One meal at a time: Flavors to Savor: A discovery of food, recipes and memories around the world

By Div Manickam

One meal at a time: Flavors to Savor
A discovery of food, recipes and memories around the world

Self-publish Date: January 21, 2024

Are you an aspiring chef or foodie?

This book is dedicated to:

Mom - who infused cooking into our lives, one meal at a time ...

Thank you for your unconditional love.
Cooking is your way of showering us with affection every day.

An attempt to capture some of our memories together.




Everywhere I travel from the Americas to Europe and Asia, I am amazed how food can bring people together. I love the synergy of similarities and differences melt when we share a meal together.

Food is the only love language that speaks to all equally and transcends borders and boundaries. Whether you are a foodie or an aspirational chef, find your heart and soul with food.

It’s the best kept secret in life. We will cherish each memory with awe.



If you are wondering why should I read this book: (or why did I write this book)

I fell in love with the idea and the power of food.

As a foodie and aspiring chef, my happy place is in the kitchen.

Inspired by the flavors during my travels, I am capturing the world of food and recipes from my lens.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9781304701985

Book preview

Introduction

Every book has a story. And this one starts from childhood – the first memory of baking a cake for mom’s birthday. There was pure joy and thrill – my sis and I got to make icing for the first time. I don’t remember much other than I think it was pink icing.

This book is a short collection of memories, food, recipes, and ingredients I came across during my travels.

And at its core, this is an inspiration to cook one meal at a time. When you are single and find it challenging to cook a meal, I hope this book gives you the nudge to try and make a meal.

I was determined to not have to be the one in the kitchen growing up, but now it’s a place of solace. I like to take my time and take a slow pace when I cook and enjoy the process mindfully, one step at a time.

I loved reading about the inspiration of the manga series and anime in a book and then watching Yumeiro patissiere / Dream-Colored Pastry Chef – the sweet spirit reckons in me – it brings a smile every time I bake a cake or make a sweet or dessert.

Happiness is delicious as they say in the series. And I want to do it slowly, mindfully and practice. Ichigo’s first cake is mille crepe – ah I remember when I fell in love with the simplicity and elegance of a mille crepe in San Francisco. I haven’t made yet… one day…

Indeed, so true - sweets bring happiness to everyone.

ichigo ichie – a concept of treasuring the unrepeatable nature of a moment. The term has been translated as for this time only, and once in a lifetime.

May this book bring focus, peace and happiness.

Let the exploration begin!

PART I

You don't have to cook fancy, or complicated masterpieces - just good food from fresh ingredients. Julia Child

Each day, we have a chance to create magic with the ingredients we select to make good food. It takes practice to get the seasoning right. As you get comfortable with what you like or don’t like, be open to try something new – you will be amazed at the options available with food around the world.

Chapter 1: Sweets mi Amor

There is so much I want to share and where to start: I have curated 500+ pics from my travels on food discoveries, and collected recipes I want to cherish with friends and family.

Let’s start with my favorite: Cake. I didn’t realize that cake is sacred for me. It’s the one memory that will always remind me of home. In the past 5 years, I mastered the olive oil matcha cake and it’s my go to when I bake for birthdays. I enjoy making sesame energy bites and lavender cookies which I truly love to make for folks.

Olive oil matcha/dark chocolate oat cake

I remember baking this cake a few years ago, and falling in love with the idea that you can make a cake with olive oil and you don’t need butter. Now, butter as I grew up was THE ingredient in a cake. And this defied the fundamental ideology. Perhaps that’s why I like this cake because it shifted how you think about a cake.

In 2021, I baked this cake for my friends and few were convinced this was my calling. Ah, the joy of healthy sweetness in your tummy can do wonders. I loved baking this cake. It makes me happy.

Inspired by this recipe by Snixy Kitchen and adjusted a few ingredients.

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup whole or soy