Cooking – A Chore or a Matter of Pride

This post is in regards to the fact that everyone should know how to cook. In other words, I would say cooking matters. Someone asked me Is cooking a chore or a moment of pride? I replied saying that cooking matters though it can be a chore at an initial stage when you don't know how to cook, but if you are a foodie & love healthy eating, you will find yourself confident & feel pride in knowing that you can cook whenever and whatever  you want to eat. It makes your family healthy & happy.

My Breakfast- Pasta

As a working professional and being single working away from home, the main concern for me was to manage the food and the cooking part. I left the family after my high school. During the college, had roommate's and we arranged a house help for our lunch and dinner. She used to cook chapati for supper  and rice in lunch. I always had a soft corner for chappati.I mean to say I prefer chapatti over rice.  But had no option those days as I didn't know cooking that time. The urge to eat chappati & veggies made me start giving efforts to learn how to cook. I started from basics. Later on, when I moved to Mumbai & came to know the chaos of getting a house help, I thought it would be better to start cooking by my own. 

My first homemade Pizza

We all know that to cook a good food we need to have all the appliances, utensils, cookers, bakeware, & other tools with a well-facilitated kitchen. So I started with a make-over of my kitchen. After getting everything in place I started referring food channels like Food-Food & Sanjeev Kapoor's recipe on the internet. In between I also called my mom & girlfriend for SME advice. After few months of practice, I became a full-time cook. You will not believe how a chore became my passion, I started trying & twisting various recipes. I bought a hot-plate & induction based utensils for my comfort of cooking. After 1 year, I felt that I can now proudly declare myself a homemade chef. As a blogger, I started exploring the food blogging world. to my surprise within few month I got various invitations for Menu tasting, zomato review, restaurant launch's etc (The perks of being a food blogger).

A healthy brunch- Paneer special

Combo  meal cooked by me

Based on my overall journey of learning how to cook, one thing I can say is that if you want to learn to cook & enjoy a healthy nutritious food without considering it as a chore, always start with the modernization of you kitchen. It will provide you a platform for efficient cooking though you can't give an excuse for not having an appliance or a modern kitchen to avoid cooking. surely you need to learn the art of cooking, but it comes with practice and experience. So if you think that the cooking is the tedious chore & you lack cooking skills start learning today, start from scratch & by the time you learn this art you will feel pride & confidence within you.

In my words, I would say cooking is a therapy which comes with pride, health & happiness.

This post is part of  WonderChef Blogging contest . My blog has received a certificate & prize from none other than wonder chef Sanjeev Kapoor. 

#Snazzyawi getting prize from Chef Sanjeev Kumar 

World Vision India Partner's Meet 2016

Being a blogger sometimes we get some amazing experience which we can preserve for a lifetime. Recently I got an opportunity to feel a similar experience. I got an invitation from World Vision India a Christian humanitarian social organisation which works through long-term sustainable community development programmes across India spread in 174 districts. With a vision to serve the whole society regardless of religion, caste, ethnicity or gender.

Few bloggers from Mumbai were invited to attend the Partner's meet on Feb27, in which all child sponsors from Mumbai were invited to attend this meeting. The purpose of the meet was that the sponsors  can come to the event  and see & hear firsthand the impact of their sponsorship support in the lives of needy children, their families & communities. Before I share my experience, let's understand the concept of child sponsorship adopted by World Vision India.

What is child Sponsorship: 

"It's a vision of creating a better world for our children on the simple yet powerful principle that the best way to change the life of a needy child is to change the world in which he/she lives! It creates a network of partners, in the form of couples, individual, sponoring a child  & contribute a small amount starting from Rs 800 for  education, training & awareness programs, clean water & health benefits."

Child sponsorship monthly contribution helps provide all such life-changing essentials & hopeful features to the needy child"

If you want to contribute to your part click here to donate  http://bit.ly/wvihelp


Seeking Answers & Finding the hope:

Based on my experience & interaction with World Vision partners & all parents, I realized that how child sponsorship can bring a major impact on the lives of  poor & needy children, their families, and communities. How much a little monthly contribution can uplift their lifestyle. Being an IT professional I was engaged in various CSR activities at corporate level & child sponsorship is something which should be promoted at the corporate level. I am trying my bit by writing this post to make my readers aware of this amazing cause. So, friends, I request you to start participating, sponsor a kid visit the World Vision website www.worldvision.in & try every possible way to contribute towards the betterment of children in our country & fight with poverty.

Meeting the Partners:

During the event,  we met Moraes family who is now associated with World Vision child sponsorship program from last 15 years & sponsored 3 children during this period. When we asked them about how they feel about the cause they are supporting, they replied with excitement that it's an amazing feeling. They believe that everyone should contribute towards such & try to help less privileged  children in our society. Your contribution gives a hope & smiles in their life. We will be happy if we can contribute in some way to enhance the quality of life they live.World Vision partners meet gives us  an opportunity to meet the child & see the difference which we together are trying to make in their life.

After a wonderful interaction with Moraes family, we moved on to the Rangsharda auditorium for keynotes address from World Vision officials & live performance from all the sponsored children.
Programme started with a welcome song & lighting the lamp followed by a welcome speech by World Vision officials.

The program had a variety of  cultural performance like dance, gazals from the sponsored children. Also, some of the sponsors shared their journey with World Vision. Few community members /Panchayat leaders also shared their experiences with partners & audience.

 Overall it was an amazing experience for us as a blogger. We understand this is the need of the hour to sensitize the society on needs of less privileged people & help them in an every way possible. I realized that we can make a difference. I pledged in my heart that I will support this campaign & contribute my best to bring change. So let's unite for the world without poverty, inequality & discrimination. Sponsor a child now to bring the change.

 To help a child in need, click here :  http://bit.ly/wvihelp