potatoes

Woke up to a cloudy cold weather….a spicy soup after work and school will be heart warming♡♥.
Of course soup alone won’t be enough…I made Kofta (كفته )….this is an arabic dish…consists of lamb meat finely chopped and mixed with onions.parsley…and spices…I usually buy it ready made from the butcher.
But I do add a bit if ketchup. mustard and oatmeal or breadcrumbs as available.
You spread the meat in a pan..not too thick nor too thin.
Leave it on the oven till all water is dry.
You can do Kofta in many ways..either keep it simple. add olive oil on top and roast it in the oven.
Or add tomato and potato slices..put it the oven till potatoes are tender..then roast it.
Another way is to add tahini yoghurt mixture(طحينيه ) on top and in the oven till it thickens.
It’s usually eaten with pitta bread or plain rice.

As for the soup…you’ll need one small onion.4-5 carrots. 1 cube chicken stock.butter. one big spoon oatmeal.cream or milk and 4 cups water.
Sautee the onions and carrots till tender.add the chicken stock cube.oatmeal and water.salt.pepper and a bit of cinnamon.

Let it simmer for 45 minutes on low heat till carrots are soft.
Mix all with a mixer or blender..add the cream..then let it boil for another 10-15 minutes…..and serve hot with toasted croutons if you like

In order to satisfy all family members. ..you have to comprise meals each week… a dish that one of them like,,, won’t be satisfying for another..so in order for all of them to be happy…I always mix the week!!!!!
Today I made lamb chops in the oven with roasted potatoes. ..a favourite dish for both my husband and younger son.
This recipe is a bit modified from the original one I got from my husband’ s uncle.
Basically you must only add salt, black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil to the meat chops.but I add also a small spoon of balsamic vinegar, HP sauce, paprika, bbq spices and sweet paprika powder.
Today I cut potatoes into wedges with skin on.season them with salt, pepper, paprika, lemon juice, rosemary leaves and couple of bay leaves.and added them to chops.
Heat the oven to medium, then put the tray uncovered on the lower rack for approximately one hour,, keep turning the chops till they roast well but not dry.

As for a solution to what my eldest son will eat..my Mom (الله يحفظها ويعطيها العافيه ) .sent me some stuffed cabbages…a yummy for sure.
This dish has many steps,,,so usually it’s eaten at ones mom’s or mother in law’s,, cause it’s a bit tiresome and more delicious if eaten with a big group….the whole family members must attend when cabbages are on the table.
Steps are:
*boil whole cabbage in water with a spoonful if cumin powder.
*remove each slice when tender and remove the hard line in the middle.
*make two slices of each leaf of cabbage….
*prepare the stuffing which contains. Minced meat, rice, salt, pepper, mixed spices, dried mint leaves and a mixture of ghee and vegetable oil…amount depends on how many cups if rice you’re making….
From my experience. .2 large cabbages needs 2.cups of rice and half kilo of minced meat…this amount needs 1 big spoon ghee and 1small cup oil.
* mix mince and rice very well then stuff the cabbage leaves.
*place all stuffed leaves in order in a big deep pan.
* peel some cloves of garlic and put then in between the leaves according to the taste of your family….some like too much garlic some a bit.
*add water till it covers the cabbage by 1 inch.
*add salt, juice of two lemons, 1 cube chicken stock and a bit olive oil in top.
*when water starts to boil,, keep it bubbling on high heat for 10 minutes then lower the heat and keep it to simmer for 1 hour .
*taste one cabbage if it’s not done and rice still crispy leave it another 15-30 minutes more.but make sure water doesn’t dry.

Tip: keep the hard middle line of cabbage and place them under the cabbages in the pan..they’re very tasty by the way.