Learning to Make Bulani

Peel onionWe are having a friend over. Morsal is teaching me how to make afghan food. Yesterday she taught me how to make Bulani.

Make a sticky white bread dough using 4 cups flour, salt, water and yeast. Let rise.

Mash potatoesMeanwhile, boil 4 large unpeeled potatoes until soft. If the skin is thick, peel it first.

Thinly slice two onions optional (you can dice them smaller if you want). When potatoes are soft, mash into the onions. Season to taste using Garum Masala (spicy is better), cumin, pepper, cayenne pepper and fresh cilanto. Taste mixture and add more seasoning if needed.

Roll dough into thin circles.  Make sure they fit into the pan you will fry them in. Spread a little mixture thinly on half of each dough circle. Cover and seal well.

FinishedFry each Bulani in a little oil until golden brown. eat warm!

You can also make this with whole or chopped green onions, but Morsal said most kids prefer the potato ones!

Another way to make Bulani is how Maryam taught me.

Beef Jerky

Transfer meat
It is better then cleaning chicken

We made beef jerky for camp. Momma cut the meat and I did the rest. Daddy helped watch the dehydrator. This is the recipe we used.

Warning smell makes you very hungry!

  • About 5 pounds of (Beef Loin) Top Sirloin Steak-with very little fat
  • 1 1/3 cup Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 3 minced garlic cloves
  • 6 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 tsp onion powder
  • Mix well
    The liquid will disappear.
  • 2 tsp liquid smoke
  • 2 tsp cayenne pepper
  1. Trim as much fat as you can from steak. Cut into 1/4 to 3/8 inch slices across the grain. They will cut easier if partially frozen.
  2. Place meat and remaining ingredients in a gallon size ziplock back.  Squish it all together and place in refrigerator.

    Raw meat
    It will start like this...
  3. After an hour or so, squish it all again. Do one or two times more. Let marinade at least 3  hours. We let it marinate all night.
  4. When done marinading, lay meat strips in single layer on dehydrator rack. Keep space between meat to dry better.
  5. Set dehydrator to 155 degrees and bake till dry.  Ours took 13 hours. Pat jerkey with clean paper towel several times to remove oil.
  6. When fully dry, to absorb more oils and make longer shelf life, wrap in paper towels for a few hours before packing in a ziplock bag and enjoy!
  7. Shelf life, 3 weeks at room temperature or keep in fridge or freezer for longer storage.
  8. Eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  9. I think this batch tasted great, but I would add more spice to the next batch to make it tangier.

Warning smell is  extremely appetizing!Eat and enjoy

Haitian Fried Plantains

PlantainAuntie Josette and Auntie Nicole taught me how to make fried plantains.  Plantains are like bananas but firmer.working

They are good with hot sauce on the side or crema, according to Auntie Josette.  I have not tried them with creama ( I don’t know what creama is) a or hot sauce yet–I think she meant more Tabasco Sauce.

  1. Cut and cube Plantains. You could also quarter them.
  2. Add Tabasco sauce and salt to tasteSaute
  3. Saute’ until golden
  4. Drain on paper towel
  5. Let cool just till you can eat them
  6. draineat


Yum!!!!

Here is a riddle for you.

This is a spice that Minoans used on their frescoes.  They used this spice as medicine.

It is a treatment for over 90 illnesses.

Greeks used it in their perfumes-what a waste of spice!1 Tablespoon of Saffron

It is red.

It is gooood in bread.

It is cultivated from the Crocus sativus plant.

It is the most expensive spice.

Saffron! Roll your mouse over to get the answer.

Continue reading Yum!!!!

Comparing Recipe Results

Friday I said that we were going to do a pumpkin seed taste test!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Batch one

Batch one is prettiest but hardest to chew.

Batch twoBatch two is crunchy, best tasting and sugary.  The Worcestershire Sauce changed the taste a little from batch one. Boiling made it not so “stringy?”.


Batch three

Batch three is crunchy and everyone’s favorite choice.

Momma would not let me eat 6 cups!

Comparing Recipes

We are going to do a pumpkin seed taste test!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are the questions:

  1. Does the Worcestershire sauce make them better?
  2. Does boiling them make them better?
  3. Will mama let me eat 6 cups six cups of pumpkin seeds?

Here is one recipe with a few variations we make a lot.

Boiling the seeds

  • 3 Cups pumpkin seeds (or other squash seeds) cleaned and rinsed
  • 3 Tablespoons melted butter
  • 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • Seasoned salt (1 teaspoon or to taste)

Boil some water.

Add pumpkin seeds and boil 5 to 10 minutes.

Drain well.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until dry.

This recipe tastes wonderful with Garum Masala, garlic powder, a little ground ginger and a little salt. Do this to taste!

It is also good if you omit the Worcestershire sauce and season with cinnamon and sugar.

This recipe is from Miss Krista;Roasted Seeds

  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups washed, cleaned pumpkin seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt

Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit

Melt butter in large saucepan

Add seeds and spices; toss to coat

Spread seeds on a large cookie sheet with sides

Bake 40 minutes, stirring often, until seeds are browned and crisp.

Answers tomorrow!

Snake Meat and Daddy’s Birthday

We made “Snake Meat” for Daddy’s birthday. It is special because Daddy had it in Africa and liked it. — it is also a fun braai food.–
I hope you like it too.Grinding the meat

how to make Snake Meat (otherwise known as Beorewors)

1 pound trimmed brisket
1 pound pork round roast
1/4 pound bacon
2 Tbl red wine vinegar
4 cloves garlicStuffing the casing
1 Table Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tablespoon salt
Pepper to taste (a big pinch)
1/2 Tbl ground coriander
Large pinch of grated nutmeg, dried thyme and allspice
Small pinch of ground cloves
Sausage casingsFinished Beorewors

Dice all the meat into 1 inch cubes. Mix all ingredients-except casings-together.
Grind meat using a medium size grinding plate. (It was fun using ours for the first time!)
Fill casings firmly, but not to tightly. Be careful so the casings do not split open.
Refrigerate for 24 hours before using (we tasted part of ours after refrigerating a few hours)
Can be frozen for 3 months or stored in refrigerator a week.

To use…Fire up your favorite grill and enjoy a braai with your favorite picnic foods. Recommended favorites are Simba Salt and Vinegar Chips or Tomato flavoured chips (If you live in South Africa) 🙂 Plus lots of salads and fresh vegetables.FinishedThe girls made Daddy’s Brownie

Our Dinner

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Dear Daddy, Happy Birthday to you!

P.S.  The girls made Daddy’s brownie and it was GOOODDD!

 

Fair Food !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday Audrey wanted Funnel Cakes at the 4HFair but Mama said, “we can make them at home.”

Finished funnel cake

So here is the

Recipe for Funnel Cakes

  • 2 Eggs lightly beaten
  • 1.5 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1.5 teaspoon baking powder
  • Oil for deep frying
  • Powdered sugar or Cinnamon sugar
    Mix wellCombine eggs, milk and brown sugar in large bowl.  Add flour and baking powder and mix until smooth.Carefully pour over hot oil

Heat oil in large cast iron skillet to 375 degrees.  Cover the bottom of a funnel spout with your finger and pour in about 1/2 cup batter.  Hold funnel several inches above hot oil remove finger and carefully pour batter in a criss cross pattern.

Fry for 2 minutes per side or until golden brown.Carefully turn when golden

Drain on paper towels.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.  Let cool just a bit and eat warm.Ready to eat

Wash dishes 😕

Wash the dishes when finished

WARNING! Do not make these and elephant ears at the same time.

You might get sick.