Meal preparation ideas

 Meal prepping is a great way to save time and money while making sure you always have healthy meals on hand. Here are some simple dishes that are perfect for meal prep:

Grilled chicken and vegetables - Season chicken breasts with your favorite spices and grill them with a mix of veggies such as peppers, zucchini, and onions. Store in separate containers for easy reheating.

Quinoa and vegetable stir-fry - Cook quinoa according to instructions, then stir-fry with your favorite veggies such as broccoli, carrots, and snow peas. Add soy sauce or other seasonings to taste.

Turkey chili - Brown ground turkey and add diced tomatoes, beans, and chili powder. Simmer until cooked through and store in individual containers for easy reheating.

Baked sweet potatoes - Bake sweet potatoes in the oven until tender, then top with a mix of black beans, salsa, and avocado. Store in separate containers for easy reheating.

Egg muffins - Beat eggs and add in your favorite veggies such as spinach, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Pour into muffin tins and bake until set. Store in the fridge or freezer for an easy breakfast or snack.

Lentil soup - Cook lentils with your favorite vegetables such as carrots, celery, and onions. Add vegetable or chicken broth and seasonings to taste. Store in individual containers for easy reheating.

These dishes are easy to make in large batches and can be stored in the fridge or freezer for a quick and healthy meal anytime.but in my house hold always try to eat fresh food.

Eastern Arab Cuisine

 Eastern Arab cuisine is rich and diverse. Traditional dishes often include lamb, chicken, rice, and a variety of spices such as saffron, cardamom, and cinnamon. Popular dishes include mandi, biryani, kabsa, and falafel.

History Of Cooking

 Cooking has been an essential part of human history for thousands of years. The earliest humans likely ate raw food, but at some point, they discovered that cooking food over an open flame or in hot embers made it more palatable and easier to digest. Archaeological evidence suggests that humans were cooking with fire as far back as 1.9 million years ago.

As humans began to settle in one place and develop agriculture, cooking became even more important. Cooking allowed people to preserve food, making it last longer and be more easily transportable. It also allowed for the creation of new dishes by combining different ingredients in different ways.

Throughout history, different cultures have developed their own unique styles of cooking and cuisine. For example, Chinese cuisine is known for its use of stir-frying and steaming, while Indian cuisine is known for its complex use of spices and flavors. European cuisine has been heavily influenced by French cooking techniques, which emphasize the use of sauces and precise knife skills.

The industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries brought about significant changes in cooking. The development of new technologies and the ability to transport food over long distances allowed for new ingredients to be introduced and for food to be prepared more quickly and efficiently.

Today, cooking is a popular hobby and profession, with countless cookbooks, cooking shows, and cooking schools dedicated to the art and science of cooking. The availability of fresh ingredients from all over the world, as well as innovations in kitchen equipment and techniques, have made it easier than ever to prepare delicious and healthy meals at home.

Sandwich in my style

Sandwichwhat is the different types of sandwiches handroll, soft Bun & slice sandwiches.

try these filling so you can't resist  

Mozzarella, falafel, grilled chicken. turkey, tuna or veggies, or just hard egg boiled filling.

but good condiments to make them taste better is key ie mayonnaise, mustard, or some kind of relish.

 

 Lets cook Shish Tawook 

1 KG or 2 Pound Chicken Breast Cut into cubes

1/2 Cup Plan Yogurt

1/4 Cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

4 Cloves minced Garlic 

1 Tbsp Paprika

!/2 Tsp Salt

1tdp turmeric

1/2 Tsp ground black pepper

1/2 Tsp ground Cumin

1/2 Tsp Curry Powder

Make marinate & keep aside then wash & cut chicken into cubes & mix marinate mixture & keep for at least two hours more time is better for chicken to be tender.

Cook chicken in a griller ,Brush or sprinkle oil on top.turn & cook well on both sides.

serve with pita bread or garlic Nan.

Eat healthy food

Pre cooking preparation 

Offer chutney chat masala on our dining table.it help to digest food well because of herbs & spices    

try to roast meat or grill as too fried food is not good for your body.

correct way to cut Avocado

best way to take out pulp from Avocado. Just cut into two half then twist a little  and scoop the middle flesh part.

add to your smoothies,& ssalads.   

Different type of Masala

In Pakistani cooking  different type of spices are used to enhance the taste of the meat,chicken or fish
for the convenience of my readers I am writing the different masalas recipes.these combinations are my family recipes or I had developed  along with a dear friend Sara although these days many brand of masala are available but freshly grind  spices has their  own taste and aroma.for good result in your cooking alway try to use fresh masala

Biryani Masala
Red Chillies 1tbsp
Salt 1tbsp
Cloves 12 pieces
Kashmiri red chilly 4tbsp
Coriander  or Dhania 4tbsp
Haldi 1tsp
Dried plum 15pieces
choti Elachi 10pieces
Dalchini 2 sticks
Zeera 2tbsp
Star anise flower 5pieces
Black zeera 1tbsp
Pepper corn 1tbsp
Bay leaves 4
grind and mix them together
to  sprinkle on  top of rice at the time of simmer (dum)
Clove powder  1/2tsp
Nutmeg powder 1/2 tsp
Jalfil powder 1/2tsp





  

Avocado wonders!

Avocado are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and its improves your bold cholesterol level also control blood sugar level.its good source of fiber,mineral,   B complex and vitamin C & E
There are many type of avocados but most popular is pear shaped with a pebbly skin.
What is the general rule to select a ripe avocado :-

• Gently squeeze the fruit in your palm don't use your fingertips so ripe ready-to-eat fruit will yield to gentle pressure .

 A secret to cut a ripe avocado is cut in lengthwise around the seed rotate the halves seep rate then remove the seed by sliding the tip of a spoon gently underneath and lifting out then scoop out the avocado with a spoon and cut with knife to required size of pieces.

• If you buy a unripe  avocado then  just keep for 4-5 days at room temperature.
•  To expedite the ripening process the place in a closed paper bag with an apple or banana at room temperature until it yield to gentle pressure
• Ripe fist that is ready to eat can be refrigerated for several days.

Cottage Cheese" Paneer"

 
How to make cottage cheese at home and its called "Paneer".
Paneer is famous for making delicious a whole load of otherwise boring dishes. Palak Paneer, Paneer Makhani(butter), Chilli Paneer, Mutter(peas) Paneer, Paneer Butter Masala, Shahi Paneer, Paneer Jalfrezi and Saag Paneer to name a few.You can use this recipe to make all of the above dishes, plus a huge range of others. Your imagination is only restricted by itself. If you are making a curry, remember to press the cheese under weights firmly so that you can cube it without it falling also you can  crumble the fresh paneer and use it in samosas, spring rolls, shammi kebabs, kofta and lots of other tasty things, including desserts.If you don’t want to use your paneer straight away, you can refrigerate it for up to a week (wrapped up well) or in the freezer for a couple of months.
Homemade Paneer: How to make Paneer at Home
(makes 3 cups)
Ingredients
116 fl. oz. (6 pints) full fat milk
¾ cup (220ml) lemon juice
Method: In a large, non stick saucepan heat the milk on a very low heat until boiling . Note: Heating the milk on a high flame will almost certainly burn the entire bottom of your pan. I find that rubbing the pan with a little oil before adding the milk (and using a non-stick pan) reduces the risk of burning the hell out of your beloved cookware. Stir the milk often to stop it settling at the bottom of your pan. If, by chance it does settle and burn, do not scrape the burnt gunk off. It will ruin your cheese. And your mood.
 Place a clean cheesecloth in a colander and put the whole thing in an empty sink.
When your milk is boiling hard, add the lemon juice and briefly stir. Leave it for a couple of minutes until all of the curds separate from the whey (Step  I love this part, it’s like seeing a beautiful yet ugly otherworldly miracle. Let this settle for five minutes or so.
Tip the contents of the pan into the cheesecloth over the colander. You could save the whey to curdle your milk next time you make paneer. It will keep in the fridge for months. I like to save it for baking too. If you’re a busy person then let it drain away.
 Give the curds a good rinse under the cold tap to rise away any excess acidity.
 Pick up the cheesecloth and squeeze out most of the water (Step 4). Be careful, it can be very hot.
 Place a plate or bowl under your colander (to catch the whey) and lots of weight on top of the cheesecloth for at least an hour for a crumbly paneer, or longer for a firm paneer . My object of choice was a really heavy mortar. You can use whatever you like. Not the dog or your spouse, mind you.
8. Unwrap and enjoy your fresh, homemade cheese. Crumble it, cube it and create with it.

Homemade Kulfi

Kulfi with  topping of nuts & caramel
ingredients
1liter milk
1tsp rose water
50gm koya(make a quick koya by taking nido powder milk and add a little milk and mix)
1packet cream
1/2 tin condense milk
1/2 cup sugar
2tbsp cornflour
1cup nut(almond or Ceshew)
1/4tsp Choti Ilachi powder

For caramal
1/2 cup sugar
Nuts
Almonds or Cheshew

Method:
Boil milk and make a mixture by add sugar.Secondly make paste of cornflour with little milk and add to the mixture. Let this mixture cook on low heat but keep stirring with spoon from time to time then add koya, cream and condence milk,rose water,ilachi powder and let it cool down.

Make crunhy topping

Method:

Make caremal by heat a pan and adding sugar put this sugar on greased plate and let to cool down just transfer the mixture into kulf molds and on top add caremal and nuts .put in these molds in the freezer.may take few hours to become hard and solid once done enjoy your homemade kulfi.

Cowboy caviar salad

This is very tasty and easy to make salad also very filling so try now .

 cowboy caviar salad
One can black-eyed beans

One can corn kernels

2/3 cup thinly chopped green onions

2/3cup chopped cilantro

½ lb Roma tomatoes coarsely chopped

1 firm ripe avocado

1/2cup olive (green)

Dressing

Salt to taste

2tablespoon vinegar

11/2 teaspoon Olive oil

 One clove garlic crushed

½ teaspoon freshly crushed cumin

One tablespoon lemon juice

One teaspoon black pepper

Method:

In bowl mix vinegar, oil, lemon juice, crushed garlic, crushed cumin, salt, pepper then peel, pit and cut avocado into 1/2inch cubes. Add vinegar mixture and mix gently to coat. Drain and rinse beans and corn. Add beans, corn, onion, cilantro and tomatoes to avocado, mix gently so all coat well. Add salt to taste. Serve salad with chips as an appetizer.

Sugar craft

Sugar paste  Friuts and Petit Four Pastries from Kossy kitchen.

Decoration with fruits & edible flowers

Make a cake then decorate with fruits or edible flowers

Here is my method of Sugaring Fruit

Holding fruit by stem, lightly dip fruit into beaten egg whites. Sprinkle fruit with superfine sugar and place on wire rack to dry 4 hours then decorate on your homemade Christmas cake.

Chicken Patties

Hummus basic receipe

Hummus

Ingredients:

1 cup raw chickpeas or one tine chickpeas
2-3 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons roasted sesame seeds
3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Soak the chickpeas overnight and boil them or just add chickpeas from the tin into a food processor, grind the chickpeas, garlic, sesame seeds, lemon juice salt and pepper adding water as needed to get a smooth paste. Then add one tablespoon of oil at a time and blend, it  becomes a nice creamy dip. Taste for spices and salt. To serve put  the dip in a bowl. Make an indentation in the hummus with back of spoon and drizzle some olive oil. Sprinkle some pepper on top.

Baked Mashed Potatoes

BAKED MASHED POTATOES

10 large potatoes (peeled, washed and cut in half)

8 oz package cream cheese

1 cup sour cream

Garlic paste 1/4 tsp

Salt to taste

1 Tbsp. butter (chopped into small pieces)

 For GARNISHING:

Chopped chives and pepper

 Boil potatoes until tender then drain and mash them well now add all other ingredients. Place in large buttered casserole dish. Top with dots of butter, chopped chives and pepper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake potatoes for 15 minutes, or until they begin to brown on top.

Tips:

Make this dish ahead of time and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to heat. Let sit at room temperature for at least an hour before baking. Remove plastic wrap, and bake.

Lassi

Fruit  lassi

Ingredients

Yoghurt 1cup

1cup mango, chiku or banana finely chopped.

1lemon juice

1litre water

2teaspoon honey

Method:

Blend the yoghurt and mix in all ingredients. Serve chill. you can also use apple or lychees 

Dates and nutty balls

Honey Date Balls

HONEY DATE BALLS

INGREDIENTS:

250gms dates (deseeded)

2tbsp honey

1tbsp lime juice

25gms pistachio

25gms almonds

METHOD:

Blend the dates, honey and lime juice. Make round balls and roll over a mixer of pistachio and almonds.(note that when making round balls the date mixture gets sticky so to make the balls easier put the mixture in the fridge for 5mins then make your balls then again if gets sticky put in the fridge for 5mins and after the balls done keep in the fridge or serve immediately.