Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 14/01) - When students walk into Seema Chugh's home, they breathe deeply to drink in the wonderful aromas.

Seema Chugh is ready to welcome would-be chefs into her kitchen to learn the secrets of East Indian cooking. - Dawn Ostrem/NNSL photo

Exotic spices fill the home, wafting from the apartment's kitchen where Seema sits, perched on a stool near the counter.

For the past two years, her small, bright kitchen has been a classroom for East Indian cooking classes offered through the city's recreation department.

"I am in a wheelchair so I can't get out of the house," she says as she tends to a silver pot on the stove.

"It's to keep myself from getting bored."

Seema was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis seven years ago and has been in a wheelchair for the last three.

"Last year we had a really fun time," she says.

She smiles quickly and speaks softly as she answers questions with shy reserve.

Her husband, Pawan, helps her tie an apron on and talks about how the classes work.

Five people, at most, he says, crammed chairs into the kitchen last year as Seema directed students in the preparation of such dishes as tandoori chicken and moong dal.

He adds that once, there were two men in one of the classes who competed with one another in making the roundest Indian bread -- a difficult feat.

"I cannot get it so round either," Pawan admits.

Seema quietly smiles as Pawan adds, "Of course, she can."

All of Seema's classes filled up quickly this fall so she decided to teach another session, which is also now full.

"Everyone is really nice and friendly," she says.

Her dark eyes light up when asked how much she likes cooking.

"Every time I see a new recipe I like to try it," she explains as she prepares a dish for her next class. "I do get paid (to teach) but that is not why I do it."

Seema learned to cook as a young girl in India.

"I would just watch my parents and I would try and get my own ideas to get different flavours," she says.