Sambosay Goshti Pastry with Chickpeas and Ground Beef

Shortly after I met my husband, he introduced me to Panjshir, in Falls Church Virginia.  It's fairly close to Washington, DC.  I was a little skeptical because I'd never had it, and I was afraid it would be very spicy.  It wasn't, it was so delicious.  Not too spicy, just right. We always get the appetizer, Sambosay Goshti.  Followed by Kebab-E-Murgh for me, that's an order of chicken kebab served with saffron rice and fresh Afghan bread. My husband gets the Combined Kebab, with lamb, steak and chicken, saffron rice, and bread.  We get the Muntoo for our little boy.  It's a dumpling stuffed with ground beef and topped with seasoned yogurt and meat sauce.  Our meal is then  finished off with a cup, or two, of Cardamon tea and an order of honey drizzled Baklava.  Can't be beat, it is so comforting.  I wondered if I could replicate the recipe, my husband assured me I could.  With that bit of confidence afforded me, I decided to give it a try.  I didn't want to deep fry them, I wanted to make a baked version. Success, it's very good!

Sambosay Goshti Pastry with Chickpeas and Ground Beef

1 lb of ground beef

1 large onion

1 cup of chickpeas (dry or canned)

1 table spoon coriander seed

1 table spoon fresh parsley

salt

pepper

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cans of large crescent rolls

Prepare the dried chickpeas as per instructions on bag

Heat oven to 350

In a large skillet with a lid

Place hamburger meat (don't break up, take off meat tray and place whole in the skillet)

Fill skillet about 1/2 way up the meat and put the lid on, let boil until the outside is brown, cut in half and allow to boil until the middle is brown

Pour the water out (the oil will go with it, so there's no need to strain or use a paper towel)

Retain some of the water, about 3 tablespoons,

Leave the ground beef in the skillet and break into small pieces

add oil and saute the onions

While the onions cook and the meat browns completely:

Place the chickpeas, coriander seeds and parsley into a food processor, process until it is like a paste.

You may have to add water to make it into a paste

Once the onions are clear, add the chickpea paste and mix well.

Open the crescent rolls and press until very thin, but not broken.  

 Then add a large spoonful of the Chickpea mixture and fold the crescent rolls around to form a pocket

 Place on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown.  Serve with saffron rice and saffron chicken.  Very good.  Very healthy.

Home made Parmesan cheese breaded Chicken nuggets, tator tots, salad with Garlic Feta cheese

Hey Paw! What's for supper?
Home made chicken nuggets, cut from breast meat fillets. Coated in bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese and baked in the oven. Crisp tator tots, served with a salad sprinkled with Feta cheese. Yummmmmyyyyy

You may notice that one day of recipes is missing. That's because the church had a dinner and we ate there Thursday night. It was very good, but since I didn't make anything, I don't have a recipe. I thought I should have brought something, as I was pulling into the church's parking lot. I don't know why I didn't, it wasn't very thoughtful of me, was it?! Anyway, no one seemed to mind and we had a wonderful meal. The baby got to hang out with his Grandpa, and that made him very happy. He said "Paw Paw" a couple of times, pretty clearly. It was a proud moment for my Dad. It was also kind of sad when later on the baby went looking for his Daddy. His Daddy had to work, and I was bringing him a plate home. The little boy went to several closed doors, and shouted for his DaDa, he then cupped his ear and listened for a reply. We all kind of felt bad for the little guy, but he didn't cry, he just ran back to us. He sure loves his Dada!
Last night, I wanted to try my hand at chicken nuggets. I didn't want to fry them, I wish I had let them marinate in lemon juice for a little bit, but live and learn. They still turned out really well, moist and tasty. I think if I had added the lemon juice, it would have given the coating something to stick to, some moisture to stick to. I will try that next time. I'm sure you noticed the tator tots, I just love them. I used a Greek Feta cheese crumble over the salad, with romaine hearts, tomato and chopped carrots. My husband really enjoyed it. The little boy ate some tots, a lot of ketchup and a few nuggets. I should have made him eat his chicken before I gave him the tots and ketchup! Again, live and learn. Let's get started.

Tator Tots:
Frozen, out of bag, follow instructions.

Salad:
Hearts of Romain lettuce
Greek seasoned Feta cheese
Tomato
Carrots
Ranch dressing
Toss in a bowl

Parmesan breaded Chicken Nuggets:

Boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 1/2 cups Plain Bread crumbs
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 good hand full of finely chopped parsley
Lots of Parmesan cheese ( I used the kind you have to grate your self)

Heat oven to 375
slice the chicken into strips, then into chunks
Pour the rest of the ingredients into a zip lock baggy, add the chicken then mix thoroughly until the nuggets are coated.
Place aluminum foil on a baking sheet and rub with olive oil
Dump the nuggets, in one layer, onto the foil
Bake for 15 minutes, put the tator tots in and bake another 20, until the tots are crisp
Check the nuggets after 30, depending on their thickness, it may not take that long to bake

I hope you enjoy this, and would love to hear your comments! Let me know you've been by to ask Paw what's for supper!

Spaghetti & meatballs

My husband loves this recipe. It's a variation from a "Throw down with Bobby Flay" show I caught, "Meatball Throw down" from the Food Network.

I used Fettuccine because my son does not like the texture of thin pasta.

Remember, the measurements don't have to be exact. Add more or less to your taste.

1 jar spaghetti sauce of your choice
Fettuccine
Bread slices
butter

1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Hand full of chopped parsley
kosher salt to taste
fresh ground pepper taste
1 large egg
1/2 large onion finely chopped
garlic powder or a couple finely chopped garlic cloves

Heat oven to 350
Mix the beef, bread crumbs, parsley, egg, onion, garlic powder, salt and pepper together, careful not to over-work the meat
make meatballs about the size of a large egg
place on a lined baking sheet and put into the oven for about 30 minutes

Meanwhile: boil your water for your pasta and fix according to the package

While pasta is cooking, butter your bread and sprinkle garlic powder over it, during the last 5 minutes or so, of your meatballs cooking time, add the bread to toast.

drain the pasta really good and put back into the hot pot, pour 1/2 sauce over the pasta, add meatballs and pour remaining sauce over the meatballs.

Serve it up, it's YUMMY!

Have some ice cream sprinkled with blueberry's for desert.

IF there are any left over meatballs, cut them up and serve them on bread for lunch the next day. A meatball sandwich.