Mzedu Bread pizza and roasted vegetables

This is quick  mzedu (home)  version of mini- pizzas, where the base is actually a slice of bread lightly toasted  !Use any topping of your like and of course finish with mozarella. This,as well is a perfect way to experience use of left over pieces of chicken or beef or even Sausages and vegetables. 

Diced sausage and corn

Try this meaty sausage version which I compliment with some roasted vegetable as not only as a snack but a complete meal.
Once your  guests smell this sausage and cheese pizza coming out of the oven, nobody will be able to resist.

For the pizza you need ;

Served 2.

2 slices of bread, lightly toasted 

2 pcs beef /pork Sausages 

4 tbs  of ready prepared tomato herb sauce   (tomato pizza sauce) 

2 tbs sweet corn, boiled /or canned 

50-60 gms grated mozarella  cheese. 

Pinch of salt and oregano. 

Procedure for the pizza:

1. Preheat oven to 200 C. Slice Mozzarella  or grate and toast the bread slices.  

2. Place bread on a baking tray and spread tomato pizza sauce on one side of each slice. 
3. Spread  half of the Mozzarella cheese  of the toast

4. Add sweet corn  and  the Sausages, then the remaining half of cheese. 

5.Sprinkle a pinch  of salt and oregano  on top. 

5. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts.

6. Remove from tray  and set aside. 

Preparing the vegetables, you need:

1 pc each of zucchini(Baby marrow) ,carrot and egplant.  Cut thin slices   each of the vegetable  lengthwise

1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic cloves
2 Tbsp olive oil

Salt 

Freshly ground black pepper

Method ;

1. Preheat your Gridle. 

2. Place the zucchini,eggplant  and the carrots in a collander  bowl and toss  mixed with a teaspoon olive oil. Spread the vegetables sprinkled with salt. Let it drain for 5 Mine to remove excess bitterness on the zucchini. 

2 Roast the vegetables  on the gridle for 8-15 minutes, or until it begins to brown. Once the vegetables has started to brown at the edges, remove it from the grill and place the vegetables in a bowl. Gently mix in the herb,remaining olive oil,salt and pepper to taste

.
SERVE and enjoy 

Rice and spicy Pea stew.

I was once told that a meal is not a meal till you have meat on your plate. But that was before I embarked on my culinary journey. Not now! You can still enjoy a nicely prepared vegetable meal in equal  measure. Try this peas meal and you will understand what I mean. 

 Ingredients:

*1 Cup, Rice
*1 large onion(cut in slices and fried till brown)
*1 tbsp vegetable oil
*cumin seeds

*2 garlic cloves(minced or grated)

*1/2tsp turmeric powder 

*A handful coriander leaves(chopped)
*2 Cup water
*1/2 Tsp mixed whole spices(cardamon pods,cumin seeds,cinnamon sticks…)
*salt to taste
*1 cup peas
*carrot(chopped)

*1/2 large potatoes diced and fried 

*2 tomatoes

*1 large onion(chopped) 
*1Tbs tomato paste heaped 
*1/2 Tsp garlic cloves(minced or grated)
*1 inch ginger(minced or grated)
*1/2tsp Mixed spices(ground)
*1/2 red Chilli ground (optional)
*1/4 Tsp black pepper ground. 
*2Tbs vegetable oil. 

*1 Tbs lemon juice 

*1pc Yellow peppers roasted( to stuff / serve with) 

Preparation 

Making the rice, 

In a large sufuria (sauce pan) bring the two cups  water to boil. 
Add minced garlic, cumin seeds, whole spices, salt and oil, stir WELL, add the rice  to the boiling, stir well and let it cook for 10 minutes on high heat, then reduce to medium, when the water is about to drain, cover rice and lower heat to very low.
After the rice is cooked, put half of the rice aside, Then layer the fried onions and then the coriander on top of the rice that you left in the pot , add the other half of the rice cover and stir after 10 minutes while u prepare the stew.

Meanwhile  cut off top of the peppers, sprinkle some oil and throw on the grill with some garlic to roast. 

Roasting the yellow pepper and garlic 

Making the stew

Heat oil in a sufuria, add onions, let it cook for 2 minutes, add ginger,garlic and turmeric, stir well and cook for 30 seconds

Add black pepper, stir well .
Add carrots and tomato paste and then the grated tomatoes , let cook for about 5 minutes, stir well
Add the spices (paprika, mixed spices & red chilli), cook on low heat for 3 minutes add red pepper and cook for a minute.

Fried onions and boiled peas

Add a bit of hot water to make a little sauce, add the boiled peas then the deep fried potatoes .
Add salt to taste
cook for 2 minutes and then let it simmer for about 5 minutes, add lemon juice and stir well.

Served rice and peas

Serve your rice in a roasted stuffed yellow peppers. 

Bread for a quick bite.

Chicken and mushroom sub

Food as they say brings us together. But however you will find  many of us find it very difficult to make something Interesting out of the kitchen when you have unexpected guests.Bread is one thing that many of us always  have in our kitchen shelf or refrigerator.Bread  is varsatile  in use, Below find easy ways in which you can use bread to make some bites  for that quick snack. 

1. Submarine sandwich/Sub

With its various names depending on  which region  and the fillings used, A submarine sandwich, also known as a sub,hoagie, hero, grinder or wedge is a type of sandwich that consists of a long roll split lengthwise and filled with a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and condiments.This type originated from the United States of America and its popular worldwide. 
For one serving you will need;

~long roll, 6 inch

~ garlic butter 

~Boiled Chicken boneless season with salt and pepper  (meat from one thigh or half of breast) 

~1/2pc shredded red onions and mushrooms 

~30g Mozarella cheese grated 

Procedure :

~Make a Deep cut half way  lengthwise on the bun and remove little fresh,  in order to have a nice hollow

~Bush the inside with the butter

~On the side  ways of the bun make three  or four cuts across half way through. 

~Fill the bun in the order of mushrooms, onions, Chicken pieces and last the cheese. 

~Put the filled roll under a Preheated  grill or Salamander or oven till the cheese is melted . 

~Remove and  serve. 

Bruschetta :

Tomato Bruschetta

What you need:To serve 2

~2 Toasted bread slices (or you can use a banguette) 

~1 pc nice rippened  big tomato 

~2clove garlic, roasted and chopped 

~2 leaves Basil or Rucola(I prefer using basil, it marries very well with tomatoes. 

~2tsp olive oil and pinch of salt

How to do it? 

~Toast the bread slices and roughly rub with the garlic 

~Cut tomatoes in small dices, chop garlic and roughly cut the basil leaves, 1 tsp olive oil and Mix together, adding salt to taste 
~On a plate, place the toast and top with the tomato mixture.

~Lastly drizzle the tomato  mixture on toast with the remaining  garlic infused olive oil. 

~Serve

Mozarella Carrozza

Mozarella in caroza

Basically this is a fried mozarella Sandwich
The carrozza, also referred to as mozzarella in carrozza, is a type of fried cheese sandwich in Italian cuisine . It is prepared by frying mozzarella cheese that is within slices of bread and at times topped with anchovies, though optional. 

What you need, for 1 sandwich 

~2 sandwich bread slices

~1pc slice mozarella  

~1egg,beaten and seasoned with salt and white pepper

~white flour, to dust the bread

How to go about :

~ On a Tray,  place  the slice of bread,top with the mozarella  slice and cover with the remaining slice of bread. 

~Secondly, dust the sandwich  with flour on both side, Dip in the  egg mixture and fry on a grill till golden brown. 

~Serve topped with Anchovy sauce.