US calling : Better Start Learning how to Cook ...

Hello Friends,


If you are having Visa in hand, excited to go to United states of America its time that you starting learning how to cook. Very less percentage of girls knows cooking and boys almost 0 % .  But its time you get ready. Trust me home made food will be one thing you will miss like anything. Student life is tough, you wont have $$$ to go to restaurant and have food.

Let me share some basic things that you will definitely have to learn to cook to survive:

• Tea  (Remember there is no tea stall, no tapri, no ketley).
• Chapati ( you will have options to buy ready made one for sure, as they are quite cheap).
• Maggie ( This will be only source to stay Alive).
• Rice ( Make sure you learn how much is the ratio of rice : water, otherwise you will land up making rice soup or rice block)
• Khichdi ( learn Masala khichdi, bring some masala packets as you will not always be able to make all sabjis like you are demanding today at home)
• Omelette ( Eggs are cheap here ,and if you are not vegetarian it is one of most cooked and fast one too)
• Egg Bhurji ( learn different forms of Eggs otherwise you wont be able to eat same thing everyday).
• Daal ( Soul Satisfying food, mark my words you will be feeling lucky to have home made daal and rice).
• Alu sabji ( potatoes are damn cheap here, Most important recipe).
• Moong Curry
• Chana daal
• Chole - Chana masala ( Known as garbanzo here, one of the cooked can available, just learn how to make gravy).
• Noodles  ( veggies needed are available easily).
• Chicken Curry ( if you are non vegeterian).
• Meat curry
• Egg Curry
• Sooji Halwa ( there will be days you will die to eat indian sweet, which will be around $7 per pound ( 450 gms approx)  as a student its tough)
• Pulao ( something that you can learn to treat yourself on weekends)
• Mix veggie Curry ( Frozen veggie packet is very cheap here 99 cents per packet).
• Sambhar, Idli, rasam,Dosa ( if you are southindian).
• Palak Paneer (Spinach of best quality is readily available, paneer can be procured from any Indian grocery store).
• Bhindi ( most loved food)
• Kadhi ( yogurt of best quality is easily available)
• Chutneys ( Coriander ( Cilantro) is available a lot).

This list is not complete, there must be various likings and desires depending on what part of country you live in. Yes everything is readily available in USA but being a student you wont have much choice as every little penny counts. This initial years of study will be tough days as you will be by yourself no family to support and no one will be there on whom you can spit out your stress.

You are all by yourself in your own battlefield. Most of you will be sharing apartments with the 3 to 4 or may be more unknown people. Its a challenge.

I cried first day I stepped in the apartment and there were like 6 people already in.

Good luck !

If you all like the list I can post up recipes of all the above mentioned food items.. Feel free to comment and add food items and in my next post I will share what all things to pack before leaving to US as a Student.

From Asia's pen.