Learning to Cook

I have quickly been reminded just how much time it takes to do everything in Asia. Shopping, cooking, cleaning… are not as convenient as they are in America. I do not have a car, a dishwasher, and oven…and I feel like I am learning how to cook all over again with new appliances. In my little kitchen I have a three burner gas stove, a skillet, a few pots, and two pressure-cookers. Pressure-cookers really are great things, but first I must learn how to use them properly. In a pressure cooker you can make rice in 5 minutes, beans in about 18, cook chicken, carrots, and potatoes in 10- all with just a little bit of water and saving gas in your gas tank. The only problem I have with the pc is that it is difficult to get the lid on and off and it scares Silas when it blows steam.

There is very little meat here, so I am having to try out new recipes and figure out how to be creative and make chicken taste like something else. There are meat markets here that sell Chicken and Mutton in many different cuts and forms (they have boneless, skinless chicken breast, but it isn't the greatest quality). Chicken Kheema (ground Chicken) is a wonderful and convenient alternative to ground beef which can be bought at Kumar's Grocery store in a frozen roll or from the meat market. I plan to attempt cooking with mutton at some point, but I am a little scared of the taste. While exploring in the Bazaar I did happen upon one pork vender, but I have been warned that it may not be very good quality.

So last night I cooked a pretty good dinner made completely of foods that I found here.

1lb Chicken kheema

2 cups frozen peas

One red onion chopped

Spaghetti noodles

Knorr's Cream of Mushroom soup mix (cut liquid in half)

Plain yogurt

Garlic salt

Paprika

Olive oil

Mixed all together made a slightly Asian flavored Chicken Spaghetti.