Since I’ve been sharing my life with the world now for over 30 years, it is inevitable that there has been an imperceptible changing of the guard, so to speak. My books, cooking classes, recipes and cookery shows that were presented throughout the eighties, nineties and the noughties are being passed on to another generation.
I often receive letters from men and women who literally grew up eating food from my cookbooks, or who used to sit with their parents watching my TV shows. Many of these people now have children of their own.
Since I’ve been sharing my life with the world now for over 30 years, it is inevitable that there has been an imperceptible changing of the guard, so to speak. My books, cooking classes, recipes and cookery shows that were presented throughout the eighties, nineties and the noughties are being passed on to another generation.
I often receive letters from men and women who literally grew up eating food from my cookbooks, or who used to sit with their parents watching my TV shows. Many of these people now have children of their own. And so it goes.
This recent letter particularly moved me. The author has allowed me to share it with you all.
“6 July 2012
Dear Kurma,
Hello and many thanks to you for the wonderful recipes you have given to the
world.
I bought your book Great Vegetarian dishes when it was first published. My
daughter was a baby at the time (she’s now 21!). She grew up on the many
tasty recipes you presented (as has my son). Your pumpkin soup remains the
favourite of our family and also for many of my daughter’s friends. Their
mothers would ring me asking for the recipe, complaining that their child
preferred the pumpkin soup K’s mother made them!
Many of the recipes have become staples in our household, particularly the
soups. Being wheat and dairy intolerant the dal soups were a god send,
packed with taste and nutrition. To this day you will find these soups in my
kitchen (now made from memory), being served to guests or providing a
sustaining breakfast to the household, complete with sour dough spelt bread.
I have also loved the chickpea recipes. From using your books I developed
early on a passion for these wonderful legumes.
I adapted your paneer, making it with goat’s milk instead of cow’s milk.
Divine! Still warm, drizzled with salt and olive oil, just as we (my
daughter and I) made it the day we did your cooking class in Bendigo a few
years back. Sometimes I substitute tofu for the paneer in recipes. Not quite
the same I know, but the recipes are so packed with flavour the tofu absorbs
them and tastes amazing. And I also adapted your chapattis, making them with
spelt flour. My son is quite adept at making these. Imagine – a teenage boy,
in the kitchen, a look of wonder on his face as the first chapatti he ever
makes obligingly puffs up and he grins, saying “this is so cool!”. And now
he enjoys making them just so he can see them puff!
I have your other books as well. They are obviously well used as they have
stains and a worn look about them, especially the great vegetarian dishes
book. (It will soon need replacing).
I wanted to thank you for what you have achieved Kurma. You have managed to
touch the hearts (and stomachs) of people like myself who are not Vaishnavas
nor even vegetarian, and provide food that is amazing to eat, easy to cook
and nutritious. Your blog inspires and challenges me. I am so glad you
decided to keep doing it. Your recipes have now been handed down to the next
generation. And all of this without your being aware of it!
Please keep doing what you are doing. It is invaluable. You influence people
like myself to make better and different choices not only in what they eat,
but about how they view life, and what it means. I am very grateful for what
you have done.
Warm regards,
KR, Bendigo, Victoria”