Once in a while I take a walk down memory lane. And whilst on the way,gather some bits and pieces of my childhood. A few moments ago ,I ventured on this nostalgic journey again. I stopped for a moment, when I envisaged my childhood home, where I had spent great many years of happy times with my family, I mentally zoomed in to the dining hall,where my large family used to gather during mealtimes.Whisperings, followed by loud laughter would erupt throughout the hallway, which would quickly be silenced by the food that would soon be laid on the table. Mother would painstakingly prepare part of the breakfast while my siblings and I would wait impatiently around the breakfast table for Father, who would bring the main part of the breakfast,the freshly baked bread from the Baker, which we all took delight in eating, with the coconut “sambol” ( chutney ) Mother made. Even though we had a choice for breakfast, we always tried to eat Mother’s favorite. With stinging eyes and runny nose, my whole body would be encircled with a burning sensation. I wouldn’t give up!! Hastily gulping water in between each morsel, I would fan myself with the morning newspaper, to cool that sweltering in me and pretend that everything was just fine. I would n’t dislodge from the breakfast table till I finished the last mouthful of that spicy coconut sambol, which was a mixture of scrapped coconut, red chilly ,green chilly and chopped onions sprinkled with lemon juice and salt. This was my mother’s specialty! A simple dish made with great labour of love.
Goodness me! Now I have partially regained my composure from my reminiscence and still in the state of drooling, walk toward the kitchen looking for scrap, crumb and pieces of ingredients to prepare my favourite breakfast dish.
