’t help it. I’m EI……East Indian.
Our community is well known for its culinary prowess among the Catholic communities in Mumbai, especially our skills in ‘sweet’ making.
However, we are equally known for NOT sharing recipes……and if we do, there are many a doubt to its veracity.
So, why would E.I. me, decide to blog and disclose my favourite recipes? ( I can vouch that all the recipes I share are correct) ; )
My job as a storyteller, working with elementary age group children, linking topics from the school curriculum to stories from mythology and folklore brings me immense joy and creative satisfaction. This is one of the stories I tell them when I want them to share their own stories.
THE STORY SPIRITS
(A tale retold from Korean Folklore)
A long time ago there lived a young boy Kim.
Kim was very lucky because he had an old servant, called Jung, who used to look after him.
Jung was like a treasure trove full of stories and every night he would tell Kim a new one.
Kim was very proud of all the stories he heard and all the wonderous things he learnt from them.
At school or the playground he would boast about all the wonderful stories he knew.
His friends and cousins begged him to tell them some of the stories but Kim always refused, saying the stories were his and his alone.
As the years went by and Kim grew up, he continued to hold onto the stories.
Soon Kim’s marriage was arranged and a big ceremony was planned. As per the custom, Kim and his family had to journey to the brides house for it.
As Jung was packing up for Kim, he heard strange sounds coming from behind the door.
When he went investigate what was making the sounds, what he heard, stunned him.
For in that bag there seemed to be little spirits with sinister voices and what they said chilled old Jung to the bone.
The spirits were angry and upset that Kim was lucky enough to be happy and free and getting married, but because Kim had never shared his stories, the spirits of the stories were trapped in his room, unable to travel the world.
They wanted revenge.
One story, that had a poisoned well featured in it, decided to change itself into a poisoned well along the path that Kim had to pass. It was sure that Kim would stop for a drink of poisoned water.
Another into a field full of poisoned strawberries, just in case he did not drink along the way, he would definitely be unable to resist juicy strawberries.
The third into a red-hot poker in a cushioned footstool so that when he stepped on it to get off his horse, he would get seriously burnt and the fourth into a poisonous snake under the rug in the bedroom…..just incase all else fails.
Jung lunged for the bag, but when he opened it,he found that all the spirits had disappeared.
It was the custom for the bridegroom to ride on a horse and his Uncle would have the important role of leading the horse.
As the wedding party was ready to leave, old Jung pushed the Uncle out of the way and pulled the horse along.
He pleaded with all the family to let him lead the young boy he had looked after from birth. The family realising that Jung must be very emotional, let him do so.
Along the way, Kim saw the well and wanted to stop for water, but Jung insisted that he could have the cleanest water at the brides house. Kim was annoyed as it was not Jung’s place to disobey his master.
At the strawberry field, Jung put off Kim by telling him that the strawberries he wanted were really tiny and sour, while those at the brides house would be red and juicy.
At last Kim arrived at the brides house and the page brought forward cushioned footstool for Kim to step on. When Jung saw this he dived forward and pushed the stool out of the way causing Kim to tumbled to the ground.
Kim was really angry with Jung and asked his father to keep him away.
The wedding ceremony went of without further disruptions from Jung. But soon it was time for the couple to retire to their room.
As they were about to shut the door, Jung rushed in with a big bamboo stick.
He pushed past the bride and groom and began to turn over cushions and mattresses till at last he found the snake under the rug and killed it.
Kim was shocked.
Jung told him what the ‘Story Spirits’ had planned and all because he did not share the stories!
Kim promised to start sharing the stories immediately and did so by narrating one every night to his new bride.
“Those who do not have power over the story that dominates their lives, the power to retell it, rethink it, deconstruct it, joke about it, and change it as times change, truly are powerless, because they cannot think new thoughts.”
—Salman Rushdie
Just like stories, yarns and gossip, that bring people together, constantly spinning a web of connections, of bonding, of roots, so does food.
All our celebrations to mark important occasions, involve food.
We treasure recipes which have been passed down through our families and friends, preparing them on special occasions and always thinking kind thoughts about the ‘giver’ of the recipe.
In both storytelling and cooking, we give so much of ourself, changing , adapting, refining to get the best results.
To me these are the two most powerful tools of connection.
So I wish that you share my story, just as you must share my recipes and my blog………..
ANYTHING TO KEEP THE RECIPE SPIRITS HAPPY!!
With their blessings I’m sure every dish will be perfect. : )
The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them. If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. That is why we put these stories in each other’s memory. This is how people care for each other.–Barry Lopez in Crow and Weasel.
JosMojo 