As part of our 10th Anniverary Celebration, Donny's held a drawing for a beautiful diamond pendant. Congratulations to our winner, Wanda Bradley!

Beginning Tuesday, October 20th, Donny's will be having a fabulous anniversary sale . During the day we will have a cake cutting ceremony and refreshments. WZYP and representatnives from the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce will also be on hand. Everyone can sign up to win a diamond pendent! Come by and celebrate with us!

 

Tune into News Channel 19 on Saturday, June 27th at 8 a.m. to see Fatemeh and Donny on He cooks, She cooks. They will be whipping up the following recipes:

Maast -o-Khiar
(Yogurt with Cucumber)

Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:

• 1 large container of plain yogurt
• 2 large cucumbers (grated)
• 2 tsp. dry mint flakes
• Salt
• Black pepper

Directions:
Beat yogurt well until it flows smoothly. If yogurt is thick, add a bit of water while beating. Add cucumber, mint, salt, and pepper to yogurt and mix well. Leave in the refrigerator for two hours, then serve. 

JOOJE KABAB
(Chicken Kabob)

Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients:

• 3 lbs chicken legs rinsed
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 large onions, grated
• ½ cup fresh lime or lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. Salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp saffron (optional)

Directions:
Prepare marinade by mixing olive oil, grated onions, lime juice, salt, black pepper and saffron.
Add the chicken, cover and marinate overnight (or at least for several hours) in the refrigerator.

Put chicken in a casserole dish (you may pour some of the marinade on top). Cover and cook in 350 degree oven for 55–60 min. Remove cover and broil an extra 5-10 min. or until golden brown. Serve with rice or on Middle Eastern bread.

Baqali Polo
(Lima bean and dill weed rice)

4 to 6 servings
Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups Basmati long grain rice
• 8 cups of water
• 5 tbsp. salt
• ½ cup oil
• 2 (14) oz packages frozen lima beans (thawed)
• ½ cup dried or ¾ cup fresh dill weed.
• 1/4 tsp. saffron dissolved in 1 tbs. warm water (optional)

Directions:

• In a large stock pot or dutch oven bring water and salt to a boil.
• Rinse rice until water runs clear (or as close you can get it).
• Add rice and 2 tbsp of oil; bring back to a boil and let cook until al dente (the grains should be firm in the center and rather soft on the outside).
• Add the beans right before you strain the rice.
• Strain and rinse the rice with luke warm water. Toss gently in the strainer. 
• In stock pot or dutch oven, pour about ¼ cup oil on bottom, tilt to cover 2 inches up sides.
• Add a layer of rice and beans mixed with a bit of dill weed while building the rice and dill layers up to a dome shape.
• With the end of a wooden spoon, make holes in the mound of rice (5 or 6 places) evenly around.
• Pour the remaining oil onto the rice.
• Cover pot with kitchen towel to absorb the steam. Place pot lid on towel.
• Reduce the heat to low and cook for 45 min to an hour.
• After removing from heat, place the saucepan in the sink and run cold water under it to cool down.
• Add ¼ tsp. saffron to 1 tbs hot water. Lightly mix 2 to 3 tbs of rice with the liquid saffron in a small bowl. Set it aside for garnish.
• To dish up, gently toss the rice and sprinkle lightly in a dish in a symmetrical mound.
• Garnish with the saffron rice.
• Remove the crusty bottom and serve in a separate plate.

Students all across the county wrote essays to submit to the “Why My Mom Deserves a Diamond” essay contest for a chance to win a diamond necklace or gift certificate from Donny’s Diamond Gallery.  Students wrote about their moms, grandmothers and sisters with such conviction and love it was touching to read all the entries.  All the students who entered deserve congratulations for their hard work and touching essays.

All the essays were so wonderful and it was very hard determining the winners.  Donny and Fatemeh are so grateful to the judges who made their job of choosing the winners easier.  The judges who came to the rescue of Donny’s Diamond Gallery are:
Sara Alavi – freelance writer with Huntsville Event Magazine
Brad Clasgens – account executive with WHNT Channel 19
Mary Anne Swanstrom– editor for the Huntsville Times’ Enjoy

It was so difficult to narrow the winners because they all did a wonderful job.  It was so difficult that we couldn’t narrow it down to three essays and had a tie for third place.  Although all the essays were wonderful to read these four essays really stood out. 

The winners are……

1. George Obiyor from Lynn Fanning Elementary who is the winner of an antique reproduction ½ carat diamond pendant valued at $1499 from Donny’s Diamond Gallery.  Lynn Fanning also received a $100 gift certificate from their Staples for having the student with the winning essay.
   
2. Shawn P. Law from Chapman Elementary received a $250 gift certificate from Donny’s Diamond Gallery.
3. Madelynn Kae Cleveland from Legacy Elementary and Haley Clemons from Whitesburg Elementary each received a $150 gift certificate from Donny’s Diamond Gallery.

For more information and to see a list of honarable mention winners, click here.