After spending the last quarter of 2009 hosting family, getting back into the work routine after a four-week holiday hiatus, and enjoying all that Summer had to offer, it is time to post again on The Starbuck Report!

I will start with a tramping excursion Rus and I completed at the beginning of February on Mt. Fyffe, the tallest summit of the Seaward Kaikouras (not to be confused with a second set that runs parallel and further inland, aptly named the Inward Kaikouras) - about 1600m (5,250 feet).  This meant that we would travel, once again, to one my favourite places in New Zealand - Kaikoura.

Since there was a popular concert happening in the area, budget rental cars were sold out across the city.  We did not want to pay for a better car when all it would do is sit in a carpark all weekend, and it looked like we might have to cancel our trip.  Thankfully, one of my workmates allowed me to borrow her SUV for the weekend.  I took the bus to her house after work on Friday, drove the car to my house, and we packed it up with the necessary gear.  Soon afterward, with the windows down and the warm sun shining, we were on our way to Kaikoura!

As I have mentioned in previous posts, the drive to Kaikoura is one of the most breathtaking one can imagine, and this time was no different.  It has been a rather wet and cool summer, so the grass on the plains was as green as green could be.  Combined with the Alps as a backdrop and the turquoise water, it was stunning!

We arrived around dinner time, set up our tent for the night at the holiday park (before nightfall), and treated ourselves to a nice dinner and wine a restaurant in town that serves local, organic food.  We enjoyed expertly-cooked pieces of quality meat (me, venison; Rus, beef fillet); we understood we would be eating far differently the following day.

After a lovely sleep in the tent, we woke up late, had a coffee and a big brekkie at a cafe, then drove to the start of the track about 20 minutes inland.  It was a perfect day - sunny, clear, and sure to be warm.  Once at the carpark, we double-checked our packs for the proper gear.  The Department of Conservation (DOC) maintains huts on tracks throughout New Zealand with bunks and basic facilities (though no shower at this one); however, because of the time of year (summer), the fine weather, and the influx of Europeans who come to New Zealand to tramp, etc., we thought it would be best to bring our tent in the event the hut was full.  It turned out to be a good move…

Ten minutes into our walk, I was wondering what we were thinking.  We started entirely too late for the weather (nearly 11:00AM), meaning that it was already warm (about 28C/ 82F), even without our 22kg (50lb) packs!  The track was steep; the terrain groomed, course gravel.  The profuse sweat started near-instantaneously.  Without much breeze coming from the Pacific (unusual for this location), it was going to be a long day.

Despite the hot (and, at times, miserable) day, the views climbing the to the summit were becoming more spectacular with each step.   After nearly four hours of steep, sweaty climbing (with plenty of short breaks in between!), we finally reached the hut.  The first thing on our minds was a well-deserved lunch of tuna (from pouches) and crackers.  Whether it was sheer hunger or not, it tasted amazing.  We met another couple who arrived before us who were curiously shaking something in peanut butter jars.  After introducing ourselves and mingling, we learned that they were making a no-bake cheesecake.  How’s that for “roughing it”?

The hut is not at the summit; the summit is another 90 minute hike to the top.  Thankfully, however, we could ditch our heavy packs and proceed with just water and poles - phew!  We took a liberal three hour break beforehand; resting, digesting, and meeting the other trampers who came up after we did.  There was Paul, a young lad from the U.K., and two members of the New Zealand Air Force who just arrived…they looked like we had a few hours previous before we dried off and had a hearty meal.  They might have been needing a good rest, but we were ready to climb to the summit!

The last 90 minutes were as tough as the first four hours, even without our packs.  Once we reached the top, though, we were treated with some truly magnificent 360 degree views.  The entire Kaikoura peninsula was in view, as well as the mountains stretching all the way to the south and north.  The ocean stretched as far as the eye could see.  The patchwork plains and rolling hills below made me feel like I was on top of the world!  We took some photos and decided it was dinnertime!

As always, the descent is far faster than the ascent; it only took us about 45 minutes to get back to the hut.  It was not easy, however, because our legs had turned to jelly. By then, it was nearly 6:00PM, we were ravenous, and I was sure we would be in bed shortly after sundown.

Once back at the hut, we cooked our dehydrated camping meals (when I say “cooked” I mean boiled some water on the camp stove, pour it into the bag with the food and let it sit for 10 minutes) and continued to get to know our fellow trampers.  The couple in the Air Force were truly set: they brought frozen (?!) pieces of steak, mashed potatoes, etc.  They also had hot chocolate and a flask of port, a popular post-tramping beverage.  Another couple, well into their 60s, arrived later.  We had seen them on the summit earlier, and they had chosen another track to hike before returning to the hut (!?).  They did more than we did on the day and did not even look tired.   It gave me inspiration for fun and fitness well into the future.  Our friend, Paul, had decided to see the sunset from the summit; he cooked his meal and headed up.    If the older couple had decided to stay in the hut, the hut’s eight beds would have been full, with one needing a place to sleep.   As it appeared the perfect weather would continue through the night, they chose to camp under the stars somewhere nearby, amazing us once again.

This left space for the remaining seven of us to sleep in the hut; however, since it was hot and tight in there, we were happy to use the tent we hauled up the mountain.  We changed our clothes, hanging them on a make-shift laundry line so they would be dry in the morning, and set up camp.  Our tent is small and light-weight mesh, with a wind- and water-proof cover. Because of the excellent weather, we opted to forgo the cover.

A few hours after dinner, the sun was beginning to set, and all of us scattered to different places catch our own views.  Once we snapped a few photos, I was certainly ready for bed - all of my muscles aching with exhaustion from the day.  But Tim and Catherine, who had made the cheesecake earlier, had different plans.  Instead of resting our tired bodies, we gathered around a few camp stoves, made hot chocolate, ate no-bake cheesecake, and shared stories and laughs.  It was one of the highlights of my day!

As the night grew darker, sleepiness overcame the conversation and camaraderie.  It was finally time to go to bed.  Rus and I tucked ourselves into our sleeping bags (which is entirely gross after a long day of sweating!).  As he drifted off, I could not peel my eyes from the clear, starry night visible through the mesh.   This, my friends, is why I do this.  Not only for the views (as spectacular as they are), not for the cool people I meet along  the way, and certainly not for the food.  It’s for the opportunity to view the night sky far from and above city lights, in all of its sparkling glory.  Despite my fatigue, my eyes could not stop scanning the sky for shooting stars and attempting to memorise every single dazzling one.  It was notable that, even atop this mountain, there was nearly no breeze - a perfect night.  I coerced myself to rest my eyes and drift to sleep.

While we were conversing the night before over n0-bake cheesecake, we all agreed to wake up for the sunrise over the Pacific.  The Air Force, Karen and Peter, were in charge of time, and their knock on the tent came too early.  While Rus was happy to snooze through the whole thing (despite my enthusiasm!), I snapped photos from the warmth of my sleeping bag through the tent’s door.  The site was different than what we were expecting: a thick blanket of clouds shrouded the peninsula and plains below.  It looked like the sun was rising from an ocean of cotton.  It was beautiful!

After a quick breakfast of hot muesli, we dismantled the tent, loaded our packs (significantly lighter after using most of the food and water - the harsh truth in the world of tramping!), and began our descent. We offered young Paul a ride back into town so he would not have to walk the long, flat 15 kilometres back to the town centre to catch his bus.  He left before we did but would catch him at the bottom.

As we caught up with the layer of clouds, and left the sunshine at the top, the weather became cool, moist, and overcast.  It only took us two hours to reach the car, and Paul was waiting patiently for us.  Once we made sure all of our gear was in the car - and the tramping boots were off - we drove back to Kaikoura for coffees and pastries.  We enjoyed chatting with Paul about his travels through India and Nepal, and his planned adventures in New Zealand.  It always impresses me to meet young adults who have done so much travelling!

Once we were finished, Paul made his way back to his backpackers hostel.  We stayed in Kaikoura for a bit, scoping out the area on the outskirts of town.  We went out to the peninsula itself and had a cray sandwich (cray = crayfish, very similar to a lobster, except with no claws) on the coast.  Unlike the weather the day before, it was chilly and breezy.

By the time lunch was over, we had had enough.  We were happily tired and in need of a shower.  After a fantastic weekend, it was finally time to drive home.

*Please visit our Flickr page to see more photos of this trip!  It’s well worth it!

Here in New Zealand, there are two popular breakfast foods: Toast (as in, toasted, sliced bread) and muesli.  Some Kiwis eat cereal, and there are a few varieties in the supermarkets, but there are heaps of choices of whole-grain, hearty muesli.  It is available toasted or just plain.

Rus and I have enjoyed muesli since Day One here, but it is quite expensive, especially considering we like ours as organic and garbage-free (i.e. preservative, additive, extra sugar and salt, etc.) as possible.  Bags can cost up to $11 each for about four servings!  There is relief, however, because it can be made at home cheaply from ingredients that can be purchased in the bulk section of most local supermarkets.  This Tasty Tuesday is all about how to make your own wholesome, healthy, breakfast cereal.

This is how I make it - and save lots of money on “the most important meal of the day” (of course, it can be modified to fit your chosen dietary restrictions and preferences):

4 cups rolled oats (not instant)

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 ground flax seed

2 tbsp rice bran oil

1/4

1/2 chopped walnuts (optional)

1/2 cup sliced or chopped almonds (optional)

1/2 cup dried fruit (raisins, apricots, mangos, bananas - anything!)

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius).

2. In a large bowl, mix the rolled oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, nuts, and rice bran oil until thoroughly coated.

3. Place the mixture in a baking dish or lasagna dish and into the oven.

4. Toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes, turning the mixture over every few minutes until the desired toast level is reached.

5. Once the level of toast is reached, pour the toasted oats into a bowl.

6.  Add the remaining ingredients and stir.

7. Allow to cool and serve with milk or hot water.  Enjoy!

*I started this post in September but am just finishing it down for posting…sue me??

Rus and I have been wanted to try snowboarding for some time.  We both enjoy downhill skiing and have dabbled in cross-country skiing, but the popularity of snowboarding has tempted us to “give it a go”, as the saying goes here.

Our new flatmate, Simon (age 28, Kiwi from Auckland), has been a couple of times and has his own gear.  He was keen to go to Mt. Hutt, the most popular and commercialised ski field in the area, about 90 minutes from Christchurch.  Winter sport lovers come from all over the world, especially Europe and Japan, during the Southern Hemisphere ski season to experience the snow and the views from the Southern Alps.

Rus and I hired (”rented”) our snowboards and boots from a shop just a stone’s throw from our house.  Once we were geared up, we were on our way to the mountain.  It was another glorious day - not a cloud in site!  We drove down a road on which we had never been on but saw more of the same flat pastures and rolling hills - and, of course, lots of sheep!  Eventually, we made our way to the access road to Mt. Hutt, and that’s where the fun really began!

Since this ski field is quite popular, the road leading to the lodge is wider (two whole lanes!) and, while still rough (as in, not paved), it was not as treacherous as the one we climbed to get to Mt. Cheeseman.  As we winded our way up the 16km road, we were treated to incredible views of the Canterbury Plains, extending all the way to the ocean to the east, the Inland Kaikouras mountain range to the north, and even more snow-covered alps to the south.  It was another one of those “don’t look down” kind of roads - no guard rails - and no chance of survival if you went over the edge.   We were well above the tree line; there were only a few rocks and chairlifts, and many little moving dots of people zig-zagging on the huge white mass in front of us.  Although I was excited to try something new, there is something uncomfortable and intimidating about going into a day where you know you are going to fail (in this case, end up on your butt) all day long.

When we finally arrived at the top, we were directed to park in an overflow lot; the mountain looked quite busy.  It was Father’s Day here (Sunday, September 6th), and we were hoping most people would be enjoying their family time elsewhere.  Regardless, we gathered up our gear and made our way to the ticket counter to purchase lift tickets.  Since we were each inexperienced snowboarders, we all decided on staying strictly on the “Magic Carpet” - the “Bunny Hill”, in other words.  There was an option to upgrade our lift tickets for a reduced price later on in the day, if we wished.  Tickets were $44 a piece just for the Magic Carpet hill - yikes!  Needless to say, we decided to forgo the $95-an-hour snowboarding lessons…

The “Magic Carpet” is actually a conveyor belt that moves people to the top of a pathetic little slope for newbies.  Today, this pathetic little slope was covered, as it usually is, with tiny, young ski proteges… a recipe for disaster considering Rus and I are quite tall and would be far from graceful on our snowboards.  Nevertheless, I strapped the snowboard to one foot and awkwardly scooted myself toward the conveyor belt.

At the “top” (about 150 metres from the bottom and at a “very scary” 15 degree angle), I plopped down on my rear end and buckled my right foot to the board.  I stood up and readied myself to go down the hill…slowly…slowly…BAM!  First fall of the day, barely one minute into it.  I fell five more times before I made it down to the bottom of that little slope.

The rest of the day was more of the same…meaning that I did, indeed, spend a lot of time on my butt.  Or the occasional direct fall on the knees, some of them nearly knocking the wind out of me.  Kids laughed at me.  I actually got laughed at by some little punk demon child.  He pointed, laughed, and said, “Daddy, that girl just FELL!”.  I retorted, “Thanks for the vote of encouragement!” and was thankful his dad was there; I just might have smacked him.  Also, because of all the people and the slow-moving conveyor belt, it was actually faster to take the board off completely and walk back up the hill (adding to the exhaustion factor).

Throughout all the falling and dodging younglings, I did manage to get the hang of it…all while sweating my you-know-what off.  It was cold (obviously - snow - hello!?), but the blazing sun meant the layers were thin and few.  By the end, I was actually enjoying myself surfing across the snow (for however short the slope was) and looking forward to the next run - which would hopefully be free of painful falls.  (Note: Some of the photos are courtesy of Simon, who had two previous snowboarding experiences under his belt and hence decided to upgrade on his lift ticket.  Rus and I, fearing certain death if in error, decided to keep on the Magic Carpet).

And even though I looked longingly at the expert skiers skillfully swishing back and forth gracefully down the steep slopes, I was happy that I took the plunge and decided to “fail” for the day.  Perhaps that, indeed, actually, was my greatest success of the day!

Throughout all of our New Zealand excursions, it has been repeatedly recommended to us to visit Abel Tasman National Park.  Situated at the top of the South Island, Abel Tasman is renowned for its golden, sandy beaches and beautiful, clear, turquoise waters.  Sea kayaking around the coves that are inaccessible by land and tramping some of the best walks in the country make this area immensely popular.

Since it is Labour Weekend (Monday, 26 October off work, yay!), we decided to hire a car and head out.  I left work at lunchtime Friday since it became clear that most potential clients had already done the same.  Rus still had to finish up work (and also had to put in a few hours today; hence, why I am able to write this from our trip!).  We packed, loaded up the car, and were on the road by nearly 5:00PM.

We thought it would be about a five hour drive and anticipated arriving around 10:00PM.  We ran into a slight delay getting out of Christchurch (read: about 10 minutes), and drove through some more beautiful country.  After about 90 minutes into the trip, we were in (for us) uncharted territory, but it was “more of the same” - more beautiful mountains, raging blue rivers, sheep country, and wet forests.

Eventually, we were getting hungry.  It was getting late, and towns were few and far between.  We stopped at a very small town cafe that was just closing for the night.  Though we were unable to eat anything, mercifully, they still let us use their toilets!  We endured until we came upon a small town called Murchinson.  This was the largest town we had seen since leaving the outskirts of Christchurch.  There was even a small supermarket (and by small, I mean, convenience store-size small)!  We chose one of the two tavern/restaurants there and ordered meals that seemed to take forever to be served.  Brett and I shared a lovely vegetable soup and what was called the Commercial Hamburger (”Commercial” was the name of the restaurant, an old inn).  The Commercial Burger is a typical Kiwi hamburger (even found in fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Burger King) - which consists of a burger patty, cheese, sauteed onions, lettuce, tomato, “tomato sauce” (ketchup), fried egg, beets, pineapple, and bacon (shoulder bacon, more like a slice of ham).  Yes, beets, egg, and pineapple.  Brett and I also shared this, and it turned out to be a good thing since it was about eight inches tall and served with enough chips (french fries) for all three of us to share.

Once we were satiated, we were back on the road.  It was 9:15PM, and we still had about two hours ahead of us.  I had booked us into a holiday park in Kaiteriteri - right on the beach and right at the foot of Abel Tasman National Park.  It was dark now, raining, and the roads were mostly empty.  Rus was a champ and drove the whole way.

Finally, after jamming through a very decent collection of classic rock and 80s tunes, we arrived in Kaiteriteri around 11:30PM, and looked for the holiday park.  When I say “looked”, it means that there was no stated address, and since the town is so small, we should be able to “look” and find it.  Furthermore, when I booked the cabin, I told the receptionist that we would be arriving late, and she said, “No problem, if it’s after 7:30, we’ll just leave the cabin unlocked for you”.  How’s that for down home service?!  Sure enough, we found our cabin, Cabin #8, and stepped inside.

This cabin was basic, no-frills accommodation - a bunk bed, a double bed, a desk and four chairs - all built in.  The room, self-contained, is about 12 x 12 - and pretty much perfect for our requirements.  We were exhausted, so, without even showering, we set up our sleeping bags, brushed our teeth, and went to bed.

When we awoke the next morning, we were able to truly examine our spectacular surroundings…

Original article from TechCrunch

Poor New Zealand. Nobody is quite sure exactly where it is. A favorite joke on tourists in Sydney, my Australian friends tell me, is to convince them that the Sydney Harbor Bridge is actually a bridge to New Zealand (it isn’t, New Zealand is about 1,400 miles away). And the HBO show Flight Of The Conchords has made ignorance of New Zealand a running theme.

But at the very least Google should get it right. But Barry Schwartz has noticed that the top result for a search for Google Ireland on Google itself returns a top result of not Google.ie, but Google.nz. As does a search for Google Egypt.

Neither Ireland nor Egypt are actually New Zealand. It’s in a totally different hemisphere.

Wow!  I know it’s been a long time since I checked in on The Starbuck Report.

Since my last update, a lot has happened!

First and foremost, about a month ago, I accepted a position as an advertising sales representative for a marketing company.  This particular company, called JB Presentations, specialises in producing desk pads and wall planners.  I sell the advertising space surrounding these.  The job is relatively laid back, the hours are flexible, and I truly enjoy the group of people I work with.  The office is in an old shoe factory right in the City Centre, with exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, and lots of large windows.  Besides the managing director (who is male), I work with thirteen other woman of various ages.  In terms of getting to work in the morning, I can cycle there in about ten minutes, ride one of several regular buses with a transit time of 15 minutes, or walk ten minutes to ride the Free Shuttle (total transit time about 25 minutes).  If it’s nice out, I definitely prefer to cycle.

Secondly, my youngest sister, Brett, arrived two weeks ago to Christchurch.  We’ve been scampering around the area since she’s been here, going up to Kaikoura last weekend for Seafest 2009, camping, Lyttelton, and riding the Christchurch Gondola up and mountain biking down the Port Hills.

Thirdly, in the coming weeks, The Starbuck Report will be going through a technological upgrade.  Rus will be moving the blog over to the new Crowd Fusion web publishing platform.

Fourth and finally, I sent away for and received my permanent residence for New Zealand!  I am now able to vote, exit and enter the country freely for the next two years (until I have to renew my visa), and have access to the public health system.  This is a welcome relief, as my work visa expired in July (resulting in a bit of a mix-up at the San Francisco airport in August!  Cheers to the amazingly friendly and understanding staff at Air New Zealand and customs at Christchurch Airport! :))

So, the last few weeks have been busy, and I realise that I have been neglecting The Starbuck Report.  Look for more updates in the coming days!

From this morning, Daylight Savings Time starts!  This means that the days will be longer - and there is an extra hour of talk time with our folks in the USA!  Until the United States moves back into Standard Time, we are now 17 hours ahead of the East Coast (or seven hours behind, the next day, if that’s less confusing!).  Bring on Summer!

Yikes!  Now New Zealand is on the opposite side of the spectrum - no dangerous plants or animals.

Reprinted from Yahoo! News

BANGKOK – Sophisticated computer scans of fossils have helped solve a mystery over the nature of a giant, ancient raptor known as the Haast’s eagle which became extinct about 500 years ago, researchers said Friday. The researchers say they have determined that the eagle — which lived in the mountains of New Zealand and weighed about 40 pounds (18 kilograms) — was a predator and not a mere scavenger as many thought.

Much larger than modern eagles, Haast’s eagle would have swooped to prey on flightless birds — and possibly even the rare unlucky human.

Ken Ashwell of the University of New South Wales in Australia and Paul Scofield of the Canterbury Museum in New Zealand wrote their conclusions in the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Using computed axial tomography, or CAT, the researchers scanned several skulls, a pelvis and a beak in an effort to reconstruct the size of the bird’s brain, eyes, ears and spinal cord.

They compared their data on the Haast’s eagle to characteristics of modern predator birds and scavenger birds to determine that the bird was a fearsome predator that ate the flightless moa birds and even humans.

The researchers also determined the eagle quickly evolved from a much smaller ancestor, with the body growing much more quickly than the brain. They believe its body grew 10 times bigger during the early to middle Pleistocene period, 700,000 to 1.8 million years ago.

“This work is a great example of how rapidly evolving medical techniques and equipment can be used to solve ancient medical mysteries,” Ashwell said.

Because fossils are so fragile and most of the species were never seen by humans, CAT scans allow researchers to closely examine body parts of the long-extinct animals to learn about their behavior, Scofield said.

“The fossils are very valuable and you can’t just cut into the skull to look at the brain,” he said. “So by using nondestructive techniques, you can get a much better idea of the neurobiology of these animals.”

Scientists believe the Haast’s eagle became extinct about 500 years ago, most likely due to habitat destruction and the extinction of its prey species at the hands of early Polynesian settlers. Before the humans colonized New Zealand about 750 years ago, the largest inhabitants were birds like the Haast’s eagle and the moa.

Scofield said the findings are similar to what he found in Maori folk tales. “The science supports Maori mythology of the legendary pouakai or hokioi, a huge bird that could swoop down on people in the mountains and was capable of killing a small child,” he said.

New Zealand paleontologist Trevor Worthy said the study did a good job of proving the eagle was a killer.

“They provide a convincing case that the body of this eagle has rapidly enlarged, presumably adapting to the very much larger prey it had access to in New Zealand, but that the brain size had lagged behind this increase,” he said in an e-mail interview. “Convincing data shows beyond doubt that this bird was an active predator, no mere scavenger. It is a nice use of modern technology and the same old bones as yesteryear to advance knowledge.”

Jamie R. Wood, a researcher from New Zealand who has done extensive research on the moa, said the analysis strengthens the case that the eagle evolved quickly from a much smaller ancestor, “in what must be one of the most dramatic examples anywhere of how rapidly evolution can occur on islands.”

Yes, this is several months overdue - obviously because to our trip overseas.  Some of the growth is credited to our wedding RSVP site being attached to the blog (especially in July when the page views drops off dramatically from June).  We have seen steady growth in subscriptions, however, especially in August. Briefly, below are the stats for June, July, and August, respectively:

June 2009’s statistics summary for www.thestarbuckreport.com is as follows:

Reported period: Month June 2009

First visit: 01 June 2009 - 00:12

Last visit: 30 June 2009 - 23:30

Unique visitors: 365

Number of visits: 1959 (5.36 visits/visitor)

Pages: 8685 (4.43 pages/visit)

July’s statistics for www.thestarbuckreport.com:

Reported period: Month July 2009

First visit: 01 July 2009 - 00:22

Last visit: 31 July 2009 - 23:56

Unique visitors: 377

Number of visits: 2258 (6.09 visits/visitor)

Pages: 3816 (1.66 pages/visit)

August’s statistics for www.thestarbuckreport.com:

Reported period: Month August 2009

First visit: 01 August 2009 - 00:20

Last visit: 31 August 2009 - 23:58

Unique visitors: 387

Number of visits: 2174 (5.61 visits/visitor)

Pages: 3521 (1.61 pages/visit)

Since the wedding is over, we should be able to track progress more accurately moving forward!  I will also be posting more frequently

As usual, thanks to all of our faithful readers, and a big “Kia Ora” (”Welcome!”) to our new readers!  I encourage you to join our RSS and leave your comments in each article’s comment section.  Cheers!

Samosas are some of the best things to come out of India.  These flaky, meat- or vegetable-filled pastries are positively addicting!  The beauty of samosas is the pastry can be filled with just about anything; you can make them your own!  Rus and I enjoy them whenever we eat at an Indian restaurant, and one can find many heat-and-eat varieties in the grocery store freezer section.  Nevertheless, nothing beats a fresh, homemade samosa, and this Tasty Tuesday, we are making vegetable ones!

Note: Samosas require quite a bit of time and effort, but they are worth it!

Ingredients:

1 small cucumber, grated

1 cup plain yoghurt

4 peeled and cubed potatoes

1 peeled and cubed carrot

4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 large chunk of ginger, finely chopped

1 bunch of fresh coriander, finely chopped

3 bunches of fresh spring onions, chopped

1 red onion, chopped

1 teaspooon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

rice bran or olive oil

2 cups warm water

salt to taste

pastry squares, enough to make 30-50 samosas (you can use any fresh store-bought pastry or make your own; I used pre-made, pre-cut wonton pastry from my local Asian Food Warehouse)

Here’s what I did:

1. In a large frying pan (with a lid), saute the red onion in oil on medium-high heat until they begin to soften.  Add garlic and ginger and saute those.

2. Stir in turmeric and cayenne pepper

3. Turn down heat to medium-low heat and add carrots and potatoes.  Stir.

4.  Add one cup of warm water, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally.  The goal is to soften the carrots and potatoes to the point where a fork easily pokes into them.  You may need to add more water during this process.  Warm water is recommended so as not to cool down the pot too much.

5.  Once the carrots and potatoes are soft (there should be little water left in the pan), add the spring onions and fresh coriander.  Mix thoroughly, then remove from heat.

6. Add sea salt to taste.  The stuffing should be the consistency of roughly-mashed potatoes.  If it needs more mashing, do so now.  If not, the stuffing is complete!

7. Take a pastry square and put a tablespoon of the stuffing in the middle.  Fold the opposite corners over to form a triangle and press the edges closed (it might help to moisten the edges to help them seal).

8. Repeat until the mixture is finished or you run out of pastry.

9. Time to cook the samosas!  You can either bake these on a greased cookie sheet at 175C/350F for 15-20 minutes (or until golden brown) or fry them.  We chose to fry them in rice bran oil at 150-175C/300-350F for two minutes on each side.  Set aside to cool for a few minutes.

10. Mix the yoghurt and grated cucumber together to create a dipping sauce (the yoghurt calms the spicy tingle on the tongue).

11. Serve!  Eat with chutneys, fruit preserves, and the cucumber-yoghurt sauce.

Results:

This dish takes awhile to make, even using the pre-made pastry.  Chopping everything took about 45 minutes, filling the pastries took another 30 minutes (and we only made 20), and deep frying took another 30 minutes.  On top of all of the prep time, they were messy to make - and turmeric, used appropriately as a dye in India, will stain just about anything it touches.  Was it worth the effort?  Absolutely!  These were melt-in-your-mouth goodness…we could hardly wait long enough for them to cool down without burning our mouths!   Simon, currently not an “adventurous” eater, thought the sample was so good, he went back for seconds!  Arno also loved them.  The other flatmates were not available for tasting.

The verdict?  While it was a bit of a Disaster in the “prep” and “clean up” categories, the end result for this Tasty Tuesday was a definite Delight!