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Spaghetti Marinara

October 28, 2014 / Kaluhi / 2 Comments

One of my favorite December holidays of all time was when my very generous uncle and aunty took us to stay in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, with them for 2 weeks. It was our first time there and they made sure we had the time of our life. One day during our stay there, my aunty took us to the neighboring island paradise of Zanzibar for the afternoon. That is one of the prettiest places I have ever been to. After touring the island and getting some memorabilia for ourselves, we headed out for lunch. My aunt ordered for my cousins for us pasta marinara, which is light but still filling and very tasty. I did not know the name of the dish then, I found out may years later after getting into my love for cooking.

This spaghetti marinara is a very easy dish to prepare, for beginners who want to try something tasty and exciting and also for those who have more experience in the kitchen but appreciate a good short cut to a great meal.

7 Minute Omelette

October 24, 2014 / Kaluhi / 2 Comments

I have very few memories of my daddy actually preparing a meal in the kitchen. But those that I do remember,what he made never disappointed. One of the things I remember are the eggs my daddy used to make for my sisters and I. During most Christmas holidays, we traveled to Maragoli.On Christmas morning before going to church, my daddy would make us some scrambled eggs, which he beat with some whole cream milk. The eggs became so rich, so moist and so tender and this was the perfect way to begin our Christmas day. These days, now that we are big girls, we are the ones who prepare meals for daddy :).
Today I made and omelette which was beaten with finely chopped onion and coriander stalks. To make this even more hearty, I added a tomato and bell pepper stuffing with a light dust of black pepper. Fast, tasty and unforgettable omelette.

Cumin Infused Potato cakes

October 21, 2014 / Kaluhi / 8 Comments

Starch ingredients are so versatile in the kitchen because they can be transformed into so many dishes, each one having its very own character and unique taste. One of my favourite starches to cook with are potatoes because you can make nearly anything with them in a relatively short amount of time.

I have made potato cakes, which I was a bit nervous to make since it was my first time. Heaven shined on me and they turned out perfectly! The potatoes were boiled with whole cumin seeds, and their taste really comes through. The exterior is crunchy because of the bread crumbs, while the interior is nice and soft. This is super easy to make and I hope you will give this a try.

Taking Stock 2

October 17, 2014 / Kaluhi / 4 Comments

I still cannot grasp how fast this year is really going. October came as fast as it is ending. And as usual, i believe it is important to take a step back and appreciate all that is around, and all that we are. I did my first taking stock 12 posts ago, and here is my second one. Hope you get to know more about me :).

Here we go:

Ginger and Garlic Marinated Liver

October 14, 2014 / Kaluhi / 14 Comments

Liver is one of my absolute favorite organ meats. It is soft, has a rich taste and takes a relatively short time to cook. Sometime ago on facebook, I asked which which you cannot stand. I was surprised to see that many people do not like liver. Some stated it was because of it’s smell that does not go away even after cooking. For others, it is because they just could not figure out how to add more flavor.

Today I made fried liver, that had marinated in ginger, garlic, milk and green onion prior to frying it. This made that “raw-meat-smell” to go away and more importantly, added a lot more flavor to the liver. More so, I believe to have great tasting liver, you need to cook it with plenty of red onion and plenty of bell pepper, which I added while frying. This is so simple to do, yet produces really tasty liver. I hope you enjoy it too 🙂

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.