Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy 2014

A pot of Kufteh Berenji by Fitri D. // Rumah Manis
 
We just 2,5 hours away from New Year Eve. here in Midwest , there is nothing special at our house. As usually we just stay home, away from crowd , and another reason .. bitter cold outside now ...
But today, I decided to cook Persian dish for our family dinner. Just to honor my husband and my kid .. they loves this dish so much ..

Recipe adapted from Persian Food Guru, Najmieh Batmaglij - with a several adjustment from me to my taste and an easy way.

Before I write the recipe down, let me thank to you my beloved reader ... who always stop by to my blog :
Happy New Year
Wishing you a fabulous 2014, with full of great achievements and experiences, a meaningful chapter waiting to be written.

Kufteh Berenji // Persian Rice Meatballs

Ingredients :
1/2 cups, yellow split peas
1 cup rice (long grain is better)
2 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 teaspoon advieh (Persian Spice Mix) ** see note
1 tsp ground black pepper
2 large onion, thinly spices
2 tbsp onion powder
1 1/2 ground meat
2 cups chopped fresh parsley or 1/2 cup dried
1 cup chopped fresh dill or 1/4 cup dried
1/4 cup chopped fresh taragon or 1 tbsp dried
2 cups chipped fresh green onion / scallion / chives
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup tomato juice
2 cups of water (480 ml)
2 cups beef broth
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 tsp ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground saffron threads, dissolved in 1 tbs hot water

Directions :
1. Pick over the rice, rinse once

2. In medium pot, bring 2 cups of water to boil, add the split peas , cooked until beans become tender, discard the water, set aside.

3. In another pot, brings 4 cups of water ad 1/2 tsp salt to a boil, add the rice and cook for 30 minutes over medium heat. Using the fine colander, drain the rice, reserving the liquid, set a side.

4. Break the eggs into a mixing bowl, add 1/2 tsp salt, the advieh, the pepper, and egg, beat well. Add the onion powder, ground beef, all green herbs / dried herbs, split peas, rice. Knead the mixture throughly for about 10 minutes until it reaches the consistency of a smooth paste.

5.In a heavy pot, heat 1/2 cup of oil over medium heat, add the slices of onions , garlic and fry 15 minutes until golden brown, add ground turmeric, add the tomato juice, water, beef stock, the liquid reserved in step 3, lime juice, 1 tsp salt, saffron water. Bring to boil
6. Shape the meat paste into ball the size of lemon. Gently place the meatballs in the boiling pot of broth. Reduce the heat ; simmer gently for 45 minutes , basting the meatballs occasionally with the broth to prevent them from drying out.
7. Cover partial, cook for 15 minute longer,
8. Adjust salt to your taste, enjoy the meal with yoghurt, lavash bread / thin bread and fresh herbs such mint, basil :)

Make your own Advieh Spices :
2 tbsp dried rose petals
2 tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp ground cardamom
1 tbsp ground cummin

throughly mix the ground spices and the rose petals. this recipe makes about 1/2 cups, stored in a airtight container for future used.


Monday, December 30, 2013

2 best buddies..

2 best buddies.. by Fitri D. // Rumah Manis
 
This 2 best friends decided to hang around my front yard today, they came this morning and again in the afternoon.

I don't have any idea what's kind of seeds they like to eat from my yard to make them coming back often since no more vegetables plants on my back yard due to winter. But definitely I must to build tall chicken fence around the garden for next summer. The deer loves my chilly plants ... LOL

Monday, December 23, 2013

Last Quilt

Done !! by Fitri D. // Rumah Manis
 
Phuiiih ... I feel relief , my quilt is done - and already on a lovely lady hand by now. This is my last quilt for 2013 - for now, at least a week my sewing room will be a quiet room . I need to dusting, cleaning, organizing around that room. I might start to sewing again soon.  I love the finish quilt, I can't believe my self , I did hand stich for this quilt.  I must be crazy.  For you who always say that you have no talent or can't sewing, please .. there is so many tutorial that you can follow , there is so many nice people out there will answer your question if you can't do it.  Trust me..
In fact you can find the tutorial for this quilt here: http://blueelephantstitches.blogspot.com/2012/01/granny-square-quilt-block-tutorial.html

I can't believe less than 10days before New Year 2014 !! where the times fly ?

See you again in 2014 - Thank you for all my reader who stop by here and read my stories .. I love you all .. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year..

Monday, December 16, 2013

Being Old is cool ...

What a lovely presents by Fitri D. // Rumah Manis
 
Alright, I'm 1 more year older than last month .. * I will tell you know exactly  how old I'm next year -grin- * well, when I was young I always worry about the aging process, but when I over 30 I no longer worry... you can say that you have moree experiences to share to younger generation LOL - bla..bla..bla..  but I tell you being old is COOL ... !!

It was a nice surprise party that my husband and my step daughter throw for me last night ; I really didn't expect that will happened - thought, I almost ruin their surprise party because someone got sick .

Off course, like they said : the shoe maker doesn't have shoe and the baker doesn't have cake either - well, it will be funny if I bake my own cake .. don't you think. And I decide not to bake yesterday.

So, the party was great .. I really feel blessed surrounding by family and friends who loves me so dearly. At the end of the night, everyone stop by to our house for tea and off course there was a birthday cake .. that my friend bring for me .. so cute..

And look what I got ? seem someone checked my Amazon wish list ... aaah, I don't need to telling you how lucky I'm - this books are already on my list for long , finally on my hand now .. thank you a bunch, dear..

So what on your list ? can I see it ? :)