Any place apart from New Market that sells Xmas decorations? 
Christine, Calcutta 

Calcutta is the only city in India which pretty much has Christmas and that festive spirit written all over it. New Market has always been about the cheap and cheerful bits and pieces of Christmas but you’ll find all sorts of interesting decorations in every shopping mall you set foot in. Just go and shop somewhere else but make sure you still buy that Christmas cake from Nahoum & Sons.

Where is the best place to get a turkey for Christmas in Calcutta? And what is the quality?
Shirsha, Calcutta

To be honest Shirsha, I don’t know anywhere that you can get a good quality turkey in Calcutta unless you can find someone who is selling imported frozen birds. The ones you get in the markets are just not well fattened, have no flesh on the legs or breast and cost far more than they’re worth. If you’re looking for a traditional Christmas roast then I suggest you opt for pork. 

Is it true that you can keep an English Christmas Pudding for years in a cupboard and still eat it?
Arnaud, Vietnam

Yes, for years and years, Arnaud, as long as it’s a good quality one and it’s kept wrapped up somewhere dark and cool. Traditionally, people would keep the top tier of a well-fruited wedding cake until the christening of their firstborn after a little extra sprinkle of rum or brandy.

Crackers. Before, in between courses, or after the meal?
Simon, Canada

Ah yes, the Christmas cracker, not something you traditionally find around the Christmas Day table too often in India if I’m honest. But in my family we always did before so that everyone could look silly in those paper hats during lunch and crack those cheesy jokes you find inside for no apparent reason!

Christmas dessert in most Bengali households usually means home-made Caramel Custard or Fruit Cake? What other (easy-to-make) dessert would you recommend?
Romila Sengupta, Calcutta

My mum always made a sherry trifle on Christmas Day for afters. She also made one on Easter Sunday but I think that was just because it’s easy to make. Line a bowl with some chopped-up sponge that has been sandwiched together with jam and sprinkle with halved hulled strawberries. Douse this with a good amount of sherry or port wine and top with thick custard made with milk, sugar and custard powder as per the directions on the packet. Allow it to cool and firm up, covered in the refrigerator maybe overnight, and top off with whipped cream, more strawberries and a few curls of chocolate. Everyone will love it! 

Can you give me a simple Rum and Raisin Cake recipe that doesn’t require oven baking? I have a microwave and normal gas oven. 
Sammy, Mumbai 

A gas oven will be perfect but I’ll tell you how to cook it in both: 

Sticky Rum and Raisin Cake: Soak together 100g of brown sugar (Muscovado, if possible, or chopped jaggery), 60ml rum and 100g raisins and leave covered overnight. The next day, into this slurry, beat in one mashed-up ripe banana, 100g of melted butter, 2 eggs. Slowly fold in 100g flour, 1tsp baking powder and ½ tsp each of cream of tartar and ground cinnamon. 

For the sticky toffee topping: Simply place 100g brown sugar (Muscovado or chopped jaggery) and 100ml thick cream (Amul Tetra Pak or similar) in a saucepan and slowly bring to a simmer.
To bake, preheat an oven to around 180°C. Line a 1lb cake tin with greaseproof paper, pour in the mixture and bake for 35-45 minutes until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Poke some holes, pour over the toffee sauce and serve hot or cold. 

To microwave, grease either ceramic or plastic containers. Fill them up, roughly two-thirds, with the pudding mixture. Microwave on full power until they rise to the top and stop rising. Turn the cup onto the plate and lift up until the pudding falls out. Top with toffee sauce and a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Simple and delicious!

Send your questions for Shaun to t2@abp.in or shaunchef@yahoo.co.uk