To cook a meal..

I chop and grate vegetables, soak lentils and grains, knead the dough

Preparation for a meal is extensive, I know

As I complete these steps, a frisson of excitement runs through me

To occupy myself in culinary pursuits for a few hours, I am ready

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I stir the contents of the wok gently, shuffling each section

So that my curry gets cooked to perfection

The careful but practiced stirring motion provides comfort immense

To my mind, as I simultaneously inhale the fragrance

Of spices that in perfect harmony blend

To create the flavorful dish I intend..

With the sizzling of oil as I add tempering aromatic

To the lentils, my taste buds awaken in a manner automatic

When the flatbread puffs perfectly, accomplished I feel

A perfectly puffed bread my culinary expertise reveals

When the long grained rice is parboiled perfectly

And each grain separate from its companion I can see

I experience in that moment pure bliss

It implies that little details I did not miss..

After stirring milk constantly and adding sugar I create

A delectable rice pudding, my spirits by several notches I elevate

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Cooking a multi-course Indian meal is a labor of love indeed

There is profound satisfaction in being able to feed

My family and myself with wholesome food from my roots

I hope in my home there would be no store-bought substitutes