My Pink Cookbook

I am trying hard to pin-point the exact time in life when I first saw this pink Tamizh cookbook. I am still searching – I do remember seeing it around frequently. It was a staple at home. I remember flipping through it (there are no pictures – a cookbook without pictures!!) and remember scanning the recipes index and seeing the “Bird’s nest”. I always dreamed about eating it.

Pavayarkana Palsuvai Malar by Toothukudi Mangayar Mandram (unfortunately I cannot find the edition I have – maybe the page has been torn)

The Pink Cookbook Today

The book became a part of my married life and setting my own kitchen. I will be honest, I have rarely used it. Having my mother/granny on quick dial for recipes and tips is the way I rock. The internet has also become an integral part of my cooking these days. But every now and then I randomly flip throughly pink cookbook for some basic recipes. I have always found following the recipe took me back home and to the kind of food my family cooked. No wonder we all had a copy of it.

For the Cookbook Challenge, I decided I will pull this trusty companion out and test some recipes from it. Bring to Gladstone a touch of Toothukudi Maglir Mandram recipes. I have been looking into the rather tattered copy of the book and decided to take some pictures and share them.

All in All Book

The book also lists instructions for making kajal, laundry detergent, vim (dish washing detergent), growing mushrooms and doing your own dry cleaning. It also has some home remedies for everything from stomach ache to coughs. Tips to reduce weight are included and let me not forget the puzzles.

I wonder if the book is still being published and how the newer editions look like. I will be cooking a few recipes from the book for the Cooking from Cookbook Challenge