Finding life’s purpose through cooking – Hema Gandhi

Who am I, what is my purpose in life, what was I made for, we all face these existential questions at some point in life.  

If at this time, we come face to face with our passion, it gives a new meaning to our lives!

Our today’s feature is about Hema Gandhi, a budding food blogger and it’s a pleasure to share her inspiring story with all of you!

Hema is a Masters in chemistry and was working as a chemistry teacher in a school. However, life took a sudden turn when her mother had a paralytic attack three years back. She had to leave her job and move with her to take care of her. It was the most difficult time to see her mom in this condition. 

As a year passed, Hema grew more and more listless and despondent about where she was going in life. Life had become a rigmarole, she felt helpless, with not many friends to interact with.

However, life took a pleasant turn when her mother gifted a microwave to her. This new gadget made her look at food and cooking in a new way and she realized that she could be experimental and innovative in her cooking. She started learning and trying new microwave recipes and started finding joy in her kitchen. Her “new-found self”, helped her regain her confidence in life and look at it with positivity. 

A month back, Hema also started her blogging journey with support and help of her husband. She belongs to Narnaul, a small town in Haryana, but connects to the whole world through her page on Instagram and her blog on wordpress. Hema has turned into a chemist and artist in her kitchen and blogs about the yummy dishes that she cooks every day for her family!! 

How true, all life is but a perspective! The circumstances were the same but Hema's outlook towards everything changed. She shares that she has probably got this cooking bug from her mother, who herself is a great cook and used to make the world’s tastiest kadhi chawal and sarson da saag. This shift in her life has strengthened her bond with everyone in her family; there is more love, more cheerfulness and everyone looks forward to what’s cooking in Hema’s kitchen! Her mother has also become her blogging buddy and keeps giving her new ideas for her blog!

She has named her blog – “From stomach to the heart” because she believes that if you add the secret ingredient of love in your food, you can win anyone’s heart! Writing about food has transformed Hema from an unknown housewife to a known chef, and has given her a profound purpose! She values each like and comment her family and friends add for each recipe she cooks and writes!

Good going Hema, wish you loads of success and happiness, stay blessed!

Dhokla was the first dish she prepared in her super microwave and here is the recipe:

Ingredients

125gm Besan

60gm Suji

1tsp Powdered sugar

½ tsp Salt

1 cup Curd

1 tsp Eno fruit salt

A pinch of baking soda,

A pinch of turmeric powder

1 tsp

Refined oil 

For Tadka

5-6 Green chilies

1 tsp Mustard seeds

1 tsp lemon juice

¼ tsp salt

10 curry leaves

Oil

Water

Method:

·         Take a large bowl, add to it besan, suji, curd, salt, turmeric, and sugar. Mix well until it becomes a little frothy.

·         Leave the contents undisturbed for 3-4 hrs so that the mixture ferments well.

·         Now add oil and give it a good mix.

·         Add baking soda and one tsp of eno mix.  Do not stir too much at this stage.

·         Grease a glass tray  with oil and transfer the mixture to it.

·         Place it in microwave at 900 W for 5 min. Dhokla is ready, let it cool.

·         For tadka, heat one tbsp oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds , curry leaves , green chillies, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and ½ tsp sugar and  125mL water. Cool it and pour it on the baked dhokla. Let it set for about 30 minutes. 

Your dhokla is ready; serve it with imli or pudina chutney and hot tea!