Author: Kaluhi (Page 10 of 64)

Dawa

August 5, 2020 / Kaluhi / 50 Comments

A few things come close to how soothing a hot glass of dawa on a cold day is! Dawa means ‘Medicine’ in kiswahili. There are two variations of the dawa drink: the cocktail and the tea. Today we are making the tea. Dawa is commonly taken when one wants to soothe a sore throat, ease a cold and for most, just to warm themselves up and inject their body with a bucket load of vitamins. You don’t have to wait till you have a flu to enjoy this, you can just enjoy it anyday, anytime honey! Now that we are in August, the days are a lot milder, though the temparatures are still generally low (low by Kenyan standards at least lol) and the nights are cold and crisp. A perfect glassful of dawa would be perfect to warm you up not only this month but really any time of the year that you want something delicious, nutritious, warming and soothing. There are countless ways of making dawa, and today’s recipe is my take.

Pineapple & French Bean Egg Salad

July 8, 2020 / Kaluhi / 24 Comments

We are now in the second half of 2020 and for most of us – judging from what I have observed from my socials- we are all hoping to catch a break bruv lol! For most of us 2020 has been difficult, and while we have adjusted to the new way life shall be this year henceforth, we are all yearning for a tiny glimmer of joy and stability. Hope it all plays out in our favor!

We kick off the first recipe of July 2020 with a bomb ass salad. I know I have said this time and time again, but allow me to repeat it once again today: The best salads in the universe are created in Kaluhi’s Kitchen! I love love love that you guys are enjoying each one we have made in the past couple of years. I enjoy putting together the flavors, and you can check them out on the YouTube playlist I put together for you guys! Today’s salad recipe is also on YouTube, but let us get into the blog post. I cannot wait for you guys to try out my pineapple and french bean egg salad!

Cinnamon Ginger Pumpkin Bread

June 24, 2020 / Kaluhi / 53 Comments

I have been working from home since 2015. While I have already found what works and what doesn’t for me, it has been quite a thrill to see everyone else find their own balance during this lock-down period. It has been exciting finally seeing people recognize that work done from home is still work. It has been amazing to see people realize and acknowledge & experience what my peers and I have been saying for ages: that working from home does not mean one is free all the time, but it means just that- work has to and is being done. It has been so great to welcome people into my world and to also help them get acquainted with striking the balance and establishing work boundaries especially when they can be so very easily be blurred while working from home. Besides helping people learn the ropes on WFH, I have also found immense joy in the increase in people trying out my recipes! With the lock-down and people reacquitting themselves with home cooking, I have seen you guys blossom into the most glorious home cooks! The banana bread craze came and died down, and I am happy my recipe too was among your favorites to have!

Things are slowly opening up, but the baking does not stop! As we ring in the cold season in Kenya, let us have something warm baking in our kitchens! You will totally love my cinnamon and ginger pumpkin bread!

Muhogo wa Nazi

June 17, 2020 / Kaluhi / 24 Comments

The temperature has been steadily falling. That only means one thing: ~~get a bae and spend the rest of the cold season in a permanent cuddle until sunny September~~ it means we now have a chance to enjoy and savor all the beautiful indulgent, warming foods we can get our hands on. Make those soups, snuggle up to a plate of chicken biryani, let that matumbo na ugali really warm you up!!! Food is comfort and to that, we shall be adding another gorgeous recipe to the mix and that is my muhogo wa nazi.

Growing up, I never used to like muhogo (cassava) but lets thank the gods that with adulthood, I came to love and appreciate the beauty and versatility of this gorgeous, sustainable, complex-carbohydrate root vegetable. We made this delicious spicy muhogo back in 2016, and today let us introduce a creamy, silky one which is bound to become your favorite!

Three Herb Pumpkin Soup

June 10, 2020 / Kaluhi / 37 Comments

The air smells like change. The past six months have been quite a wild ride – it feels almost as though we are living through a wild TV show with huge plot twists and random plot-holes lol. On the grander global scale, we are really living in unprecedented times. We are living in times where people are increasingly demanding for equality, as they should; and matters such as race, skin tone, nationality, tribe and class shouldn’t be determinants of how one should be treated. The Corona Virus is changing and shaping how we transact, interact and how communities show up to and for each other. We are watching in real time some countries come apart at their foundation, while others shine, take care of their citizens and take the lead (Hi Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern, I know you are reading my blog ily!). On an individual scale, many are turning inward and learning to do a lot for themselves and enjoying it- be it braid their own hair or finally learn how to bake- this global halt has allowed us to learn a thing or two or get reacquainted with a hobbies we used to enjoy but fell out of love with at one point or another. Change. There is so much beauty, terror and opportunity for expansion in change. I hope you all are becoming and coming into the best versions of yourselves. The last half of the year imetukaranga, I hope the last half will be kinder to us!

Speaking of change, here in Nairobi, we have bid clear blue skies for grey ones. We are now transitioning into our cold season and best believe I have you sorted when it comes to the coziest, most comforting, most delicious soups! I have one for you today!

Iliki Banana Pancakes

June 3, 2020 / Kaluhi / 23 Comments

The simplest foods are often the most comforting! I love how a biting into a mango feels like sunshine in my face. I love how creaminess of avocado and githeri feels like melty body butter on my skin. I love how labania za maziwa feel like a shower of forehead kisses. I love how chai masala feels like comfortable, familiar excitement. And I love how pancakes- specifically banana pancakes feel like staying in bed longer on a slow Sunday morning!

Banana pancakes are so simple to make, and are one of my favorite things to have. I always switch it up when I make mine, but my faaaaavorite way to enjoy them is with my favorite warm spice taking center stage- as iliki banana pancakes. You will fall in love with this one too!

Mahamri

May 27, 2020 / Kaluhi / 25 Comments

Lamu remains one of my favorite places to visit in Kenya. This slow, sleepy and stunningly beautiful island is a place I love to escape to when I want to unwind and relax be it with company or alone. I was last in Lamu in 2017 and I have been planning to go back since. I miss the warm & genuinely kind people. I miss white sand in my toes during a dawn beach stroll. I miss watching sunset while sailing a dhow. I miss humid nights and falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing outside my window. I miss the billions of cats & donkeys that wonder on the narrow streets lol! I miss everything about Lamu and of course, I especially miss the food! We all know that Swahili cuisine is freaking amazing! Today I am particularly missing mahamri, and that is what we are going to make today and enjoy during this current Lock-Down period. But best believe, once this is all over and it is safe to travel, I can’t wait to have my braids smell like sea water again!

Let’s get into today’s recipe.