Tag: Cyprus

Settling for the right holiday destination can be a difficult task. There are so many countries with beautiful places to visit you can include on your bucket list. You need to factor in a few things before settling for one place, however. Make sure you are familiar with the weather conditions of your preferred holiday destination within the specific season you want to go.

You also need to determine your budget to know the amount you have to spend on your trip. Travel blogs and magazines can be of great significance when it comes to choosing the perfect holiday destination. There are different sites that have proper information on the different places you can visit. Cyprus is one place you can pick as your next holiday destination.

Walking along the sea coast in Protaras, Cyprus | by Monika Kostera (urbanlegend)

This Mediterranean island nation has beautiful beaches and attractive sites you can check out. However, you need to have proper documentation before touring the country. This helps prove your type and period of stay. One document you will need is the Cyprus tourist visa which is a must for any tourist.

You can get it from their embassy by applying after following the right application procedure. There is also an option of getting one through different visa agents. You can visit https://one-visa.com to get your visa processed fast.

The following are best things you can do or places to see when you are in Cyprus. Let’s have a look at some of them.

Tour the Villages of Cyprus

Cyprus, Fikardou, Village, Medieval
IC:Pixabay — Cyprus, Fikardou, Village, Medieval
IC: Pixabay

Away from the city or urban life in Cyprus, you can take the step of visiting their villages, which hold much of the more traditional way of life. You will come across so many things when you tour their villages.

Traditional Cypriot foods like Halloumi, Sheftalia, Kleftiko, and Tirokafteri are some of the things you will come across. You will get the first-hand experience of how they are prepared. You also have the opportunity to learn about their culture and their traditions. You can also sample some of their crafts.

You may like to read A taste of Cyprus -Halloumi

The Troodos Mountains

Cyprus Troodos Mountains Countryside landscape
IC: Pixabay

This is one of the largest mountains situated at the heart of the island. It is made up of very steep slopes covered with beautiful tree species. There are also several villages around the mountain. It has one of the most scenic views in the country. There are some lovely restaurants you will find too where you can sample some of the island’s dishes. You should visit and catch that beautiful view.

Fasouri Water Park

Limassol Fassouri Watermania Water Park
IC: altgiperon

You should visit the Fasouri Water Park to get some world-class water entertainment. It is one of the best water parks on the island and is perfect for the whole family. There are different features there that can also keep your kids entertained.

Limassol Old Town

You can also visit the Limassol old town and have a look at its many attractive features. Something that will catch your view is the beautiful architecture. Their streets are also designed perfectly. You can also sample some cuisine from the different restaurants in the area.

September 16, 2016

Kash Pals

Recipes 4 Comments

Continuing my earlier post on A taste of Cyprus -Halloumi Cheese, following are 3 delicious recipes with Halloumi Cheese

Beetroot and Lentil Salad with Halloumi

Method for Beetroot and Lentil- Halloumi cheese recipes

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Carrot, Zucchini and Halloumi Salad with ginger and Sesame

Halloumi, Carrot and Courgette Salad — Image credit

carrot, zucchini and Halloumi salad- Halloumi Cheese recipes

Method to prepare carrot, zucchini and Halloumi Salad - Halloumi Cheese recipes

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Mediterranean Vegetable and Halloumi Bake

Roasted Vegetable, Lentil and Halloumi Bake- Halloumi cheese recipes — Roasted Vegetable, Lentil and Halloumi Bake- Image credit

Ingredients for Mediterranean Vegetables and Halloumi cheese recipes

Method for Mediterranean vegetable and Halloumi cheese recipes

Image credit- ... Bon appetit | by Iain Farrell - Halloumi Cheese

A Taste of Cyprus -Halloumi

September 15, 2016

Kash Pals

Food No Comments

Cyprus is an island in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, off the coasts of Syria and Turkey. Cypriot cuisine is closely related to Greek and Turkish cuisine and is highly influenced by Byzantine, French, Italian, Catalan and Middle Eastern cuisines. Halloumi cheese- has been around for many centuries and the name Halloumi is automatically associated with Cyprus.

Grilled Halloumi cheese- Cyprus — Grilled Halloumi cheese

Halloumi cheese originated in Cyprus and was initially made during the medieval Byzantine period. Halloumi is commonly served sliced, fresh or grilled, as an appetizer. Halloumi is the national cheese of Cyprus a semi-hard unripened brined cheese (similar in texture to mozzarella) made from a mixture of goat’s and sheep’s milk and sometimes also cow’s milk or a combination. It is also popular in Greece, the Middle East and is now made all over the world.

The cheese is set with rennet and is very unusual in that no acid or acid-producing bacteria are used in its preparation. Thus Halloumi is also unique in having a high melting point and so can easily be fried or grilled.

Cypriots like eating Halloumi with watermelon in the warm months and also with slices of smoked pork or lamb sausages. Halloumi is served with meze. In Israel it is sometimes fried in olive oil and served for breakfast as well as with meze and as well as with fish. Mint is a very important herb in Cypriot cuisine as it grows abundantly and the locals use it for everything. Halloumi is often garnished with mint in Cyprus to add to the taste. Traditionally the mint in Cyprus was used as a preservative. This practice came about when it was considered that Halloumi kept better and was fresher and more flavourful when wrapped with mint leaves. In accordance with this tradition, many packages of Halloumi contain fragments of mint leaves on the surface of the cheese.

Although Halloumi is made worldwide and is of rather disputed origin due to the mixed cultures in the Levant and East Mediterranean, Halloumi is currently registered as a protected Cypriot product within the US but not in the EU. The delay in registering the name Halloumi with the EU has been largely due to a conflict between dairy producers and sheep and goat farmers as to whether registered Halloumi will contain cow’s milk or not and if so, at what ratios of sheep to goat’s milk.

Traditional artisanal Halloumi is made from unpasteurized sheep and goat’s milk. Many Cypriots also enjoy Halloumi, which has been aged or matured; it is much drier, much stronger and much saltier. It is easy to find this traditional product in Greek, Cypriot, or Turkish shops in most countries outside of Cyprus. It is preserved in its own brine and this traditional Halloumi is very different from the milder Halloumi that most Western chefs use as well as what is available here in our gourmet supermarkets. But like most aged cheeses, this too is an acquired taste and regular packaged Halloumi off the supermarket shelves is good for using in salads or grilling with kebabs and as an appetizer.

You may also like to read 3 Delicious Recipes with Halloumi Cheese