Reflecting on this year’s Nutrition Month theme celebrating customs and traditions, I remembered the time when I had my first baby. Oh my, there was so much joy and excitement with congratulations pouring in from all corners of the globe from family and friends! Traditional sweets were delivered to all our near and dear announcing the new arrival. Our family shared home-made ladoos (fried droplets of chickpea batter that are soaked in a sugary syrup and formed into rounds the size of golf balls) and not to forget to mention that they were made with dhesi ghee.
At the same time, behind the scenes at home, the postpartum traditions also took over in full force and I felt I was suddenly on a speeding train that was out of my control. I was blessed to have two mothers to help me but in some ways it was double trouble. They took their caregiving/nanny roles so seriously I jokingly call them ‘the Sargents’.
Although not a traditional Punjabi food, they fed me so much chicken soup daily (made with big chunks of ginger) that I developed an aversion to it for years afterwards. They instructed me and without questioning them, I made my way through a large bucket of pinni (granola type mixture made with a variety of nuts and healing spices) to build my strength back and liters of fennel-flavoured warm milk to increase milk flow.
Apart from the food rituals, I was encouraged to stay in my bedroom, refrain from reading or watching TV as my eyes and body were still in a weak state. Heck, my mom even slept on the floor beside my bed to pass the baby to me for feeding in the middle of the night. I must say, I didn’t mind the daily body and head massages and even babe got his share of massages but with ghee!!
Five years later, when I had my second baby, I thought I was much wiser at the ripe old age of 25 and this time I wasn’t so compliant with the rituals, much to ‘the Sargents’’ chagrin. Now as I experience knee and ankle pains, I wonder if it’s related to my postpartum noncompliance, years of joyous bhangra dancing (which I would never advocate to give up), or just plain old aging.
When I spoke with other moms through my childrens’ sports groups, clubs and work colleagues, I was so surprised to learn that so many other cultures (Asian, Greek, Latin American) have similar postpartum customs and traditions: up to 40 days of ‘healing period’ and inclusion/exclusion of specific foods. These days, I feel some North American families may continue to follow these traditional customs but perhaps in a somewhat diluted fashion and even modern day moms unfamiliar with these customs are embracing them to some degree.
My modern day adaptation of pinni can be seen in my Kahjoo Burfi (cashew date bar that is infused with fennel and ginger). I hope you enjoy it, postpartum or not. It’s dhaalicious!!!!
Kahjoo Burfi
Makes 24 pieces
¼ cup ghee
1 cup rolled oats
1 ½ cups crushed cashews
2 – 3 teaspoons fennel seeds
2 – 3 teaspoons ginger powder
¾ cup chopped dates
¼ cup honey
- Grease a loaf pan.
- Measure all ingredients and set aside.
- Melt ghee in a heavy bottom pan on medium heat. Add rolled oats and saute for 5-7 minutes until they are toasted and turn golden brown.
- Add nuts, fennel seeds and ginger powder. Continue to saute for another 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Stir in dates and honey. Transfer into a greased pan and firmly pat down using the backside of a spoon.
- Cut into pieces when cooled down but still slightly warm. Store in an air-tight container.
Enjoy with a cup of chai, on a long hike for a quick surge of energy or anytime you like!