C O O K B O O K S
It’s interesting what people make for dinner when they are at home, and tired, which foods provide comfort. Here are two lovely cookbooks which share recipes in a personal, intimate way.
When I was searching for Japanese cookbook ‘Mother Tongue’ I stumbled upon the website of Marina Bautier and found a nice selection of books on food. Unfortunately, I haven’t visited her shop in Brussels yet, but I can recommend the webshop.
In ‘Mother Tongue’ Akiko Kurematsu explores generations of Japanese family and home cooking. The book is inspired by her mother Kozue’s cookbook “My Mother’s Love”, of her grandmother Fusae’s recipes. I love that central to this book is how recipes and ways of cooking are transferred between generations. The first recipe I tried was a simple barley tea in the back of the book when my mother came to visit. I always enjoy being able to make something together instead. And barley is very beneficial in urinary tract issues, so I was curious how it is prepared in Japan. I’ll share a home remedy specifically for the urinary tract soon.
‘Midweek Recipes’ drew my attention because of its title and modest looks. I’m interested in what people make for dinner when they are at home, and tired, which foods provide comfort. ‘Midweek Recipes’ sounded like that; “a simple guide of how I cook Monday through to Friday”. I haven’t cooked much from it yet, but I love picking it up now and then to get inspired for cooking. Like ‘Mother Tongue, the book is small in size, the pictures are beautifully intimate, the cooks have made were very much involved in the process. They are unlike the cooking books you see in most shops.
Both books are not typically Ayurvedic, but it is good to realise Ayurveda can be found in many different foods, is not bound to one type of eating, or needs a strict list of do’s and don’ts. It’s very much about the joy of nutritious food, providing adjustments to support your body or possible symptoms, and it is adaptable to foods from all over the world.
Note: these two books have vegetarian dishes is them, but also contain non-vegetarian recipes