Middle East

The Middle East is a place known for their dry climate and desert landscape and that it was we took on this week in International Foods.

The Middle East region represents an area of over 5.0 million square miles. The physical geography of the Middle East is varied. Vast deserts are common in the region. The Sahara Desert runs across North Africa, essentially limiting settlement to along the Mediterranean coastline and in Egypt along the Nile River.

 

Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients

• 2 bell peppers
• 1/4 cup uncooked rice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/3 pound lean beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup pine nuts
• 8-oz. can crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Recipe

1. Prepare vegetables for stuffing.
2. Rinse rice well in a colander under running water. Place in a bowl, cover with warm water, and soak.
3. Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add meat. Using a spatula or spoon to break any lumps, cook 5 minutes, or until meat begins to brown. Add onion, garlic, and pine nuts to pan and sauté 3 to 5 minutes more.
4. Add tomatoes, cinnamon, allspice, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well, cover pan, and simmer 10 minutes.
5. Drain rice and add to pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes longer.
6. Fill peppers. Place pepper in a baking dish with 1/2 cup water and cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes.

My Thoughts

I thought this dish was okay. Personally, I'm not a pepper person. I like the flavor it gives to other foods but I don't enjoy just eating peppers. What I did was just ate the filling which was very good. I tried the filling with the pepper but preferred just the filling. Overall, this was much better than the falafel we also made in this Middle Eastern unit.

Poland

Poland is a country that hadn't really ever been on radar until we tackled it this week in International Foods.

Poland is a country located in central Europe to the east of Germany and lies along the Baltic Sea.  There are many rivers throughout the country and the largest is Vistula. The northern part of Poland has a more varied topography and features many lakes and hilly areas. Poland's climate is temperate with cold, wet winters and mild, rainy summers.

Pierogi
Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup water or skim milk
• strawberry or grape jam

Recipe

1. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, salt, and egg. Add liquid, a little at a time, until dough is stiff.
2. Knead dough for 2 to 4 minutes on a floured surface. Roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness with a rolling pin.
3. With a glass or cookie cutter, cut out rounds of dough 3 inches in diameter.
4. Put 1 teaspoon jam of on one half of each circle.
5. Moisten edges of dough with a little water. Fold dough over jam and press edges together first with your fingers, then with the tines of a fork.
6. Fill a large kettle with water and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Place pierogis in water a few at a time. Boil for 3-5 minutes, until they begin to float.
7. Take out and serve.

My Thoughts

When someone explained pierogis to me, I was really excited to try them. However, I was sadly disappointed. The jam filling was a big letdown. I also wasn't crazy about the noodle like shell. It was a bit strange. Pierogis aren't something that I plan on making again anytime soon.