Afghanistan We had a really interesting meal from Afghanistan tonight. It was a chicken, chickpea and vege stew, which in itself was pretty plain, but we served it with this unusual rice which is part-boiled and then cooked with oil so it goes crispy on the bottom and fluffy on the top. Niamh and Dad loved the chicken, Mum liked the chickpeas. Apparently it is a common family meal in Afghanistan, which makes sense as it utilises cheap, obtainable ingredients and spices. We had a traditional Afghan/Middle East drink called Aryan. The kids loved this (the grown-ups stuck to a special Afghan beer...called Stella Artois) and asked for the recipe to be posted for all to enjoy: Ayran is very popular across the Middle East, especially in Turkey. It can be served with any meal, or just for a quick snack drink. I have heard Ayran does wonders for a hangover. INGREDIENTS: 1 pt. of plain yogurt, whole milk (no fat free or skim milk yogurt) 1 1/3 cups cold water salt to taste PREPARATION: Mix yogurt and water in blender, until well blended. Add salt if desired. Start off with an 1/8 teaspoon salt and work your way up. Serve in ice filled glasses. Yields: 4 servings We listened to some fantastic Afghan music, which Niamh described as being "very welcoming", and talked about the Tampa refugees and living conditions in Afghanistan. What a fascinating place.