By the time I was 8-years old, I had earned a notorious title "Palunni." Roughly, it translates to "One who lives on milk." Milk has been the center of my existence since then. My mother used to walk behind me with a little bowl of warm fragrant rice with ghee and dhal. After two hours, I would probably eat a bite or two. But, milk, was completly another matter.
It had to be warm with little sugar served, three times a day with the tiny banana. That is all all I needed to eat and live. My mother was constantly distraught with me. I learned to relish solid food only when I was in high school.
Yet, in recent years, I am noticing the increasing torture the animals. The farm animals are pretty much industrial robots. Every time, I see the milk bottle, my stomach churns. I am addicted to dairy and there seems to be little I could do about it.
Here is why:
1. Morning cereal has milk
2. I cannot imagine ending any meal without yogurt
3. Occasional indulgence in morkozhambu (spicy gruel made with yogurt)
4. Not to mention payasam (dessert with milk and sugar)
5. And the gulab jamuns (another dessert)
6. Nibbles of cheese
Talking about this, my friend Ma Sudevi suggested I try coconut milk and coconut yogurt. After hee-hah and hum, here is my first attempt at this...
Made from scratch as I have little trust in ready-available store products....
As the yogurt sets, I wonder if I am addicted to the concept of yogurt or is it my addiction to cows milk. Right now, it seems like the former. It could change.
