History

The pot I use is the one my mum used for years when she was alive. Everytime there was people over (trust me we always had guests coming & staying) my beautiful mother made Zarda (sweet yellow rice with nuts) in it. Her zarda was the talk of the town. Everyone loved it and she would send plates of it up our road to all the aunties. I would be the chosen one to knock door to door with a tray full of plates neatly covered with a tissue BEFORE I was allowed to have any. My sisters and younger brother would always get away from doing this chore! Maybe that's why I'm the social one-hehe!

Sadly, her arthritis got worse the pots were used less and less. Eventually, as we all were getting married and leaving home the pot got even less use. Little did we know in 2011 everything would turn upside down for us - whilst my mum was in Pakistan on a holiday/attending a wedding she had a heart attack and passed away.

For years, everything was left untouched and unused in the garage at my Dads. No one had the courage or the heart to go through it all and take to charity/organise etc. One day though my eldest sister plucked up the courage to tackle this mammoth task. She did amazingly well and got rid of loads. We didn't want to keep anything as it was best being used by those who needed it. For weeks she tried to find a food kitchen to donate the pots to, as she searched London I checked in Leicester.

It had been so long now since these pots had been touched so I decided to bring them to Leicester and drop them off to a food kitchen. On the drive home I kept getting thoughts to keep them, I don't hoard and I absolutely hate clutter, with a passion. So I contemplated as to why I need them or is it that I WANT them? Unfortunately, as COVID hit no one was accepted anything. So they just sat at my house and hubby was questioning my intentions. I fought "but when the kids get married I'll need them" he wasn't having any of it.

Then in January when The Panjeeri Pot was created I decided I am keeping one pot and this is my way of having my mum near me and part of my venture. She would've been so proud! I love you and miss you Mummy.