Desi Kebab's

Here is my version of the infamous Asian kebab although there are variations in the sub Continent , i don't believe there is a Punjabi kebab but here is my one and i have chosen to call it desi kebab roti roll.
I found this recipe on the net that is very similar to the way i cooked it but i didn't use whole spices and breadcrumbs although i did think about the later.








We ate them topped with salad, natural yogurt scented with fresh mint and coriander, rolled in a fresh chapati.

Template rage

Just to let you know all the template changes are a result of an interfering teen , who has now managed to mess up the look of my blog grrrrrrrrrr

Bare with me on the tec front somehow will get it looking nice again inshaAllah.

Batata ma silk ma baid Spinach, potatos and poached eggs

This is an Algerian dish my Mil taught me and its one of my fav's, i like the way the eggs poach and sit on top.
To get going blitz an onion add it to the pot with a little oil and sweat.....i add some minced garlic and ginger but Algerians would add just Garlic.

I added some blended tomato's about 3. Spice it to your taste, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika , pinch of cinnamon, chili.

In the mean time chop up some potato's, wash and shred the spinach.


Add the potato's to the pot cover with a little water allow to simmer under pot's are just tender, sprinkle on the spinach and carefully crack the eggs over this, replace lid for about 7 mins.





you will be able to see the egg poached if you want a runny yolk then replace lid and switch of cooker allow the eggs to poach with the heat of the pot.

Now wot's being said ere then matie?

Prince Harry 'Paki' row: Prince facing Army discipline over 'sickening' comments

Now i don't usually do Politics but this one has touch a cord with me..............now all i am seeing at the moment is 'its ok'', ''it was not meant with malice'' ''Asians use this term between themselves'' Well i for one don't know any that do,if i did ever come accross it over my life time i was sure to put them right. why am i getting on my high horse when i am from India? Well it never mattered throughout my life in the UK in the sense the racist never difentiated they all tarred us Paki and i used to think silly people can't even get the country right and they are supossed to be better?, I remember the thick of it in the early 80's when i was just a little girl. Actually it was my first awaking of the word 'paki', this is why i will never support its use among Asians , non Asians and a member of the royal family that represent multi cultural Brittan.

It was one sunny day in July or August around 6pm in the early 1980's. There was a group of us about 3 Aunties, mum and about 6 kids we were coming back from social event as i recall we were all dressed up , mum in a sari and all colourful and shiny. As we turned into our road there were two boys , they could not been more than 14yrs old. started calling us 'paki' and 'pakis' go back home you smelly pakis'. I could sense the fear in the aunties eyes while they told us to keep together and quicken our pace. Then a brick comes flying over narrowly missing my mum. All in the name of 'paki', then a car Aeriel comes flying over hitting me on my head all in the name of 'paki' One of the aunts shouts out in a heavy Asian accent F... off you B..... and we make a run for it.

Now just after the Sept 11th attacts in the US i was really racially verbally abused heavily pregnat at 8 1/2months by a white man part of the abuse was pakis f... off back home, well for his information i am at home, again silly man, has he no education, does he not know Britian is multi cultural? That I am British? I don't hold duel nationality? so where do you want me to go? I have actually spent more time in Algeria than India anyhow besides the point.
This word when i have encountered it is always used as a racist term, so how can it not be suddenly?

Now you tell me this term is not racist? I remember thinking i would mind but iam not even Pakistani but that's the cowards way out...............they don't care we all the same to then racist , bad mannered , igront persons. You telling me people happily use the term paki and don't see it as racist. It used to say painted on the walls through out my childhood ''paki's out' we have now 2009 since come a long way in this field here in Great Britain or have we?

See for your self, i know there are more things happening in the world where i wish to focus my energies but this one i had to speak out.

Just a thought

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes...
your destiny.

'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet
is fighting some kind of battle'

Cauliflower

Take one Saturday afternoon well it can be any day, a few hours is ample and a cauliflower and lets see what we can do?
Steam the florets

whip up a egg batter with grated cheese and season well to taste


A plate of bread crumbs to coat in and get cracking.......


Coat the florets and shallow fry

Now in the mean time have a pan with a base of onions, garlic, tomatoes and seasoning to taste going and you will see why.........
Now look and see what this humble cauliflower can offer you ,

as a main meal

As a snack with your favorite sauce, mine is tarmind and chili

as a starter served on a bed of lettuce

Now you try.

Random pictures

Just a hairy house i wanted to share with you.

ALOO PARATHA (Aloo Ka Paratha)

ALOO PARATHA RECIPE (Aloo Ka Paratha)

This is something that reminds me of my desi life when a child as the English have a Sunday fry up for breakie in our home it was Aloo parata, moli parata, gobi parata and some days kemma parata. Makes a filling meal or snack.

Ingredients for alu paratha :




Stuffing:
2 boiled Potatoes
1 small finely chopped Onion (optional)
Coriander leaves finely chopped
Small piece of Ginger (very finely chopped or grated)
1 or 2 green Chilies (finely chopped)
Salt Red Chili powder and Garam masala as per taste
Butter


Preparation of aaloo paratha :


For the cover make dough out of whole-wheat flour (atta), as you would do for any parantha/roti.
Mash the potatoes.
Add all the stuffing items to mashed potatoes and mix it properly.
Make two medium size chapati, add the filling to the one chapati and cover it with the second one.
Now roll it slightly. Put it in a pre-heated oven at 450-degree. Cover top oven grill with aluminum foil & Place Paratha over it for easy baking.
When top side is done change the side and keep a check (till properly baked)
Spread butter over it. Serve aloo paratha hot with natural yougart or pickles.






I tryed to make some molli ones so i had just come to show you the pic's
Moli is a white raddish




this picture is taken from the net and not my finished product.
Ingredients:


For stuffing:
3 Mooli (Radish)
Salt To Taste
1/2 tsp Red chilli powder
1/2 tsp Corainder powder
2 Green chillies, chopped finely
2 tbsp Corainder leaves
For dough:
2 cups Wheat flour
Salt To taste
Water As needed
Butter
Preparation:


Sieve the wheat flour and salt. Add water and knead to stiff dough. Cover and keep aside.
Peel and grate the radish. Squeeze and drain all the water.
Heat the pan and fry the radish to light brown. Add salt, red chilli powder, green chillies, corainder leaves and mix well. Allow it to cool.
Take some dough and roll into small puri, put 2tsp of stuffing and cover all the sides. Roll again into a thick, round parantha.
Heat a tava and fry the mooli ka paratha both sides to crispy and brown. Put some oil over the paratha.
Serve the mooli paratha hot with raita or curry.

Bread for tea

In my home we generally have a fresh loaf, rolls or some baked delight of some sort most days for tea time. this is a habbit i developed whilist living in Algeria gave us a cosy feel and tea time without is not quite the same. here's some have a look


These are simply
Brown flour
water
salt, sugar and yeast
shapped into rolls brushed with egg and sprinkled with seasme seeds and pumpkin seeds.
This one is made with semolina, brown flour,a little olive oil aniseeds, black seeds, yeast,salt and a pinch of sugar all kneeded into a dough with water left to rise and shaped and brushed with egg sprinkled with seasme seeds.

Ashura

I thought I would let all of you know that the fast of Ashura is coming up soon . On this day, Allah split the seas of hopelessness for Moses alayhi salam freeing his people and destroying Pharaoh- let's fast so that the same may happen today for Muslims everywhere, especially in Gaza.

Musa alayhi salam said when he came to the Red Sea: Inna ma'ia rabbi sayahideen- My Lord is with me and He will certainly guide me!

These 10 days are precious and there are no days more beloved to Allah than these 10 for righteous deeds. (Bukhari)
It is the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him used to fast on the day of `Ashura'. When he came to Madinah, he found out that the Jews of Madinah were also fasting on this day remembering Prophet Musa (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) admired this tradition and said to the Jews, "I am closer to Musa than you are." He fasted and he also told his Companions to fast on this day.

Later, before the end of his life, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told Muslims to add the 9th day also. Thus, it is recommended to fast on both the 9th and 10th of Muharram.
Abu Hurayrah reported: "I asked the Prophet: 'Which Prayer is the best after the obligatory Prayers?' He said: 'Prayer during the mid of the night.' I asked: 'Which fasting is the best after that of Ramadan?' He said, 'The month of Allah that you call Muharram’" (Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawud).

Mu`awiyyah ibn Abi Sufyan reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: "Concerning the day of `Ashura’, it is not obligatory upon you to fast on it as I do. Whoever wishes may fast and whoever does not wish to is not obliged to do so" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

It is noteworthy that Muslim scholars have stated that fasting of `Ashura’ is of three levels as follows:

1. fasting for three days, i.e., on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of Muharram,

2. fasting the 9th and 10th of Muharram, and

3. fasting only the 10th of Muharram.

Lasagne verdi (Ricotta & spinach lasagne)

I cooked this for the first time ever, was nice but a little empty for my liking maybe i just didn't have enough spinach, have a look i used this recipe

I steamed the spinach before blending it to pulp and mixing it with the ricotta.

You are not Forgotten

Gaza Demonstration and Rally dates across the UK

Following is a list of dates, places with timings where demonstrations against the Israeli raid on Gaza are scheduled.

Thursday 1st January 2009

BRISTOL
5pm to 6pm. Centre, opposite the Hippodrome

LONDON
2pm to 4pm. Outside Israeli Embassy, Kensington High Street, London, W4. Nearest tube Kensington High Street (turn right out of tube station and walk along the main road.

Friday 2nd January 2009

BRISTOL
5pm to 6pm. Centre, opposite the Hippodrome

LONDON
2pm to 4pm. Outside the Egyptian Embassy, 26 South Street, London, W1K 1DW. Call for Egypt to open the border immediately.

MANCHESTER
5pm to 7pm. Piccadilly Gardens. Vigil and leafleting.

Saturday 3rd January 2009

BRADFORD
1pm. Infirmary Fields, Bradford - March and City Centre rally

BRISTOL
3pm to 4pm. Centre, opposite the Hippodrome.

DURHAM
Assemble 10.45am for 11am start. Gaza protest march from Millennium Square (Gala Theatre) through Durham to Cathedral.

EDINBURGH
12 Noon. Foot of the Mound, Princes Street.

EXETER
12 Noon at Bedford Square, Exeter High Street
Bring flowers and wear black if you can
One minute vigils every half hour
Well have petitions, leaflets, banners etc. Join in with friends, relatives, EVERYONE!!

GLASGOW
12 Noon. Outside Lloyds TSB St Vincent Street, then assemble for demo at Blytheswood Square at 2pm

HASTINGS
3pm Vigil in Harold Place.

HULL
11am. Queen Victoria Square.

LIVERPOOL
12 Noon to 2pm St. Lukes Church - top of Bold Street.

LONDON (Major Rally)
12.30pm onwards. Demonstration and rally: Assemble at Parliament Square/Embankment, SW1. Nearest tube Westminster.

MANCHESTER
Assemble: 12 noon on Cavendish St, All Saints Park on Oxford Rd. Manchester (further down from the BBC) March through city centre to Albert Square.

NEWCASTLE
12 Noon to 2pm Greys Monument in Newcastle.

NORWICH
12 Noon to 1pm, Outside St. Peter Mancroft Church in the Millennium Library Square

PORTSMOUTH
11am. Guildhall Square. Organised by Portsmouth Network for a Just Settlement of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, and Portsmouth Stop the War Coalition.

SHEFFIELD
Assemble at 12 Noon. Outside Sheffield Town Hall.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS
12 Noon. Tunbridge Wells shopping precinct

YORK
1pm. St. Sampsons Square in York.

The Last Prophet (sa) of Allah (swt) stated: 'He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do that, then he should do it with his tongue; and if he has not strength enough to do even that, then he should (at least abhor it) from his heart; and that is the least of faith' [Sahih Muslim]