Mm Mm Monday

I think I've said it before, I LOVE MONDAYS!  I know, I'm weird and probably the only out there who loves Mondays, but I just can't help it.  Mondays are always (or usually) so refreshing after a busy week...Tuesday - Valentina comes over, Wednesday - services, Thursday - prepare for Friday, Friday - evangelism, Saturday - cook for us, the church, and prepare everything for Sunday, Sunday - services.  On Mondays, I get to organize an area, plan for the week, maybe call someone, and COOK.

So in celebration of Mondays and for those of you planning the weeks menu, here is a recipe you'll want to plan in somewhere for the week.  I don't think that it is originally an Ukrainian recipe, but they make it so often here and it is sold everywhere that I think they now claim it as their own.  It is called Plov.

Ingredients
Approx. 1 c. of oil
Chicken (about 1 lg. breast)
1 onion
1-2 carrots (cut into julienne strips)
2 C. Rice
4 1/2 C. Water
Seasoning (They sell plov seasoning here.  Maybe similar to pilaf or chicken seasoning)
Garlic cloves
1 lg. spoonful Tomato paste (optional)
Fresh dill (optional)

Directions

 Fry chopped chicken in oil.  When almost cooked, add chopped onion, then carrots.  When tender, set aside in a bowl leaving oil in pan.  Rinse rice.  Add to oil in pan.  Add water, chicken mixture, seasoning and tomato paste.  (May need to add more oil.  You should see a layer of oil at the top of the water.)  Bring to a boil.  Simmer on very low heat.  (If there is no water left, yet rice is still not cooked, make holes in rice and poor in more water.)  When rice is almost cooked press garlic cloves into the rice.  If desired, add fresh dill after removing from heat.

*Most of the Plov that we have eaten is not made with the tomato paste or dill, but it is good made either way.

ENJOY!