![Tandoori Chicken Salad]()
by Yvonne Maffei | Dec 23, 2017 | Halal-Certified Products, Salads, South Asian
Is it just me or are there cookies everywhere, right now? Not to mention cakes, chocolates, candy canes and the like. Even if one doesn’t celebrate Christmas, it’s still part of the social scene and family gatherings that just can’t seem to be avoided- and who refuses good chocolates, anyway? I’m not complaining, but I do need to have a plan for healthy recipes that help to compensate for all those sweets- and get me back on track quickly.
That’s where I turned to the beloved salad, and the Saffron Road products you hear me talk about so much. I often talk about their Crunchy Chickpeas, their halal broths, and conveniently made gluten-free dinners, but I want to remind you about their ready-made chicken products like the Tandoori Seasoned Chicken Nuggets. I’ve used these before on pizza and that was a hit. Now, this salad is another big hit at home, too. The recipe is super simple, too.
Most of the ingredients for this recipe are actually for the dressing: Olive oil, lemon juice, pomegranate vinegar…
…and spices: dried parsley, ginger, cumin, parsley, black pepper and fresh or dried garlic.
Plus the salad greens and red cabbage for color.
Some red onions and scallions, too, if desired. 
The final recipe took less than 10 minutes to pull together, if the lettuce leaves and cabbage as well as onion and scallions were prepped ahead of time. The chicken can either be microwaved or baked in the oven, which takes a little longer. I love the light but evident South Asian seasoning because it’s a taste I don’t always make at home, but when I’m craving to have it quickly (and not just in a rice dish) it’s such a welcome flavor. Surprising to some, it really works on a salad like this, too.
Enjoy, get healthy and eat lots of vegetables. This is just one way to do that and I hope you’ll try it.
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![5 Things You Can Do on the Holidays When Everyone Else is Celebrating]()
by Yvonne Maffei | Dec 20, 2017 | Celebrations, Entertaining
Much of the world has been celebrating Christmas season since the beginning of December, but the really special days for those who celebrate are Christmas Eve (December 24th) and Christmas Day (December 25th). Much of society closes down between the late afternoon of Christmas Eve and all day on the 25th for church services, private family dinners and opening gifts. Christmas Day is usually when most stores, shopping malls and many other amenities are closed saved for gas stations and some restaurants. It’s a quiet and peaceful time, which is lovely in and of itself as an observer, but what about when you’re on the outside looking in and not partaking in any of the ceremonial or celebratory engagements?
Well, you can do all sorts of fun things with your family and friends during that time- in fact, it’s a fabulous opportunity to create special memories with your loved ones by doing something you might not otherwise have time to do over the course of a couple of days.
This year, Christmas falls over a weekend so there’s even more time to make it into an extended holiday! Here are just a few examples of ways to spend it:
- Have a potluck dinner for family, friends and neighbors. This is a great way to bond with one another and get to know those you don’t know well enough. Some people who celebrate might be all alone on Christmas and others may not have any plans at all. You never know unless you do the asking, inviting and entertaining. I believe these kinds of occasions make our lives so rich in many, many ways. This Creamy Tortellini with Chicken, Peas and Sun-Dried Tomatoes is one idea for a potluck dish made with Zabiha Halal’s Chicken Breast Strips that is sure to be a hit with everyone. It’s festive, but not fussy, making it an ideal recipe to make for a crowd. I think pasta dishes with chicken are ideal for gatherings because they’re comforting, warming and also filling for a crowd.
- Head out to a convention or conference to attend a lecture or visit the grand bazaar to do some shopping. In Toronto, RIS is a very popular one for the whole family. You can do some clothes shopping, browse new products, stock your bookshelf with the latest Islamic publications, pick up beautiful home decor, and meet friends in a fun and exciting atmosphere. And, the bazaar usually has free admission!
- Have a family movie night to catch up on all the wonderful documentaries about food, health and wellness and the environment. This is a link to a list of my favorite and most recommended ones. There is so much to learn from these. Get out the homemade popcorn!
- Take the family on a fun excursion close to home, or do it at home, if you can (i.e. make it a staycation)! You can go bowling, ice skating, sledding, tobogganing, or cross-country skiing and make it a competitive yet fun time to team up as a family.
- Rent a cabin in the snowy, forested woods so everyone can explore and enjoy the outdoors. The best part will be the indoors cooking together, followed by sitting around the fireplace and simply embracing the opportunity to gather.. When I bunker down in a cozy cabin, I’m in the mood for real wintertime comfort food: soups, stews, lasagnas and other types of baked dishes and casseroles like this Cranberry Dijon Chicken Wellington using Zabiha Halal’s Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts and since cranberries are still flavorful and found easily at most markets, this is the perfect seasonal recipe to make that just oozes comfort, homemade food. Be sure to make your own Dijon Mustard, as most store varieties will have wine in it. You can get the recipe to make your own in my recent cookbook, My Halal Kitchen: Global Recipes, Cooking Tips, Lifestyle Inspiration.
At the end of the day, any of these quiet time activities can be used to get closer to those you want to spend time with and to create memories that will last a lifetime….
This post was sponsored by Zabiha Halal, a Canadian food company that I’ve come to know and hold in high regard. To follow their updates, you can “like” their Facebook page here and follow them on Twitter here and Instagram here. They also have a lifestyle blog called Living Halal, here. The contents of this post are the sole opinion and expression of Yvonne Maffei of My Halal Kitchen.
![Suhoor Recipe Roundup]()
by Yvonne Maffei | Jun 9, 2017 | BOOKS, FOOD, Ramadan, Suhoor
The suhoor meal is such an important one to have because it can really make or break the experience you have on the fasting day. If it’s a good suhoor, you’ll feel energized and ready to tackle the day; if not, it can leave you drained and exhausted, unable to do the things you need to do to keep your household running.
Spinach, Strawberry & Mango Smoothie. Sometimes you just want a thick and energizing drink instead of eating much food at suhoor. If that’s the case, this is one you don’t want to pass up any time soon, as the ingredients go surprisingly well together.
Spinach, Strawberry & Mango Smoothie
Get the recipe here.
Chicken Sausages with Heirloom Tomatoes. Chicken is light enough to have at suhoor, if you’re in the mood for some serious protein. You can also do this with beef or lamb. Get the recipe here.
Chicken Sausages with Heirloom Tomatoes
Baked Phyllo Shells with Scrambled Eggs. I love this recipe because they’re fun and bite-size, which means you will mostly likely have a small portion of them and still feel satisfied. Get the recipe here.
Baked Phyllo Cups with Savory Scrambled Eggs
Homemade Chappati. I’m a huge fan of homemade breads. You know exactly what’s in them and when you get the hang of a certain recipe, it becomes something you can do with your eyes closed. Try this one, it’s delicious and really straightforward and you can make great wraps with them! Get the recipe here.
Breakfast Eggs with Sejouk. I love eggs any time of day, but I feel they give me quite the boost when I have them at suhoor, since they’re a great source of protein. To jazz them up a bit, sometimes I add that semi-spicy Sejouk, or Turkish sausage similar to what a Mexican chorizo is like. This recipe is for one, but so easy to double, triple, etc. Get the recipe here.
Breakfast Eggs with Sejouk
Savory Spinach Pie: I can’t express how much I love this, as I could eat it any time of day or night. My best friend who is from Turkey taught me her version and my cousin who is half Greek taught me her grandmother’s version. I combined the two ways and came up with this, which I just love so much and find it to be perfect for suhoor. Get the recipe here.
Savory Spinach Pie
Parmesan & Feta Quiche. More evidence of my love of eggs, this quiche is like a fluffy egg pie. I just used whatever I had leftover in the fridge, which was quite a bit of cheese, but you can add whatever you like. Choose light ingredients, however, as anything heavier will affect the cooking time. Fresh spinach, chives or something similar would be good substitutes. Get the recipe here.
Stuffed Figs with Yogurt Cheese, Honey & Almonds. On the lighter side of suhoor sits fruits, yogurt and honey and I love these. If you can find some really fresh figs, go for it completely; if not try dates or even other fruits like pears, peaches or apples. The combination is so very good. Get the recipe here.
Chicken Pot Pie in Phyllo Dough. This is what I call the leftover suhoor recipe. I would probably start out making it for Iftar and then have some for suhoor because it’s light enough and not spicy, oily or heavy in any way. The protein, however, really helps me get through the fasting day. Get the Whole Tied Chicken by Zabiha Halal, boil it or roast it and then pull it apart to use in this recipe. Get the recipe here.
Chicken Pot Pie in Phyllo Dough
Buttermilk Pancakes with Orange Zest. For the real breakfast experience, there must be pancakes of some sort, right? I love these so much because of the orange zest that gives it all that zing. These are spongy, not fluffy pancakes so if you like that style, this is yours to make. Get the recipe here.
Buttermilk Pancakes with Orange Zest
For more Sahoor recipes, get a copy of my Summer Ramadan Cooking Cookbook in either paperback or Kindle version.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that as an Amazon affiliate, I may receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. This helps keep my website running is very appreciated. Thank you so much for your support!
![10 Simple Kitchen Hacks to Make Ramadan Cooking Easier]()
by Yvonne Maffei | May 31, 2017 | Cooking Techniques & Kitchen Tips
This post is sponsored by Zabiha Halal
During these long summer fasts, we sure could use as much help as possible to make the normally mundane tasks of life that much easier. Here are ten hacks that have worked for me over the years and I continue to use them this Ramadan simply because they just work- and I’ve learned a little something about making life easier- there’s no less reward for being more efficient!
- Clean out your fridge and pantry. Get rid of all old condiments and spices. Wipe everything down. Make a quick list of what you need to replace. It’ll make you feel better about cooking and being in your kitchen with a clean slate.
Storage shelves in pantry with homemade canned preserved fruits and vegetables
- Get Chinese take out boxes. to store leftovers and to give food to neighbors, let guests take home leftovers.
- Marinate chicken in ziploc bags for use in recipes later. Store fresh chicken in fridge or freezer.
- Use dried fruit or fruit paste to make fruit juices. Simply cut into desired size of pieces and add to hot or boiling water. Cover and stir.
Various dried fruits on wooden table top view
- Get a few convenient frozen items. This make entertaining easier and weeknight meals less stressful. Find some great options here.
- Make your favorite smoothie combinations. Freeze them for the whole month so you can enjoy them at either Suhoor or Iftar time.
- Get potted herbs at your local nursery or farmer’s market. They’ll make adding freshness and zing to any dish so much easier when they’re right at your finger tips.
- Plan on making sandwiches or wraps at some point during Ramadan. They’re quick and easy and when it’s hot outside sometimes you just don’t want to do any cooking! You can make them hearty or light and even entertain a crowd by making long sub sandwiches with these deli meats.
- Pick one day and shop for most veggies and fruits. Chop, dice, mince and store them in the fridge for easy access throughout the week of cooking.
Four filled and colorful eco-friendly shopping bags in the back seat of a car.
- Keep the table set at all times for either Iftar or Suhoor, doing it after the cleanup of each meal. It’ll alleviate some stress and save time when you’re either too tired, groggy or running out of precious minutes to serve and eat.
I would love to hear what you think my Ramadan hacks and if you have any of your own, please share for everyone to benefit from, as well.
Follow Zabiha Halal on Facebook for recipe updates and more, and be sure to check out their Living Halal blog. Click on the icon to visit the page.
![Chicken Burrito Bowl]()
by Yvonne Maffei | Apr 6, 2016 | American, Chicken, Latin, Mexican, Poultry Dishes, Recipes
One of the only ‘restaurants’ I ever go to is Chipotle. I’ve always loved how fresh their ingredients are, but never eat any of the meat because it’s not dhabiha. I actually don’t eat out very much anymore mainly because I’m always testing recipes for my latest cookbook and this site, but I do crave certain dishes I really like at my favorite eateries or the ones I wish I could have with the meat in it. Such is the Burrito Bowl with Chicken at Chipotle. I always get the veggie bowl, and it is substantial but sometimes I just want the meat, too, so I decided to make my own at home.
Actually, you might be surprised that you probably have most of the ingredients at home: Rice, beans, chicken, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, salsa or hot sauce, avocados, tortilla chips and fresh cilantro. If not, you can easily get them at any grocery store.
Additionally, fresh or frozen non-GMO corn. Very important.
I use frozen corn – it’s frozen when it’s fresh. If you buy organic, it should not be GMO, so that’s one way to know. Also, any type of lettuce or greens you like. I personally like Romain lettuce chopped finely.
I love white sharp cheddar cheese, which I get from Trader Joe’s as a raw milk cheese variety. I just use a hand grater and grate it nicely, just like it looks at Chipotle.
Chopped tomatoes of any variety. If you have time, remove the seeds so your burrito bowl doesn’t become soggy or watery. If you’re going to eat it right away, then don’t bother.
Somewhere in the process, I prepare my chicken. I buy boneless skinless chicken thighs and cook them in this manner, although I don’t put any herbs and instead add ground cumin and a pinch of turmeric. Beans and rice are cooked separately, too.
The bowl-making begins by placing the cooked rice at the bottom, then the beans then the meat and fresh veggies.
On top are the greens and cheese.
And topped with sour cream, freshly diced avocado and some hot sauce. You can add salsa, too. I just didn’t have any already made on hand, but it’s particularly delicious with this tomatillo salsa.
And so, in my opinion, it’s even better at home. You can feed a lot of people this way, and best of all, you know exactly what’s in everything you’ve just put into your very own Chipotle-style Chicken Burrito Bowl.
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