At this point, I think I am spending way too much time
eating, savoring or drooling over food or else how can I justify the choice of
picking these words? When it was time to write about the next letter in series
S, I was surprised by these words, nagging their way into my thoughts. And
before I know it, I am typing them happily with a smile over my stomach!
While the
letter S seemed easy with so many words to pick from, my mind went straight
into the kitchen. Though my blogging fingers could type about some serious
aspects such as ‘S for Sacrifice’ or ‘S for Satisfaction’, I wonder about its
decision to go for these basic ingredients of food. But, nothing can be done
about it now and so here I am pondering about the ABC of every cuisine.
Sugar, salt and
spice need no introduction - They are the first things that greet you in your
kitchen as you look forward to cooking or savoring a meal. No matter what part you
play in the process of food preparation, you know about the necessity of these
basic heroes. And at the same time, no matter what equation you share with your
food, you will still need these three in your system.
Whether you are a die-hard foodie
with a strong inseparable bond or a non-foodie with pure professional ties for
survival; you will know about the significance of sugar, salt, spice. It does
not take a chef to create magic with these three, all it takes are our ‘know-it-all’
taste buds who can sense their presence or absence right away.
Sugar, salt, spice are rightly termed as ‘basic’
because of their ability to change the outcome of food. Just think about any
kind of dish in any cuisine across the globe, these three find their way into
it. Sure, the proportions may vary or the combination of spices may change, but
at the end, they are required in some amounts. Also, I agree it is essential to
reduce the quantity of sugar and salt for health reasons or lower down spices
for a trouble-free appetite, but it still manages to create difference in the
overall taste.
More than the
quantity, it is their indispensable nature that forced me to think about it. I
do not intend to write a scientific article explaining the need to cut them
down for good health or a culinary article talking about how to use them for
good taste. My idea is to learn something from these three. Their indispensable
nature coupled with the ability to lose themselves completely into the meal yet
retain their value has prompted me to think.
What lessons can I
learn from them in my own flavorful dish called life?
What do these three
ingredients teach us, when they make their presence felt in every morsel we
eat?
And even if the quantity is reduced, how do they manage to
create an impact that speaks (in this case, an impact that tastes)
I will need your ‘out-of-the-box’
thinking capacity as this article is off-beat in true sense. And if you
disagree with any thought along the way, kindly take it with a pinch of salt.
Here are some of the
lessons disguised behind these ingredients as I see them. Feel free to agree/disagree/appreciate
or argue in the feedback (you can even express your affection with a treat
involving sugar/salt/spice- used separately though!)
1.
Add individualistic value that matters – Be it
sugar that sweetens the dessert or salt/spice adding its savory feel, each of
these ingredients add their own specific essence to the food. Much like our own
life and its journey, it is essential to form our own identity. Engage in
passion that adds to your happiness. Live with a purpose to do something good. Contribute
your share in collective projects with a unique touch that distinguishes. Add
meaning, love, affection, dedication to everything you do. And lastly, do productive
things that help those around us.
2.
Appearances are insignificant – Each of these three
factors blend into the meal, without the need to be visible. The ability to add
essence without screaming their presence loud and clear points to the
insignificance of appearance. We can always do good things without the need to
show it all. Also, we can be happy without explaining/justifying or proving it
to others. As long as you are convinced of your happiness, there is no need to
display it always. In today’s world of social media, we end up comparing what
shines to what smiles. But, it is equally possible to lay low and soak the fun.
It is one thing to share your happiness with those around, and another to make
your presence felt by loud appearances.
3.
Dive right into the project – Sugar, salt and
spice should be dissolved or mixed well into the meal for their flavors. If we
look at it in a metaphorical context, it can mean blending ourselves into life.
Unless we mix well in our work with dedication, commitment, determination and
desire to make a difference, it may be unproductive to say the least. It is
essential to dissolve ourselves into hard work and efforts. Opportunities,
situations and circumstances can come and go, but nothing can justify the lack
of our participation and involvement. Diving straight into the situation is
essential to extract the happiness and satisfaction that follows.
4.
Make yourself unique and indispensable- Sure,
there are healthy substitutes to the sweetness of sugar, but salt and spices
are indispensable. And even if there are sugar replacements such as honey or jaggery,
there is something unique about sugar that makes its absence felt. This prompts
me to extrapolate the same into life and see if it works. Find some unique
quality and build it further. Make your presence indispensable by contributing
something valuable at work. Strive to develop your passion/hobby or work-profile,
giving yourself an edge over others. Do what you like and see yourself grow. Creating
a niche is essential in our lives. Let people remember you for your uniqueness.
5.
Excess of anything is bad – Your sweet-tooth
cannot handle excess sugar in any sweets. Neither can your love for spicy food
handle more than acceptable proportion of spices. Anything in excess is unacceptable,
undesirable and simply incorrect. Finding a balance is always essential. And this
logic applies to every aspect of life. Work, play, entertainment, travel,
leisure or relaxation-everything in moderation is the right key.
Though it is
unusual to learn from something as basic as sugar, salt or spice- opening our
mindset and seeking values from everything we come across is the way to grow. A
month old baby can also teach us as much as any non-living object around.
The
point is not to judge the teacher or source but to take in the values that
follow.
As for me, my mind is finally happy for using its choice of words, but
stomach is demanding something that involves these three (again to clarify - used
separately though!)
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