Recipe for Kabsa (Kabsat Lahim or Lamb and Rice)

After making numerous promises for posting recipes I thought I'd post what is probably Saudi's national dish, Kabsa. Which is served usually for corporate functions on a sheet on the floor with everyone sitting around eating it with their fingers, or in the home on a large platter. You serve it with pickles and maybe a light coriander salad. This recipe will serve four to six people.

1 Kilo Lamb Chunks (preferably on the bone for flavour)
2 Cups of Rice (preferably Basmati, presoaked for 15 minutes)
2 Cinnamon sticks
6 Cardamon Pods
50 grams tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon of cumin
1 large onion finely chopped
Salt and Pepper
2 Carrots cut into big pieces (Optional)
1/2 cup of Peas (Optional)
2 Tomatoes Chopped (Optional)
2 cloves garlic crushed (Optional)

1. Heat Butter in a pan and brown lamb with the chopped onion for about 10 minutes until onion is caramelized. Add garlic (if using) and saute briefly.
2. Add the cumin, cinnamon sticks, cardamon seeds and salt and pepper to taste.
3. Add the tomato paste, mix and continue browning for 10 more minutes, turning frequently.
4. Add the optional vegetables if using, mix well and let brown gently for a few minutes.
5. Add five cups of boiling water, bring to boil and simmer gently for 1 hour.
6. Add the rice and mix. You may have to add 1 or 2 cups more of boiling water for the rice.
7. Cook the rice and lamb gently for 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.

The Abode

Here's those pictures of the house with furniture. There's two or three of downstairs and one of the upstairs mezzanine...I'm not including the bedroom because I've yet to clean it properly and I think there's a lint goblin lurking under the bed.

So We've moved and had visitors and they're gone and now we're bored

Nay and Tom are gone...so we're bored and drinking a bottle of cheap chianti and commiserating...its hmmm only 3 in the afternoon and we should be somewhat repentant because everyone else is being good for Ramadan... It was so good to have them here...a real slice of normal life although they kept telling me my idea of normal must be skewed:) They were very patient in sitting in my rental car while I got lost and roared over unmarked speed bumps (EH! its a rental). If you read this guys ... we're missing you already and have fun in Europe!...don't tell scotty...scotty doesn't know...

I should probably post some photos of our apartment but its an absolute mess so I'll do all the cleaning and sprucing tomorrow and do the photos then. Next door had a kicking house party last night that went to about five this morning so we're a bit tired from the noise. The guy's a US navy guy and by the sound of the vigorous lady noises around 4 in the morning...there well may have been a few ladies of the evening invited..either that or there were a lot of gentlemen who were friends with a lot of their ladies all in the same room. What the hell...as long as they don't do it every night. And we're planning on a housewarming in the next few weeks thats going to be pretty noisy once the booze starts flowing so what goes around comes around.

I've finally got a reliable net connection so no excuses now...I shouldn't have any problems (Touching wood here)...

anyways I'm off to scrounge in the fridge and cupboards for random cheese and crackers...