Sunday 25 April 2010

Call it easy!

Today I woke up feeling really tired, as I slept today before dawn (al Fajr) after praying. I promised myself to finish off my assignment and thank to Allah I did.

So as I was feeling tired I thought of making a simple easy lunch. Now am stressing again that I am not good in cooking but I would like to help busy people like me with some simple ideas…

I first marinated the chicken (with mashed garlic, salt, pepper, mashed ginger (as you like), add chilly if you want, I don’t use it a lot because of my little kids)



Then I fried the chicken.

And I made a really easy potato dish which I found receipe in my favourite cook book, published by my favourite channel fatafeat (http://www.fatafeat.com/). I love it and I love my book.


I changed the potato dish a bit to match the family's taste! So;

You cut the potatoes into squares, marinate them with garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil. Then bake it in your oven.



And I prepared white rice, and within our family, white rice comes always with yoghurt.
That’s it. Simple, easy and kids love it! Enjoy.


Kabsa,food from the Gulf

Here I start..An English blog this time..Don’t know exactly what triggered it..But it seemed a right thing to do…
I will start with a dish..Well cuisine is an international language..We can all agree on this delicious topic, can’t we?
I am not a good cook, I have never been..I just like sharing!..

I made machboos/makboos yesterday (kabsa in other dialects), it is a popular rice dish made in the Gulf region..Everyone will add some of their own flavour to it..but this is the way I make it..oh but excuse my bad photos..I made this dish while my brother was visiting, and was too shy to get a proper camera to the kitchen, so just used my mobile phone. I couldn’t take a picture after serving because he, along, with my hubby, were there with me..

Anyway…

Ingredients (I rarely use specific amounts for anything, but hope this will be clear):

A packet of frozen chicken thighs, or drumsticks, or a whole chicken as you like :D

Garlic, mashed (5-8 cloves)

Pinch of salt

Pepper

And these ingredients will be used to marinate the chicken, and then fry it!

Next will be peeling your potatoes and cutting them into circles and deep fry them..Keep them aside

Now :

Get two medium-sized onions, cut them into small pieces, fry them in little oil (about 2-3 tbs) till golden, add fresh mashed ginger, can use the powder if u want .add about 2 tbs tomato puree and then 2-3 medium peeled and cubed tomatoes to the onion and ginger..Fry for few minutes..

Then add cinnamon powder (about 1 tsp), or sticks or both, with a tiny bit of turmeric powder, then add parsley leaves, salt and lemon for your preferred flavour

Cover it in low heat.



And boil your rice water, add pinch of salt to it…when it boils add your (basmati ) rice and leave it till it cooks, then drain it..

Now, add your fried chicken and potatoes to the sauce you have made, let it cook for two minutes.

Now add the rice on top of the sauce, cover it the way it is for about 10 min in a very low heat…




Then when serving it, mix it carefully. Serve with salad…




Bon appetite