SUGAR IN THE MILK

Sorry to burst your bubble but this post is not a recipe. In fact, it isn't even actually about food. I know this may be disappointing, but hear me out. 

I was listening to an episode of Fugitive Waves with the Kitchen Sisters the other day (if you haven't heard of it go look it up and down load it rn). One of their latest Hidden Kitchen stories featured Niloufer Ichaporia King, a beautiful Parsi woman who has three kitchens in her home and goes to six farmers markets each week. The story itself was mostly about Parsi food traditions for Parsi New Year; it is beautiful and overwhelming, moving, and sweet. However, what I found most moving was the story she told, a Parsi legend of sugar in the milk. 

The legend goes-

A Priest from the Parsi people went to the King of a village in West India to ask for refuge, as his people (the Parsi people) were fleeing for their lives, fearing persecution in their home land. The King was resistant, his villages was already full. To demonstrate this fact, the King showed the Priest a vat of milk, he said, "Like this vat of milk our lands are full to the brim."

In response the Priest took some sugar and poured it into the milk saying, "Just as the sugar enriches the milk, so our people will enrich your lands."

...

How beautiful is that?! How moving!? I had to keep the tears at bay, I was driving after all. 

The day went on and this story lingered. I began to think of all the things I add to my life and began to wonder, are these things sugar? Or are they stone? Do they enrich? Or overflow? 

In our culture it is prized to be busy. To constantly tack things on to our already full schedules. We say 'yes' to too many things and fill up every moment of every hour of every day with things, never asking if that 'thing' is worthy or good. 

I want to meditate on this idea. Work, life, husband, home, family, friends, education, exercise, nature, nourishment, fun, focus, drive, rest. What things are in these categories? What is adding value? What is too much? 

At Parsi New Year there is a 'milk shake' that is served, cream (ice cream) with sugar or rose water, sweet and delicious, a reminder, a reflection. Taking a moment to think about the past and the present and all the moments in between. 

This may just lead you to wonder, to ask, how are you enriching the world around you? How is your life being enriched?

Do you have all the feels yet? Because I most definitely do. 

xx

p.s. click here for cardamom rose iced latte recipe from Local Milk (photo at the tope of the page)