Okay, here is the main staple ... Rice "Polo" (steamed Basmati rice):
Don't get freightened, it is not really complicated, just detailed. If you are in a rush, just use your rice steamer to make the rice. But, if you have a relaxed afternoon and enjoy cooking, try your hand at this:
In a large bowl, measure about 4 cups Basmati rice. Put bowl in sink and run a steady stream of cold water through the rice using your hands and fingers to jimmy the rice about ... you are cleaning it and getting excess starch off the rice kernels. Do this for some time (about 10 minutes or so). When the water runs clear, fill the bowl with cool water and mix a moderate amount of salt in with your hand. Let this sit for about 1/2 hour.
As time nears, get a good sized pot going with cold water. Do not add salt to the water (salt is in the rice water already). When it comes to a boil, drain as best as you can by simply tipping the bowl slightly, the rice, then add the rice and salt water into the boiling pot.
It is critical to stir occassionally and to test the kernels frequently (the kernel of rice, when at the "done" stage, will be about 3/4th of the way cooked through ... you don't want it any more cooked then that). When done, pour entire rice pot into a collander and immediately rinse thoroughly with COLD water (you want to stop the cooking process). Rinse, very well, the pot of all starch residue, and return pot to a medium heat burner.
Pour olive oil in the pot (to cover the bottom) and let oil heat as you prepare the saffron. Take about 1/2-1 teaspoon saffron and crush into small cup, add about 3 tablespoons lukewarm water and mix. When oil is heated pour saffron water into pot (WATCH for splatters! Ouchie!).
Next, you want to loosely "mound" the par-cooked rice into the pot. You want it to be shaped like a mountain with a peak on top. (A dome sort of). After mounding the rice in the pot take the tip of your wooden spoon and use it to poke holes in the rice mound ... make one hole right in the middle (like the middle of a volcano), then make holes around the sides as well. Drizzle olive oil into each of the holes that you have made.
Wrap your pot lid in "Turban-fashion" with a dishtowel (this facilitates steaming) and place snuggly on the pot.
Now, you must gauge the heat on the burner. Turn it down to a low-medium, but use your hand to check the heat: carefully tap/touch the side of the pot ... it should not be too cool that you can leave your hand there, it should be heated to the point that you slightly pull away, but it should not be so hot that your hand jumps off the side of the pot.
Leave on burner (checking every so often for right temperature) for about 45 minutes.
After that time, briefly turn the heat up to medium for about 2-3 minutes while you prepare the sink. Clear the sink and put the plug in the sink. Put very cold water about 3 inches deep into sink bottom. Then, take pot off stove and plung into cold water and leave there until "steaming" noise stops. Empty sink. Spoon rice onto serving tray ... and there will be a VERY nice surprise at the bottom of the pot for you!!! There is "crunchy" rice at the bottom called Tadick (sp?). It is a saffron, golden rice with lots of crunch and tastes so olive-oily scrumptious! Crack and break up this crunchy rice and place on a serving plate. (In traditional Persia, the Tadick is prohibited to be served to guests--I don't know why it is not proper, but it is not. But, the Tadick is what my whole family would fight over at the dinner table!!!). So, proudly display and serve it on your dinner table!
Enjoy! (Sounds like a lot of work, and it is a little, but well worth it!!).