Tag Archives: Basmati Rice

Amusing, Belize, Food, Saving Money

Good Buys In Belize.

Together.Eating

Occasionally, we stumble across some good stuff to buy in Belize.  Usually we don’t so that is why we make/grow and cook most of our food on the farm.  Here are a few things:

Can you believe it…you can actually get some Italian Christmas Food at Save-U in Belize.  Panettone is a treat because I haven’t summoned up enough courage to bake one of these yet…I keep on making the excuse that I don’t have a proper cake tin!  Oh, and Torrone is Italian nougat which is typically eaten during the festive season.  Gnome keeps on hinting that I should try making some…this one might be a project at some point.  We both like the hard nougat as opposed to the soft type.

Italian Christmas Goodies.
Italian Christmas Goodies.

This is 20lbs of Basmati rice from Brodies.  Normally, this rice is sold in tiny ridiculous amounts of about 200g (1/2lb) for stupid prices.  This bag will last us a whole year.

Basmati Rice.
Basmati Rice.

This one is a surprise…Guatemalan pasta (linguini) has got the thumbs up from the Italian Gnome (he is Italian when it suits him).  He says not to waste money on US imported brands because they usually contain more than just flour, water and salt and do not have the al dente texture. This stuff is really cheap and sold at every Chinese Superstore in Belize.  One packet of 200g (1/2lb) costs BZ$1 and if you have a hoarding instinct (like Munchkins) you can buy a case of 24 for BZ$18.  What a bargain.

Guatemalan Pasta.
Guatemalan Pasta.

Last but not least…something for the Duckie Bag.  Vanilla and hazelnut coffee sachets for impromptu coffee stops by the side of the road with our trusty thermos flask.

Coffee Sachets.
Coffee Sachets.
Belize, Food, Plants

Glazed Cashew Fruit and Ham with Basmati Rice.

Munchkin.More.EatingWe have discovered the wonders of cooked cashew fruit because they absorb flavours really well and they have the texture of chicken breast.  Cashew fruit can be eaten raw but tends to have tannins in them which stops you from eating too much of them.  Cooking this fruit in sugar helps to off-set the tannin taste.

Cashew Fruit.
Cashew Fruit.

We had some left over roast ham so I came up with this recipe: Glazed Cashew Fruit and Ham with Basmati Rice.

Cashew Fruit Ham with Basmati Rice.
Cashew Fruit Ham with Basmati Rice.

After eating this, we both agreed that the cashew fruit was worth eating.  In previous years, we have just let this fruit drop to the ground and rot…what a waste!  The only problem is that there seems to be a health community of pacas (gibnuts) feasting on the fruit as soon as they drop to the ground.  This means that we have to get up at the crack of dawn to collect the fruit before all the critters (including doggie) get them!!

Belize, Food

Basmati Rice with Chinese Sausage and Shiitake Mushrooms.

Munchkin.with.BagI found a 20lb bag of Basmati rice in Belize City and I grabbed it off the shelf quick-smart!  Usually you can only find Basmati rice in pathetic little 400g (not even a full lb!) packets and it is enough for one measly meal.

So, today I cooked Basmati rice with Chinese Sausages and Shiitake mushrooms…you could say that it was Chinese-style.

Chinese Sausage with Basmati Rice.
Chinese Sausage with Basmati Rice.

Basmati rice has a lovely fragrant aroma.  It is so much better than the ubiquitous long grain rice which is found in Belize; I find this rice really gummy and starchy.

I will have more Basmati rice recipes in the future since I have to work through a 20lb bag!