Spoonful of Stories

It was a weekday, nothing special about it. Just daily routine going on.We both were at home busy doing our own things. He was busy on the phone while I was watching some Marathi movie. Hey, let us have soya chunks curry for dinner, he said. ‘I was about to say that’ was my reply. We read each other’s thoughts and many times think the same thing at the same time. May be the effect of knowing each other for so long. Too much telepathy there, I said, smiling.

I was bored of having regular roti sabji and was thinking to have something different at night. But rotis were already made and didn’t want to waste them by planning something else. So, thought of having a different vegetable to go with it. We both like soya chunks curry and it is our go to dish on a weekday when we get bored of eating the staples.

We did continue with what we were doing for some time and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Weekday dinners are mostly roti sabji, sometimes rice with daal. An everyday must have is a salad. It adds a different texture and flavour, and is healthy too (the nutritionist inside me talking). I started the preparations. Soya chunks curry is my domain. I cook it most of the times and he becomes my sous-chef for a change. After cooking the curry I went to the living room to just relax for a while. He was still in the kitchen doing something. I thought he must be cutting veggies for the salad so did not bother asking. After 15-20 mins, he was still inside, I got curious and asked what is taking him so long? he did not say much, just smiled and said, there is a surprise for you in the fridge.

Oh, I love surprises! I ran to kitchen to see what it is. A bowl of a dessert was kept in, getting set. A shiny, glistering bright brown layer on top and a creamy, smooth layer at the bottom. Caramel Custard!!!! I screamed with joy. I just love it to the core, can have it any time. Even if I am full, there is always a place for Caramel Custard in my tummy. You made it right now??? I was in awe; how can it be prepared so quickly.

We had dinner, telling each other how our day was. Then was the time to have my favourite dessert. A special one, prepared by my loved one,just for me. I thought, what more love can be. Instead of buying it from a shop, he prepared it himself to make me happy. You don’t always have to say it in words, small gestures like these are reminders of what we mean to each other.

I removed it from the fridge, turned it upside down to demould. It was just perfect. Lustrous, glazing caramel and when I moved it, it danced with a little wobble. I had a spoonful, it was awesome!!! Not too sweet, soft velvety texture and melted immediately in the mouth. Just the way I like. We relished every bite of it. ‘The best caramel custard I have had till date’, I told him. There was a smile on my face throughout, and why not; the taste of love was sweet.

Cheers to many more nights like this! We said, raising a toast with a last spoonful.

Sharing a recipe, for all those who have sweet tooth and want to relish this dessert at home.

• Heat a saucepan, add 2 tablespoons of sugar and cook over low heat until sugar is melted and golden (caramelised). Pour into a vessel in which you would be making the custard, tilting to coat bottom of it; let it stand for 10 minutes. Keep in the fridge to set it properly.
• In a blender put 2 eggs, ½ cup milk, 3-4 drops of vanilla essence and 2-3 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Blend well and taste for sweetness.
• Pour the mixture over caramelized sugar.
• Pour some water in a pressure cooker (enough for it to last the length of your cooking time).
• Place the vessel in a cooker, cover it and cook for 12-15 mins, without using the whistle.
• Place it in the fridge to set, for an hour or so. Till it sets completely.
• To unmould, run a knife around rim of the vessel and invert onto dessert place.

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