| 1 | In large pot, brown onions in 3 tbsp. of oil or butter. |
| 2 | Add meat and brown. |
| 3 | Add salt, pepper, and cinnamon. |
| 4 | Add water, cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hr, stirring occasionally. |
| 5 | Wash, but don"t peel quinces. |
| 6 | Use apple corer to remove seeds. |
| 7 | Slice as for apple pie. |
| 8 | In skillet, saute in 2 tbsp. oil or butter and set aside. |
| 9 | To the meat, add sugar, vinegar or lemon juice, saffron, split peas, and quince. |
| 10 | Cover and simmer 35 minutes. |
| 11 | Check to see that meat and fruit are cooked. |
| 12 | Taste and correct seasoning. |
| 13 | Transfer to deep casserole dish and keep in warm oven until ready to serve. |
| 14 | Serve hot with chelo (recipe below). |
| 15 | (note: i am giving the detailed instructions for chelo. |
| 16 | I don"t use the yogurt and i drizzle the remaining saffron over *all* the rice. |
| 17 | I also serve the tah dig(crust) with the rest of the rice). |
| 18 | Chelo: wash rice 5 times in cold water. |
| 19 | Bring water and salt to boil in a large non-stick pan. |
| 20 | Add washed and drained rice. |
| 21 | Boil 6 minutes, stirring gently twice to loosen grains that may have stuck to bottom. |
| 22 | Drain rice in colander and rinse in lukewarm water. |
| 23 | In same pot, heat half the butter, 2 tbsp. hot water, a drop of dissolved saffron, and yogurt. |
| 24 | Taking one spatula at a time, place rice gently in pot mounding in the shape of a pyramid. |
| 25 | Dissolve remaining butter in 2 tbsp. hot water and pour over rice. |
| 26 | Place clean dishtowel over pot and cover firmly with lid to prevent steam from escaping. |
| 27 | Cook 10 minutes over medium heat and 50 minutes over low heat. |
| 28 | Remove from heat. |
| 29 | Allow to cool 5 minutes on a damp surface without removing lid. |
| 30 | Put 2 tbsp. of the rice in with remaining saffron and set aside for garnish. |
| 31 | Gently remove rice from pot without disturbing crust. |
| 32 | Sprinkle saffron flavored rice over top and serve. |
| 33 | Detach crust and serve separately. |
| 34 | >from _food of life_ |