When I was in India last year (Chennai – previously known as Madras) I had a cheap Chettinad chicken dish on my last night from a take-away restaurant in a local non touristy area (aka Koli Milagu Masala = Chettinad Pepper Chicken). The guesthouse owners got it for me as it was not deemed safe to wonder around that particular ...
I actually think Holland is one of the coolest countries in the world, yeah I may be biased, I was born there. I am a full-blood 100% Nederlander, only I’m not in spirit but that’s another story. This post is all about Holland and my Mums village. Why? Because I’m here and I’m inspired. It is the country where I ...
Whilst visiting Ceylon Tea Trails two weeks ago I was presented with the most delicious cucumber sandwich at high tea. Whilst not a great lover of “High Tea’s”; one because it interferes with my sunset beer and spicy salty nibbles, two because I frankly have not had that many due to the fact that I am not from English aristocracy ...
I’ve been so busy over the last 2 weeks with work. Now this is a good thing (especially considering my finances at the best of times), but when you are on your laptop to the exclusion of everything else for pretty much all of your waking time – this can soon turn into something not so good. Fried brains anyone? ...
This dish is simplicity itself. Kankun (sometimes written as Kangkung) is a Sri Lankan leafy vegetable (Ipomoea aquatica). It is also known as water morning glory, marsh glory, swamp cabbage (!) and water spinach. It’s good and is a rich source of vitamins (particularly A, B and C), iron, protein, calcium, amino acids and anti-oxidants. Ipomoea aquatica (AKA Kankun) In Sri ...
After the humiliating defeat of the Dutch by the Danes on Saturday (and made worse by the press having a field day with the poor Dutch players) I’m staying (a little) quieter. Whoever you are supporting these Battered Prawns are yummy as a snack to eat with your football beers. They are not really Sri Lankan but this recipe is ...
This is for my friends and blog commenters who have asked me why I have been avoiding the Olympics in my blog. Well… I have been too busy watching the Olympics on TV to blog much Two – not all of the sports interest me unless they involve great athletic prowess, a huge record breaking headline, controversy (doping scandals etc.) ...
Been away a few days – mainly in bed with a stomach bug. Sometimes this happens when you live in the tropics, no amount of cleanliness, or strict adherence to only bottled water will stop it. Being a lover of most Sri Lankan street food such as kotthu roti and egg hoppers as well as regularly eating out in “tourist” restaurants you ...
Hello all, One of my New Years resolutions is to blog more so expect ramblings and recipes, some Dutch titbits and hopefully some useful information too. I started the 31st of December very well, healthy dinner and in bed by 10 pm ignoring the party noises from everywhere in town. It went downhill on the 1st of January when I spent a whole ...
The title makes little sense, neither did my head when I finally decided to leave the country I have called home since October 2004, yep 13 years. 13 years of joy, sadness, hurt, immense moments of happiness, fun, near-death experiences, sickness, health, evil and good, and fucking great, absolutely dreadful, but fantastic too. Beauty and ugliness, rich and poor, intense colour, and ...
Firstly I must apologise – my New Years resolution to blog more has been thwarted somewhat initially by work and then being a bit poorly for a while. Good news is I am feeling much better and getting ready to blog more. Some big changes have happened recently (nothing bad…just changes in lifestyle and finances – which I feel will ...
Palm wine: also called kallu (Telugu: కల్లు,Tamil: கள்ளு, Malayalam: കള്ള്), palm toddy, or simply toddy (Hindi: ताड़ी), is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm tree such as the palmyra, date palms and coconut palms (that paragraph was shamelessly stolen from Wikipedia (but that’s why it’s there hey?)) A toddy tapper In Sri Lanka it is simply called Raa. You will not find it in a wine shop…this is part of the fun. You get it from ...
The answer to the title is simple. I am a Suddhi (a white women). In about 9 months I will have lived here for 10 years. I have had great, good, bad and horrid experiences, mostly thankfully good. I think all expats go through a honeymoon stage at first – the newness, the beauty, the friendly people and beautiful smiles ...
Pumpkins are not just for Halloween, they are an extremely healthy vegetable and eaten regularly in Sri Lanka (where they are called Wattakka). Pumpkins are very low in calories (around 20 calories per 100 g). This makes it the perfect food for those watching their weight. They are extremely rich in potassium and have a lot of magnesium and iron ...
Cabbage is another vegetable I think is underrated. Boiled to a pulp it is indeed but it need not be as the recipe below will show you. Mallum or mallung is a Sri Lankan staple. The name literally means “mix up” and is usually a combination of shredded greens, onion, chilli, Maldive fish and coconut. I’m not a fan of maldive ...
ankierenique:Great blog on Tuk Tuks and their drivers. Originally posted on Is This Too Spicy?: Waiting Racing Chilling No 4 wheelers Tuk Tuks are as ubiquitous in Sri Lanka as trams are in Melbourne. All colours of the rainbow these three wheel tin-pots are the transportation powerhouse of the country. They deliver the fish, drop the kids at school, sell ...
Ok, ok I have a weakness for KFC. Zinger burgers are pretty tasty (although I hate the KFC chips – greasy, sloppy & anaemic – gah). Yes I know it’s crap fast food and unhealthy so I’ve been trying out some new healthier and spicier variations at home and one of these turned out very nicely so I’m letting you ...
I have had a hard few weeks (sorry I don’t normally start a blog with “I” but you will hopefully get it as you read on). So, I’m going to get the moaning out of the way first and get onto the stuff that inspires me….food…yeppers and alcohol; double (shot) yeppers. Ah it’s nothing drastic, it’s just frustration at living ...
Those of you that regularly read my posts will know that I am a great of Aubergines (or Eggplant / Brinjal). Add to that my love of Middle Eastern influences in food (that includes Turkish & Jewish food too) and the following Baba Ghannouj recipe cannot fail to please me every time. Baba Ghannouj Recipe (serves 4) This classic Middle Eastern ...
