Chicken and Rice (Kabseh) Recipe

This simple dish could easily feed up to 4 people or you could double it if you are having guests.  It is called Kabseh, and is originally a Saudi dish, especially when you add raisins (which we did not).  It is very easy to make and needless to say, delicious.

Remember to keep it simple, and you will do fine.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 2 very hungry people or 4 moderately hungry people)

1 whole chicken (5lbs approx.) cut into 6-8 pieces

• You can substitute lamb for chicken
• you can do as much chicken as your pot can handle

Onion (Depends on the size of the onion, but we used two medium-sized onions)

Spices (Salt, pepper, mixed spices, cinnamon, curry, hot curry*optional, garlic powder)

Lemon

Tomato paste

Basmati rice (2 cups)

Slivered almonds

Now, you are going to need a big pot. This is a great investment because you will find so many uses for it.

RECIPE

1. Clean the chicken any way you do it

• I just use water to rinse it very well

2. Fill the pot with the chicken, add water until it covers the meat

3. Chop up 1-1.5 onions and throw into the pot

4. Add about a tablespoon each of salt and pepper (optional)

5. Let this boil for a good hour on the stove

6. Soak 2 cups of rice

7.  Meanwhile (about 30 minutes before you take the chicken off the stove), chop the rest of your onions and throw into a pot that you will use to cook the rice

8. Brown the onions

9. Add most of your spices (mixed spices, curries, salt & pepper, cinnamon-about three good shakes will do, be liberal about the amount of spices you use, be confident about throwing them in there but don’t go overboard.)

10. Add a small can of tomato paste

11. Mix together and add a little bit of chicken broth from your pot of boiling chicken until it is smooth

12. Add the rice and more chicken broth until the liquid is about an inch more than your dried rice

13. Boil for a few minutes and turn your stove down to about 2 and let cook for 20 minutes

14. While your rice is cooking, take your chicken off of the stove.

15. Sprinkle it with garlic powder and squeezed lemon juice.

16. Put on a pan under the broiler on high for about 10-20 minutes (Until it is brown and crispy).

• Save the broth for anything you want to make in the future

17. Keep an eye on that chicken and chop up a salad (The smaller pieces, the better-more variety on the fork!)

18. Fry your almonds in a little bit of oil, don’t fry for too long because they will continue to cook even off the heat.

Now you ready to put it all together!

19. Scoop the rice on to a large platter and place the chicken pieces on top, lastly sprinkle your almonds over the dish.

20. Serve with plain yogurt, olives, and hot peppers, makes my mouth water just thinking about it, and I just got through eating it!

Fool Proof Banana Bread in a Few Easy Steps

Don’t you hate it when you make all the necessary preparations for the perfect banana bread, and nothing seems to go right?  You wait and wait for that perfect ripeness of the bananas. You even hide those bananas so no one eats, as they are reserved for something way better. You go ahead and buy the more expensive chocolate, the nice butter, and opt for the more expensive nut-the pistachio, because you are going to make something special.  You seek out recipes on the internet from fellow bloggers and you add your own special touches.  In some ways it’s a whole days event…at least it seems that way as you are cleaning your equipment and waiting for it to bake.

Luckily I have posted for you a fool proof way to make banana bread.  Follow these instructions and hopefully yours will come out as beautiful as mine did.

• First follow this recipe, but go ahead and eye the measures if you don’t have the appropriate tools.  If you are missing an egg or something just leave it out.

• Add your own special touches right before it goes into the oven like chocolate chips, pineapple, almonds, pistachio, and granola

• Put into the oven for the recommended time but if you are afraid of burning it to a crisp like you did to your cookies the other night, take it out 20 minutes early

• Turn your cake upside down before it has a chance to solidify

• Realize its totally underbaked so scoop it up and stick it under the steaks that are broiling on high

• Take it out and let it cool, maybe cut a few of the choice pieces for your favorite somebody

• Voila! You have banana bread that will if you’re lucky, will look something like this:

Yum. Tasty. Enjoy.