Around the World Wednesday – India

It’s dinner at our house, but not just any dinner! It’s Around the World Wednesday! (I must give my stepdaughter, Kendall, credit for the catchy name 😊).

So, what is “Around the World Wednesday”? It is a time for our family to recognize, celebrate, and learn about another country and culture. This week, we spun the globe, and our pick was India!

Now, India is a very large and diverse country, and I am by no means an expert on India…

BUT…

I love Indian food, I love Indian people, I love the beautiful mix of colors, designs, and textures in Indian fashion and décor, and I wanted to share this with my family. So, I pulled what little bits of fabric, home décor, and clothing (yes, Ken’s outfit is authentic!) I was able to bring home after a visit to New Delhi and, with limited resources and time, I tried to make the look and feel as Indian as possible.

I didn’t have all of the ingredients I needed and, given our “Shelter in Place” orders, I couldn’t just frivolously make a run to Little India on the north side of Chicago. So, I did the best with what I had. Yep, that meant using ground cardamom and ginger and dried coriander leaves rather than fresh. You know what though? It worked!

WHY (WHY DO THIS)?

Food not only nourishes the body. It nourishes the soul and the mind as well. Food nourishes the ALL of you.

Food, and how we prepare it, present it, serve it, and eat it offers a window into our beliefs, values, lifestyles, and even socioeconomic status. If you believe that is true, then how many more ways can you find to nourish your soul, mind, and body if you take the time to explore – without judgment and without the need for perfection – the myriad cultures and cuisines of the world?

THE RESULT?

They literally cleaned every drip off every plate with the homemade naan, slowly savoring every bite! (By the way, making naan from scratch is super easy!).We talked about the population of India, the languages spoken, the important role of family, the diverse regions of India, and of course we listened to Indian music by artists Shreya Ghoshal and Jagjit Singh, recommended by one of my Indian friends (Thanks Rajeev!). A new tradition has been born…bring on Around the World Wednesday!!!

SO…

I encourage you to join our family in “Around the World Wednesday”. It doesn’t matter what day you cook, what décor you have or don’t have, what ingredients you may need to substitute. Just pick a culture, open your mind, immerse yourself in the scents, flavors, colors, personality, and heart of that culture. Learn something, and most importantly, connect with those you love!

THE WORLD REALLY IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE!