Watch the rice closely!

This I have heard so many times during my childhood. Many of us back home started cooking rice at a very young age using the firewood stove and the art of starting a fire has become something of a second nature to us. But the most important thing was keeping an eye on what was on the stove so as not to burn it especially the rice. One shouldn't play or do anything while cooking it. Even if the others were calling you and pleading to join them outside. Stay put. Be on guard. Period.

Fast forward. Genève. My love affair with rice is so much deeper. I could not fanthom the idea of eating more pasta than rice in a week. Never mind the bulges. Though the voices of my grandparents still linger, cooking rice on the electric stove was a lot easier but kinda tricky for me during my pre-rice cooker days. My husband complained so many times of burnt casserole. It was then that I decided to make my life better and bought me a rice cooker. Boy, I love it. The thing made this clucking sound when ready. No staying put. I could do other task and in less than 15 minutes--voila! and the odor it brought out was just heavenly.

But most things don't last long, I should have known that. Now, after 3 years of staying together thru 2-3 cups most days, it bid me farewell today. No more red light, no more clucking. Just one nagging voice of my long lost grandfather "I have told you to watch the rice!"