Pakistani Chicken Pulao

Chicken Pulao is such a yummy dish.  It is rice cooked with chicken in it.   The aromatic spices and flavors give it the most amazing taste ever.  This is one of my all time favorite foods in the world.  No one can beat my grandma's pulao.  You have to try this dish, I guarantee you will love it!

Ingredients:

1 large chicken (skinned and cut into pieces)
2 cups of plain yogurt
1 tsp. Garlic paste
1 tsp. Ginger paste
1 large Onion (chopped)
4 Cardamom pods
1 tsp. Whole cumin seeds
1 tsp. Cloves
2-3 Green chilies (chopped)
1 tsp. Red chili powder
1/2 tsp. Turmeric powder
1 cup Tomato puree or 2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 cup Fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup Fresh coriander/cilantro leaves
2 cups Long grain rice/basmati rice
2 tbsp Clarified butter (Ghee) or oil
4 cups Water

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large pot.  When the oil is hot, add onions and whole spices.  Stir fry for a few minutes, add ginger and garlic paste.  Reduce heat and add powdered spices.  Do not burn them.

2.  Add tomatoes.  When they are well mixed, add plain yogurt and stir well.

3.  Add chicken pieces and mint leaves and stir well so that the yogurt masala coats the chicken well.
Cook for 30-40 minutes on medium heat until the chicken is cooked.

4.  Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil.

5.  Add 2 cups of rice and salt to taste.

6. Cook on low heat with the lid on until the rice is cooked.

7.  Sprinkle coriander leaves on top and lightly mix.

8.  Serve on a plate with yogurt and salad.

Enjoy!

"Love at First Bite" Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Freshly baked perfect Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

These are the yummiest, easiest and best tasting cookies you will come across in your life.
They are perfectly moist on the inside with just the perfect outer texture.
You honestly have to try them.

1 cup Butter or margarine, softened
1 cup Brown sugar, packed
1 Egg
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
1 tsp. Baking soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1 1/4 Rolled Oats
1 cup Raisins

Cream butter and sugar together.  Beat in egg and vanilla.
Add remaining ingredients.  Mix well.  Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.
Bake in 350F (180C) oven to 8 to 10 minutes.

Enjoy your perfect oatmeal raisin cookies!

Gelato in Fort Langley

Fort Langley is one of the best places when it comes to gelato.
Gelato is the Italian version of ice-cream.  It is made from milk instead of cream and is known for its real, rich and bold flavours.  It is honestly one of the best sweet desserts you will ever taste.

I was in Fort Langley to film a music video for a school project and my friends and I decided to go to Maria's Gelato.  The selection of flavours make it a hard choice to decide on a flavour.  The last few times I visited I got hazelnut gelato and pistachio gelato.  This time I tried bachio (hazelnut and chocolate)

IT WAS SO YUMMY.
If you are ever in Fort Langley, this is the place to go!

Bottom left corner - Bachio Gelato
Top corner - Strawberry Sorbetto
Bottom right corner - hazelnut Gelato 

Rice Krispy Balls!

This is a fast, easy and delicious sweet treat!
I made these with my grandma yesterday <3 You have to try this recipe. I hope you enjoy.

INGREDIENTS

50 mL 1/4 cup margarine or butter
250 g 1 pkg (about 40) regular marshmallows or 5 cups miniature
2 mL 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1.5 L 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

PREPARATION

1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat.  Add marshmellows and stir until completely melted.  Remove from heat.

2.  Stir in vanilla.  Then stir in rice krispies cereal until well coated.  Using a lightly butted spatula, press into a buttered pan.

3.  Allow mixture to cool.  Cut into bars.  They taste best is served the same day.

(Instead of putting the rice krispies into a pan, we pressed them into circles.  They will cool the exact same way and both are absolutely a delight to serve)

Now you're ready to eat. Enjoy :)

Dahi Bhalle (Pakistani Appetizer)

Home made bhalle 

Ingredients

1 cup Black gram lentils (split/washed)
2 lbs. Yogurt
1 tbsp. Cumin powder (roasted)
2 tbsp. Red chili power
1 tbsp. Salt 
1 tbsp. Ginger
2 tbsps. Coriander leaves 
Tamarind chutney to taste (optional)
Chutney to taste
Vegetable Oil for frying
Potatoes/Chickpeas (Optional) 

Directions

1. Wash and soak the lentils in cold water for a few hours. Strain and grind to a smooth paste.
2. Whisk into a batter with salt (1 tsp), roasted cumin powder(2 tsp), Roasted red chili powder (1 tsp) and salt (2 tsp), mix well and keep aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan. Drop one tbsp. of batter in flat round shape into Heated oil and fry until light golden.
4. Put fried bhallas into water and let them soak until soft. 
5. Drain, squeezing out the water between the palms of your hands.
6. Mix yogurt well with salt to taste.
7. To serve, place the bhallas on a plate and cover with yogurt.  You can also add pieced of potatoes and chickpeas for an extra element. 
8. Add Mint chutney and Tamarind chutney (these are optional).
9. Sprinkle red chili powder, black salt and roasted cumin powder. Garnish with coriander leaves.  

Enjoy! 

Pakistani Dinner

Looking for amazing Pakistani food to eat? Gulberg's cuisine is the place to go.

They have delicious food, great service and a lovely atmosphere.

The other day we went to Gulberg's for a late snack in the evening. 

We got dahi bhalle.  Which are ground lentil balls deep fried, dipped in yogurt and served with chutney.  

Then we indulged on the mixed tandoori platter which consists of kebabs and chicken tikka.  The meat are marinated in exotic spices and cooked in  a tandoor.  The freshly made naans hot off the tandoor with melted butter tastes amazing. 

Halwa

A bowl of hot halwa off the stove <3

Halwa is a sweet south Asian dessert perfect for satisfying you're sweet tooth. It is so delicious...

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sooji (semolina flour)
• 1/4 cup ghee (clear butter)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2cup water
• Pinch of cardamom powder
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds for garnish

Method:

1. Boil the water with sugar, and cardamom powder in a pan over low medium heat. Bring to a boil and Set aside.
2. Melt the butter in a frying pan on medium heat.
3. Add sooji and roast to golden brown color; stirring constantly this will take about 5 to 8 minutes. Sooji will be golden brown in color and will have a light sweet aroma.
4. Add the syrup slowly, as you add the syrup to sooji water will splatter.
5. Turn down the heat to medium low and let it cook for about 2-3 minutes.
6. Sooji will absorb the water, as the Halwa cools so keep Halwa a little more softer then you want.
7. Garnish with almonds.