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