My love for cooking definitely stems from my mum. I know everyone says they're mother's the best cook, but I truly haven't tried anyone's cooking that I liked more than my mum's. She learnt through experience, she doesn't really care for measurements and other technicalities, so it feels like cooking is a natural talent for her. But that's far from the truth, she told me how many times she made countless blunders in the kitchen, when as a young girl, her mother (my grandma) told her she should learn proper cooking.
My mum's experience resonates with mine. I didn't start enjoying cooking until I was well in my twenties! My first tries at baking and cooking were disasters, and I'm the kind of person that gets discouraged quite easily. So I didn't approach cooking again until much later, when I actually needed to know how to cook.
My mum was always patient and understanding throughout my journey, never pushing me to cook, as many other women of brown parents may have experienced. One thing is true though, even if I didn't enjoy cooking back then, I would always watch my mum cook. I may have picked up a thing or two by just watching, but I'm definitely nowhere near her skill level. One of the things I always watched her cook was my favorite sweet tomato chutney. It takes a couple of hours for it to come together, but oh, it is so worth the wait. Sweet and tangy tomato chutney by my mum is heavenly, she learned it from her mother, of course. And finally I have gathered up the courage to make it. It takes only three ingredients, but you'll have to be patient.
