Category: Breakfast (Page 2 of 4)

Three Spice Butternut Pancakes

November 21, 2018 / Kaluhi / 16 Comments

I am definitely a crepe person. But it does not hurt to once in a while betray what you feel is connected to your soul and cross over to the pancake side once in a while. Because of the density of pancake batter, it leaves more room for adding more ingredients without necessarily weighing it down. I was in a major dilemma when I conceptualized this recipe since I had a butternut in my pantry that had been sitting there for 60 years as though it is paying rent. I spoke about this dilemma on twitter, and while most very helpful suggestions for recipes pointed towards making a butternut soup, I wanted to do something different with mine. I have already made a bomb butternut soup, and this time, I crawled outside what is farmiliar and that is how my three spice butternut pancakes!

Easy to make, deep layered flavors, and soft and spongy too! You know how we roll; #KK recipes will never let you down baby!

Nutmeg and Clove Vitumbua

June 6, 2018 / Kaluhi / 20 Comments

wa! wa! wa! wa! wa!

FAILING IN THE KITCHEN IS REEEEEEAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

I have always very honestly spoken about moments recipes backfire on me. I detailed some of my fails on this post but trust me, there are many more LOL! The first time I tried making vitumbua, they failed their way straight to hot hell. They did not even hold together, they were just a pulverized, oily, cat-food-esq disaster. I was sad, not only coz of the backfiring, but because I wasted my afternoon and nothing fruitful came out of my effort. But you know what, my mama never raised a quiter y’all! I went through every little step I made and realized I made about 4 mistakes, not even 1, THREE mistakes hence the initial first disastrous recipe. I gave this another shot and they turned out pretty well! And here we are now! With a new recipe, a new video and plenty of lessons learnt. To you too, when you fail kidogo in the kitchen, get right back up. It happens to everyone and no one reading my blog should give up easily. No sir!

Without further ado, my nutmeg and clove vitumbua! <3

Vibibi

May 16, 2018 / Kaluhi / 32 Comments

One of the things I enjoy most in life is cooking with someone I love and having great conversation with them. I was at my friend’s sometime back and she is one of those people who not only loves cooking for her guests, but loves cooking with them. She loves showing off her (exceptional!!!) kitchen skills. And who am I to complain? I love it that at her’s, I am the one being fed. I am the one on the receiving end of deliciousness. I am the one not in an apron. I am the one, watching and learning. On the day we had our date, It started pouring just as I was about to leave. I decided to wait it out and she had just the perfect thing to keep us both occupied: vibibi! She had been soaking some rice for well over 24 hours and was ready to give it a go. On we were with draining, whisking, blending, frying and about an hour and a half later, sitted again devouring very delicious treats with some tea. Thank you Mwende. Next time, we chill at mine <3

That is a short summary of how I learnt to make vibibi. In this post and in today’s video, I make them for you too, but with a few twists of my own and with slight modification. Still, it will be nothing short of delicious!

Orange Ginger Cinnamon Rolls

April 4, 2018 / Kaluhi / 8 Comments

My eldest sister cheredi has always been the baker of the family. She always does really make the sweetest baked treated and very very effortlessly they turn out perfectly! Best believe I am always the one to push my sisters out of the way whenever she brings home one of her cakes. This year i have challenged myself to do more baking. I hardly ever do, I do not know why, but it is about time I dipped my feet into it, don’t you think so? And for today my orange ginger cinnamon rolls will be the first of many delicious treats you will see this year. I had plenty of fun making the video as well. This recipe was inspired by a cake my sister made some time back, that I shared a picture with you guys on Instagram. Needless to say, they turned out extra delicious and for that, I am thrilled!!! Here we go!!

Poppy Seed and Orange Zest French Toast

February 2, 2018 / Kaluhi / 4 Comments

Breakfast is slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite meal times. I have no concrete reason why, but I just love the ease and beauty that morning hours bring with them. Now that it is January and it is nice and bright, I love having breakfast sitting by the window, the house in complete silence ( I love silence), and just watching how beautiful and tranquil everything looks when kissed by the morning rays. It is a sacred time for me, where I listen to myself, center myself, and nourish my body before setting out to perform the day’s tasks. As much as I can, I try make my breakfast delicious and exciting. After all, being the first meal, and I like for it to set the tone for the day.

I did an Instagram Story for this very recipe last November and you guys COMPLETELY fell in love with it. A few tweaks later, I decided to put it on the blog and on YouTube as well so that you can have it forever <3, and those who missed out on it can also enjoy it!

Coconut Chai Masala Breakfast Buns

November 29, 2017 / Kaluhi / 1 Comment

I love slow mornings. Those lazy weekend mornings where you wake up and decide to spend an extra 2 hours in bed, just because. Those mornings that are not powered by the rush of getting out of the house or getting work done, but those mornings that are warmed by ease and relaxation. Mornings that bask in serenity. Mornings whose air is filled with the soft waft of only delicious things. I love lazy weekend mornings so much so that I think that in another life, I am a sunny Saturday morning :D!!!

I made these when I was home alone one weekend morning (because I wasn’t sure they would turn out ok so I wanted to endure that shame alone if that was the outcome *nervously bites nails*). The house smelt BETTER than paradise! I hoped the buns tasted just as good and guess what, they did!!!! Yes, there is more than one way to use your chai masala besides just tea and today, let’s think outside the box as we go through the recipe <3. Mtapenda!

Iliki and Lemon Zest Mitai

September 26, 2017 / Kaluhi / 10 Comments

Most times when I try out a new recipe, I surprise myself at how fast I ace flavor combinations at first try. Other times, oh Lord, the struggle is very very real! You see, when one is conceptualizing and developing completely new recipes, the result can very easily go south. The first time I tried making mitai with my own twist, they turned out so badly. But I excused it as my first try and just let it slide. I tried again the second time, and the outcome was even worse. They looked like little rocks from a plateau in hell *wipes tear*. By that point, I had enough for the day, so I wrapped things up and prepared for my weekend. I was done :(. After an amazing weekend, enough rest and recharging, I made adjustments to the original recipe for the third time, gave it another shot and guess what, my mitai turned out SO SO WELL!! To you too, when you cook things you haven’t tried before, you will fail sometimes. It is normal! Don’t just give up and run away from the kitchen forever. It happens to everyone!! Give yourself sometime, find where you went wrong and try again. I am sure you were’t raised a quiter, so keep at it.

Now, let’s get to it!!!

Garlic & Mustard Chicken Omellete

July 21, 2017 / Kaluhi / 2 Comments

I love discovering fantastic Kenyan brands that always deliver on quality, flavor and really bring something new to the market. Last year I attended the first ever Nairobi Food Market where all these products were paraded in all their glory! Thy were so many, and I wanted to have them all, but my wallet dictated otherwise. I settled on only my favorites for the day which were, African Kaya Sweet Chili Sauce (which my eldest sister LOVED too and ~~stole from me~~ went home with it), Need Gelato and a strawberry whiskey jam by Jars Of Goodness (which my youngest sister ~~stole from me~~ left for school with). Since that food market, I have always loved all Jars of Goodness products and make sure I have something form them in my fridge. Check them out here. I had some sundried tomato mustard from them and decided to play around with it and came up with the best ever omellete!

Brunch is made for delicious food and fun company <3! And among the savory dishes I love to have most is my garlic and mustard chicken omellete!

Ice Cream & Cardamom French Toast

June 16, 2017 / Kaluhi / 12 Comments

I usually treat myself to something nice when my day or week or month has gone especially well and I have exceeded all my goals. I celebrate and congratulate myself each time I achieve something dope! A monthly treat may be something like a new perfume (I have my eyes on Giorgio Armani – Si) ,a book I have been dying to get my hands on or a dress I have been eyeing for a long time. A treat for a day may be a gorgeous moist black forest slice or anything I am craving. Usually it is some ice cream. I am not a sweet tooth, so when I crave ice cream, it comes hard. One night, I treated myself to some ice cream. After few bites, I was off to bed and the next day, I decided to finish treating myself since sleep interrupted my session the previous night. Instead of just having ice cream again, I thought to myself ‘what would happen if I incorporated my favorite ice cream into a dish?’ Curious as to what would happen if breakfast and dessert were combined? Well, the most beautiful ice cream and lime zest French toast would be conceived! <3. Hope you fall in love with this one as much as I have!

Cinnamon Pancakes with Lime Tree Tomato Sauce

June 6, 2017 / Kaluhi / 4 Comments

In our home, like most homes, we always have fresh fruit in the house. Considering we live in a country that a bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables, we take full advantage of that. My sister had brought home some tree tomato (tamarillo) after her visit to Naivasha. It is one of her favorite fruit and she buys them in such large quantities. My mom insisted that everyone have four after our meals so that they do not get spoilt. “Kila mtu achukue nne nne!!” (Everyone should have four!”) She would insist. Because we were soooo many, and we did not want them to get spoilt, I decided to incorporate them in my salads and in some of new recipes I was developing. These cinnamon pancakes with lime tree tomato sauce were then conceived! Ever wondered how a hug would look and taste like if it were food? Well, search no more! It would look and taste like my cinnamon pancakes with tree tomato sauce.

Coconut Crepes with Passion Fruit Curd

April 4, 2017 / Kaluhi / 23 Comments

“Absolutely delicious!!!” Those were the first words that popped into my mind after having my first bite of this creation! My eyes widened and my heart raced as I savored the flavors of my coconut crepes with passion fruit curd. I pushed my camera aside and sat on the floor and just finished the first crepe before I got up to get some tea and eat some more. That morning, I had woken up with a severe Kraving for something sweet after enjoying lots of nyama-choma the past weekend. I just wanted something sweet so my mind went to work. I remembered taste a lemon curd I had at my friend’s place and I decided to make one but with passion fruit. To make my breakfast even more delicious, I decided to make crepes and add some desiccated coconut which I have lately been loving as an ingredient of late.Also, I am more of a crepe girl than a pancake girl :)). Have you ever made something for the very first time from the top of your head and shocked yourself with the amazing outcome? This was one of those days for me! I am sooooo excited to share this recipe with you, since you too can make this masterpiece and experience fantastic flavor with ingredients that are readily available to you.

Mahamri

March 27, 2017 / Kaluhi / 30 Comments

I always tell you guys not to get discouraged when you encounter kitchen blunders while cooking. Instead, you should learn from your mistakes, pick your self up, and try again util you get it right. Our mamas did not raise quitters :DD. As someone who cooks all the time, kitchen blunders and horrific recipe disasters happen from time to time. But with time, the frequency of the mistakes lessen since you get to know what works and what doesn’t. Your mistakes only aid in making you better if you choose to learn from them. Let no one lie to you that they never make mistakes in the kitchen. We all do! I showed you some of my massive fails in this post (read it if you haven’t). I stumbled a little bit while making my mahamri too. My first try had me create the hardest, flattest and most hideous mahamri LOL! I then sat down, thought hard and figured out where I went wrong and got it right in my next try. I will take you through how to make bomb mahamri, tell you exactly where I went wrong the first round and make sure you get it right on your first try <3

Mango Ginger Pancakes

February 15, 2017 / Kaluhi / 12 Comments

I love making pancakes, not because they are easy to make (but that’s def part of the reason ;)), but because they take up flavors so well and leave plenty of room for experimentation. For these pancakes, I made them with the flavors I enjoy most in my cocktails: mango, cardamom and a hint of ginger. I did not foresee the warmth and explosiveness that I experienced, and for sure I must try this out soon once again. Nothing makes my breakfast more thrilling than knowing what I am going to eat has a combination of my three favorite flavors: sweetness of mango, very subtle warmth of ginger and spiciness of freshly crushed cardamom. Bite after warm flavorful bite and an empty plate later, my pancakes fit tightly but happily in my tummy. I gave one more thanks to the Lord above for a beautiful breakfast and gratefulness for a high metabolism. The best way to start your day is with some good food right? Make sure it my mango ginger pancakes!

Sweet potatoes in Cardamom Coconut Cream Sauce

December 13, 2016 / Kaluhi / 10 Comments

Him: Potatoes are not meant to be sweet

Me: Yes they aren’t. But they are not potatoes, but sweet potatoes.

Him: Exactly! SWEET potatoes. I don’t think that should even exist in nature. Nduma any day.

Me: Nduma is delicious,totally agree, but so are sweet potatoes. If I was a sweet potato would you still like me?

Him: I would. You would be a delicious one too! In fact, I would change into a sweet potato too, just to live with my sweet potato girl.

Me: And we’d make beautiful sweet potato spawn (laughs). So that means you like sweet potatoes?

Him: No, I like you. Even if you turned into a sweet potato, i’d still like you.

My boyfriend finds it fascinating that I remember the tiniest of moments and conversations between us. The above was one of our sweet potato arguments, which I always remember when I make sweet potatoes. Today’s recipe plays up the beautiful sweetness of this root vegetable and I hope you will like is as well :))

Caramelized Cinnamon Banana Stuffed Crepes

November 11, 2016 / Kaluhi / 0 Comments

I love a good brunch dish. One that is so rich, and so flavorful and one that literally sings to the deepest part of your soul. My friend Soni always says, brunch is not a time of day, but an experience. And I have to say, I agree with her. She loooooves brunch, and really takes in every moment and savors all the delicious things that most brunch banquets have to offer. A little bit of sweet. A little bit of savory. For me, during most brunches, I find myself gravitating more towards the sweet. Considering tomorrow is another glorious weekend, and most of us will be sleeping in. It would be an absolute delight to have something very delicious to wake up to! I have always loved crepes, because they double as both a breakfast dish and a dessert dish and no way to bring this together than in this brunch dish! A word of caution though: My caramelized cinnamon banana stuffed crepes may just end up being one of your top addictions!

Thorn Melon & Apple Smoothie

October 4, 2016 / Kaluhi / 12 Comments

Over the past month, my body has been feeling very lethargic. I stopped exercising and that is not something I am proud to admit. Despite being relatively tiny, exercise and clean eating is still very important. And when my body started slowing down, I knew exactly what it needed and what was missing: More fruits more vegetables, and daily exercise even just a little bit. Someone once told me I do not need to exercise or eat clean because my very high metabolism keeps me slim. But exercise and clean eating is not about loosing weight only (one of the many peculiar beliefs of Kenyans), but more about feeling good and having your body perform in its best possible state. Yes, it is ok to indulge once in a while coz YOLO, and it is also ok to cut back and show your body some love. To do that, I made a really refreshing green smoothie: my thorn melon and apple green smoothie that has become one of my favorites! I just had to share the recipe with you and hope your body will enjoy it as well. Cheers!!

Lime Poppy Seed Drop Scones

September 6, 2016 / Kaluhi / 18 Comments

In our neighborhood, we usually have annual or bi/annual neighborhood get-togethers. One home volunteers to host the entire street for an afternoon of great company, catching up from our otherwise busy lives and also to indulge in some great food in community. Not to be picky, but their is this one home I never ever miss when they are the hosts. The lady of that home is called Violet but we call her Aunty Vio, because in Kenya, anyone who is not you mother is your aunt by default. Let me tell you, Aunty Vio can make one mean banquet. She does not joke around when it comes to hosting ; from the tender marinated meats, to the freshly baked moist cakes, to the array of fresh salads, and hearty starches. It would be mean to say I attend just for the food and not the company, LOL, but as a foodie, food is a huge part as to why I never miss out on the get-together when Aunty Vio is hosting. One of my favorite cakes that she usually bakes is her lemon poppy seed cake. She gets it right! From the texture and moistness of the cake, to the flavors, to the frosting. It is always a hit!! I make sure to get a ~~huge~~ slice each time and sneak some back home with me, in true Kenyan fashion, for post party indulgence. Do I sound greedy? Well, maybe I am :DD

With these memories as the back drop, I decided to make drop scones, one of my favorite breakfast recipes with a hint of my favorite cake flavors. I substituted lemons for limes, but either way, they were super duper delicious. Can’t wait for you guys to try this out!!

Crispy Sweet Potatoes with Orange Rosemary Syrup

June 29, 2016 / Kaluhi / 33 Comments

I have always loved indugent food. But even though I am not one to gain weight easily, I still know that I have to take care of my body and try keep it as healthy as I can but still keep the flavor. As I always say, healthy does not have to be boring, right? :)) One way of keeping it flavorful but still very healthy is to substitute something which is not too great with something that has equivalent qualities but overall better for your body.

On the day I made these, I wanted something sweet but still keep it healthy so sweet potatoes were obviously the go to :D. With this recipe, I decided to think outside the box and explore more with substitutes that are often overlooked. Are you ready? Lets make magic!

Cinnamon Breakfast Crumb Cake

June 28, 2016 / Kaluhi / 14 Comments

My second ever baking post on the blog. People usually say if you love to cook, you don’t love to bake. But I absolutely don’t believe that since I actually have a knack for baking. It is just that, my oven has not been working for almost 2 years now. Remember this post where I told you all about it? :(. But whenever I can, I shall be sneeking in baking posts for you guys.

As we move closer and closer to the colder months of July and August, I am usually more into really indulgent foods. I like having my sweet cake with while enjoying rainy foggy Sunday afternoons in. One of my favorite cakes to have is my crumb cake with some strungi of course. Let’s whip some up and hopefully you’ll be into it too :))

Banana and Cardamom Oat Pancakes

June 23, 2016 / Kaluhi / 15 Comments

When I hear the words food and layers, what will automatically come to mind is something with actual layers. Several food and lifestyle bloggers including myself challenged ourselves to creating blog posts revolving around layers. Instead of making something with actual layers, I decided to make something with layered flavors. Something where you get note after note of the different ingredients that went into it. For me, that is my banana and cardamom oat pancakes. I will be sharing the links to the posts by fellow food bloggers taking up the same challenge on my social media channels so keep it K :))

Not only are the flavors in these pancakes beautifully layered and balanced, these pancakes are so much healthier than the wheat alternative. These will definitely rock your world!!