Sukaynah,s long awaited marshmallow crispies!

Everytime we go to "pick n pay" my daughter Sukaynah begs me to buy marshmallows,rice crispies and toffee sweets !This was going on for quite a couple of months as I always ended up forgeting one of the three items on the list!Finally a couple of weeks ago I managed to buy these ingredients and a much delighted Sukaynah started very enthusiastically to make this sweet and simple "marshmallow crispies" easy peasy !This recipe is taken from Shanaaz Parker's cook book "Indulge".Great idea for bored kids in the holiday's...........

Ingredients:
100 g toffee sweets
100g margarine
100g rice crispies
100g marshmallows

Method:
Grease a shallow. tin and place the toffes,margarine and marshmallows into large pan and melt them gently over low heat stirring all the time , when everything has melted and blended together , remove pan from heat and gently stir in the rice crispies and then sppon the mixture into the greased tin and press it gently with the back of the spoon.Leave the mixture to set for about 30 minutes then cut into squares and enjoy!

Rushaan

Wedding inspirations!

When one is a chocolatier (that's me!) and you are seated and infront of you is the most delectable , simply decadent beautiful fancy real chocolate cakes infront of you it's really tuff!

My husband and I as invited the the marraige of a student of mine (Taahierah Gordon) to Muhammad Mayat (ie the owner of Mayat's on the waterfront, who specialises in chocolates,cakes and coffee), you can very well imagine my total delight , the table was laden with everything chocalaty !This gave me inspiration to share with you the delicious chocolate brownie recipe of my generous neighbour Bahija Majiet.Iam sure this one you,ll simply adore and enjoy!

1. 250g margarine/butter melted
2. 1/2 cup oil
3. 1/2 cup cocoa
4. 1 cup boiling water

• Mix above ingredients by hand
• Add

1. 2 cups self rising flour
2. 2 cups sugar

• Mix by hand
• Add

1. 2 eggs beaten
2. 1 tsp vanilla essence
3. 1 tsp bicarb of soda
4. 1/2 cup buttermilk/ or milk

• Mix above ingredients by hand and add to all the above ingredients mixing it very well together.

You may add topping of your choicee ie chocolate icing or melted quadbury chocolate with nestle cream mixed together and poured over cake mmmmmmm..............Lekker yummy!

rushaan

Cape point bollas!

I remember being in the second term of my pregnancy with my second eldest son (Waseem Achmad),and going for an outing with our good friends Fatima and Aghmat Siers (who had no kids then!), to Cape Point.It was a cold,rainy winter's morning and I remeber Fatima taking out a Tupperware(we never leave home without it!) , and offering the most perfect round bollas that I've ever seen!Taking the first bite is still etched in my memory (14 years later!),to put it in simple words..........The lekkerest bollas I've ever eaten , yes ever, and no matter how I try it still doesnt beet my friend Fatima's sweet ,tasty bollas!ladies this is really yummy stuff ,let me know how your's came!

Recipe:
3 tablespoons butter (melted)
1/2 cup sugar (slightly more)
2 eggs beaten
4 cups self rising flour(Sifted)
1 cup milk (I prefer buttermilk)
5ml vanilla essence
grated nutmeg
pinch salt

Method:
Melt butter add the sugar and beat till fluffy.Add the eggs till creamy ,sift the flour and salt , grated nutmeg and add to the mixture .Mix through with spoon then add vanilla essence and milk.Mix through thoroughly ,mixture should be soft and slightly stiff, if you find it too stiff you may add some more milk.Fry off in medium to slow oil,put in about a heaped teaspoon of batter at a time in the oil.Syrup as you would doughnuts but do not drench the bollas into the syrup!This is a great after supper "something lekker" snack ,so ....................Enjoy!

Rushaan

Dad's favourite!

My dad (may Allah swt grant him janatul firdous,amin),was not much of a chicken lover ,he was a typical breddie and rice person.He did though enjoy this braised masala chicken which I use to cook occasionally.This recipe is taken from "The cape malay " cook book by Faldeelah Williams. I varied the recipe slightly for my own taste and added an extra potatoe to the original recipe .I like the tangy flavour in this meal and it is not a curry neither is it a pot roast , so it add's a different variety to your chicken dishes .Here goes Braised Masala chicken ........

Ingredients:
Chicken pieces
125 ml oil
3 potatoes (sliced into thick rings)
2 large onions finelly chopped
200ml water
Masala:
5 cloves
piece green ginger and garlic
7ml salt
5ml crushed chillies
5ml jeera
10ml leaf masala
5ml ground cloves
30ml lemon juice10ml peri-peri sauce (or tomatoe sauce)

Method;
Wash and drain chicken.Mix all the spices with the sauce and add garlic/ginger to it , mix , then rub it ino the chicken.Set aside. heat oi l( or olive oil) in a pot and fry potatoes for about 5 minutes on each side, remove and set aside.Add onions in the pot and braise until golden brown.Add the chicken and water and cook for 15 minutes on medium heat , thereafter add the potatoes and simmer for another fifteen minutes on low heat , until well done.serve with luvly dhanya rice and roasted veggies .Te lekker !Another chicken dish taken care of .........Enjoy!

Rushaan

Rughshana's Sticky toffee pudding!

When I requested this recipe from Rughshana I didnt realize that it was the same one that I made a couple of times before , well actually about five years ago or so !So shukran once again Rughshana Levy for this tasty recipe , its divine on a cold winter's evening to make you warm and snuggy ! It's one of my personal favourite hot pudding recipe's and its so simple to make (that's the best part!) , so here goes Sticky Toffee Pudding .

Ingredient : 2 tablspoons apricot jam 2 tbspns butter 2 teasp bicarb 1 1/2 cups self raising flour 1/2 cup milk... may use more 2 eggs 1 cup sugar pinch of salt melt butter n bicarb in microwave and leve to cool down mix sugar n eggs till creamy. add apricot jam then the dry ingredients nex add milk n then butter mixture bake 180 in greased pyrex 4 about 20min sauce: 1 cup boiling water 2 tablespoons butter 250ml ideal milk/ fresh cream 3/4cup sugar 5ml vanilla essence bring to boil.then pour over cake once done. u dnt need to put back in oven Doesnt this just sound too lekker and simple to make .Go on , give it a go , you will love it ans so will your family and friends !Enjoy it and think of me !Rushaan

Chana dhal curry!

This dhal curry can basically be used for any dhal be it pea ,chana or red lentils it will suffice . I love chana dhal , and this recipe was shared with me by my neighbour (back in Newcastle ) , Auntie Zaynab , a warm and friendly lady who simply loved her kitchen and cooked every single day with so much enthuisiasm and love for her family , she didnt believe in 'slap dash foods" as she would call it , cooking in a hurry !

Remember to lay dhal in water the night before cooking , especially chana dhal .

Ingredients :

2 cups dhal ( boil till very soft almost mushy )

lamb pieces

2 large onions

1 green chillie

1 tsp crushed chillies

1 tsp dhania

1 tsp jeera

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp garlic

1 tsp ginger

stick cinnamon(3 pieces)

cardomon (4)

allspice (3)

cloves(3)

2 tsp leaf masala

1 tsp roasted masala (packo)

1 tsp gharam masala

dhanya

2 tsp whole jeera

butter

1 large tomato

Method:

Braise onions with oil ,add garlic and ginger .When slightly brown and soft add all the spices , tomato , except whole jeera , butter ,green chillie ,gharam masala and dhanya .Add about half cup of water and braise for about 5 minutes before adding your meat ( chicken can also be used ).Add your dhal after ten minutes (dhal must be cooked nice and soft) ,add about two cups of water at this stage , and let it cook through on medium heat , ensuring that it has sufficient water all the time .(remember dhal needs to be stirred every few minutes as not to stick to bottom of the pot !). Let food cook for about 45 minutes put on low heat , then in another pan heat a piece of pure butter when hot add chillie and jeera , then add your chopped up dhanya and gharam masala . After about ten minutes take this mixture and add it to the dhal food . This will automatically enhance the flavour/taste of the food , believe me !Let this simmer through for about 15 minutes on very low heat , thereafter you may say Biesmillaah !Soooo luvly with rooti or basmati rice !Enjoy !

Rushaan

1 tsp

Chicken A la King !

This recipe is truly fit for a king! ( ie your husband !!) .Its great tasting , quick and a real winter dish , so dont delay if your family loves chicken and mushrooms , try this recipe ASAP!

Ingredients:
8 pieces of fresh chicken pieces
Fresh garlic
Soya sauce
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 Onions
2 Green peppers
1 pkt mushroom sauce ( follow instructions on the pk
Punnet mushrooms

Method;

Marinate chicken with salt and pepper . Warm some butter/olive oil over medium heat in a pot , when hot add garlic , chicken and soya sauce ( depends how much you want to use ).Turn a little lower and brown chicken pieces about fifteen minutes. Take chicken out of pot then braise onions and pepper you may need to add a little oil at this stage too .When nice and brown put chicken back into the pot and add the sauce (which have already made on ) ,with the rest of ingredients into the pot leave on medium to low heat and simmer for about fifteen minutes . Ready to eat with savoury or sweet yellow rice and roasted veggies! Iam so getting lus for this , aren't you ?!Shukran to my friend Fatima Siers who is a fantastic cook ( Faldeela Williams's cousin , nogal ) , i have this recipe for so long and its a firm favourite with family and friends , algamdulilaah . Ok , go ahead your majaesty this is a royal treat ........Enjoy!

Rushaan

Raeesa Arend's huge savoury scones!

Yes, these scones are not just huge but they are lekker and took me ten minutes to make and fifteen minutes in the oven!This young lady loves surprising her parents with her baking talents and this was her sunday morning breakfast speciality!Too sweet mashallah!You may omit the mix herbs and black pepper if you going just make normal scones .

Ingredients:
2 cups self rising flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp mix herbs
65 g butter
1 large egg whisk with a fork
1/2 cup milk

Method:
Mix dry ingredients , add butter and rub through flour till it resembles bread crumbs, make a well in the centre and add the egg and then the milk , mix through .Press mixture down on a floured surface with your hand , not too thin and press out with a round cup ,heat oven to 200c , place into a greased baking tray and bake for 15 minutes , oh sorry brush with milk on top of the scones before placing into the oven.

Perfect for any time of the day or night , delicious with strawberry jam and fresh cream !If this is gona be plain scones just omit the pepper and herbs .If you going to make this as savoury its lovelly with cheese (mmm!) .Enjoy !

Rushaan

Oven/Pot roast chicken .

This oven chicken recipe of mine is a real hit with my family and friends , like my eldest son Sabeegh say's 'when mommy makes chicken in the oven I cant stop eating!' This is also quick easy and tasty like most chicken meals .This is usually made on a Monday for supper , especially if we had spicy foods or breyani the for sunday lunch. Or i cook this when I have people over and I am running out of time ( or ideas !) .I usually have sweet yellow rice , a toss salad and steamed veggies with this , if I dont have veggies or salad , then bring on the sweetcorn or whole kernels please !Enjoy..........



Ingredients:



Chicken ( preferably not frozen )

2 tsp portuguese spice ( spice mecca )

2 tsp chicken masala ( spice mecca)

2 tsp chicken spice (spice mecca)

salt to taste

1 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup tomato sauce

garlic and ginger mix ( rub in with hands )

Soya sauce



Marinate the above ingredients into the chicken and let it stand for atleast an hour . Place into pyrex or oven tray and drizzle with olive oil . But if this is a last minute thing then marinate and bake in a heated oven ( 200 c) , when placing chicken into the oven reduce temperature after 10 minutes to 180 c , and let it bake for about 45 minutes . You may add potatoes ( cut into wedges and placed in microwave for 7 minutes on high ) , and sprinkled with salt , ppepper and portuguese spice , add to chicken before placing it into the oven .If you gona pot roast this first heat pot with olive oil until oil sizzles , place chicken in pot and reduce to medium heat , add potatoes when you,ve browned it first for about 7 minutes , not necessary to put potatoes into microwave when pot roasting .



I usually bake this an hour before supper is served so its still nice and hot when dishing . This dish is really juicy and tangy mmmmm...............



Rushaan

Carimah's lentil soup !

Ok so iam just about waiting for the Ramadan to commence for me to try these variety of soup's insha Allah . Iam hoping to try this lentil soup next week sumtime when its a cold and rainy day outside !I will leave a comment on how I find the taste and how much time it took to cook .I do fully trust Carimah Fataar ( Author of " A muslim princess ") , when she said its quick and tasty , so please dont hesitate to try this before me sisters !!



On another note , had a hot ,tasty bowel of seafood soup ( at Kaprino's ,now in greenpoint) , tonight which was really good ( doubt they will share their recipe with me !)algamdulilaah . Wiil definatelly go back there again ( I hope within this year ,ha ha ) . I enjoy cooking for my family , but no doubt, it's luvly to be waited on and have something different on the menu too.



My apologies Adela, I love your chicken soup ( the best I've eaten mmmm!). I do believe soup is real soul food ,cant understand why it's cooked mostly in winter , I could eat it at anytime , that's for sure !In this recipe below you may experiment and add more spices if you wish .



So let's indulge in the tantelizing taste of different types of soup ................!Enjoy it with hot , soft rolls .





Rushaan













1/2 cup lentils (they use orange split ones but i used brown) - washed
1 cup spinach - chopped
2 potatoes - cut in small pieces
1 onion chopped
2 tomatoes chopped
1 carrot chopped
2 gloves garlic chopped
1 Tablesppon lemon juice
1 tspn salt
1/4 green chilli chopped
6 Cups water
1 vegetable stock cube
1 Tablspn butter


1 Cover and boil lentils waith 4 cups of water. Add all ingredients except stock, butter, lemon juice, salt. Cook for 25min.
2. Leave to cool
3. Pour in blender with 2 cups water - liquidise
4. Put back in pot with sock, juice, butter, salt. Cook on medium heat without covering for 3 min.
5. Garnish with parsely and serve

Rugshana 's chicken and corn soup!

Bring on the soup recipes please ! This delicious and quick chicken and corn soup was shared with me by my facebook friend Rugshana Hendricks Levy ( shukran ) . You have to try this recipe its goooood! Its wonderful that sisters in Islam ( even though we havent even met ) can share their favourite recipes with the rest of the world , algamdulilaah . So to my sisters out there if you have a soup recipe that you think is really great tasting and you would love the rest of the Ummah to share in it , please send it to rphilander@gmail.com (thats me ) , anxiously waiting to try it out and share it with all ! You may even inbox me on facebook on "something lekker ".

Ingredients:

Tin sweetcorn

fresh cream(optional)

chicken fillets

salt and pepper

chillie

parsley

milk

thick onion soup (1pkt)

chicken and mushroom soup (1pkt)

Subject: chicken and corn soup

1 tin sweetcorn, 250ml fresh cream ( optional) 1 pkt thick white onion soup, chicken fillets, 1 large onion, parsley and chilli, salt & pepper and milk.
Glaze chopped onion and chilli in butter until golden. Add chicken,Stir fry until golden and add the sweetcorn.Fill tin with water and add to the pot.Mix pkt soup (i mix in the tin too) and fill with water & add to pot.Fill tin with milk and add to the pot. ADD A PACKET OF CHICKEN AND MUSHROON SOUP MIX TOO BUT THATS NOT ON THE ORIGINAL RECIPE, BUT STILL TASTED LEKA..Allow to simmer.
Add the cream , salt n pepper to taste n the parsley ( i suma use the dried parsley too). u can add some more milk as it thickens thats why i don't add the cream anymore..Enjoy.

Road Trip to Makka !

Saturday evening's supper at Darun naim in honour of a very special friend of mine ( Shihaam ) , and her family , who has after many years finally decided to make the move to have a road trip with their land river , and venture through Africa , taking a ferry from Sudan to Yemen , from there drive to Makka and thereafter make their way back through north and west Africa , insha Allah , is a big woow !!!!( wish it was me !!) May Allah swt keep them safe and protected amin.



Algamdulilaah , as always there is always an abundance of good food and desserts , the likes of butter chicken , savoury rice , warm veggies , baked potatoe , vegetable soup , puddings and cakes ! For me the real treat was Fatima's delicious and creamy chicken and mushroom soup .............te lekker !

Method :
1 onion 2 garlic cloves 3 table spoons butter (and braise this together in water but don't smoor the onions nir lol its soup remember ) you can add half a chilly if you like. . . .then you use about 2 fillet chicken breasts ( wash, cube and marinade it with salt and pepper) then add it to the cooked onion mixture.

Then you whisk 3 cups of milk and 4 table spoons of flour in a bowl (whisk till smooth) pour it in to the pot with the chicken and onion and stir continuously till slightly thickened
add half cup of fresh cream (125 m). lastly add ten sliced mushrooms and give it one last boil add salt and pepper to taste :-) then sip it sloooowly. Soul food.....good food .Shukran Fatima happy cooking for a long time insha Allah mwah

Sukayna 's lemon meringues .

When entering my home last night , the table was laden with one of my very favourite desserts . Rich and sweet , lemon meringue . My daughter , sukaynah wanted to surprise us with something lekker after class and to show me she can actually do something in the kitchen without my supervision ( which she did perfectly mashallah ! ) . This was luvly , to say the least and she said it took her about ten minutes to do this .............

Ingredients :
For biscuit dough you would need :
125g butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 egg
3 cups self raising flour
For the filling :
1 tin condensed milk
4 eggs seperated
5 tsp lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
Method :
Make dough as you would for biscuits . Pre heat oven 180 c . Blend condensed milk , egg yolks and lemon juice . Pour liquid mixture onto dough mixture in a round pyrex dish ( which you greased with butter or oil ) . Bake in oven for 15 minutes . Whip egg whites with the 2 tablespoons of sugar until soft peaks formed . Spoon over baked meringues and bake for a further fifteen minutes and slightly brown on top . This is for the real sweet tooth ! Enjoy !

Haleem , warm tasty , good food !

Winter is here with a bang ,wind , cold and raiiiiiny !Luvly , winter my favourite season ( shucks , only struggling with the laundry ! ) . I Promised my husband and kids that when winter starts I will have haleem cookin on the pot . Monday was a perfect day for this delicious very filling indian soup . This recipe takes me back to the days when I stayed in Newcastle , as it was there when I first tasted this yummy soup ( Its actually much more than soup ,really ) . So this recipe was shared with me by Aunte Zaynab Shaykh , my very good neighbour and a mother figure for me at times when needed some good advice , algamdulilaah .

Ingredients :
1 kg chicken pieces ( preferablly dry pieces )
1 tsp ginger and garlic
2 large onions
Salt ( depends on your taste )
1 tsp crushed chillies
1 green chillie finally chopped
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp danya and jeera mix
1 tsp gharam masala
1/2 cup whole wheat
1 cup pea dhall
1 1/2 cup chana dhal

Method ;
Boil all the dhals and whole wheat , until tender , then liquidise and set aside , braise onion with the other ingredients for a while , add boiling water and cook until chicken is half tender about 20 minutes . In a large pot add the chicken and liquidised dhalls . Boil on low heat until thick about 1 hr . In a saucepan put 100g butter , 1 onion ,whole jeero ( 2 tsp ) , gharam masala , 1 green chillie , dunya and spring onion . Add this to the haleem mixture in the big pot and cook for further 30 to 45 minutes .Sooo good for you and warms you up in jiffy ! Enjoy it !

Healthy great tasting salad !

After being in a health and nutritional workshop this week with Nuri Sedickie ( primequest products ) , I decided that I was going to try my best to include more wholesome foods in my daily eating routine . Today being Saturday , I would always opt for the Aneesa 's take away, Cosy corner , bona cafe or homemade burger and chips or boerewors rolls !

No , not today , I ran into hypermarket and went straight to the veggies ! Today we having smoked chicken salad for lunch . This salad can be made with salmon too , depends what you in the mood for , but both chicken and salmon are equally tasty . The idea of using smoked chicken was given to me my my friend Saaliega Yaghya , you 'll be surprised how quick and good this salad is , even the kids will love it !

Ingredients :
Smoked chicken or salmon ( tin , remove bones )
3 Tsp Cider vinegar
Ina Paarmans honey and mustard salad cream
3 Tablsp Mayonnaise
Salt
Pepper
Lettuce leaves
Cucumber
Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Avocado
Green , red or yellow pepper
Carrots
Olives
Feta cheese

Method :
Flake the chicken into pieces ( depends on you ) , break lettuce leaves , chop cucumber lenghtwise and then into strips , chop tomatoes , cut carrots into julienne strips , peel avo and slice it , cut pepper into strips as well , all break feta into pieces and add the olives and mushrooms in a large salad bowel .
Sprinkle some salt and pepper , then add the cider vinegar , mayonnaise and drizzle the honey and mustard salad cream ( not too much to make the salad soggy ! ) over all the above . There you go healthy great tasting salad not bad at all for a Saturday lunch or supper ! You may have this with garlic rolls or low GI bread if you want it to be more filling , but nice on its own too !

Chocolate mug cake

So we all heard of chocolate mud cake , right ? And yes , my spelling is correct .......this is delicious and super quick chocolate mug cake ! Takes 5 minutes to make ( no jokes ) , dangerous actually as these sweet , easy delicacies makes one decide to do this at eleven at night because of its simplicity and its a great treat ! Shukran Zeenat and her mom ( mwah )for sharing this recipe with us , Iam pretty sure you all will give this recipe a try very soon........!

Recipe :
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips
5 ml vanilla essence
1 large coffee mug or round bowel

Method :

Add dry ingredients to the mug and mix through . Beat egg and add it to the dry ingredients , mix thoroughly . Add the milk and oil mix again then add vanilla essence and chocolate chips , see that mixture is well mixed .
Pour the mixture into a mug or bowel and place it into the microwave for 3 minutes on high . The mixture might form over on top , dont panic !Allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes , then tip it over into a plate , if you feeling generous , you might want to share this with the one you love and serve it with luvly vanilla ice cream !

Yes , its that easy , go on you'll love it !

Rushaan

Moms friday speciality

My humble apologies to all those who were waiting for the akni recipe that I was suppose to post 3 days ago !My PC had some problems and as you can see algamdulilaa all sorted , ready for delicious food .
My mom makes the most tastiest akni ( but then again who's mom doesnt make the lekkerest food ne )! No seriously it's good mashallah , so here goes her recipe ,Ive added 250ml yoghurt or maas ( recommended by my friend Adela ) , it enhances the flavour so give it a try . Dont add too much water when cooking Akni like when you cooking cuury as it might make the rice too soggy , ok here goes my moms Friday family speciality ! Her gran kids look forward to Jumah so they can have mamas food and so does her daughters .......

Recipe :
1 kilo mutton
3 large onions
2 tomatoes
fresh garlic and ginger
dunya
2 tsp salt
2 tsp jeera
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp danya powder
1 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp leaf masala
1 green chilli
1 tsp dry chillies
4 cups basmati rice ( wash rice thoroughly , place in big bowl then add boiling water with 2 tsp salt )
250 ml plain yoghurt
7 potatoes

Method :

Braise onions in real butter add green chilli , stick cinnamon ,cardoman , star aniseed , cloves , allspice and galic and ginger .When half brown and transparent add your meat , tomatoes and spices , let it cook for bout 30 minutes (adding sufficient water not to burn it ) then add your yoghurt and dunya cook for another ten minutes add potatoes , cook for a further ten minutes . When potatoes are half done add the rice ( drain off water ) . Cook on high for about five minutes then bring down stove to low heat and simmer for thirty minutes . Ready to eat hot and tasty .

Akni is also delicious with tomato and onion salad or daiy ( made with plain yoghurt ,green chillies , lemon juice and dunya ,blended together ) . Have fun cooking and most of all eating with your family and friends !

Last Thursday I was out of options on what to cook , I wanted it to be quick , easy and also different .I bought luvly green marrows two days before and bought eggplant ( brinjal ) at my local veggie shop .Ah ! I remember cooking a dish called "mousaka" when I was at college (ages ago ) couldnt quite remember the entire recipe , so I tried my own mousaka dish , and it came out really delicious ! My mom walked in when I was preparing this dish and said " die lyk lekker " and decided she was gona stay for supper . After the meal she said " nou die was baie lekker , jy moet dit op jou bog sit "!

Here goes some luvly cape (not greek ) mousaka !

Recipe:

2 large onions

1 large tomato

1 kilo steak mince ( you may use little less if a small family )

1 teaspoon salt

1 green chilli

1 teaspoon portuguese spice

1 garlic and ginger mix

1 teaspoon leafmasala

1 teaspoon jeera

3 allspice

2 large brinjals

4 small marrows or 1 very large one

5 potatoes

some grated cheese

flour

white sauce (you may use the packet mixture )

Method:

Braise onions with garlic , ginger paste and all spice.When soft and transparent add chopped tomato and mince. Cook for about five minutes then add all the above spices and about half a cup of water , cook until all the water is absorbed . Place mince into a large casserole dish and put aside . Cut potatoes , brinjals (let it lay in salt water for about ten minutes , then drain completely ) and marrow into round slices (not too thin ) .Fry potatoes till half done , put aside.Dip brinjals into flour mixed with some portuguese spice , salt and leaf masala .Fry it in a pan with some olive oil , when done do the same with the marrow and fry it in olive oil as well.

Layer the marrow then the brinjals on top of the mince and lastly add the potatoes . I made on some white sauce and poured it over the mixture . Add some grated cheese on top of white sauce and pop it into a pre heated oven for about 30 min on 180 c .You may eat this as is , but my family loves rice , thus we had it with fluffy white rice mmmmm! There you go Rushaan's Mousaka .You will thoroughly enjoy cooking this meal as well as eating it insha Allah.

Rushaan

Rainbow nation food.

Iam was quite amazed when my friend Zeenat told me her mom was following my blog ! I was thinking an Indian lady who cooks delicious food for her family taking down my recipes ?!......... I think I started to get very anxious cause I know that I really cannot compare with indian cooking ( I simply love indian food , must be in the blood , somewhere in the DNA ) , but Iam definitelly gona try some indian dishes (please send me some favourite recipes ) and post it to my blog , Insha Allah .Here I ve posted a mince pie recipe which the rainbow nation all love and enjoy !

On Freedom Day I asked my family what they would like between a home made steak gatsby or mince pie , almost instantly they shouted pie ! Even my three year old said " Mommy I lus for pie " , so off I went to buy a kilo piece of butter pastry and mince at Azeem 's butcher .

Recipe :
1 kilo pastry
Mince ( little less than a kilo )
Few peppercorns (5)
Few allspice (3)
3 onions
4 tablespoons of sago placed in a jug of water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon jeero
1 teaspoon gharum masala
1 teaspoon steak and chops masala
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 hard boiled eggs
Ginger and garlic

Method;

Braise onions with peppercorns , allspice , ginger and garlic ( mix ) , until slightly brown and soft adding little water while braising .Now add mince and spices , cook for about ten minutes adding very little water , add the sago (drain off water from it ), cook mince till sago is transparent and water has evaporated .Take off from stove to cool.
Roll out the pastry( not too thick ) in a large oven tray ,when mince has cooled down a bit place it on top of the pastry and slice the hard boiled eggs over the mince. Cover the mince with the left over pastry (in fact a kilo piece would be over enough , you may still have a piece over which I made jam tart from ) , beat an egg and brush it on top of the pastry . Bake it in a pre heated oven 180 celsius for about half an hour ( slightly brown on top , not burnt ok ! ).
Had this with hot chips and tomato sauce , great .
It was " lekker , te lekker " ne ! Kids was fighting who was gona take the left overs to school the next day ! Unfortunately there was nothing left , inshallah next time gona make a chicken pie with chips ..............Great for a saturday lunch too. Enjoy your cooking !

Rushaan

Mouties birthday!

Ok, this has been one of those weekends that you say to yourself I definitely have to do the sunnah fast on a Monday and Thursday inshallah! To top it all off it was my brother inlaw's (moutie's) birthday yesterday and my sister rizqah invited the family and friends over for cake and tea .

walking in the table was layed with Johnsons specials , snow balls , milk tart ,chocolate cream puffs , pavlova , malaysian pudding , eclairs , apple strudel , chocolate mousse cake , caramel and cream swiss roll and fatima's perfectly round bollas! I gave myself a "pep talk' and decided that I would select only three of the delicacies infront of me , I will not over indulge, laysian pudding by auntie Sabie Siers ( smooth , creamy and fruity ) , pavlova made by Shamiela fayker (melt in the mouth ) and chocolate cream puffs ( fluffy and sweet ) made by my sis Rizqah siers .Here goes the recipe for the choclate cream puffs recipe:

Recipe :
4 eggs
1/2 cup of fish oil
1 cup of sugar
4 tsp baking powder
2 cups self raising flour
2 tbls cocoa
5ml vanilla essence
3/4 cup lukewarm water

Method
Mix eggs, fish oil and sugar well. Add baking powder, self raising flour and cocoa, mixing on medium speed. Lastly add vanilla essence and lukewarm water on high speed until light and creamy. Bake in muffin trays about half full .
Bake at 180 C for plus minus 15 - 20 minutes

This recipe is great as you may use caramel and cream for the filling and dust it with icing sugar yummy yummy! Let me know what you think ? Go for it and enjoy yourself .

Rushaan

Gran's 80th birthday bash

I am stuffed , really stuffed !Algamdulilah what a great evening this was , seeing old family and friends that I havent seen in ages , (bout twenty years or more ) met up with a school friend that I was in class with in sub A at Douglas Road Primary school (yes , grade 1) .

Food , glorious food and this was a real feast , so much to eat and so little time ! Desserts my favourite , what to choose first , well naturally the choclate mousse is a definate and to top it off with a sweet delicacy of pavlova topped with strawberries and kiwi , and yes , the peppermint pudding was great too! Here goes my my " custard and caramel fridge cake tart " soft and sweet mmm......

Ingredients:
1 pkt tennis biscuits
90ml orange juice
ready made custard (you may make your own)
1 tin caramel
50ml lemon juice
1 large fresh cream
1 large flake
Method:
Use a large pyrex dish and place biscuits into the dish , spoon the oranje juice over the biscuits till it's soaked into the biscuits . Place in the fridge for about 15 minutes.Once out pour the custard over the biscuits , if you makin the custard please ensure that its cool before pouring over the biscuit.Place in fridge again for 15 minutes.Place caramel in a bowel with the lemon juice and stir this through well until caramel is smooth , you may now put this over the custard mixture. Whip up th fresh cream , place it on top of the caramel and decorate with flake or a few left over crushed tennis biscuits . Refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours .

This pudding is really tasty and not much effort at all , so go for it and enjoy !

How grateful Iam to have my 80 year old granny still around , may Allah (swt ) grant her many more good and healthy years inshallah amin . Shukran to all my aunts and cousins for their delicious mutton curries , frikkadels , rice , potatoes , barbeque chicken strips , roasted chicken , salads , baked veggies, half moons , daltjies , cold and hot desserts it was all very , very yummy!

Now , what to make for my cousin Aisha 's wedding tomorow inshallah ?

Rushaan

Middle of the month trifle

This recipe is a true middle of the month dessert, (you know when you running on reserves) when the family nags for dessert and you scratch your head and wonder how am I going to manage this? Algamdulilaah I always try to keep a few packets of jelly and custard powder in the cupboards for a rainy day! Middle of the month trifle.........here goes!

Ingredients:
2 pkts jelly (your preferance)
Big tin sliced peaches
Custard powder
2 cups milk
5 tablespoons sugar
1large fresh cream
Vanilla Essence

Method:
Empty jelly in a large glass bowl, add 2 cups of hot water till dissolved then add 2 cups cold water (kids love doing this part), open tin peaches , drain juice and add it to jelly mixture and refrigerate, keep peaches in fridge too. When jelly is setting make the custard by heating the milk and mixing custard powder with sum milk to form a paste.

Just before milk starts to boil lower heat and add custard mixture to milk, mix through and add sugar. When custard thickens take off stove and let it cool off completely. Once jelly is set place peaches on top and the cold custard . Whip fresh cream with some vanilla essence and teaspoon of sugar. Place fresh cream on top of the custard mixture.

You may serve as is or sprinkle with a flake on top of trifle. We had it without the flake but everyone still kept coming back for seconds!

Personally I am a such a sweet tooth that I prefer chocolate brownies with fresh cream over trifle anytime, but my family loved this and it was bowel empty before bedtime.........algamdulilaah.
Rushaan

I love winter,the only real problem I have with winter is that when night time comes one tends to "lus for something lekker".After having supper last-night my eldest daughter Sukaynah asked what we would prefer flapjacks or fairy cakes (cupcakes).After a vote of five against two it was decided on cupcakes with chocolate icing.How is one ever suppose to lose weight and being a sweet tooth myself abstinence is a great battle!This recipe i found in the Boeka Treats but i have changed the sugar to castor sugar,but you may use sugar instead.Here goes the cupcake recipe which even a twelve year old can make , all by herself without any supervision and it tastes good too.

Ingredients:
1 cup castor sugar
4 large eggs
vanilla essence
1\2 cup milk or orange juice
1 cup oil
3 cups self raising flour
2 tsp baking powder

Method:
Beat ,sugar,essence together till sugar is dissolved add oil and beat till light and fluffy.Sift flour,pinch of salt and baking powder, mix through and now you may add milk or orange juice,beat well.Bake at 180 c for 15 minutes.
You may decorate this with fresh cream and caramel in the middle and dust with icing sugar on top.Or cover with chocolate icing (or any icing of your choice) and hundreds of thousands sprinkled on top.

After returning home from a thought provoking lecture(presented by my husband),I was now ready to relax with my mug of rooibos tea and a yummy sweet fairy cake.Enjoy !
Rushaan

fast food!

Woke up with only one thing on my mind ......what do I cook today?Went straight to the bootom cupboard,opened the thick file, once again pieces of paper falling out!What,what,what today.....ah its pouring outside and defnitelly must be food with rice.Here it is Auntie Faiza Booley's mince breyani recipe ,great,quick and easy hence fast food!Checking through the cupboard I realized I ran out of lentils,no problemo I'Ll simply improvise here and there and it turned out to be what we would term in afrikaans 'mengel moes". I got this recipe way before I got married about twenty years ago.Auntie Faiza and I taught madrassa together at Masjidul Munowarah,I remember telling her that I want to cook something for my mom and dad on sunday (yes ,the days when we actually had an option to cook!).She had just cooked this meal the very day and wrote it down for me,so yes I still have the same paper with the recipe in her handwriting!Here goes my mengel moes or mince breyani.....

Ingredients;
1Kg mince
4 onions
fresh garlic and ginger
Stick cinnamon
Star aniseed
cloves
all spice
3 cups of mixed veggies (frozen) this I used instead of lentils.
4 cups of rice (basmati or Jasmine)
Spices:
1 heaped teaspoon Leaf masala(spice mecca0
1 heaped teaspoon Gharum masala
1 heaped teaspoon Pakco roasted masala
1 heaped teaspoon Mother inlaw masala (spice mecca)
1 Heaped teaspoon Jeera
2 teaspoon crushed chillie
1 teaspoon turmeric
Danya
Fresh lemons
3 teaspoon tomatoe paste
7 potatoes (medium)
Method:(Very simple)

Parboil your rice with salt ,1 tsp turmeric few drops of oil(you may use olive for healthier alternative!) drain excess water and place in strainer.Set aside and now braise onions with oil/butter add fresh garlic and ginger as well as allspice,stick cinnamon,star aniseed and cloves mmm already smells great.When completely brown(careful not burnt, add sum water all the time but not too much!)At this point add the above spices , tomato paste it may vary according to your taste,mix it through and add little water let it cook for about 5 min before adding your mince.Let the mince simmer for about 20 minutes then you add your frozen mixed veggies,not too much water ok.Just before adding your cooked rice you can add chopped danya fresh or frozen can both work.Cook on high for about ten minutes and then let it simmer on very low.In a pot heat sum oil and fry potatoes (cut in wedges) till its almost done.When potatoes are done you place it on top of the rice and after about 15 minutes you may mix it through and it is now ready to be dished, from the bottom up and its definitely ready to eat,great for a cold day.This is great with fresh lemon squeezed on top before eating but my kids favourite mayonnaise and hubbies lemon atchar!

This is a realy fast food if you find that your huband has invited guests and its already after five!Always be prepared for the unexepected!happy cooking.
Rushaan

Family feast!

Today was my dad inlaws birthday (74 yrs)mashallah a generous man with lots of wisdom, seven kids and nearly 40 grandchildren, twelve and a few more gran kids on the way !Obviously with such a big crowd of family members it was decided to make 4 potjies, two chicken akni and two vegetable potjies.There is no credit for me today, except that i mixed the spices for the veggie potjie that my hubby was cooking.To say the least his veggie potjie was mouth watering,in the words of his neice "this is the best food i have ever tasted,no really",so without much exageration it was delicious!So here goes the recipe for you guys who wants to try a healthy vegetable potjie

Dish: Vegitable Potjiekos (Malay style)

Ingredients:
Onions
Fresh garlic and ginger
allspice
cloves
lamb pieces (you may use beef shin if you prefer)
butternut
cauliflower
green beans
beetroot
pumkin
baby potatoes
corn(mielies)
You may use any vegetables of your choice.Variety is the spice of life!
Spices:
potjie kos spice (spice mecca)
gharum masala
jeera
leaf masala
salt
Heat butter/oil in your potjie ,when the oil sizzles add onions with your fresh garlic and ginger.Add allspice an cloves.When onions are braised well add sum water as not to burn onions,but keep fire going well.Once onions are transparent add your meat adding sum water (careful not too much!),once sizzling add the spices to the meat and let it cook through until meat half done.Now you may add your veggies,place your potatoes on top of the meat ,layer with the rest of the veggies adding sum water to pot.Everything should simmer through and once meat is done the potjie is ready to be served,either with white rice,bread or rolls.Personally I love the soft white rice mmm yummy yummy!
As you know no party is complete without cakes and dessert.What a variety of chocolate mousse cake,snowballs,chocolate muffins,fairy cakes,marble cake(auntie Saabie Siers recipe which i made!)and my personal favourite apple crumble with fresh cream (baked to perfection by my sister inlaw Shanaaz Philander).What a feast !Great how good food brings family together what lovelly day we had and how blessed we are algamdulilaah.Hope Shanaaz keeps the apple crumble ready for friday evening insha Allah.

New beginnings

ok so Iam not a writer defnitely not jamie oliver or our local lady Shanaaz Parker,but iam a great cook to my family and my huband being my worst critic is also my inspiration to cook to perfection (according to my standards anyway).So what led to this blog was the search for Auntie Saabie's marble cake recipe,searching through the hundreds of recipes in the bottom draw ,looking in between files I finally got it!Sat next to my husband in the kitchen going through the recipe making sure i have all the ingredients in th cupboard,i tell my beloved of all the recipes I have of so many of my friends,neighbours,family and acquintances ,this leads to an idea to try all these recipes atleast one per day.Thats it ,i will try and test it and post it to.Wish me luck and enjoy!