Author: Kaluhi (Page 62 of 65)

Drop scones with strawberry yoghurt chocolate ganache

October 10, 2014 / Kaluhi / 2 Comments

In Kenya, it is not unheard of to have impromptu guest at any time of the day. And whether guests come unannounced or not, it is part of our culture to prepare a meal, small or big, as a sign of hospitality toward our guests. In our home, when guests come unannounced, we turn to easy meals that take a short time to prepare but will still make the guests feel at home. My mother almost always turns to drop scones during such situations. They are very delicious when eaten straight from the heat and they fill the entire house with the most welcoming aroma that any person would love to walk into.

Today, I added a twist to my mother’s favorite and added a rich homemade mascarpone filling. As if that is not hearty enough, I drizzled a chocolate ganache on top of them, which I made with strawberry yoghurt as opposed to heavy cream. And as always, it is easy to make! If I can make this, trust me, you can too.

How to make mascarpone cheese

October 9, 2014 / Kaluhi / 6 Comments

Mascarpone is an Italian cheese made by curdling milk with citric acid or acetic acid. It is a thick, soft cheese with a high fat content ranging between 65% and 75%. It can be used in both sweet and savory dishes without overpowering the other ingredients of the dish. It is also used to thicken desserts and puddings. It is the cheese that is used in the popular Tiramisu dessert, which brought this cheese to the forefront. It also tastes best with mustard, a variety of spices, cocoa and coffee.

You can find this cheese in our local supermarkets, however they are packaged in really small containers and sold at a high price. Therefore, it is to our advantage to make this at home.The only hard part about this recipe is the waiting. You have to plan ahead since the mascarpone has to sit for at least 8 hours to strain out the whey. Otherwise, it is very simple.

Potato, Corn & Tomato Chowder

October 7, 2014 / Kaluhi / 4 Comments

If you are a cartoon and animation lover like myself, you probably know this cartoon called chowder. Chowder was and still is one of my all time favorite cartoons. I thoroughly enjoy the silliness and the old-school humor which I feel majority of cartoons these days are lacking. I then accidentally discovered that all the characters, including the main character, chowder, are all actually named after a certain dish. This was very intriguing and facinating to me, so much so that I had to research into those dishes.
In honor of my favorite cartoon, today I made a heart warming potato, corn and tomato chowder.

How To Make Vegetable Stock

October 5, 2014 / Kaluhi / 2 Comments

A stock is a liquid that is obtained from simmering various ingredients in a sufuria to extract their flavor, and the resultant liquid used as an ingredient to another recipe. These stocks can be added to soups, casseroles and even pilau instead of just using water and you can make plenty and store for the weeks to come. Vegetable stock is obtained by simmering down vegetables of your choice. Fish stock and beef stock may take several hours to prepare and one uses their respective bones to get their stocks.

You can purchase these in supermarkets, but in my country Kenya, it is very rare to come across them. This gives us the perfect chance to make our own. The best part about making your own stock is that you can adjust the component ingredients to fit your taste and you know exactly what is in it, so no preservatives or chemicals. Plus, it is so easy to make, and I will show you how.

Butternut and Dhania Chapati

October 3, 2014 / Kaluhi / 30 Comments

I still hear our squeaky little voices, our bodies bursting through the gate after an entire day of playing. With small dusty feet and tangles in our hair, my sisters and I would rush to the chair where our mom sat watching TV next to daddy or to her room where she would be “resting her eyes.”

“What’s for supper? ” We would ask.

This is the question we have asked and she has answered most. Her answer could either make us not really look forward to supper (ugali and sukumawiki) or it would make us rush to the table and have some already (chapati and meatballs).
Chapati is a flat bread, which has Indian origin, but has been tightly woven into Kenyan culture. It makes a perfect accompaniment to many stews and soups. This dish is the corner stone of any Kenyan celebration; be it Christmas, a birthday, weddings or graduation party. I made super soft chapatis but,as usual, with a little twist. My elder sister, Cheredi, put butternut in hers and I decided to follow the same route. The only difference is that I added dhania (coriander) for extra color and nutrients. If you are ready for crazy soft, beautifull tasty chapati, read on!

Purple Rain Smoothie

September 30, 2014 / Kaluhi / 10 Comments

October begins tomorrow and I could not be more excited! One of the things I love about October is all the jacaranda blossoms that beautify my already splendid Nairobi with their intoxicating purple luminescence. The city once again comes alive after the bleak and cold months of July and August. The blossoms fill the air with their fragrant scent as the wind passes through their branches and their dainty bell shaped flowers fall to the ground like purple rain, turning the ground into an enchanted pathway! This beauty inspired today’s smoothie: Purple Rain Smoothie. It is a rich smoothie that is really delicious, great for your skin and your overall health.

Coffee Glazed Cinnamon Rolls

September 26, 2014 / Kaluhi / 5 Comments

Our home has been having some electrical issues for sometime now such that in certain rooms, you cannot use high power electronics. For that reason, the oven had never been connected to the electricity. For a long time I thought that maybe using the oven will not result into any serious electrical issue. You never really know until you try. Therefore, one day when I was home alone, the risk-taker in me connected a plug to the oven wires, and to my delight it worked. I knew either everything would go well, or I would burn the house, the oven would explode or an electrical surge would destroy the entire neighborhood. Despite my fears, I went straight to work and decided to bake something. It went great but right when I was opening the oven door to remove my cinnamon rolls, the fuse went off and the plug melted. I disconnected everything, and acknowledged that I am no electrician!
As I tasted my dish, I was delighted that my risk paid off. These cinnamon rolls were so soft and the coffee beautifully offset the sweetness of the honey. I present to you my coffee glazed cinnamon rolls.