Popcorn Shrimp With Sauteed Asparagus, Carrots, and Onions

Ingredients:

• Popcorn shrimp from your grocery store's frozen food section (I wanted to make a quick stir fry dish, therefore got little help from grocery store). 2 packs
• Asparagus 1 bunch--- cut at an angle
• Carrots 1-2 cups---julienne cut
• Onions 2 medium---julienne cut
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Chicken stock or broth 1/4 cup 

    

Instructions:

In couple tbsps of olive oil, cook the shrimps for 3-5 minutes on heat. You can also bake them in oven. 

Take the shrimps out in a plate. Add the vegetables to the pan. Lightly season with salt and black pepper. Saute them on medium heat for 5-10 minutes. You want to keep them crisp.

Add 1/4 cup of stock, saute for few more minutes. Add shrimps. Serve with rice or noodles/pasta. It tastes best when served right away. Enjoy!

Recipes for Orange Chicken and Black Rice!

Black and White Rice.

Ingredients:
2/3 cup black rice
1.5 cups white rice
Salt to taste
1-2 tsp butter
Chopped cilantro

Method.

In a pan/pot add black rice and water. When cooking rice, I stick to the 1:2 rice water ratio. I normally use the same cup to measure both rice and water. Add little salt for flavoring, around 1/2 tsp.  Let them come to a boil on medium heat, once they come to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low, cover with a lid and let them cook for a good 40-45 minutes. The texture is very different from white rice. If you feel that the rice are chewy or hard, add little bit more water and let them cook for another 10-15 minutes with the lid on.


In another pan, add white rice and water. Add little salt for seasoning. When the rice are done, add the cooked black rice, butter, and cilantro. Gently incorporate them in the white rice.


Orange Chicken:
Chicken breast cut into medium size cubes
1/2 cup flour
Salt
Black pepper
Red pepper
Turmeric powder (optional)
Baking soda
Ginger garlic paste
Brown sugar
Honey
Orange juice
Lemon juice
Orange zest almost 1 tsp
Carrots and any other vegetable you want to add.

Mix salt, black pepper, red pepper, turmeric powder, 1/8 tsp of baking soda in the flour. Add chicken cubes and thoroughly cote them with the flour mixture. in a deep pan, heat some oil, add the flour coated chicken pieces, and fry them till chicken looks slightly golden brownish. It is easier to fry the chicken in small batches. Once all the chicken is fried, add ginger garlic paste in the pan, saute for few mins, add carrots, saute for another few minutes, add salt and red chili to taste, orange zest, couple tbsp of honey, 1/2 cup brown sugar, almost 1/8th cup lemon juice, almost .5 to 1.5 cups of orange juice (it really depends if you want a runny sauce or a glaze. For a glaze stick with 1/2 cup orange juice, for a sauce, go for 1-1.5 cups of orange juice. Stir and let it cook on medium low heat for 10-15 mins. If you find the gravy thin, add some flour mixture you had made for chicken in the gravy, make sure sprinkle little bit of that mixture and stir continuously to avoid any lumps. Garnish with green onions.



Orange chicken using leftover chicken nuggets/strips

In a pan heat some oil, add ginger garlic paste and saute for few minutes. Add your choice of veggies, add salt, red pepper, and black pepper to taste. Add 1-2 tbsp of tomato puree, orange zest, couple tbsp of honey, 1/2 cup brown sugar, almost 1/8th cup lemon juice, almost .5 to 1.5 cups of orange juice (it really depends if you want a runny sauce or a glaze. For a glaze stick with 1/2 cup orange juice, for a sauce, go for 1-1.5 cups of orange juice. Stir and let it cook on medium heat for 10 mins. Add chicken to the sauce. If you are using chicken strips, cut it into bite size pieces. Let it cook for another 10 minutes or so. If you find the gravy thin, make a mixture of orange juice and corn starch, add it to the sauce. Make sure sprinkle little bit of that mixture and stir continuously to avoid any lumps. Garnish with green onions. 

PS. I take full advantage of what I have at hand. If I don't have a specific ingredient, I look for alternatives from my fridge and pantry to substitute. 


Bon Appetit!

Orange Chicken with Black and White Rice

Quite a few friends have asked for the recipe. It is my take on Orange Chicken, very different from the orange chicken available at Chinese take out in States. I will post the recipe at the end of the end. 

A very rare video of Founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam

Quaid-e-Azam taking oath as the 1st Governor General of Pakistan.

Bandeya ho from Khuda Ke Liye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXu4ENc49rE


I found the translation...

Bullay Noun Samjhawan Ayaan
Bheynaan Tay Bherjaiyaan
Man Lay Bulleya Sada Kena
Chad Day Pala Rayaan

Bulla ko samjhaaney aayeen
uski behnein aur bhabhiyan
ke maan jao hamara kena Bullah
aur is Arayeen ka peecha chor do

if you dont know, an Arayeen is a cast. Bulleh Shah's murshid was Inayat shah, who was of the Arayan cast which is considered below the cast of Syeds to which Bulleh Shah belonged...so his family dissapproved of his associations with him

Aal Nabi Ullad Ali Noun
To Kyoun Leekaan Layaan
"Jeyra Saanoun Syed Saday
Dozukh Milan Sazaiyaan"

Aal Nabi Aulaad Ali ko tumne badnaam kiya hua hai (in reference to this zaats waghera jo ghalat hai
Jo mujhe ab Sayed bole ga, usko saza mein dozakh miley (because he denounced himself as being of higher cast as he believed everyone was equal)



Bundeya hoo Bundeya
Bundeya hoo..oo…ooo
Bundeya hoo Bundeya
Bundeya hoo..oo…ooo

Raain, Saain, Sabhan Thaain
Rab Deyaan Bay Parwaaiyaan
Sohniyaan Paray Hatayaan Tay
Khoojiyaan Lay Gall Laiyaan

Jay To Loorain Baagh Baharaan
Chaakar Hoo Ja Raiyaan
Bulley Shah Dee Zaat Kee Puchni
Shakar Ho Razayaan

Agar tumne bahaar ka mausam dekhna hai,
to tum kisi Arayan ke slave ban jao (by this he is giving so much darja to his murshid who is Arayan - showing his ishq for that banda ke uski wajah se main is muqaam par hun jahan main hun


Bundeya hoo Bundeya
Bundeya hoo..oo…ooo
Bundeya hoo Bundeya
Bundeya hoo..oo…ooo

English Verse:- (Faiza)
I Face The World With A Smile
No One Knows What Is Hiden Inside
They See Only Happiness
They Cant See The Tears I've Cried

Bundeya hoo Bundeya
Bundeya hoo..oo…ooo
Bundeya hoo Bundeya
Bundeya hoo..oo…ooo



PS. I didn't do the translation. I read it at Pakstop so copied here for myself and anyone else who can't understand what it means.

Maati kudam karendee yaar,

Maati kudam karendee yaar,
Vaah vaah maati de gulzaar;
Maati ghora maati jora, maati daa aswaar,
Maati maati nu (n) dorave, maati daa chankaar.

Maati maati nu(n) maaran lag-gee, maati de hathiyaar.
Jis maati par bahutee maati, so maati hankaar;
Maati baagh bagheechaa maati, maati dee gulzaar.
Maati maati nu (n) vekhan aayee, maati dee a bahar;

Hus khed phir maati hove, paindee pau pasaar.
Bullah ja(n) eh bujhaarat buj-jhe,
Taa(n) lah bhau siro(n) maar."


"The soil is in ferment, O friend
Behold the diversity.
The soil is the horse, so is the rider
The soil chases the soil, and we hear the clanging of soil
The soil kills the soil, with weapons of the soil.
That soil with more on it, is arrogance
The soil is the garden so is its beauty
The soil admires the soil in all its wondrous forms
After the circle of life is done it returns to the soil
Answer the riddle O Bulleh, and take this burden off my head."

[Translation reference: book by J. R. Puri and T. R. Shangari of the Radha Swamis, titled Bulleh Shah].

Yeh Sab Tumahara Karam Hai Aqa

Yeh Sab Tumahara Karam Hai Aqa

Contributed By: Mirza Khurram

Koi saleeqa hai aarzoo ka, na bandagi meri bandagi hai
Yeh sab tumhara qaram hai aaqa keh baat ab tak bani hui hai

Kissi ka ehsan kyon uthain, kissi ko haalat kyon batain
Tumhein se mangein gey tum hi do gey, tumhare dar se hi loo lagi hai

Ata kiya mujh ko darde-ulfat, kaha thi yeh pur khata ki qismat
Mein iss karam ke kaha tha qabil, huzur ki banda parwari hai

Shoor o fikro nazar ke dairey, had ka in se barh na paain
Na choo sake un balandiyon ko, jaha maqame Muhammadi hai

Tajaliyon ke kafeel tum ho, murad tu ke khalil tum ho
Khuda ki roshan dalil tum ho, yeh sab tumhari hi roshni hai

Bashir kahiye nazir kahiye, unhein siraje munir kahiye
Jo sar ba sar hai kalam-e-rabbi, woh merey aaqa ki zindagi hai

Ammal ki merey asas kiya hai, bajuz nadamat ke paas kiya hai
Rahe salamat tumhari nisbat, mera to ek aasra yehi hai

Hai Qaaba bhi marja-e-khalaiq, bohat numayan hai yeh haqaiq
Magar jo maqsoode-e-aashqi hai, huzur ke dar ki haazri haiYehi hai

khalid asas rehmat, yehi hai khalid bina-e-azmat
Nabi ka irfan zindagi hai, nabi ka irfan bandagi hai

Yeh sab tumhara qaram hai aaqa, keh baat ab tak bani hui hai

Mein To Punjtan Ka Ghulam

Main To Panjtan Ka Ghulam Hoon

Contributed By: wahid wycombe

Mein To Punjtan Ka Ghulam
-------------------------
Sallalaahu Alaika Ya Rasoolallaah Wa Saallam Alaika Ya Habeeballah

Mein to panjtan ka gulaam hun (2)

Mujhe Ishq hai to Huda se hai
Mujhe Ishq hai to Rasool se
Mere moose aye mehak sadhaaa
jo men namuloon tera choomuke

Mein to panjtan ka gulaam hun (2)

Mujhe Ishq sarvo .. samal... se hai
Mujhe Ishq saare chaaman se hai
Mujhe Ishq unki galiii se hai
Mujhe Ishq unke bathan se hai

Mujhe Ishq hai to Ali se hai
Mujhe Ishq hai to Hasan se hai
Mujhe Ishq hai to Hussain se
Mujhe Ishq Shahe zamiin se hai
Mein to panjtan ka gulaam hun (2)

Mein mureede Khairul Anaamuu hun
Mein to panjtan ka gulaam hun (2)

Hua Kaise sarse wo sar...
judaaaJahan ishq ho wahi karbalaa
Meri baath unhii ki baath hai
Meri saamne wo hi zaath hai
Wohi jinko shehre Huda ka hain
Jin ne baabhe salle alaa ka hain
Wohi jinko aale Nabi ka hain
Wohi jinko zaath eh Ali ka hain
Wohi pukhtha hai mein tho khaamu hun
Mein to panjtan ka gulaam hun (2)

Mein mureede Khairul Anaamu hun(2)
Mein to panjtan ka gulaam hun (2)

Mera Sher Kiya Mera Zikr Kiya
Meri baath kiya Meri Fikr KiyaMeri baath unke sabab se hai
Mera sher unke adab se hai
Mera Zikr unke thufel se
Meri Fikr unke thufel se
Kahan Muj men Itni sakhat bala
Keho man kabath ka bhi hak ada
Mein to panjtan ka gulaam hun (2)

Mein mureede Khairul Anaamu hun(2)
Mein to panjtan ka gulaam hun (2)

Madene Ka Safar Hai

Madene Ka Safar Hai

Contributed By: Madani Jena


Madine Ka Safar Hey Aur Mey Namdeda Namdeda
Jabeen Afsurda Afsurda Qadam Laghzeda Laghzeda

Chala Hoon Eik Mujrim Ki Tarha Mey Janib E Taiba
Nazar Sharminda Sharminda Badan Larzeda Larzeda

Kise Key Hath Ney Mujh Ko Sahara Dey Diya Warna
Kahan Mey Aur Kahan Ye Rasty Pechida Pechida

Kahan Mey Aur Kahan Us Roza E Aqdas Ka Nazara
Nazar Us Samat uthte hey Magar Duzdeda Duzdeda

Ghulaman E Mohammad Dour Sey Pehchany Jaty Hein
Dil E Girweda Girweda Sare Shoreda Shoreda

Madine Jaa Key Hum Samjhy Taqadus Kis Ko Kehty Hein
Hawa Pakeeza Pakeeza Faza Sanjida Sanjida

Basarat Khoo Gai Lekin Basirat To Salamat Hey
Madina Hum Ney Dekha Hey Magar Nadeda Nadeda

Wohi Iqbal jis Ko Naaz Tha Kal Khush Mezaji Par
Firaq E Taiba Mey Rehta Hey Aab Ranjida Ranjida

Madine Ka Safar Hey Aur Mey Namdeda Namdeda
Jabeen Afsurda Afsurda Qadam Laghzeda Laghzeda

My favorite naats

Faslon Ko Takalluf Hai
Naat Contributed By: Umbreen H.

{Faslon ko takalluf hai hum se agar,
hum bhi bebas nahin besahara nahi.
Khud unhi ko pukarengey hum door se
Raaste mein agar paon tak jayengey } 2

Hum Madine mein tanha nikal jayengey
Aur galiyon mein kus dun batak jayengey 2

Hum wahan jakey wapas nahin ayengey
Doond te doondte log tak jayengey 2

Jaise hi sabz Gumbad nazar ayega
Bandagi ka kareena badal jaye ga 2

Sar juka ne ki fursat miley gi kisey
Khud hi palkon se sajdey tapak jayengey 2

Naamey Aaka jahan bhi liya jayega
Zikr unka jahan bhi kiya jayega 2
Noor hi noor seeno mein bhar jayega
Sari mehfil mein jalwe lapak jayegey 2

Eh Madiny ke zahi KHuda ke liye
Daastaan ne safar mujko yumad suna 2
Baat bhar jayegi dil tarap jayega
Mere mohtat aasoo chalak jayege 2
Unki chashme karam ko hai iski khabar
Kis musafir ko hai kitna shaukey safar 2

Hum ko Iqbal jab bhi ijazat mili,
Hum bhi Aaka ke darbar tak jayegeney 2
Faslon ko takalluf hai hum se agar,
hum bhi bebas nahin besahara nahi.

Khud unhi ko pukarengey hum door se
Raaste mein agar paon tak jayengey