Delicious expectations

Pregnancy may make you very repellant to certain foods, especially meat proteins or fatty foods. Cereal proteins are equally nutritious and may be less nauseating, but this will vary because no two people are the same.

Well, here is one cereal that has been around for as long as I have known food and can be used as a stew or accompaniment for various other foods.

Steamed rice

Ingredients

» 500gms rice (free of any stones, discolored grains or other impurities)

» 30gm butter

» 4 cloves

» Cardamom seeds

» Small pieces of cinnamon sticks

» Salt to taste

Preparation

» Bring one and a half liters of water to a boil. Wash the rice and place it in the boiling water, re-boil and allow to cook for 6 minutes stirring frequently.

» Rinse the rice under cold running water until cool. Drain it well.

» Butter a suitable cooking pan with half the quantity of butter. Place the rice in the pot, add the spices and a little salt, mix well and scatter the rest of the butter on top of the rice.

» Cover the rice with a buttered grease proof paper then cover the pot with a lid.

» Place the pot in the lower part of an oven at moderate temperature and let the rice steam till cooked. Check from time to time and stir very gently with a fork to separate the rice grains.

» When cooked remove from the oven and place it into a deep dome shaped dish. Pick out the cloves, cardamom seeds and cinnamon sticks then serve.

Bean goulash

Ingredients
» 2 medium size cups Pre-cooked beans

» 1 large Onion (finely sliced)

» 4 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)

» Tomato paste

» Paprika

» Brown stock

» Salt to taste.

Preparation
» Brown the onions in a shallow cooking pan with enough oil.

» Add the garlic and let it turn a nice gold color then add tomato paste.

» Add the beans and the brown stock and let it simmer slowly to a boil.

» To top it up add the paprika and salt to taste. Let it cook for a further 1o minutes then serve.

» You may be wondering out loud on what to go easily with your tasty Bean Goulash. Look no further. Making the so common steamed rice, here, is a way to spice things up.

Cream beef casserole with mushrooms
» 1 lb. of Mushrooms cleaned and halved
» 1 medium sized onions (chopped)
» 1 teaspoons of chopped garlic
» 2 tablespoons of Tomato paste
» V2 tsp Thyme, crushed
» Bay leaves, crushed
» 1 pc beef cube
» ‘A cup of red wine
» 1 cup of tomato puree
» Salt to taste
» V2 tsp Pepper
» V2 cup cream

Directions

■ Brown the meat, garlic and onions in a hot non stick pan.  Add tomato paste, herbs and the beef cubes and fry for a little while

■ Deglaze with the wine and some water, simmer for about 10 minutes, depending on the cut of the beef

■ Finish with cream and correct the seasoning before serving

■ Serve with vegetable rice

END: PG35/38