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I'm chilling under the overhead fans here in Darwin (Howard Springs, to be precise - the 'Toorak of the Territory', according to mein host). Outside, the cicadas are rubbing whatever they rub and the heat is blistering, even at 9.00 Sunday morning. Still not a drop of monsoon rain. As my host wryly opined, "There'll be a huge blankety-blanking storm the moment you fly out". He could be right.
Friday was spent shopping, and we came home to a whopping brown tree snake to greet us at the back door. This one, to be precise, though our snake did not allow himself the luxury of a photograph, but rather hid for hours behind a bucket.
Later that night I encountered another local inhabitant, also perched at the back door. Meet Jabba.
The class on Saturday was 'a ripper'. Here's our jolly crew, relaxing in their calm-before-Kurma Storm.
Our laugh-a-minute host Andrew poses atop his prize - a (rarely seen in The Territories) Wild Humpback Panir (Lacteous lumpus, subsp. caseinii), 15 litres worth.
Our team sat down to one of my groaniest (I know there is no such word) dinner tables ever. What a spread!
This is what we cooked:
“Vegetarian World Food”
Fragrant, Tomato-laced South Indian Hot & Sour Toor Dal Soup (Rasam)
Seared Chili-infused Fresh Panir Steaks On a bed of Sweet Potato Mash
North Indian Cabbage, Coconut and Peanut Salad (Kobi Pachadi)
South Indian Lemon Rice with Almonds, Fresh Coconut & Coriander
Stir-fry of Oven-roasted Cauliflowers with Sugar Snap Peas and Cashews
Fresh Crisp Puffed North-Indian Fried Wheat Breads (Poories)
Hot & Sweet Orange-scented Apple Chutney
Creamy Cardamom-infused Condensed Yogurt Dessert with Pistachios and
Saffron Syrup (Shrikhand) (pictured below)
It's time for a late brekky. No guesses what's on the menu.
Posted by Kurma on 26/10/08; 10:30:19 AM
from the dept.
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Sunday, October 26, 2008
