Don’t eat the yellow snow

Every few minutes I pass by a spot where the white powdery snow has been drip-painted an unmistakable deep yellow. Sometimes it is a couple of feet away, but other times it is right in my way which forces out a silent curse to those particularly lazy men from me.

Walking in three feet of snow with four layers of special clothing and a rucksack that seems to weigh fifty kilos isn’t easy. And when it is a thin layer of ice you’re walking on which breaks like a million shattering glass under every step, it is even more unnerving.

The frozen parts of Zanskar appear tame and placid next to its flowing parts that race downstream with incredible energy, even in February. The nine of us, who have left behind nine different lives to come together and live the same way for 12 days, are overwhelmed by what we see before us. None of us are unmoved. But Ladakh tends to do that.

Back in Bombay after almost a fortnight, I’m experiencing withdrawal symptoms. My fingertips have lessened sensation, my body can’t figure out whether it is feeling hot or cold, and my hands and feet have taken a liking to swelling. A friend has a theory for this. She says that when the body, which is used to continuous physical activity for over a period of time, suddenly experiences a period of inactivity, the endorphin levels plummet leading to dullness of mind, depression even.

Maybe so. At the moment, though, I find cold comfort in Zappa.

Stay Home: A perfect home-cooked meal

There cannot be a more honest expression of love than cooking a meal for your sweetheart. 

Traffic jams, parking problems and a 45-minute wait to get a table when you intended to have a cozy dinner with your loved one isn’t the greatest start to a romantic evening. Instead, surprise them with a perfect dinner cooked by you and you are guaranteed a perfect ending to your evening! 

Foreplay

Bruschetta with tomato and basil is simple to make and yet looks and tastes fabulous. You can choose one or more of the following: tomatoes, mushrooms and black olives. Finely chop the chosen veggies. For the marinade, you can use minced garlic (or not) and olive oil. If you feel like experimenting, use a splash of balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Mix this with the vegetables so that they soak in the flavour.

Slice a baguette or similar Italian bread diagonally into half-inch thick slices. Toast them and brush one side with olive oil once they’re slightly golden brown. Top each slice with the veggies and sprinkle basil leaves and small cubes of feta or mozzerella cheese. Make sure you do it just before serving or the bread may get soggy. 

Climax

Cook up a quick spaghetti for main course if you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. Heat 2-3 tbsp of oil in a saucepan and add onions and garlic until they soften. Reduce the temperature and stir in fresh chopped tomatoes, drained mushrooms, bay leaves and oregano. 

Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in plenty of boiling salted water (for the time stated on the packet) and a tsp of oil. Drain and sprinkle parmesan cheese over it before adding the sauce, finishing with a scattering of more cheese and a twist of black pepper. You can add minced meat or sliced sausages if you want. Pair the main course with a delicious Italian red wine. 

Comfort cuddling

For the most important part of the meal, you can make the easy but exotic strawberry with cream – with a slight twist. Mix strawberry pieces with powdered sugar in a steel box and freeze it for a couple of hours. This way the sugar gets absorbed by the strawberry pieces. The crunchiness of the frozen strawberries pieces when mixed with cream are a delicious combination of textures. Tip: try using fresh or home-made cream; it has more depth and creaminess. Alternately, packaged ‘fresh’ cream is good enough. 

(Note: This article was published on Burrp!. For more read here: http://mumbai.burrp.com/valentines/perfect-home-cooked-meal.html)