Posts by Sambrita

Cuevas el Abanico- Kuki’s Cave House in Granada

Posted by on Jul 23, 2012 in Reviews & Recommendations | Comments Off on Cuevas el Abanico- Kuki’s Cave House in Granada

Cuevas el Abanico- Kuki’s Cave House in Granada

“We are in bustling Granada, a rich colonial gem of a city, full of horse-drawn taxicabs and decaying neo-classical facades, which languish a few layers of paint away from their original Spanish-era splendor. Granada is the Nicaragua of romance and myth, a veritable museum piece that quietly contradicts the woeful hard luck tales of war, hurricanes and grinding poverty that have been the staple of the international news media for decades. Nothing can prepare you for the gritty authenticity of its vibrant yet nonthreatening streets – the rocking chairs in the doorways, the...

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Chamba:A Relic Preserved in Time

Posted by on Jul 23, 2012 in Travel Tales | 4 comments

Chamba:A Relic Preserved in Time

“Jyoti  Thakur is the man!”, we were told,emphatically, when we were starting our planning phase to visit the Himachal. Our cousins Paplu & Debbie were stationed at a beautiful bungalow in Jammu,back then. Paplu is in the armed forces in India, and serves a rank that is senior enough and consequently enabling him to have the ‘good-life’, so to say! Passionate about taking to flight himself, Paplu almost immediately suggested that Jyoti was a one-man-shop-and-stop for any visitor in Himachal. And that, he has been ‘tried-and-tested’ by themselves as...

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Kashmiri ‘Wazwan’ Gosht

Posted by on Jun 12, 2012 in Culinary Journeys | 11 comments

Kashmiri ‘Wazwan’ Gosht

“Wazwan” (Inspired)Kashmiri Gosht (serves 10-12 friends, we consider extended-family) Mutton-2 kilograms Onions-1 kilograms,finely chopped Whole Kashmiri Chillies(round whole chillies with a sweet skin and a hot interior) Kashmiri Mirch powder-3 tablespoons Aniseed/Fennel paste-2 tablespoons Whole fennel seeds-2 teaspoons Tomato Puree-2.5 cups Garam Masala powder-2 teaspoons Whole Fenugreek-4 teaspoons Shahi Cardamom- 6-7 numbers,lightly crushed Crushed peppercorns-3 tablespoons Yoghurt (to marinate the mutton) Salt to taste Pinch of saffron(soaked in 1/4th cup of warm milk Oil-3...

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‘Masterchef’ Spiced Chicken with Summer Salad

Posted by on Jun 12, 2012 in Culinary Journeys | 3 comments

‘Masterchef’ Spiced Chicken with Summer Salad

Dukka Spiced Sesame-Walnut ‘Masterchef’ Chicken with Summer Salad(Serves 2): The chicken 1kg free range chicken for grilling(thighs and legs separately) Del Monte Extra Virgin Olive oil, to drizzle 1 clove garlic, sliced 2 sprigs rosemary Dukka spice 1 tablespoon coriander seeds 1 tablespoon cumin seeds 1/3 cup walnuts, dry roasted and minced 1 tablespoon lemon zest 1/2 teaspoon ajwain 1 teaspoon sea salt ¼ cup sesame seeds Summer salad ¼ watermelon, cut into triangular pieces ¼ muskmelon, cut into triangular pieces Del Monte Pineapple Tidbits 1 cucumber, deseeded and cut into...

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Banana Walnut Cake

Posted by on Jun 12, 2012 in Culinary Journeys | Comments Off on Banana Walnut Cake

Banana Walnut Cake

The Sugar-Free ‘at-the stroke-of-midnight’  Cake (Serves a houseful of 4 adults and 2 kids): Refined flour-3/4 cup Ripe bananas,mashed-2 medium Walnut kernels,chopped1/4 cup Baking powder 2 teaspoons Salt a pinch Cocoa powder-3 table spoons Cinnamon powder 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg powder 1/8 teaspoon Cooking butter 200 grams Sugar Free- 1/2 cup(R is diabetic! Please use 1 cup of sugar,if you choose) Vanilla essence- 1 teaspoon Eggs,whisked 2 (yolks and whites separated) Milk 2 tablespoons   Preheat oven to 180° C. Grease and line the cake-baking tin. Sieve refined flour, baking...

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