Homestyle Thai Cooking

                                                           
                                         Introduction
  As the youngest in the family living in Bangkok, I was often left behind to help out in the kitchen while my older brothers and sisters ran off to play. At first I did not look forward to cooking, but later learned to enjoy it, as I acquired the skills and joy of cooking. I can still remember how thrill I was when I intentionally prepared my siblings' meals with excessive spiciness and still got away with it. The food was so delicious that they were unsure whether to punish or praise me.

  My culinary skills were gained from helping my aunt with the cooking, as in any Thai household. Every Thai family has developed slightly different recipes due to individual tastes and preferences. In the old days, the housewife was always the matriarch of the family. She would get up early to prepare breakfast. After seeing her family members off to work or to schools, she would make a trip to a local market to pick up the freshest produce to cook for the day. Her dinner menu usually offered 4 to 5 dishes depending on the size of her family and always included a salad with  vegetables, a soup of clear broth or coconut base, a stir-fried of meat and mixed vegetables, and a sweet dish or fresh fruits for a dessert. In a traditional Thai family with three generations living under one roof, family members were often recruited to help in the kitchen. Helpers inadvertently became apprentices under her guidance and to continue her cooking traditions. Recipes were sometimes regarded as a family heirloom and a family secret.

  Such homestyle cooking is still prevalent throughout Thailand today but is no longer in the grand scale as it used to be, as Thai families are getting smaller. Family members, including the housewives, are spending more time away from home and the cooking chore is naturally reduced both in the time spent and quantity of food. After returning home, family members usually pitch in to cook their dinner. Homestyle cooking has evolved to fit new lifestyles, technologies and ingredients. The family's cook doesn't have to shop every day, as refrigerators are now available to preserve cooking ingredients. Modern kitchen devices have speeded up food preparations, making the task of cooking less laborious. Food can now be cooked in small portions for single meals or in large quantities to last for several meals. New ingredients and cooking techniques introduced through trade with other countries have added new varieties to Thai home cooked meals.

  Homestyle cooking is always considered very specialized, imbued a great deal with the cook's personality and family preferences. A meal cooked in small portions is carefully executed in details and the taste is adjusted to the family liking. Ingredients are specifically selected and the tastes are highly individualized in contrast to restaurant meals that appeal to the masses.
In this book, I have selected more than 30 Thai dishes that are perfect for homestyle cooking. These are featured in easy–to–follow recipes that are suited for all levels of skills, providing you with a useful guide to whip up a satisfying meal for your family.