Tag Archives: carrots

Carrot And Yam Soup

The carrot and yam soup is a delicious number on account of the strong flavor of the yams. Not only is it delicious, but it warms you to the soul!

What you’ll need (feeds 1):

  • 2 large yams
  • 2 medium carrots
  • 1/3 cup barley
  • 1/2 cup split lentils
  • 3 slices onions
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • oregano
  • paprika
  • ginger
  • nutmeg
  • chili powder
  • bay leaf
  • salt/pepper
  • spoon of butter

To start, get about 4 cups of water boiling (depending on the size you’re planning on making).

Peel the yams, and chop them up into cubes to get them cooked as quick as possible. Put them into the boiling water.

Then wash and dice the carrots, as well as the garlic and onions. Put those into the frying pan, with a spoon of butter and fry them to bring out some flavor. You know its ready when the onions have turned a clearer color.

When these are done, put them into the boiling yams and add the split lentils and the barley.

Add all the spices you want, I went heavy on the ginger, salt, pepper, and oregano. The chili powder and the paprika added a nice flavor. I find that in soups, all the spices become less dominant, so don’t be afraid to put a lot in.

Let this boil for about 15 minutes so all the flavors mix and the split lentils and the barley cook properly.

When this is done, stick it into the blender, and blend it up! I usually have to do it in about 2 or three portions, for the soup tends to be thick and it doesn’t fully mix in the blend. Don’t forget to take out the bay leaf though!

Put it back on the oven and put it on low heat (simmer) for about another 10 minutes. Stir it constantly and keep it covered so splattering doesn’t occur.

yam&carrotSoup-4

Pork Rust

The Pork Rust is so named this way because the rusty look that roasting or frying the veges get.

What you’ll need to feed two healthy bellies:

  1. 2 steaks of pork
  2. 2 yams
  3. 1 red & 1 yellow pepper
  4. 2 slices of onion
  5. 3 cloves of garlic
  6. 4 large mushrooms
  7. Half a cup of frozen peas and carrots
  8. 1 small chili pepper
  9. 2 slices of cucumber
  10. 2/3 cup of rice
  11. Extra virgin olive oil
  12. Teriyaki sauce

Spices:

  1. Sesame seeds
  2. Tarragon
  3. Dill

I always start off when I have potatoes boiling enough water to boil the taters. Get the water boiling. Dice up the yams while your waiting for it to boil, for when it does, put the cubes in. I usually add dill to the rice and the potatoes.PorkFry-3Then measure out 2/3 a cup of rice, and rinse it a few times, then match the rice with water (this is for jasmine or basmati, brown rice takes different quantities). Once you have it measured, bring the water to boil and then turn it down very low for 15 min.

Once these two are going, fry the pork, with about 1/2 a teaspoon of tarragon, and sesame seeds. I also put a dose of teriyaki sauce on it right now. Mix the spread around a bit so it is evenly spread across the whole pork, this gives it delicious flavor.

When the pork has just been put on, I’ll dice up the onions and garlic and put them in their own frying pan with some olive oil to get them cracking. After these have been frying for a few minutes I will add the rest of the diced veges to the fry.

When I flip the pork after about 5 min, just check the bottom you want to see a bit of brown if its on a fairly hot heat. Don’t crank the heat or you’ll just burn the pork and keep it raw on the inside.

PorkFryKeep an eye on the rice, when its done if you timed it right, everything else will be done and you’ll have to only make a nice garnish to suit your style. I choose a diced cucumber with some sprinkled sesame seeds and tarragon with a bit of dill.

Does it look yummy? How did yours turn out?

 

Chicken Balsetta by Ned Tobin

I call this dish Chicken Balsetta for its Basil. Its one of my staples.

What you’ll need:

  • rice (1/3 a cup per person)
  • chicken (~1 breast per person)
  • 1 tomatoe
  • 1/4 broccoli
  • 2 small carrots
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 2 slices of onion
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • sesame seeds
  • celery seeds
  • basil
  • paprika
  • tarragon
  • salt/pepper
  • cardamom seeds

chicken balsetta_2

To start get the rice on to boil. Wash the rice a few times by running it under the water, and then (for white rice) add 1:1 water:rice and bring to a boil, then turn to low and set your time for 15 minutes.

While I wait for the rice to boil, I chop up my chicken into bite sized pieces, and put them in the frying pan, add a dash of olive oil and turn it on med-high temp.

At this point, I add all the spices. My favorite for all chicken dishes is tarragon, some paprika, sesame seeds are a must, celery seeds, and the spice to make the recipe: Basil!

Keep an eye on this when cutting up veges so that it doesn’t burn (ie. stir it frequently!)

I like to cut up my garlic and onions first, to quickly get them in with the chicken to give it more flavor, but thats me.

Then cut up the carrots (and any other veges you so choose to add, just not the tomato) and throw them in when the chicken is almost done.

When this whole mix is almost done put your chopped up tomato’s into the mix, you just want to warm them up so that they don’t get soft on you, but still warm (this is how I like them personally).

Mind your rice, it should be done about the same time. The chicken usually takes me about 10 min, the rice 15 min always. So, just time it right.

I like to serve mine with a side of a few slices of tomato to make it look extra pretty!

chicken balsetta_4Enjoy!