Thanksgiving @ Kent, England

Cooking for Thanksgiving for the First time with my flat mate.

It took me a while to appreciate the importance of giving thanks.  I do it everyday, giving thanks to God, but when it came to the fact that I have to cook a big feast, sit down and say what I am thankful off, I felt all that was unnecessary.  I guess that was my childish mind thinking because now I feel that, no matter the hour or day you can give thanks to God and also put a special day aside to also give thanks.  So in 2008 I found myself spending thanksgiving without my family for the first time while studying abroad in China.  To make the best of the occasion I organize with other student to cook together and celebrate thanksgiving with our Chinese friends without any turkey -_-.

So this year, 2011 I found myself again spending thanksgiving without families and friends, but good friends and family can be found anywhere with a good and open heart.  This year's thanksgiving was very different, different because I am now mature :), I appreciate life way better than before, I appreciate people and what the bring to your life.  I have made great, good friends here while in Kent for my Master.  Before coming here, I prayed to God for good flat mates, and He sure did answer my prayers.  I love my flats mates so much that I couldn't help myself but to celebrate thanksgiving with them and their close friends on campus(University of Kent, Canterbury).  So this year, we all got together, planed and cooked this great meal pictures below.  Hope you can share the excitement with me, because there was so much joy in the house, for most of them it was their first time or second time celebrating thanksgiving.

Remember:IN ALL THINGS GIVE THANKS ❤

Our home made Pizza for appetizer

Baked Mac & Cheese

Roasted Potatoes, Emily did a great job

Fried rice with Beacon made by Hiro, from Japan

Mashed potatoes with sprinkled cheese

The celeb for the day

I think I did a good job with the turkey:)

Our lavish salad made by Majid from Iran

Lemon Cake made by Natalie

Our side Dishes

Some pictures from the night....

                                            

Making Macaroni and Cheese :) 

Afghan Dinner

Last week I was privilege to have dinner with some Afghan and Eritreans Refugee group in Canterbury, UK.  Most of the food were prepared by men, which was really amazing to watch them cook. To share some of the experience and the amazing dishes that were displayed and available to enjoy, I have some few pics and also some Recipes to go with them.  Hope you enjoy cooking and eating them as much as I did. YUMMM

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*DISH 1: SaMoSa*

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*Recipe*

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cutesy of 

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http://www.indianfoodforever.com/snacks/samosa.html

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***ingredient***

For Cover:

1 cup all purpose flour (Maida) 

Water to Knead dough

2tbsp oil

Little salt

1/4th tsp. Ajwain (optional)

For Stuffing:

3-4 Potatoes (boiled, peeled & mashed)

1/2 cup Green Peas (boiled)

1-2 Green Chilies (finely chopped)

1/2tsp Ginger (crushed)

1tbsp coriander finely chopped

Few chopped Cashews (optional)

Few Raisins (optional)

1/2tsp Garam masala 

Salt to taste

Red chili powder to taste

1/2 tsp. Dry Mango powder( Amchur) (optional)

How to make samosa:

For Cover:

• Mix all the ingredients (salt, oil, ajwain) except water.
• Add a little water at a time.
• Pat and knead well for several times into a soft pliable dough.
• Cover it with moist Muslin cloth and keep aside for 15 minutes.

For Stuffing :

• In a bowl add mashed potatoes and all dry masalas (salt, chili powder, mango powder, garam masala) and green chilles, ginger and Mix well.
• Add green peas, cashews and raisins and mix well.
• Add coriander and keep aside.

To Proceed :

• Make small rolls of dough and roll it into a 4"-5" diameter circle.
• Cut it into two parts like semi-circle.
• Now take one semi circle and fold it like a cone. Use water while doing so.
• Place a spoon of filling in the cone and seal the third side using a drop of water.
• Heat oil in a kadhai and deep fry till golden brown (fry on a medium flame).
• Serve samosa hot with hari chutney, tamarind chutney.

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More Pictures from the Dinner

Injera, from Ethiopia

Varieties of Mixed Nuts, and snacks

Mixed Nuts

Afghan Nane Bread

Basmiti Fried Rice

Peaches and Cream

Salad

Howdy peeps, for those food lovers out there, I know there are times that you feel like eating healthy, adding some veggies to your diet.  Today, I have a special salad made by my Iranian flatmate who mad this salad.  Its very attractive, and for those who are very visual when it comes to food this can easily wooooooo you in wink wink

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The ingredient will not be labeled because I trust that you can see them vividly :)

Middle Eastern Cuisine

Today's food is going to focus on Persians cuisine.  I am privilege to leave with someone from Iran, who happen to show me how to cook this food.  Its call ADASI, and is made from Lentil, Potatoes (cut into cubes) and some seasoning like chicken stock.  You cook the Potatoes and the Lentils together along with your season.  Its really nutritious, and very filling.  According to him, you can enjoy it any time of the day and still feel good.

So here we are with ADASI from Iran

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Adasi from Iran

AFRICAN CORNER

DiNNer Is ServeD: Eggplant, Tomatoes, Tuna, Mushroom, Stew.  Served with boiled Potatoes and Plantain

Ok, for dinner today, was craving some African dish, the African in me had to have this food.  Lucky for me there was a local farmer on campus today so I stopped by and got me some fresh veggies for my meal today.
To Prepare this dish you need: Eggplant, Tomatoes, Tuna, Mushroom, Pepper, Onions, Cooking Oil, whisked egg(optional) and some seasoning.

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the basics

Bon APPetite 

My Dinner for Today is served mMMMMM

For dessert hmmmm... lol

If you have any question please ask will gladly answer any question dealing with the preparation.

EUROPEAN CORNER

You F@ncy wh@t? Oh Fancy some Pasta today, I got no meat but will still make it worth your taste buds.  This is non Vegetarian turned to be VEGAN for a Day, Just A Day not everyday but just for Today.

Okay, today we have you not your usual pasta, the one with the ground beef, or sausage and them meaty stuff, but your pure vegetable pasta.

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Mmmmm yummy 

Cook to Perfection

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Now Tell me will you reject this because it has no meat, or you will go for it? 

FOOD LOVERS CORNER

Howdy, lately have asked myself the question of showing off my cooking skills hehehe, I don't like to cook, but I always ends up enjoying cooking every time I get in the mood of cooking.  Well to tell you a bit about me, I am an African, from Ghana West Africa, I truly enjoy my Ghanian dish, but at the same time, I enjoy a wide variety of international dish.  I enjoy Korean food, Chines and Japanese food.  You might argue that they are all the same, but as a lover of food they are not.  I have travelled to China, where I ended up dining at different restaurant that deals purposely for either Korean, Chinese or Japanese, and I must say similar but very different.  So far among the two, my favorite is Korean food :).
Enough about this, I will post pictures about these in the near future.  But today I have picture of a Japanese food.  Be warn! is not the type of Japanese food that you are use to.

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The preparation

ViolA

ThE AfTeRmAtH