Dehradun, April 5 -- Culinary Chronicles

Disguise and abhorrence!

A scant few ingredients are barred in my kitchen for personal preferences of the family. "Parwal" is one that all three of us dislike.

Maybe due to the unappetising overdose of these while we dined for months in the Officers' Mess at Guwahati Cantonment.

Keeping the benefits of this vegetable over health, I thought of introducing it in a new camouflaged avatar with an Assamese meal.

"First tell me what this is and do not lie," said my Cub.

"Chutney!" I pretended to be innocent. "Chutney of what?"

Asked the little sleuth.

"Pointed gourd. Just try it, you will like it."

"Hindi name please?" A question with raised eyebrows.

"Don't know actually," I replied sheepishly...