Garlic Oregano Chicken with Veggies and Iranian Rice.

Hello everybody.

All requested a light lunch, we had a big mansaf the other day and boys made burgers yesterday so we’ll try to make it light for a few days.

I have some chicken breasts and various vegetables, so all was grilled in my thick grilling pan with garlic, ginger, oregano and a sprinkle of lemon. Veggies were carrots, peppers and broccoli.

Made some rice the Iranian way, recipe was posted by a friend in my page, very light and easy to do but I should’ve waited for potatoes to be toasted more but kids were hungry and couldn’t wait.

You simply soak rice in hot water for and hour then boil it till almost done in salted water. Then sieve it and place some oil and potato slices in the bottom of the same pan, add the rice and make holes in it,add some water diluted saffron and mix then cover with a clean cloth or foil and leave to simmer over very low heat till done.

Ahhh a hummus dish is our daily table friend nowadays, yummy yummy.

 

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wpid-wp-1422024886453.jpeg cover with cloth or foil.

  hummus.

wpid-wp-1422024930666.jpeg  veggies and chicken breasts,

wpid-wp-1422024845622.jpeg  awesome light rice,loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roasted Leg of Lamb.

Hello everybody.

Took out this leg of lamb I had in the freezer for a while so it’s time to cook it, I don’t like keeping food frozen for so long.

I mixed all spices,pepper,cinnamon and salt all oven the meat,sealed it in hot oil from all sides then added some onions,carrots,garlic,bay leaves,cardamon and cinnamon stick to meat with boiled water and cooked it in the pressure cooker cause I was in a hurry.

When done I removed it,added it with some potatoes,carrots and onions in a big pan and added some flour to the meat stock and sieved it over the meat.

Cooked it in the oven till meat and veggies are well done, nice meal in a cold day.

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Kebabs and Appetizers.

Hello everybody.

Woke up late today with no idea what to cook,after searching through the previous posts decided to make homemade Kebabs and the usual salads and appetizers I make with them.

I made roasted tomatoes with chili and garlic ,yogurt with mint and oregano, avocado dip,french fries and a green salad.

I also made some  vegetable kebabs,really yummy !!

Dessert was assorted fruits,fresh pineapple,cactus fruits and many more .

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Grilled Vegetables with Kofta .

Hello again.

Lunch now!!!!
I took out some kofta from freezer last night, it was an extra amount from last time, so it won’t be enough for all, needs something extra to go with it.
  A quick solution , took out all veggies in fridge to grill them plus a big bowl of salad!

Ingredients and method:
* all sorts of veggies cut to large slices or chunks.
* green onion, garlic, lemon juice and oregano.
* butter and olive oil.
* salt and pepper.

* in a thick cast iron pan (preferably one that’s lined) heat some butter and oil.
* add veggies in turns till tender and stripes show on them.
* mix lemon juice, chopped onion and garlic with oregano, salt and pepper.
*sprinkle all over veggies then leave to simmer for 20-30 minutes on low heat.
* serve with any kind of meat or chicken.
* I made a delicious rocca, mushroom, cherry tomato, walnuts salad with vinaigrette dressing.

Enjoy ♡♥♡♥
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Rice with Vegetables (Banan’s Rice)

Hello everybody.

Today I had the honor to cook for my big brother’s office colleagues. Each one of them hosts lunch each Sunday so I volunteered to cook in his turn. They’re a group of 20-24 plus the boss is coming today from abroad. Feedback was great thank God ♡
Though I ran a bit out of time and I think rice needed a bit more  cooking
Well my bro sent me this photo in less than an hour after I delivered food.

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Wiped out he wrote !!!!!

I got this rice recipe from our dear neighbor when I was a newlywed. Been doing it a lot specially when I have guests..that’s why it became my specialty Banan’s Rice my cousins always say.
I also made caramelized kebab sandwiches with tahini sauce and spiced potatoes. Dessert was basic orange cake and jam biscuits (مبروشه ).
I will post ingredients without specifying amounts cause today I cooked for a big crowd, you can measure according to number of people you’re cooking for. I’m ready for any question of course if anyone needs help.

Ingredients and method:
* large boned chicken pieces.
* basmati rice.
* vegetables include: peas, carrots, mushrooms, peppers and onions.
* raisins.
* almonds and pine  nuts.
* ghee or margarine.
* curry powder, salt, pepper, paprika.
* bay leaves, cinnamon sticks and cardamom for chicken broth.

* first you clean and wash chicken pieces very well.
* make broth from wings backs and necks of chicken by boiling them with salt, pepper, all spice, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaf plus 1 big spoon curry powder. When done sieve and use broth for cooking rice.
* add same seasoning to breasts and drumsticks with some olive oil and chopped onions and put in a medium heated oven for 2 hours or till tender and golden..also sprinkle them with curry and paprika.

* now prepare veggies,  saute them alternatively ( except onions) with ghee starting with carrots then adding others always sprinkle with curry then add raisins last thing. You can add maggi cube with them, gives a really good flavor but for those who don’t like it add salt and spices. Leave to simmer on low heat.
* in another pan saute sliced onions in ghee then add a bit of broth and leave to simmer till tender.
* wash rice and season it with salt, pepper, all spice and curry powder.
* add to onions, mix all together then add broth till covering rice by 1 inch.
* cook rice and when almost all broth absorbed pour it over vegetables then leave all to cook together on very low heat till rice is done.
* you may need to add a bit more broth or water.
* roast almonds and pine nuts for decoration.
* upon serving turn vegetables and rice pan upside down in a big wide serving tray.
* arrange chicken pieces on top.
* decorate with almonds and pine nuts.

I know this might be a difficult dish with many steps but it’s always worth the hardship. ♡♥

wpid-20140323_135032  always a success.

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wpid-20140323_103911 all veggies are sprinkled curry.

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wpid-20140323_122908 wpid-20140323_122723 steps to cook the rice.

wpid-20140323_135053 enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Light Healthy Lunch.

Hello everybody.

Family gatherings are truly wonderful , however specially in our culture,, family time means lots and lots of eating. Too many kinds and invitations.
So cause today is free and we have a big lunch tomorrow also..I cooked a light meal, used to make it when my son was on diet last year. It’s basically chicken breasts with garlic, lemon and oregano with sauteed veggies on the side.
I also had some extra courgettes so I made a small dish of cooked pulp of it. (حفاره او لب الكوسا ).
Ingredients and method:
* 2-3 chicken breasts sliced or whole.
* 3 cloves garlic.
* lemon juice.
* salt, pepper, oregano.
* vegetables : carrots, mushroom, broccoli, peppers, corn, courgettes…etc

* heat some olive oil in a skillet or wide covered pan.
* add chopped garlic the chicken, keep turning them till golden.
* add all coarsely chopped veggies.
* season with salt.oregano,  all spice.
* cover and lower heat to minimum. Leave till vegetables are done then sprinkle lemon juice all over.

As for courgettes..it’s not necessarily to use only pulp, I usually bring big courgettes and grate them all.
Cook them till tender,you might need a bit of water, then add crushed garlic, salt, dried mint and olive oil..leave on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
Very light healthy appetizer that can be done now during our dear Christian brother’s fasting.

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Who says light and healthy is not delicious.???

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