Text & Illustrations copyright Š Pushpi Bagchi 2010 All rights reserved Printed and bound in Print Express
GASTRONAUT / gass-tro-not / • noun. ORIGIN Greek gaster ‘stomach’ + nautes ‘sailor’.
Gastronauts are people who explore and enjoy the world of food the way an Astronaut explores outer space.
It was a regular Sunday morning, just as usual. Ma making hot pancakes for everyone. Pa enjoying his breakfast. Dadu pottering about with his watering can.
Cheeku got ready to make an announcement...
FINE! Then he would become an Astronaut. Zoom through the galaxy in search of eerie aliens.
But Ma said they don’t make space suits his size...
Dadu loved to study nature and plants, like a Botanist. But instead of going outdoors he would explore possibilities of potted planting out on the balcony.
Later that morning, Cheeku thought of all the things he loved. Mango chutney and guava jelly Pea soup that warmed his throat and belly Aromas that wafted from fresh-baked cakes The yummy slurps of flavoured shakes Chomp munch gulp- tastes that are radical Essentially all things Gastronomical!
All things gastronomical are yum! True Gastronauts not only explore food, they are fantastic chefs & daring eaters as well.
CORIANDER / ko-ri-an-der / • noun. Herb ORIGIN Latin Coriandrum Sativum
Ma gave Cheeku a bunch of coriander seeds from the kitchen. To sow the seeds he got a rusty old cookie tin. Dadu told Cheeku to plant the seeds about an inch into the soil and water the pot— but not too much! His coriander would be ready to eat in about 3 weeks, until then Cheeku would have to water his plants everyday and make sure they got a lot of sunlight. But Cheeku wanted to do something right that minute. Perhaps he could go food hunting?
CHILLI SEEDS GROUND NUTS, & MUSTARD
Cheeku rushed to Ma. Going to a supermarket would
Most of the food sold in supermarkets travel long distances in trucks, trains, ships and even planes to get there. So, even though the fruits and vegetables look shiny and new, they are not fresh.
The farmers market was piled with mounds of fruits and vegetables fresh from the field. It was loud with the hustle and bustle of buying, selling and bargaining.
Ma bought a plump pumpkin from the organic farmer and they set off for home.
On reaching home Cheeku sorted their shopping. He felt the smooth oily skin of the brinjal, separated the beets from the pomegranates, the tomatoes from the lime, and gathered together the slim, long lady fingers.
INGREDIENTS: Wheat flour – 2 CUPS Regular cooking oil – 1 CUP Sugar – 1½ CUPS Eggs – 2 Pumpkin puree (or finely grated) – 2 CUPS Baking Soda – 1 TEA SPOON Baking Powder – ½ A TEA SPOON Salt – ½ A TEA SPOON Cinnamon powder – 1 TEA SPOON Crushed ginger – ½ A TEA SPOON Nutmeg powder – ½ A TEA SPOON
Mix all the ingredients in a big bowl with a beater till it’s a thick batter. Pre heat oven at 200˚C Bake cupcakes for 20 minutes approximately. To see if the cupcakes are done insert a long needle (knitting needle) into the centre of each cupcake. It should come out with a few moist crumbs on it.
Cheeku called his friends over for a cupcake tasting before helping Ma clean up. Dadu and Pa also hung around.
Cheeku stood up to call for attention...
4. Gets busy in the kitchen. • To be food safe • Cooking is cool! • Sharing food brings people together. 5. Learns to recognise tastes. • A trained tongue can distinguish flavours and will make you a taste expert. .
•
It will help you come up with your own fantastic recipes.
6. Spreads the word and gets more people to join the club!
Put your signature here............................
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I was inspired to design this Gastronaut Kit when I noticed a growing lack of involvement with food in urban Indian homes. Convenience foods and full time cooks have made their way into our kitchens.
We usually don’t consider the larger impact of our food choices,
but most urban food trends are such that the transport, processing, packaging and distribution of the food we eat consumes enormous amounts of energy and resources.
My aim was to design a set of products that encourages and
excites children to get involved with their food, and to question and understand its impact beyond their bodies. This kit urges children to explore all facets of food, engage with real life experiences and have fun interacting with adults.
Ages 4+