Moroccan Taktouka

This is another Moroccan recipe that I learned from my boyfriend. It is a relatively easy recipe with just a few ingredients. It tastes great and has loads of flavor. (I did not use the onions in this recipe because 0f my distaste for the vegetable.)

Ingredients:
2 medium thick steaks cut into square pieces
1 sweet pepper (regular green, red, or yellow peppers would work just as well)
1 tomatoes
1 onion
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp of cumin
1 Tbsp of canola oil

Slice tomatoes into quarters. Clean peppers, removing all the seeds and rinsing the outside. Cut into medium size pieces. Cut onion into small to medium size pieces. Cut steak into medium size square pieces (You can also purchase pre-cut skewer steaks). Salt & pepper steaks. Sprinkle with cumin. Add 1 Tbsp of canola oil to a skillet. Turn heat on medium. Add remaining cumin to oil. Add pieces of steak, onion, peppers & tomatoes. Cook steak to your desired taste ( ie. medium, rare, well). Let the vegetables cook in the steak juices and spices until done (usually when they have started to brown.
Serve with bread.
Enjoy!

Moroccan Salad

This is another recipe that I learned from my boyfriend. In the US when you think salad the first thing that comes to mind is lettuce. Well that is not the case in Morocco. My boyfriend explained to me that Moroccan salad is less about the lettuce and more about the other vegetables you add to it. This is an easy recipe that can have a lot of vegetables or as little as 4 vegetables. It is very healthy for you because there is no salad dressing which usually adds the most calories, but instead uses olive oil which is very good for you. There are many variations to this salad because you can add pretty much any vegetable you want. Enjoy making this salad and using the different additional ingredients!

Ingredients (Used for salad in the picture above):
2 Tbsp of olive oil
1 cucumber
1 large carrot
1 large tomatoe
1 pepper (sweet or regular)
1 cup lettuce
salt & pepper to taste

Peel cucumber and carrot and chop into small pieces. Dice tomatoe. Clean and de-seed the pepper. Chop into small pieces. Chop lettuce to desire size pieces. Using a large salad bowl, add olive oil and all the vegetables. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix completely making sure all the vegetables are covered with olive oil. Add more salt and pepper to taste.

Additional ingredients include:
olives- green or black
potatotes
onion
cheese
hard boiled eggs

Beef & Bean Chili

When I get a craving for hot or spicy food I always turn to chili because its easy to make and you make enough to have left overs for a couple days. There are thousands of recipes for chili with numerous variations in ingredients. The key is to continue to try out chili recipes and find the one that is best for you. I don't like very hot/spicy chili but I like there to be a little bit of a kick. I found this recipe to be perfect for my taste, however if you like your chili very spicy you may want to try a different variation.
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 large red onions, chopped
5 Tbsp chopped jalapeno chilies with seeds
8 garlic cloves, chopped
2 1/3 lbs ground beef
1/4 cup chili powder
2 Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp sweet paprika
1, 28 oz can diced tomatoes in juice
2, 15 1/4 oz cans kidney beans, drained
1, 14 oz can beef broth

Additional:
sour cream
grated cheddar cheese
chopped green
chopped fresh cilantro

Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, saute 6 minutes. Add jalapenos and garlic, saute 1 minute. Add beef, saute, break up with fork, about 5 minutes. Add chili powder, cumin and paprika. Then mix in tomatoes with juices, beans, and broth, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until chili thickens, stir occasionally, about 45 minutes. Skim any fat from surface of chili. Ladle chili into bowls. Serve with sour cream, cheese, green onions, cilantro and fresh bread.

Cover leftovers and refrigerate.

Shrimp Curry

The first recipe that I cooked at home with my stepmother was shrimp curry. I had no idea how curry tasted or what it was even used before I made this recipe. I wanted to make it because I love shrimp and this recipe included shrimp. After I made it however I became very fond of it. Curry is used largely in Indian cuisine. Curry is a mix of different spices, normally coriander, turmeric, and cumin however there are numerous other ingredients depending upon the recipe. Use curry in moderation because a little amount goes a long way.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 can cream of shrimp soup
2 cups cleaned cooked shrimp
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp curry powder
4 cups cooked rice

Saute onion in butter until golden brown. Add soup, heat and stir until smooth. Stir in sour cream and curry powder. Add shrimp and heat. Serve over rice with curry condiments ie. salted peanuts, cashews, raisins, chutney, etc.

Serves 4

Rad's Special

What a refreshing sight to come home and dinner is already made and ready to be served. This was the case Wednesday evening, when I came home from work my boyfriend had dinner made. What you ask did he make? Well it was a goulash type of stew, concocted of chicken, beef, and vegetables. A wonderful dish which he just pulled together from the remnants of what we had in our fridge and cabinets. It turned out to be quite delicious! What a joy to have a man who can cook for you after a long day at work!

Ingredients:
Makes 4 servings
2 cups water
2 Tbsp olive oil
2, 1/2 " thick, 5 oz steaks, cut in pieces
4 boneless, skinless, chicken thighs
1 cup broccoli
2 tomatoes diced
1 can chick peas
1 can green beans
salt & pepper to taste

Optional ingredients:
olives
potatoes

Preparation:
If using fresh vegetables, cut and cook before starting. In a large pot add two tablespoons of olive oil. Cut steak into small to medium size pieces. Add to pot and turn on medium heat. Add all vegetables and 2 cups of water. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and cook for 20 minutes allowing the stew to boil. Stir occasionally. Turn heat to low and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes making sure that meat is cooked completely.
Serve with bread.

Enjoy this easy and wonderful recipe!