Demanding Love and Loving Demands

My mind just has not been able to let go of the question "Why do I love cooking?" In recent times, the question has transformed itself into various (related) shapes and sizes. For example, I noticed a few days ago that I don't love cooking ALL the time and I certainly don't love cooking all the time for everyone alike. So the new Avatar of the question bugging me has been why do I love cooking sometimes and why do I love cooking (more) for some people than for others?

In the beautiful book titled "Secrets of Relationships," Sri Sri gives us simple and practical tips for a successful, lasting relationship. One of the things he says, that has always stayed with me, is "Demands destroy love." It struck me recently that one of the reasons I love cooking for my hubby dear is that he never demands or even expects me to cook. He is, in fact, always excited when I cook and enjoys the food without expecting the next meal to be (as) good or even cooked at all (by me). I remembered that in the past, I've had guests who stayed a lot longer than expected. On top of it all, they expected me to cook all the time, three meals a day and didn't offer any help at all. By day 3, I was exhausted and their expectation that I cook (and also serve) all the time, got me sick of the whole thing, including them and I couldn't wait to get rid of the cooking and the guests! :P

But sometimes, some people have also enjoyed my demands (especially for food). I remember my grandmother (and my mother) who actually enjoy(ed) my (food) demands and cooked with even more love and enthusiasm if I had asked for a specific dish. It made me wonder - if I constantly stayed with my mom or grandmom, and constantly demanded things from them, would I have become a pain sooner or later (just like my uninvited long staying guests!)? I am not so sure... This is not really what I experience with my little baby for instance - she loudly demands food with all the power in her lungs several times a day. But I don't get sick of feeding her! (See below - Meera demanding food :)

It is said that all the Gods, enlightened masters and sages of the past and the present - Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Guruji, the Dalai Lama etc. etc. are embodiments of unconditional love, patience and compassion. It is no wonder that nothing shook/shakes them from their center - no matter how bad/demanding the behavior of the people around them, they remain calm and composed and are therefore able to spread this calm to everyone around them (and lovingly teach the misbehaving lot how to behave better :D). Guruji, in his commentary on the Bhankti sutras, compares a mother's unconditional love to Bhakti (devotion) - the highest form of unconditional love. (The difference is that the divine loves everyone the way the mom loves only her child :D)

Until such time as we can reach that level of unconditional love for existence and start loving all demands, it is perhaps good to not demand love (or anything else :D)

Today's recipe (on demand from several of my dear friends :D)

Eggless Chocolate Almond Cake

Ingredients
2 cups spelt or whole wheat flour
2 cups white flour
1.5 cups sugar or sucanat
5 tablespoons butter
1 cup cream
1/2 cup silken tofu (called seiden tofu in Germany) - optional (it makes the cake softer and more moist, but can be avoided if not available)
1/2 cup oil
1.5 cup apple juice
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup coco powder
2/3 cup almond pulp (left over from the almond milk recipe)
1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

Pre-heat oven to 175 degrees Celsius

In a mixer, mix the sugar, cream, butter, tofu, oil and almond pulp really well - till it is a smooth liquidy mix
In a separate bowl, mix all other (dry) ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and coco powder) - make sure there are no lumps of coco powder or baking powder/soda.
Put the dry ingredient mix into the sugar/fat mix and blend till its a smooth and paste like mix. Add the apple juice and mix again. The end result should be a slightly thick liquid that is a difficult to pour. (If it is too dry or too thick, add more apple juice or milk.) In the end, add the vanilla essence.
Brush a thin layer of oil or butter in an oven suitable cake pan (9 x 13 inch). Transfer the cake batter into the pan and immediately place in the pre-heated oven. Bake for 35-40 mins or till a toothpick inserted into the middle of the pan comes out clean.