We all have our share of stories around kitchen experiments. Some become a part of our hilarious dinner table conversations, while some are just pure embarrassments we wished never happened. We have all been there. And no matter what the funny kitchen tale is, nothing can beat those first-cook stories. They are special and we can never forget them. Perhaps because those stories were our first baby-steps towards adulthood. Our first big responsibility. So keeping in mind that big responsibility, we asked five teenagers what were their first cook stories, and while they are all adorable to the core, their mothers too had their own versions to share. Take a look!?
Anuj: "Last year when mom fell sick, I thought of going the extra mile to take care of her. So, I thought I'd make tea for her. Now it may not seem like a big deal for you, but for someone (like me) who hasn't ever stepped inside the kitchen, it was a big achievement. The biggest challenge was to first figure what is what in the kitchen. But when I did, I managed to make garam-garam kadak chai for her, and for the entire family. It felt like an achievement!"
Ritika (mom): ""I was extremely proud of him that day. He not only made sure I get tea, but also took care of everyone's evening tea. And now, he makes better tea than me."
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Kirti: "I was always fascinated by the idea of cooking pretty-looking, yummy food. Problem was I had never entered the kitchen. Then one day I thought I should take a small step and start my culinary journey with something as simple as a salad. My mother was so worried. She was constantly standing beside me, checking if I was doing alright. I asked her not to micro-manage, and even though she wanted to say a million things during the process, she kept quiet and only observed. Knowing how concerned mom was, it was a big deal. But the salad was a success, and my mother realised I can take care of myself if I ever live alone."
Neeta (mom): "I was so worried. What if she cuts herself? Turns out, I'd underestimated her. She was a natural, she still is!"
Maggi
Pooja: “My mother was usually out of town during weekends, and this time around my brother and I decided to make MAGGI for ourselves. It was the easiest thing to cook, and we knew it would taste amazing no matter what. I followed my mother’s MAGGI recipe and decided to add a little twist of my own. I added some veggies and garnished it with paneer and cheese. My brother and I had a sumptuous MAGGI meal! When we called mom to tell her about it, she freaked out at the thought of the mess we’d have made out of the kitchen!”
Sujita (mom): "Of course, I was worried. In my head, I already thought my two teenagers must have really messed up my kitchen. But they didn't. When I came back home, I asked her to make MAGGI for me. And she did, in her own unique way! I remember a colourful serving of MAGGI, complete with vegetables, cheese and some green chillies. It tasted so much better than my version. Super proud!"
While all the stories are relatable, we can somehow relate with this more. It's only because the kind of legacy MAGGI has created in the last 36 years. Just like Pooja, our first cook was also making our first bowl of MAGGI during college days. And as we sit and reminisce about those glorious hostel-and-MAGGI-days, you can go ahead and check out the brand's newest campaign that is all about 'First Cook' experiences and how we must celebrate these life moments, which help us grow up and take responsibility.
The campaign revolves around a story of a mother-son duo, where the mother encourages her son to cook his first ever MAGGI, and prepares him to become independent in life. It's a beautiful video and really celebrates not only the legacy of MAGGI but also a teenager's relationship with his mother. This brings back so many memories. Just like his, our mothers too, have prepared us to face the world and take up responsibilities, and we cannot be grateful enough.
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Sweta: "My baby sister and I wanted to make chocolate muffins from scratch for dad's birthday. We had been reading multiple recipes online and bought all our ingredients. We thought we were fully prepared. And truth be told we were doing pretty great until we took our first batch of muffins out of the oven. They were the lumpiest muffins I had ever seen in my life. We forgot the one important ingredient - baking soda. The mom came to our rescue, and helped us make our second successful batch. We laughed, we baked. It was so much fun. It's always fun baking with mom. Sometimes, we experiment with recipes, and mom gets to learn new things from us."
Mrinali (mom):?"The first time they baked the muffins, it was a lesson for them. They realised their mistake, and immediately wanted to rectify it. Isn't that life is all about too? In the process of being independent, you will make mistakes. How you rectify them and grow eventually is the real deal. Now they are my little in-house bakers."
Slim Fast
Ishaan: "It was mumma-papa's 20th anniversary, and I decided to surprise them with some continental breakfast in bed. I saved up my pocket money to buy the ingredients the previous night, and then woke up around 6AM to start prepping for the meal. I managed to make really good scrambled eggs, something that mom makes everyday, and I sort of knew the recipe. I made toasts, and hash browns, and tea. The hash browns were a little burnt, but overall it looked like a feast. When I surprised them with this, at first they thought I had got the food delivered from outside. Now that's an achievement!"
Mrinal (mom): "Of course, I thought he got it delivered. The platter looked so pretty, and it was so tasty. Before that day, I didn't even know he could boil water. It was such a pleasant surprise to see my boy all grown-up and take responsibilities like a pro."
These stories make us believe that we weren’t the only teenagers who took the first step towards adulthood through the doors of our kitchen with our mothers by our side. Do you have a heartwarming first cook story too? Let us know in the comments section below!