"And the memories bring back, memories bring back you!"

and the memories bring back you!

Given a chance, would you like to travel back to childhood???

Cassettes, landline phones, pen fights- all these will definitely transport us back to the childhood days. Likewise, the taste and smell of certain foods can also make us nostalgic to the beautiful times spent in the past. What if we had a time machine and we could have gone back to the old days to enjoy the feeling of some magical foods all over again???

Ah, I am sure you have already started thinking of some mouthwatering foods. Am I right or am I right?????? :)))

Some of the food remain etched in our memories because of the special childhood connect like the foods mentioned in our favourite cartoons or the old stories, the unique street side snacks to the comfort "nani ki rasoi" food which have nostalgia attached to them!

So, why not relive those memories when our happiness came in packets, bottles, "sharma ji ki chat", "mummy ke haath ke motichoor ke laddoo", "dadi ke special aaloo ke parathe with ghar ka makkhan" or "nani ke ghar ke samose"!!!!!!!!!

Remember, when as a child you were told stories of "Birbal ki khichadi" or "Tenali Rama ki sardi ki mithai" or "Shabri ke ber"???? There is a fare share of Indian tales and folklore that revolves around food that revive childhood nostalgia. Not to forget, even some of the healthy foods are inspired by the cartoons which we used to watch as kids. The connection of the popular cartoon character Popeye with spinach is something that we have all witnessed since our childhood. This cartoon led several mothers to show their kids, how eating spinach can make them strong and healthy. Oh, Honey-the sweet nectar that you still love to have in your breakfast cereals or in your morning drink, is not just your favourite but also Pooh Bear's who happens to be the popular character from the "Winne-the-Pooh". Yet another healthy breakfast dish and everyone's favourite and go-to-dish-Sandwich is inspired by the popular childhood cartoon Scooby from the "Scooby-Doo". All these foods are imbued with memories.

And and and and.....when talking about the childhood food memories, how can we forget the mouthwatering pani puri to chuski, to feathery cotton candy(popularly know as gudiya ke baal), these are some of the snacks that have been etched in our hearts forever. Watching the Banta seller(remembering Pappan soda pani wale) push the marble top and pour lemon soda straight into the glass always brought a smile to our face. No other drink can quench your thirst like a bottle of Banta in the peak of summer. What more???????? Well, how to forget Chuski!!!! Summer was incomplete without these ice-lollies flavored with fruity syrups like rose, kala-katta, paan we could never say no to! These Indian street side snacks will definitely send you down the memory lane!!

While the west has mashed potatoes and macaroni, India has it's own comfort foods that have nostalgia attached to them, which the mothers still tend to make for their children who are now all grown up and crave for the same dishes. One of the most comforting sweet snacks of our time was the Malai Cheeni Toast which still happens to be a reminder of childhood for many people. This healthiest and easy to make sweet snack was given to us after playtime by our doting mothers who wanted us to enjoy something sweet while also giving us a rush of energy.

Another nostalgic food coming right from the Indian kitchen is - Curd Rice. This most popular desi comfort food, is an irresistible dish that people still eat when they are ill because it is light on stomach.

Most loved nostalgic food!

And now talking about the most loved food which made our sunday mornings brighter.....Ah, you got it right!!!!!!! Aaloo ke Parathe- served with big cubes of butter, yogurt and pickle given to us by our mothers as a dose of carbs for the day. Those who have grown up eating aaloo ke parathe know and understand the appeal of this traditional dish when feeling low.

Looking back, we only realize that we have progressed much beyond the old times, but it is impossible to forget and get over the super delicious and nutritious foods of the past giving us a rush of the childhood memories as to how healthy and happy we were!!! On that note, I would like to dedicate one song line to those delicacies- "Those were the best times of my life."

Love and Light

Happy Souls