Today's topic is "Punjabi Family Dinners"
My family enjoys having these little parties at their house. However they never keep things ordinary, everything has to be set to a certain standard. I mean God forbid that the evening be simple. So on friday my best friend is coming over with her new husband and her family. Usually when we go to each others houses for dinner its very unformal I mean half the time we come in sweats and t-shirts. However on friday because it is the first time my best friend's husband is coming to our house we have to be more formal and dress up in our "traditional punjabi suits" as my dad would put it. Which is fine not a big deal. The big deal is in the entire preparation for friday night.
First there is the all important dinner menu that must be discussed between my mom and dad. Nothing can be done without the approval of my dad. Honestly when I was telling him the dinner menu he didn't really seem to care. Then there is the tedious task of figuring out how much food we will need for each dish that is going to be prepared. I dont understand why is it that Punjabi people dont understand the concept of "pot-luck". I mean its the greatest idea when it comes to parties. Or this concept is very hard for mom's to identify with "keeping it simple." I mean who really needs 2 meat dishes plus dhal plus my mom's famous "gobi with carrots, red and green peppers." And to top it all off she's ordering samosa's so that her guests "will have something to eat with their chai."
Next is trying to figure out when we are going to make everything. My mom is the type of person that hates the smell of onions in the house the day people are coming over. Even though every East Indian dish requires the use of onions. Therefore half the items that we will be serving on friday will have to be prepared on thursday night. The cooking part i dont mind at all. But it is THE CLEANING that is the most dreaded part of this whole ordeal. I mean there is cleaning but then there is something I call "over-cleaning." Which remarkably my mom accomplishes every time we clean. With that said I dont think there should be such a big deal and effort put into people coming over for dinner. It shouldn't have to be as hectic and crazy as parents make it out to be. I believe that when I am my mother's age entertaining at my house it will be far different then how it is now.
First there is the all important dinner menu that must be discussed between my mom and dad. Nothing can be done without the approval of my dad. Honestly when I was telling him the dinner menu he didn't really seem to care. Then there is the tedious task of figuring out how much food we will need for each dish that is going to be prepared. I dont understand why is it that Punjabi people dont understand the concept of "pot-luck". I mean its the greatest idea when it comes to parties. Or this concept is very hard for mom's to identify with "keeping it simple." I mean who really needs 2 meat dishes plus dhal plus my mom's famous "gobi with carrots, red and green peppers." And to top it all off she's ordering samosa's so that her guests "will have something to eat with their chai."
Next is trying to figure out when we are going to make everything. My mom is the type of person that hates the smell of onions in the house the day people are coming over. Even though every East Indian dish requires the use of onions. Therefore half the items that we will be serving on friday will have to be prepared on thursday night. The cooking part i dont mind at all. But it is THE CLEANING that is the most dreaded part of this whole ordeal. I mean there is cleaning but then there is something I call "over-cleaning." Which remarkably my mom accomplishes every time we clean. With that said I dont think there should be such a big deal and effort put into people coming over for dinner. It shouldn't have to be as hectic and crazy as parents make it out to be. I believe that when I am my mother's age entertaining at my house it will be far different then how it is now.
posted by Kirandeep Gill @ 9:00 AM
1 Comments:
At February 19, 2006 6:13 PM,
Anonymous said…
family dinners!
pot locks!!!!??? are u kidding??? who does that when ur inviting people over for diner the first time?? trust me camay u like to cook dinner soo much that im positive you will not be having pot lock dinners for people when they are invited to ur house the first time. Also not everyone is as good of a cook as u..soo u might not even like there food. I think cooking dinner for someone urself makes it more extra special. Also when people go home and they talk abt your food that another feeling of satisfaction (esp if your food was good)...hehe..ummm cleaning shd not be over done..except once in a while. I like having family dinners:)...i like to cook for guest (even tho i dont do it htat often)....all the times ive cooked while i was away from home everyone has always loved abt my food..it always put a smile on my face....As long as your in good company and you kno ur gonna have fun with the people ur cooking for it shdnt be dreadful to cook for them...luvs u camster.and ur food..when u cook for mee..hehe
Post a Comment
<< Home