Standing by the window for a while longer than usual, I wanted the natural light to linger on my skin. Enjoy what I could of the distant sun. It’s important for me to let in some fresh air. The lockdown is making my throat feel stale. Feeling a little chill I donned an oversized cardigan, wrapped it tightly around my body. I was pleasantly content with the weather, cold, grey and wet. I hoped the raindrops would wash away the stains of the virus.
I envisioned early spring a little differently; Abandoning my coat, dressing in all beige, avoiding jeans and anything too dark. But here I sat at my computer wearing the darkest coloured joggers. I guess swag is still black. At this time of the afternoon, at 3 pm, I would’ve imagined myself sitting in my regular Costa coffee shop.
In the middle of working on my line drawing and unintentionally slouching, my mum called me down to help prep a side snack for dinner, aloo ki tikki. A South-East Asian snack made from potatoes, onions and herbs. I made it in my own way by adding in fewer pinches of chilly powder and dicing up some tomatoes. Avoiding table salt, I grabbed my bottle of pink Himalayan salt.
After boiling, peeling and mashing the potatoes. I chopped up an onion and placed all the rest of the ingredients into one bowl. Bringing me to the messy bit, rolling up my sleeves, I began mixing all the ingredients together with my bare hands. Surprisingly this was quite relaxing, how’s that for a little cooking ASMR. I pressed the mixture together in my cupped hands, in the hope they would hold well, until they looked like soft golf balls, that come in various sizes. Once round I flattened them into Imperfect circled patties. Failing at trying to make them as round as possible. I guess some hands take longer at minimising the edges.
Storing the plate of not-so-round Aloo ki tikki in the fridge. I walked away into the direction of the kitchen sink, washing away today’s snack from my fingers and a good (a lot of things) chef’s skill from my nails. My mums always wanted me to learn how to cook Asian dishes. However, seeing as I mainly eat all raw greens, Asain snacks could be the only start or deal. We’ll see.
Back in front of my computer, I continued making progress on my line drawing, still with a long way to go. Feeling too sluggish, I decided it’s time for a workout and stretches, making minor adjustments to my room. Missing the gym, I had to make do with no equipment and machinery, prioritising my body weight. I did a full-body workout mainly concentrating on the legs and abs, summers still coming.
Gaining back some lost energy, I went down to the kitchen to finish making the aloo ki tikki’s. Whisking two eggs in a bowl, I carefully dunked in the flat potato patties and put them into a pan with measured spoonfuls of olive oil. With my mum calling out instructions from the living room, on when to turn the patties, me following her words to the T and listening carefully to the sizzling. I believe I did a crispy good job and celebrated with a handmade tikki.
I’m spending the rest of this fine evening relaxing with my novel.
Blame It On Art 