The Golden Squares of Love

A Mother’s Legacy in Every Bite

Some recipes feed the body, and then some recipes heal the soul. My mother’s Goond Paak belongs to the latter, a treasure passed down through generations, wrapped in the warmth of unconditional love and the wisdom of ancient nourishment.

The Story Behind the Recipe

I can still see her hands, weathered yet graceful, moving with practiced ease around the kitchen. The heavy-bottomed pan would sit patiently on the stove as Mama slowly heated the ghee, its golden warmth filling our home with promises of comfort. “Beta,” she would say, her voice soft but certain, “strength comes from within, but sometimes we need a little help to find it.”

This wasn’t just cooking; it was medicine. It was love made edible.

Mama’s Goond Paak came to life during those precious weeks after my son was born. My back ached from countless feeding sessions, my energy felt depleted, and the world seemed to move too fast around my new, tender reality. That’s when Mama appeared in my kitchen, ghee jar in hand, with the same knowing smile she’d worn throughout my childhood.

“This will give you strength,” she whispered, measuring ingredients not with cups but with intuition born from decades of nurturing. “Just like it gave me strength, and my mother before me.”

As the wheat flour transformed from pale to golden under her patient stirring, as the aromatic spices bloomed and danced together, as the edible gum puffed and married with the other ingredients, I watched more than a recipe unfold. I witnessed a ritual of healing, a ceremony of care that stretched back through generations of mothers who understood that nourishment goes far beyond mere sustenance.

Now, years later, I find myself reaching for this recipe not just for postpartum recovery, but whenever life demands more than I feel I can give. When deadlines loom and proper meals become forgotten luxuries, when my daughter needs her mama to be strong, when the weight of daily life settles too heavily on my shoulders, these golden squares remind me that strength can indeed be found in every bite.

Postnatal Power Bites, Goond Paak.

This was my mum’s remedy for back pain, and now it’s my go-to for my daughter, my daughter-in-law, when life gets too busy to eat. Strength in every square, perfect for new mums, bone health, and busy souls. 🌸

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ghee (the foundation of warmth)

• 1½ cups whole wheat flour (for grounding energy)

• ½ cup edible gum (goond), powdered (the secret to strength)

• 1 cup jaggery, grated or crushed (nature’s sweetness)

• 2 tbsp dry ginger powder (for warming the soul)

• 1 tsp cardamom powder (aromatic comfort)

• A pinch of nutmeg powder (gentle warmth)

• A few saffron strands (liquid gold)

• ¾ cup mixed nuts, coarsely ground (almonds, cashews, pistachios, Nature’s protein)

• Chopped almonds, pistachios & rose petals (for beauty and garnish)

The Loving Method:

Step 1: Begin with Intention. Heat the ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan over the gentlest flame. Let patience be your guide—good things take time, and healing cannot be rushed.

Step 2: The Golden Transformation: the whole wheat flour and roast slowly, stirring constantly until it turns golden and releases that unmistakable nutty aroma that speaks of home and comfort.

Step 3: Awaken the Spices. Mix in the dry ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and saffron. Stir for just one minute, letting their fragrances bloom and mingle like old friends reuniting.

Step 4: The Magic of GoondAdd the powdered edible gum and cook for 3-4 minutes. Watch as it puffs and transforms, creating the binding magic that makes these bites so nourishing.

Step 5: Richness and Sweetness Stir in the ground nuts, then add the jaggery. Work quickly now, mix until the jaggery melts just enough to bind everything together in sweet harmony.

Step 6: Shape with Immediately spread the hot mixture into a greased tray. While the mixture is still warm and pliable, cut it into squares of your desired size, each one a small promise of nourishment.

Step 7: The Final Touch Garnish with chopped nuts and delicate rose petals if your heart desires beauty alongside nourishment.

Step 8: Patience and Reward. Let the squares cool and set completely. Then, whenever you need strength, reach for one of these golden treasures.

More Than Medicine

These aren’t just postpartum treats; they’re a reminder that taking care of ourselves isn’t selfish; it’s essential. Whether you’re a new mother navigating the beautiful chaos of early parenthood, someone dealing with the aches and pains of daily life, or simply a busy soul who forgets to nourish themselves properly, these power bites offer more than nutrition.

They offer love. They offer tradition. They offer the comfort of knowing that somewhere in the world, mothers have been caring for their families with recipes just like this one for generations.

The edible gum strengthens bones and joints. The ghee provides healthy fats for energy and hormone production. The jaggery offers iron and sweetness without the crash of refined sugar. The spices warm and heal from within. The nuts provide protein and satisfaction.

But perhaps most importantly, they provide the kind of nourishment that comes from being truly cared for.

A Legacy in Every Square

Every time I make this recipe, I feel my mother’s presence in my kitchen. I see her wisdom in the precise measurements, her love in the patient stirring, her care in every golden square. And when I share these bites with my own daughter, I know I’m passing on more than just a recipe.

I’m passing on the understanding that food can be medicine, that tradition holds wisdom, and that sometimes the most powerful healing comes in the smallest, most unexpected packages.

From my mum’s kitchen to mine, and now to yours.

May these golden squares bring strength to your body, comfort to your soul, and the reminder that you are worthy of nourishment in all its forms.

What family recipes hold special meaning in your kitchen? Share your stories of inherited love in the comments below. I’d love to hear how food has connected you to the generations before you.