Baked Kafta with Spiced Rice

• 1 c. Water

• 1-1/2 c. organic Chicken Broth

• 1 c. Brown Rice Medley (TJ brand)

• 2 Tbs. organic White Onion, chopped

• 2 tsp. Sea Salt

• Dash of Cinnamon

• Sliced organic Almonds (opt.)

In medium pot, over medium-high heat, bring water, broth, salt, cinnamon and onion to a boil.  Add rice. Cover and cook over low heat for 35-40 minutes. Scoop into serving dish and sprinkle with sliced almonds.

willd n brown rice pilaf

In the meantime, make the Kafta.

Kafta

• 2 lbs. organic grass-fed ground Beef

• 1 -1/2 c. chopped organic Parsley

• 1/2 c. chopped organic Mint

• 1 med. organic White Onion, chopped

• 2 Tbs. Allspice

• 1 Tbs. Cinnamon

• 3 tsp. Sea Salt

• 1 tsp. Black Pepper

• 1/8 c. Water

• 2 Tbs. organic Tomato Paste

• 1/4 c. Water

• 1 tsp. Allspice

• 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

Turn oven to Broil.

Combine Parsley, Mint and Onion in a medium bowl. Add spices and mix with your hand squeezing all together so that the spices are integrated into the veggies.

Scrape mixture into food processor, add beef and water. Process using long pulses, and scraping down sides, until just combined.  Return to bowl and mix with your hand to ensure all beef is infused with veggies mixture.

Lightly grease a rectangular pan with olive oil (9 x 13 or 10 x 10). Pat beef in bottom of pan, smoothing out to the edges.

Drizzle lightly with olive oil, and broil for 15 minutes.

Mix Tomato paste, spices and enough water together until the consistency of ketchup. When timer goes off, remove Kafta from oven and pour the tomato mixture on top.

Smooth to edges of Kafta, and return to oven for 5 minutes. Remove when done, and let rest for 10 minutes, then slice into squares and serve.

I made a simple sliced Tomato, Onion Salad on the side

Minty Tomato-Onion Salad

• 2 organic Tomatoes, sliced

• 1 organic sweet white onion, sliced

• dried Mint

• Sea Salt

• extra virgin Olive Oil

Arrange tomatoes and onions of a plate. Sprinkle with dried mint, salt and drizzle with olive oil.

~ Sahtein! (double health)   ♥

It's a Blustery Day, KitKat

It's a cool 55º in the Bay Area today.  The wind is whipping around the neighborhood, shaking leaves and knocking the pollen out of every flower's head. A bird decided to build her nest under the awning of my kitchen window a couple of weeks ago.

Our sweet KitKat turned 20 this year!  She has lived outdoors most of her life, gave us an adorable litter of 5 kittens when my daughter was 7 years old, that made their way to family, and provided us with so many fond memories.

kitkat2

Now, 19 years later she is as light as a feather (no weight to her aged bones), deaf as a door knob (but manages to sense when I fill the cat food bowls), and a bit wobbly. She has a little tumor growing under her cheek... but I refuse to put her through surgery at her age.

KitKat 032411

kit kat 03-2012

She still adores laying in the sun. And her favorite spot is in my mint patch.

She's our little granny, and we love her dearly.

In her heyday, when large dogs  innocently wandered into our back yard, they never knew what hit them.  She sprang from nowhere and attacked like a wild cat making them run frantically to find the gate. They couldn't get out of there fast enough! :)

Now she watches the blue jays and skunks eat her food with perfect complaisance.  We are more accepting and generous as we age, aren't we?  I picture her with a lacy cap on, sitting in a rocking chair on the back porch, knitting.

When she meows, it's a hoarse and very loud sound, since she can't hear herself anymore. Sometimes she isn't even looking at us, but out into the yard when she meows.  It's so cute and sad and funny and adorable.

It's been shown time and again that people with pets live longer and are actually healthierthan those who don't care for an animal.   For nearly 25 years, research has shown that living with pets can help lower blood pressure and lessen anxiety. Interesting that they give us so much in return for giving them a home.

Here's to you KitKat.  For the joy you've given me, my children, our family who know you so well, and the friends you've nuzzled, scratched, rubbed against and hissed at!

~ In Gratitude ♥

7 Random Things.

Basheera Aug 2011

5. Cooking brings me joy, and watching people happily gobble up what I make is instant gratification.

6. I miss many things about living on the Mediterranean: having my childhood friends around; lingering with extended family for 2-3 hours over multi-dish dinners; the small open-air Cafés at every curve on the mountain roads;  everybody you know converging to help when you need something; restauranteurs, taxi drivers, merchants and parking attendants remembering your name when you return more than twice; the amazing hospitality you are smothered with when there.

7. I am constantly working to shrink ego-based reactions and thinking, and expanding my ability to see the Divine in every situation and person.

~ Cheers! ♥