A Tale Of Two Dinners-Meatballs & Meatloaf

You will get two good dinners from this one ground

 beef mixture. One for now and 

one for the freezer..... you choose.

Meatballs & Meatloaf

2 lbs. ground chuck
1 small Italian sausage, about 3 oz.
Place the beef in a large mixing bowl. Remove the sausage casing and add to the  bowl.

1/2 onion, cut up
1 stalk celery, cut up
1 small carrot, cut up
1 garlic clove
1/4 C parsley
2 slices white bread, torn up
In a food processor, add the onion, celery, carrot, garlic and parsley.

Chop until small.

 Then add the torn bread pieces. 

Pulse a few times to blend in.

Add to the bowl with the meat.

1/4 C ketchup
1 C bread crumbs
1/2 C Parmesan/Romano cheese
1/2 C milk
1/2 t salt
1 egg
Add these ingredients to the bowl. Using your hands, mix until well combined.

Divide the mixture in half.

 For the meatballs, roll into 12 smooth round balls.

For the meatloaf, shape into a loaf to fit a 9x5 loaf

 pan. Wrap well and freeze.

Date with a label.

Good idea to also tape on the cooking instructions. 

To cook the meatballs: Heat a large frying pan
 until hot. Add 2 T olive oil and heat 30 seconds. 

Add the prepared meatballs and brown.  

Gently turn the meatballs, using two spoons
 until browned on all sides. 

Stir in sauce and let simmer 25-30 minutes.

You can use your favorite spaghetti sauce or 

make my sauce by adding:

 2 cloves minced garlic stirred into the pan.

then add:

1- 28oz can chopped or crushed tomatoes

1 t Italian herbs

1 t sugar

1/2 t salt

1/4 t red pepper flakes.

Tonights dinner.

Another homemade dinner waiting for you 

in the freezer for when you have no time

to cook. You'll like that! 

To cook the meatloaf: 

Place the thawed meatloaf in a 9x5 loaf pan, cover 

the top with 1/4 C ketchup and bake @350 for 1 hour.

Enjoy!

Links: Designs By Golllum,
My 1929 Charmer

Read more »

Aloo paratha [potato filled fry bread].

Aloo paratha is simple Pakistani  flat  fry bread . its almost the quickest bread and mostly eaten for breakfast or can be served for brunch. We Pakistani prepared paratha dough everyday so it’s always in our refegertor  ,so it’s depend on the mood which kind of paratha we want simple paratha, minced meat filled paratha,potato,lentil etc.

And today I am in the mood of Aloo paratha ,I usually do my breakfast late when my husband go to office and my two beautiful daughters go to pre school .I take time to make my breakfast and take time to eat it.

And potato paratha is very easy to make just make the filling day before and also knead the dough night before.

Aloo Paratha

Ingredients:

For paratha

1-cup flour

½ cup water

Salt

 For Stuffing:

2 medium size boiled Potatoes 

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1 small finely chopped Onion (optional)

 cilantro ,Coriander leaves finely chopped

1 /2 tsp crushed red chili

Salt and pepper to taste

½ tsp coriander powder

Butter

Method:

1.In a large mixing bowl add flour and salt and water little by little until the dough form.

2.Knead the dough for 15 minutes and cover and let it rest for 1 hour.

3.Now Mash the potatoes and add all the spices and the cilantro and salt.

4.Make small balls from the dough and roll it half way to make a small circle then add the filling to the one circle and cover it with the second circle  .

5.Now roll it slightly. until the desire size paratha is made Put it in a pre-heated skillet and add little bet of oil fry on both sides until golden and fully cook serve with mint sauce and cup of tea.

Preparation  time:20 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes

Read more »

Simple Pakistani meal under 35 minutes.

Simple Pakistani meal under 35 minutes.

Today in the morning when I open the door it was snowing everything was filled with white snow .I feel so cold .so after breakfast I decided that I will make something warm and spicy .but I hade only 35 minutes to cook ,busy day?there is my simple menu for a busy cold day.

Red kidney bean curry

Green masala chicken

Zafrani rice

Red kidney bean curry

Ingredients:

2 cup boiled kidney beans or 1 can

1 small onion chopped

2 medium size tomatoes

salt and pepper according to taste

1/4 cup olive oil

1tsp garam masala

1/4tsp red chili flakes

4tbsp tomato sauce

method:

heat the oil in the frying pan add onion and cook it for 2 minutes on medium high heat, stir often ,now add chopped tomatoes and stir add salt and pepper, red chili flakes, now add tomato sauce and  red kidney beans and cook for 15minutes stir frequently ,you can add little bet water too if you want little sauce .

green masala  chicken

ingredients.

2 chicken breasts cut in cubes

2 tbsp roughly ginger chopped

4 cloves garlic

1 bunch cilantro roughly chopped

2 green onions scallions roughly chopped

¼ cup mint leaves chopped

1 green chili

1/4cup fry onions optional

1/2 cup yogurt

1tsp garam masala

salt and pepper

¼ cup oil

method:

add ginger,garlic,mint,cilantro,and scallions ,green chili in the bender or food processor  then add yogurt blending   it until fully blends  it will look like green chatney.

Pour this sauce on chicken and marinate in  refegertor  for 1 hour .

I cook it right away ,so add this to pot add oil salt and pepper and fry onion and cook it on high heat fro 15 to 20 minutes until the oil appear on the top.

Zafrani rice

Ingredients.

1cup basmati rice

2 cups water

2 green cardamom

4 whole peppercorns

1tbsp canola oil

1tsp garam masala

pinch of saffron

1/4 tsp turmeric powder. 

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Wash the rice in tape water.

Add the rice and water to rice cooker or pot add salt and pepper and turmeric ,oil and stir let the rice come to full boil ,cover and let it cook on medium heat until to water completely dry. sprinkle garam masala  and fluff the rice with fork and transfer to serving dish.

Tips for quick cooking I mean less then 30 minutes used can beans.

Marinate chicken before 1 day and keep in refegertor until needed.

For rice used rice cooker.

   

Read more »

Lahore Fry Fish

I still remember going for shopping with my father and see all those whole fish fried the aroma of the fry fish make you stop and buy them. its so yummy crispy, spicy and delicious .when ever I make this fry fish I just served them with homemade naan ,salad and lemons  .its very important  that the sauce stick to the fish  just like potato  pakora. Because this will give extra layer of flavor.

And when it comes to spices it up to you how much spices you want you can make it more spicy by add more chilies   

      Lahore Fry Fish

Ingredients:

Any fish fillets 1lb I used catfish

2 tbsp lemon juice

1/2-cup gram flour

3 tbsp rice flour

 3 tbsp coriander crushed

1 tbsp dried pomegranate seeds ground

1 tsp cumin seeds roasted

1 tbsp dry red chill crushed

1tsp chili powder optional

1 tsp ground black pepper

Salt according to taste

½ tsp fenugreek leaves

2 tsp ginger and garlic paste

1/4-cup water or less

Oil for frying

Method: 

Mix water, gram flour, rice flour and rest of the spices and ginger and garlic  to make a thick sauce. Place the fish in bowl add lemon juice and rub it on fish.

Keep it aside for 15 minutes.  After 15 min dip the fish in sauce and fry fish in a frying pan or wok on both sides till golden brown, remove the fish from oil and serve with salad and slice of bread.

Read more »

Lemon pickle

Pickle is served with usually dal curry to make it more appetizing and appealing to eat.

I make this recipe from really long time .this salty, spicy and oily pickle goes well with any thing. And when ever I make I try to share this pickle with my friends.

And believe me everyone ask for more, its  good to give this pickle as a gift too.

So next time life gives you lemons think that you can not only make lemonade but lemon pickle too.

Lemon pickle

Ingredients

12 whole lemon

1-cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp  salt

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp crushed red chili flakes

1 tsp red chili powder

1 tsp black pepper

10 curry leaves

1 tbsp roasted cumin seeds

1 tsp crushed coriander

1 tsp aniseeds

7 whole black pepper corns

2tbsp vinegar

Method:

Wash the whole lemon and add to a large pot along with water and boil them, until the lemon skin become soft but the color remain the same, remove from heat and cool them completely.

Cut the in to small cubes, add to bowl add salt, vinegar and all the spices and keep aside now

 heat the oil, in a pan and carefully add curry leaves and the lemon mixture then cook it for 7 minutes or until the lemon almost dries out stir frequently.

 Now remove it from the pan add to clean jars and pour hot oil on the top and seal the top, completely serve this pickle with dal   or any simple curry.

Read more »

Mash pulao

Mash pulao

This is one of my back home favorite rice dishes .this simple but beautiful rice is go wonderful with meat or vegetable curries . our family friends always serve this wonderful rice with meatballs and as a kid we love it.   

Ingredients:

2 cups long grain rice [sella rice] or basmati rice

1/2-cup green mash dal

Salt and pepper according to taste

3 black pepper corns

1 stick cinnamon

1tsp cumin seeds

1tsp garam masala

1 large cardamom

4 tbsp canola oil

4 cups water or meat stock

Method:

Wash mash dal separately and soak them in water for 3 hours the same with rice if you are using sella rice. Don’t soak basmati rice more then 15 minutes .now add 2 cups of water and mash dal to a pot and bring to boil low the flame and let it cook for 15 minutes then off the flame and cover.

In a separate pot add oil and add all the spices except garam masala.

And fry them for 30 seconds then add stain rice  to oil and  stock salt and pepper and bring to boil after 2 minutes add mash dal and sprinkle garam masala cover and low the flame and let the rice cook until the water dries and the rice cook completely fluff the rice with fork and serve with meat curry and salad or Rita.

Read more »

SAMOSAS

Samosa is Pakistani pastry that made from the scratch not from the store-bought dough. this crispy crunch pastry is filled with smashed potatoes along with some spices ,off course you can make this from any filling but the potatoes ones are the best.

I remember when I was studying in university model school  samosa and coke was my only food. Everyday in lunch time warm samosa was lunch. After finishing school I miss school Samoa’s because it was the perfect blend of spices and the pastry was out of this world.

I really try to  cook healthy food ,in this recipe instead of using all ghee I use ghee oil together but I try this pastry with just oil 4 tbsps of oil will also make this pastry almost the same so enjoy samosa and don’t forget to have them with a cup of Pakistani tea.

SAMOSAS

INGREDIENTS

2-cup all-purpose flour

2 tbsp canola oil

2 tbsp butter or ghee

Cold water for kneading

1/4 tsp cumin seeds

1 /2 tsp salt

Filling

2 medium size potatoes boiled, chopped

1/4 cup frozen peas thawed

1 tbsp coriander seeds, ground

1/4 tsp mango powder

1/2 tsp red chill crushed

1 tsp cumin seeds

3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

1 tsp salt

1tsp oil for cooking the filling spices along with the filling for extra flavor.

Oil for frying the samosa

Method:

IN large mixing bowl mix oil, flour, butter salt by rubbing oil and butter in to flour.

Add cumin seeds and little by little water to make dough, knead the dough for 5 minutes.

Divide the dough in to 7 equal portions. Make round balls, and roll each one in to round,

Cut round into half, so the D shape made.  Two Samoa’s can be made of one dough.

 Put spoon full of filling place in a center. Or make cone seal the edges fill the potato mixture than again seal the edges of the ends with wet fingers, fry in oil until golden brown drain on paper towels, serve warm with cup of tea.

Note: the dough must be cold and not soft.

Preparation  time:

Read more »

Lahore chicken charga

 fry.charga  chicken in pieces

Lahore chicken charga

Charga is Pakistani style whole fried chickens usually there are three steps for making charga first marinating second  steaming third deep frying. And this is a recipe for simple Lahore charga .

Many time I use this recipe for tea party or in summer serve this with salad French fries .

And some time I serve it with rice and baked vegetables for simple lunch.

If you have electric deep fryer then you don’t need to steam, it’s very easy to make this recipe.

Another way is to bake from start to finish just brush little bet oil here and there time by time baking time will be 1 hour and 40 minutes 375.f or until done.  

 Lahore chicken charga

Ingredients

1 whole skinless chicken

1 lemon juice

1 tbsp ginger paste

1 tbsp garlic paste

1 tbsp paprika powder

2 tsp red chili powder

1 tsp turmeric powder

1tsp garam masala

1 tsp mango powder

Tbsp cumin powder

1 egg beaten

Salt and pepper

Method:

Mix everything to make a thick sauce.

 Marinate the chicken in the sauce over night in refrigerator or at least 1 hour then,

Steam the chicken until tender. Then deep fry the chicken or bake for 45 minutes turn

Twice brush oil on both sides. Until golden brown serve with vegetables and chatney.

Note. If you are marinating over night then add egg just 20 minutes before steaming.

Read more »

Potato cutlets

There is nothing like crispy potato cutlets which are soft and tender from inside. This is my friend the quick and easy  recipe of potato cutlets .

Potato cutlets are very famous dish in Pakistani  and as grow up in Peshawar we make cutlets very mild but as you go to other parts of Pakistan ,you will notice  they like spicier  cutlets .

But when it comes to my choice I want to have potato cutlets with a hot cup of tea or make a burger out of it  and in both situations  I like mild not hot, so I can dip it in to chatney.

 I remember 5 years back my husband boss invite him for his farewell party .since everyone was bring I dish with them so I make these potato cutlets ,arrange them in large silver tray .I was very worried because all the people were Americans  and it was my first time to cook for them .but  I was very pleased when this was the first thing  despaired from the table and I was very happy that  everyone liked it.

        Potato cutlets

Ingredients.

4 boil potatoes

1 egg or two egg whites

1 1/2 cup breadcrumbs[I use home made from whole wheat bread]

1 tsp mango powder

1tbsp  chopped fresh coriander ,cilantro

1 tsp cumin seeds

2 tbsp chopped chives or green onion.

Salt and pepper.

 1/2 tsp Ajowan caraway, carom seeds

Oil for shallow frying

Method:

Peel and mash the boiled potatoes. Add chopped chives salt and pepper cumin seeds mango powder and carom seeds, mix well.

Make small size cakes and keep aside.

In one plate place breadcrumbs. And in one small bowl whisk egg whites.

Dip the potato cutlets in egg wash then bread crumbs then preheated non stick frying pan cook on both sides until golden.

Read more »

My Favorite Waffles

Make these waffles in any type of waffle maker. 

Thick Belgian-style or thinner shaped waffles, like

my heart shaped waffle maker...they are all good. 

Serve with fresh strawberries and powdered sugar

 or warmed maple syrup....or both.

 Mix up the batter and let rest. 

 Spray and preheat a waffle iron.

Pour 1/3 C batter into the center. 

Close and bake until golden.

Keep waffles warm in the oven, along with your 

plates while you bake the rest.

One of the things I love about waffles is that 

unlike pancakes they freeze beautifully.

I always make the full recipe.

Then I can just pop them in the toaster oven to

reheat and enjoy again.

My Favorite Waffles

2 C flour

2 T sugar

1 T baking powder

1/4 t salt

Whisk together in a large bowl. 

~~~~~~~~~~

2 egg yolks

1-3/4 C milk

6 T butter, melted

Whisk together in another bowl, 

then combine with the flour mixture.

~~~~~~~~~

2 beaten egg whites

Fold into the combined batter. 

Let stand 20-30 minutes.

Pour 1/3 C batter in the center of sprayed and 

preheated waffle iron. Close lid and bake until

 golden, about 2-3 minutes.

Remove and keep warm on a plate in the oven, 

along with your plates while you make the

 rest. Freeze any leftover waffles and use 

a toaster oven to reheat again.

(tip: If you are in a hurry and do not want

to separate the eggs, you can just beat 

the whole eggs until frothy and proceed) 

Makes 10 waffles.

Enjoy!

Links: Designs By Gollum

Read more »