Blog 1: The Beginning and the First Step
Hello friends! A very warm welcome to my website, savitashekhawat.com!
Until now, you all have seen me preparing traditional recipes and sharing culinary secrets on my YouTube channel, Savita Shekhawat. I truly fall short of words to express my gratitude for the immense love and respect you have showered upon my work. People often ask me—"Savita ji, how did this all begin? Since when have you been so passionate about cooking?"
So, I thought, why not step outside the four walls of my kitchen today and share my life story directly with all of you? Since it might be difficult to capture my entire journey in a single post, this is the very first part of the series.
My Maternal Home: That Village in Mahendergarh and Mother's Struggle
My story begins in a beautiful small village called 'Bhojawas', located near the city of Mahendergarh in Haryana, where I was born. My father was in the Indian Army and is now retired. Since he was often away serving the nation, the entire responsibility of managing the household fell upon my mother's shoulders. We are five siblings in total—four sisters and one brother. I am the second oldest among us, with one elder sister above me.
Growing up, I closely witnessed my mother’s immense struggle in raising five children all by herself. I still vividly remember how she would bathe us, dress us up in spotlessly clean clothes, maintain the entire house single-handedly, and take care of everyone. And that incredible food she cooked over the traditional earthen stove (Chulha)... to be honest, that flavor is still deeply etched into my soul. Our grandmother (Dadi maa) also took great care of us, but I will save her stories for next time, because right now, we must move toward a new turning point in my life.
A New Turning Point: The Fields of Bhiwani and Nani’s Love
As we siblings started growing up, a major shift happened in my life. My maternal uncle (Mamaji) had three sons but no daughter. So, one day, my uncle brought me along to his home. From that moment on, my uncle’s house became my own home.
My uncle and aunt (Mamaji and Mamiji) loved me dearly, just like their own daughter, and my maternal grandmother (Nanima)... she would always hold me close to her heart. Our house was located right in the middle of lush green fields near Bhiwani city in Haryana. Staying there, far away from the hustle and bustle of towns and villages, surrounded by trees and sprawling fields, gave me an abundance of opportunities to connect with nature. Believe me, a true connection with nature is felt only when you live in such a serene and peaceful environment.
My Nanima was such an expert at cooking and preserving traditional recipes that words aren't enough to describe it! In those days, there were neither recipe books nor digital media or YouTube like we have today. Yet, it felt as though she possessed a magical treasure trove of diverse cuisines and unique flavors. I will introduce you to her in detail in the next post, but today, let me share a childhood incident that bound me to the kitchen forever. 
A 9-Year-Old Me and the 'Raw Halwa' for Nanaji
My maternal grandfather (Nanaji) was such a huge admirer of Nanima’s cooking that no other food could ever satisfy his taste buds. Once, Nanaji returned home after traveling, and Nanima wasn't at home. He had a strong craving for something sweet—specifically Halwa, as he absolutely loved it. Seeing no adult around the house, he looked at a 9 or 10-year-old Savita and affectionately said—"Beta, make some Halwa for me."
Now, from watching Nanima make it every single day, I knew the basic process of making Halwa. However, how to make something absolutely perfect is a secret known only to experts like my Nanima. With my tiny hands, I managed to roast the flour as best as I could, added the water and sugar, arranged it on a plate, and served it to Nanaji with great excitement.
Nanaji ate that Halwa with immense relish. When I eagerly asked them—"Nanaji, how is it?"—he smiled warmly and said—"It is wonderful, my child!"
A little later, when Nanima returned home, she tasted the leftover Halwa in the pan. She was shocked and immediately exclaimed—"Oh my! This is completely raw! The flour hasn't even been roasted properly! How on earth did your Nanaji eat this?"
I replied innocently—"But Nanaji really liked it."
When Nanima later questioned Nanaji about why he ate that undercooked Halwa, his response became the greatest lesson of my life. Nanaji said—"If I hadn't told her it was good today, the child would have lost her confidence and would never have dared to step into the kitchen again. And that first plate prepared by my little girl... no matter how it tasted, it was the most delicious plate in the world for me."
Outro
Even today, whenever I look back at those words of my Nanaji, my eyes well up with tears, and I can't stop them from flowing... Perhaps, it was that priceless love and encouragement that gave me the strength to stand before you all today as a Home Chef.
Overwhelmed with these emotions, I am unable to write further today... The next steps of this beautiful journey—I will share in the upcoming post.
Until then, please take good care of yourselves... and yes, do say a prayer in the comments for my Nanaji, that Almighty grants his soul the highest place in heaven.
Thank you so much!!
With love and flavors, Yours truly,
Savita Shekhawat (Traditional Recipe & Culinary Developer, Home Chef)"
