My second year of law school, I told my mom I wanted to learn everything she knew how to make. I would measure the ingredients and take pictures and write out careful directions. With that same approach, I also planned to learn everything my aunts knew how to make. My brilliant idea was to create a cookbook to gift to my sisters and cousins at Christmas that year.
That was 2008 and the first time I failed on the life bucket list item of learning to cook like my mom. My progress on this goal smells bad. As you can tell.
Part of the problem is that I’m unsure if the food that I grew up on is the right food for keeping my body happy and healthy. Both of my parents have diabetes, so I’m skeptical. Enshrining these recipes I don’t see myself using very often doesn’t excite me.
And I don’t like to cook.
That’s my excuse for not posting a recipe in like a year.
Today’s dish is probably my mother’s signature dish. This is the one she would challenge Bobby Flay to in a throwdown. Shera, a.k.a. halwa a.k.a. cream of wheat dessert. Just so we’re clear, nobody has ever called it cream of wheat dessert.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cream of wheat
- 1/4 of a stick of butter or 1/4 of a cup of ghee (clarified butter)
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 tsp cardamon powder
- a handful of almonds
- a handful of raisins
- a few sprinkles of saffron if you’re feeling rich
Directions
1. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add in the cream of wheat and stir, stir, stir.
3. Stir until it’s medium browned. Don’t let it sit.
4. Add in the raisins.
5. Stir for a minute.
6. Add the milk and the water.
7. Stir.
8. Add in the sugar and stir for a couple of minutes.
Adding in the sugar
9. Add in the cardamon powder and stir for a minute.
10. Top with the sliced almonds. I forgot to tell you to slice the almonds.
Acceptable deviations
- You can throw the almonds in with the raisins to toast them a bit.
- You can add sliced bananas.
If you left out the sugar it would be a great dish. Why? Sugar causes inflammation in the body, especially the brain.
Sugar is the root of so many issues. I’m not sure how this dish would taste without the sugar though.
is it??? 🙁
I recommend reading anything by Gary Taubes as a good science explanation.
I eat lot of sweets, have cut down a lot but still eat.. 🙁
I’m curious whether the original dish used white sugar, or whether something like honey would work. The recipe looks rice pudding-y.
Does your mom have a good baingan bharta recipe. I had my first taste of a dip from a once a month downtown market that I thought was awesome and I’m looking to replicate
Fire eggplant! Here’s that recipe
Hey Anita, congrats on your recent diet and fitness success! I think you already look badass. No doubt anyone would think twice before cutting in line in front of you at the grocery store.
Regarding diet, can you share some staples that you go for frequently? I’m also not much into cooking, I’ve been on and off low-carb, and as of this year I’m trying to avoid meat. I’m a flippant dieter, what can I say. I did the vegetarian option for Hello Fresh recently (free trial, plus a few more), but it’s so carb-heavy. Where do you eat that serves good low-carb vegetarian options? Shopping recommendations? Thanks!!
I’m working on a couple of articles on diet. Right now I’m still experimenting. Stay tuned!
Excellent! Can’t wait!
Don’t get too excited. You must never forget that I have no idea what I’m doing.
Yes yes, but you’re smart and wonderful, so there’s that. **Waits obediently**
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my ascii art got smushed … WordPress! *shakes fist*
You made me laugh. Ultimately, and unfortunately, we are killed by what we eat. But Hippocrates said ‘let your food be your medicine’. This makes me think of how clever he was, and how stupid I am. Haha.
Looks delicious! Have to try!