Chicken Enchiladas

Shred the chicken breasts

Add from the left to the right:

feta cheese

yogurt

diced onions

diced green bell pepper

salt and pepper

Mix very well making sure you incorporate the feta cheese.

Put a little bit of oil in a frying pan and heat the tortilla through.  Place on paper towels to drain off exess oil.

Place about 1 tablespoon of the filling in the tortilla and roll up.

Place in an 9"x13" or whatever you have on hand pans that have been lightly sprayed or oiled.

Use these instead of tortillas if you are concerned about your waistline.  My daughter liked them just fine.  You can see them on the far right.

Pour over your salsa either from a jar or homemade.

Spread the cheddar cheese all over.

I used this rice and I DID NOT LIKE IT but ate it and the kids and hubby liked it.

Dig in...

Serve the family first....

See them devour it.

ALIA’S CHICKEN ENCHILADAS: 

*All measurements are American

12 large flour tortillas or around 16 medium

Filling:                                                               Tomato Salsa:

4 cups cooked, shredded chicken                  1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 pint sour cream or low fat yogurt                  1 small onion, finely chopped

4 oz. Feta cheese                                              1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 green bell pepper/capsicum                         500 g. (1 lb.) tomatoes, blanched,

1 medium onion, diced                                        skinned and chopped

½ pound cheddar cheese, shredded              1 fresh green chili

extra shredded cheddar cheese                      1 Tbsp. tomato paste

black olives (optional)                                       1 tsp. finely chopped fresh coriander

Grease a shallow ovenproof dish.  Mix the chicken, sour cream or yogurt, feta cheese, bell pepper/capsicum and the onion in a large bowl.  Set aside.  Heat some oil in a frying pan.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a frying pan and fry onion and garlic for 5 minutes until soft but not brown.  Add tomatoes, chili, tomato paste and coriander; season with salt and pepper. I have been making this for years.  I find that we want more salsa so you can double the recipe for the salsa.  The extra can be used for dipping your chips.

Simmer for 20 minutes or until thick.  Remove the chili.  For a “spicy” sauce, chop the chili and return to the sauce.  Set aside.

Using tongs, place one tortilla in the oil for 3-5 seconds until softened.  Repeat on the other side, and then drain on absorbent kitchen paper.  Fill each tortilla with about 1 Tbsp. of the chicken mixture and roll up.  Arrange seam-side down and close together in the ovenproof dish.   Pour the sauce over the top and sprinkle cheddar cheese generously or to your liking and top with black olives if desired.  Cover with foil and bake for about 20 to 30 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted. Serve with Mexican rice.  It’s a little bit of work; but DEFINITELY worth it!!

I am originally from Colombia, South America and my mom's best friend is from Honduras, Central America and I was hanging with her one day.  She made this for us kids but used a jar of salsa.  Later, I found this salsa recipe and have tweaked it to what it is now.  It is so much better with homemade salsa but the jarred kind is good in a pinch.  Hope you enjoy.  Serves about 5 or 6.

First Rose of the Season....

I was on the computer this afternoon when my husband came in and gave me the first Rose from our garden.  Enjoy...

This little lone Rose looks so pretty with the Jasmine and you should smell it!  It is so fragrant!  I typically do not like anything rose scented; not rose water used widely in Arabia in food and bakhoor; certainly not lotion or perfume, no way.  I abhor it.  I do love a fresh rose though.  

edited to add:

Uki came by tonight and asked to jump up on my lap.  She does this by tapping her little paws on my thigh!  Then I scoot back from the desk and let her jump on my legs.  I squeezed her too tight so she proceeded to jump on my desk.  I got this snap as she was checking out the flowers!  She tells everyone out there....

Take time to smell the flowers!

It's Jasmine season 2011!

The Jasmine are in full bloom now and I picked 8 this afternoon.  

They smell divine!

Part 2 of Tuesday..

On Tuesday morning, we went to visit my friend and her kids.  You will find her at Sew 2 B Happy.

It was a lovely visit after such a long time.  Ali played computer or WII stuff with the boys and Amal got to hang out with Lujayne!  They did makeup and played tea party and Lulu is 5 and my Lulu is 15!  She was very patient which I think is good for her!

Meanwhile, I got to hold little Eyad a bit and talk to Isra/Clodagh!  It was a very nice morning with lovely coffee and some delicious chocolate cupcakes.  Thank you!

Here are little Eyad and me. 

His little foot.  

I tried to capture the size difference but since I can not see any longer up close; I can't take decent pictures! Sorry for the blurriness!

Here is Amal lovin' on this little guy!

After the visit; we left and went to check out a new WH Smith bookstore outlet.  We are still devastated that Borders closed down in the big mall so we were excited to get there and check it out.  Plus, I needed my next selection for my Book Group and it was there so we went.

The kids were hungry so we bought our loot at the book store and walked next door to Costa Coffee.  As I was paying for our lunch; I took out a 20 OR (Omani Rial) note and with both hands kind of pulled it taught and it ripped right down the middle.  Now 20 OR is slightly less than US $60.  Needles to say, the man taped it together!

The kids chose a really high seating area and I liked the logo for this place.

Here are Ali on the left and Amal on the right finishing off their lunch.  You can see the WH Smith bag and I bought ROOM by Emma Donoghue.  The info is here in case you wish to  read up on it.

After book shopping and lunch; we ran over to Samia's to get the boys.  Mr. Nawaf has been oiling his own hair.  He was shy and would only speak to me in English when we were all alone!  That is Nizar next to me.  He was playing around on my computer trying to help me set up a button for my blog.  We had a lot of fun with the boys and they were happy to hang with Ali.  They spent the night.

Their Dad, Zahran came over in the morning and took them but not before he had a pancake breakfast with me and a cup of VERY strong coffee!  We had a nice long visit and then they were gone.

I got a little sad in the afternoon, I think due to the let down of having visited and then hosting kids and as Nizar was looking forward to my Chicken Enchiladas and Mexican Rice for lunch.  They left before that.  I felt myself falling into a depression when my husband came home and told me that he was helping this young Omani guy out by giving him a job in his company and lending him my car (my Honda) and the dude crashed it and died.  Then, Ali discovered that our outdoor kitty had a gash in his foot, from a fight no doubt; poor thing.  He was defending his territory which is our property.

I suddenly got out of my slump, thank God!

Thanks for stopping by.  I'm going to sleep in tomorrow!

Oud Lessons Continue...

Amal has been asking me to take her out to Seeb, very far from home, to check out the Oud Hobbyists Association.  We tried to find it last week to no avail and whereas I was determined; I did not have a clue where it was!  So, we waited for Samia to come back from her trip to Canada/Germany.  She met us close to it and I don't know who told me it was close to a particular school because IT WAS NOT!  It was so freaking far from that landmark!  I wish I could remember who said that as I would have a word with them!  LOL!  Anyway, we got to this place and it is immense!  Amal was so nervous!  We got there before the lady and it was really good that Samia was with us as she did all the talking in Arabic.  The guard let us in and we got to look around.  We deduced that the students must perform there too as there is so much space with such a large garden.

We met with the lady and they are thrilled to have Amal start up with them!  Since His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos, our leader for the last several decades, has requested this OHA to be set up; the cost is entirely F.R.E.E.!!!!!!!!!!!!  We have deduced as well that the Oud is given to the students.  Amal OWNS her own.  The lady was happy about that!  They have a hard time getting females interested in this and several things that stood out in this Momma's mind were:

1.  It is so far from home.

2.  Ali will be left alone, again, when the lessons start up.

3.  The woman asked for Amal's ID card.  I asked her how old one has to be to have an ID card and she said 21.  To me, that said she thought Amal was 21.  I said very firmly; SHE IS ONLY 15!!  So, we need her passport for an ID.  Hmmm....

4.  There ain't no way I am leaving her there alone with mostly men around.

5.  The lessons are THREE HOURS LONG, THREE TIMES A WEEK!  Ouch!

6.  The lessons start in February.  Which is around exam time for her.  She says she will cope.

I'll stop at 6 as this is my favorite number.  We went to Samia's afterwards to visit and got home around 10:30pm.  It was lovely. When we got home, my hubby stated to Amal and I, "if there aren't any girls and all men, you are not going there!"  I rolled my eyes and went to the kitchen.  Later Amal comes and tells me that she told him that she would be performing with men and for mostly men in the future and then her father said, "Oh, yeah, ok then."

I am going to be bored out of my brains.  I enjoyed the lessons with Khalid.  Charlie was funny as was he and Amal.  This will be completely different.  Wish us luck!

Gee, these are Amal's photos.  This is at the entrance after you pass the guard.  She was very excited to be here indeed.

This is the actual entrance into the lessons building.

Sorry they were so blurry.  Thanks for stopping by.

A good day!

Today was the last Monday that the Monday Quilt Group got together for the summer.  We finished the top we were all working on.  Someone had asked Pam to organize a summer project.  Different people were busy or traveling and as long as you came, Pam put a slip of paper in a jar with your name on it.  In September, when she comes back from vacation, we will do a draw.  The more days you were there the higher the chances of you winning.  This is the completed quilt top.

We all donated a fat quarter to make up this quilt.  A fat quarter is a piece of fabric that measures approximately 18" x 22".  Other fabrics were donated too.

We then proceeded to follow Pam's directions and then everyone had a job either sewing, ironing, cutting or just talking!  ;-)

I have a good chance of winning as I went every week save one week.  It has a masculine feel to it which is nice for a change.

I came home and cooked.  A friend asked me to post pictures of it.  I was so tired that I did not take better pictures.

Chicken Korma

We usually don't put potatoes in this dish but I did this time.

Fried Rice

Masoor Dahl

This is Hyderabadi Indian food.

It's late now and Ali and I are watching a movie.  It was a good day.

Thanks for stopping by.

Will you visit me in Jail?

I am so very tired!

I feel like this except I did not eat much today!

I went to bed after 4am and got up with the stupid alarm that is still set at 6am for school.  I was so tired when I got to bed that I did not put in my ear plugs so I heard the alarm and the iPhone going off.

I jumped up and jumped right back into bed and cuddled with my two kitties for a minute.  Then, I started to clean the kid's bathroom and my master bath.  I swept the floor in the hall and my room.  I emptied two laundry baskets by putting the laundry away and threw down all the dirty clothes.  Such fun!

I took a shower and then I got a text message right when A Fine Frenzy was singing Ashes and Wine.

and it was....Sarah!  My second Sarah that is the daughter of a friend also married to an Omani.  She was leaving this morning to go to St. Louis for University!  Earlier, just after my birthday I said goodbye to another Sarah whom left to finish a two year stint in Kentucky!  Anyway, we hugged and I imparted my best wisdom to her.  I went out to the car to greet her father, Mohammed.  He died two weeks ago.  For nine minutes.  I went to visit him as I felt so bad for his wife, my best friend here because she was home in St. Louis!  Alhumdulilah, he is fine now.  Just a broken thumb and no lasting heart complications!  The story is amaaaaaaazzzzzzinnnnnng!  Ok,  can't find a link.  I'll keep trying.

Ok.  Then I got ready and played on the net by reading blogs (ok one for now) for a while and then left to go to my first summer Hardanger group sewing morning.  I got some work done, yay, and then I had to hit it home.

Got home and started cleaning and then Ali asked me to come into his room.  I try to avoid this.  He had the best time laughing at me as I was dozing on his couch.  I did this the other night and he was having a great time trying to wake me up.  He would slap the couch and make loud noises and tickle my nose with my hair and you get the picture.  I could hear him giggling but it was an uncontrollable urge to sleep, ya know?  It was like a drug.  I finally snapped to it and then again got on this computer after I drilled the kids to clean their rooms.  I mean really, I was running after the kids saying, 

'sombody gonna get a hurt real bad' waving my arms at them and they just laughed at me.  I guess humor is not the way to go when you are trying to be firm.  That was my best Russell Peters.  I wanna hurt them!  Hence the title of this post.

BE WARNED:  FOUL LANGUAGE

So, I made these Sole fillets cooked in aluminum foil with lots of lemon and spices and potatoes and green peppers and carrots. I hope it is good.  However, hubster and son don't eat this so I have to run to the store to get nice bread, tuna, diet coke to make Tuna Melts.  I want that too, hmmmm.

So, I am pumped to get some laundry done too....

Sorry for the blurriness.  Images courtesy of google search!

Off to the store.

update:  ok, i ran to the store, got all the stuff, made the tuna melts and everyone was happy.  now ali will be making his momma s'mores!  yay!  but....amal was picking at my sole fillet after she devoured hers.  the potatoes did not cook so i put them in the microwave.  ali did not like this the last time i made it but i remember it was bitter so i did not put the lemon next to the fish but on top of the veggies.  i used this salmon seasoning and it was EXCELLENT!  guess who ate mine?  ali!  he did not know that i had not eaten all day and that i was really hungry and i did not have the heart to tell him.  it is always nice when your baby tries something he usually refuses to eat, so i was ok.

it is only 9:45pm.  i am going to wash my face and comb my hair and go watch a movie with the kids and hit the sack.  busy day tomorrow.

Oud Hobbyists Association after Monday Quilting, insha'allah!

New Blogger Friends! Well, sort of!

My daughter has become engulfed in blogs these days and I have been spending copious amounts of my time reading to the point that my eyes freakin' hurt!  I'm lovin' it though.  I have found Western women married to Omani's and converted and their point of view of the world as they know it now.  Lot's of Islam and the ways of the locals on these blogs.  Still, it is interesting to me.

I have found a bevy of bloggers from Kuwait.  The one place in the ME that I have not been to.  I found one guy in particular whom blogs and seems to be the sweetest man!  He has such a lovely following of commenters and some really interesting people!

I feel like my blog is a bit boring as it is so oriented towards my crafts.  Nonetheless, he has been over to visit and comments all the time which makes my day and I don't get too many comments.  Hey, thanks to those that do!  Love it!

So, I go and carry on reading to get up to date with his life.  I am in 2008!  There are a few girls too that I have been reading up on and my daughter and I are so enjoying them!

Thanks, I hope you new bloggers follow me and comment and, well ya know!

GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM A FRIEND IN ST. LOUIS THAT AMY WINEHOUSE DIED TODAY!  ;'(

Guacamole Recipe

Hi people!  This post is particularly for Nancy whom left Oman in April.  She now resides in España!  Hey, I just figured out how to get the 'ñ', which is an additional letter in the Spanish alphabet, on here!  My Momma will be so proud to know her daughter can actually SPELL in Spanish!  Anyway, all my readers are welcome to try this recipe and if you do; I would love to know that you did and how you liked it!

Ingredients:

2 avocados, very soft but not over ripe!

1 tomato, diced

1 red onion, small and diced

1 lemon, juiced

jalapeño, from a jar, I used several rounds, up to you

NOT PICTURED HERE:

cilantro or coriander leaves, about a handful

salt and pepper to taste

I did not mash up my avocados before I added everything but they were soft enough that it did not matter.  Dice all the veggies and throw into a bowl and use a potato masher to mash it all up.

There you go.  The potato masher at work!

I like my Guacamole slightly chunky but more creamy.  Just use your personal taste as a guide.

We have a Sultan Center here which I love and is dangerous for me as they carry a lot of American products.  I found these blue corn tortillas and used these to serve with the Guacamole.

Isn't it just so pretty!  I have to confess that I put too many jalapeños in and it was a bit spicy for me!  Did not stop me though! ;-)

Thanks for stopping by!