Brunch: Salad, Potato wedges and scrambled eggs

Ingredients :
Lettuce
1 cup of white onion
1tbsp of apple cider vinegar
3tbsp of egg less mayonnaise
1 chopped tomato
1tsp of mixed herb
Salt to taste

Rinse the lettuce and let air dry for an hour..  Mix the rest of the ingredients and add the add it to the lettuce.

The salad is served with potato wedges and scrambled eggs.

Raisin Cookies

Ingredients

6 tablespoons soft unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Icing:

2 to 3 tablespoons just-boiled water
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
Food coloring, preferably pastes
Directions
Special equipment: Cookie cutters
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and moving towards moussiness, then beat in the egg and vanilla. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and eggs, and mix gently but surely. If you think the finished mixture is too sticky to be rolled out, add more flour, but do so sparingly as too much will make the dough tough. Form into a fat disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
Sprinkle a suitable surface with flour, place disk of dough on it, and sprinkle a little more flour on top of that. Then roll it out to a thickness of about 1/4-inch. Cut into shapes, dipping the cutter into flour as you go, and place the cookies a little apart on 2 parchment or silpat lined baking sheets.
Bake for 8 to 12 minutes; obviously it depends on the shape you're using and whether they are on the upper or lower shelf, though you can swap them around after about 5 minutes. When they're ready expect them to be tinged a pronounced gold around the edges; they'll be softish still in the middle, but set while they cool.
Remove the cookies with a flat, preferably flexible, spatula to a wire rack. When they are fully cooled, you can get on with the icing. Put a couple of tablespoons of not-quite-boiling water into a large bowl, add the sieved confectioners sugar and mix together, adding more water as you need to form a thick paste. Color,as desired. I think pastes are much better than liquid, not just because the range of colors is better but because they don't dilute the icing as they tint. Ice cooled cookies, as desired.

Vanilla Mini Cakes

INGREDIENTS

175g (6oz) margarine or softened butter
175g (6oz) caster sugar
3 large eggs
175g (6oz) self-raising flour, sifted
1tsp baking powder
1tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt

METHOD

Heat the oven to 180°C (gas mark 4). Lightly grease an 18cm (7in) round cake tin with a little extra butter or margarine and cut a piece of greaseproof paper or non-stick baking parchment to fit the base of the tin.
Put all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon or a hand-held mixer for 1 minute, or until just combined. It's important not to beat the batter too much - just long enough to make it smooth.
Pour or spoon the mixture into the tin, smooth the top and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for about 45-50 minutes. The cake is cooked when it looks well risen and golden; the top should spring back when lightly touched with a fingertip. Another test is to insert a skewer into the centre of the cake - it should come out clean.
Let the cake sit in the tin for 5 minutes, then gently run a knife around the edge and turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool. Serve dusted with icing sugar.

Meatballs

Recipe for sere bites meatballs:
-1kg mince meat
-2 diced red onion
- 2tbsp of crushed ginger and garlic
-2 tbsp chopped green chili
-1 tbsp chilli powder
-1 tsp curry powder
-3tbsp of maize flour
-Salt to taste

In a mortar,  add all the ingredients apart from the meat and maize flour.  Mix well
Add the mince meat and mix for 3mins.
Add the maize flour and mix for 5mins.
-place in a bowl and make balls (medium sized) or to your liking.
In hot oil,  fry the meat balls until brown.
Set in a different bowl,  fry onions and tomatoes to make a sauce. Add the meat balls with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with chips and a salad
Enjoy

Fish Pilau

Serves 6
Ingredients
- 2kg of pishori rice
- 3 large onions
- 2 tomatoes(optional)
- 6 pieces of deep fried fish
- 4tbsp of pilau masala powder
- 3tsp of garlic and ginger paste
- 100ml of vegetable oil
- 2 chilli beef cubes
- 1tbsp with whole pilau masala (cummin,  cardamon, cloves, black pepper & cinamon)

Let Us Cook
In hot oil,  fry the diced onions until translucent. Add the chopped tomatoes and a small amount of warm water and stir.
When the tomatoes soften, add the garlic and ginger, spices and 8 cups of warm water. (one cup of rice equals two cups of water)
When the water boils,  add the rice and stir. When the most of the water has evaporated  add the pieces of fish.  Reduce the heat and let it continue cooking for 20 mins.
Serve with kachumbari

Chicken Soup

Ingredients:
- 8 chicken wings
- 1 large red onion (thick slices)
- 2tbsp of grated ginger and garlic
- 1 medium sized bell pepper
- 1 diced tomato
- salt and pepper to taste

Wash the chicken and place in a saucepan, add water to cover the chicken and set to boil.
Remove the form that has set at the top saucepan and add the rest of the ingredients, stir and reduce the heat to medium.
Cook for 10-15 mins and remove from heat.
Serve while hot with toasted bread .

Broccoli Bites (serves 2)

Ingredients
- 500g broccoli
- 300g Carrot
- 3 tablespoon of chopped onion
- 1tspn butter/margarine

Wash the vegetables and add them into simmering water (5tbsp).

Reduce heat and add the onion and butter . Cover the lid and cook for 3 mins.

Remove from heat and add salt and pepper to taste.

This is a great way to eat healthy on a budget.

Italian Potato Salad (Serves 4)

Ingredients:
5 large potatoes
3 medium sized carrots
1 large yellow/red bell pepper
Handful of spaghetti
Spring Onions
Mayonnaise/Salad Cream
Salt & Black pepper to taste

Let Us Make Salad:
- Wash the potatoes and boil with skin.  It gives it a great aroma. Add salt to the boiling potatoes for taste. Remove from heat once they have softened.
- Peel , chop and Boil the carrots until softened.
- In a grill pan,  add oil and place sliced bell pepper for smokie flavour.
- Break the spaghetti into bite size pieces and boil to your desired consistency and set aside.

In a bowl,  add the now peeled and chopped potatoes,  carrots,  spaghetti , salt and pepper to taste and toss.

Add the mayonnaise,  spring onions and using a wooden spoon,  mix them well. 

Add the grilled bell pepper as garnish.

Serve with toasted bread

Chocolate Sponge cake

Follow the directions in the recipe and you'll effortlessly produce the lightest chocolate Sponge cake or cupcakes.

Ingredients Cake:
250g unsalted butter or margarine
125g caster sugar or grind ordinary sugar
6 eggs
250g self raising flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
150g cocoa powder (unsweetened)

Ingredients Rich Chocolate Icing:
200g dark chocolate chopped
120g unsalted butter or margarine.

Let's Bake :
1. Preheat oven to moderate 180°C.  Brush shallow 40cm baking tin with butter or margarine; layer with grease paper.
2. Using electric beaters,  beat unsalted butter and sugar in a small mixing bowl until light and creamy.  Add eggs gradually, beating thoroughly after each addition.
3. Add the thrice sifted (the cake will be lighter)dry ingredients to the bowl.  Beat on low speed for 1 minute then on high speed until mixture is thick and creamy.
4. Pour mixture into the tin,  smooth surface and bake for 40 mins or until the Sponge cake is golden brown and shrinks from the sides. 
5. Remove from oven and let it cool at room temperature.

Let's Make Icing:
-Combine butter,  chocolate in small heatproof bowl.  Place over pan of simmering water, stir until butter and chocolate have melted and mixture is smooth. Cool until mixture is spreadable.
Spread icing over cake using a wide knife.

Enjoy.

Sponge cakes are eaten the day they are made. Keep in a cool,  dry place until ready to  serve.

Avocado Banana Smoothie

Healthy,  Simple, Cheap

Ingredients :
3 large Avocados
3 Bananas
250ml Yoghurt (I used vanilla flavored)
50ml double cream (optional)
Raisins

Peel the Avocado & Banana, place them in the blender. Add the yoghurt,  double cream and a small amount of water and blend.

When it's to your preferred consistency,  place in frozen glasses and top with raisins .

Enjoy

Spicy Fried Chicken wings

I made this with my girl when I was stressed out in my sales job so I went outside Nairobi to think and got an email from my current job that they need me to start at the soonest.  I had to celebrate so I bought chicken wings and made foodgasmic Spicy chicken Wings.

Ingredients:
12 pieces of chicken wings
2 large onions
2 large tomatoes
1 medium sized bell pepper (red)
1tsp of ginger
1tsp of garlic
1tsp of a mixture of fresh powdered cumin,cardamon,cayenne pepper,black pepper
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp of olive oil

Let's cook

In a bowl,  mix the garlic, ginger and the rest of the spices.  Add the chicken wings,  lemon juice and olive oil. 
Mix well and let it marinate for 2 hours.

Separate the chicken from the marinate juice and deep fry until brown.

Fry the onions until light brown,  add chopped tomatoes and stir.  When the tomatoes have softened, add the marinate juice and let it cook for 5 Min in low heat.

Add the chicken wings with the sliced bell pepper and cayenne. Stir and serve after 3 mins.

Serve with ugali and steamed cabbage.

Enjoy

Roasted Butternut Soup (serves 6)

Many ways to make butternut soup but I like mine with a little bang, so I roast my butternut before I make the soup.

Ingredients
- 3 medium sized butternut
- 2 medium sized red onion (thickly sliced)
- 1/2 cup of chopped onion leaves
- 1 tbsp grated garlic

Heat the oven at 180• C. Peel the butternut and cut into cubes. In a baking pan,  mix the butternut and the rest of the ingredients with olive oil or a drizzle of vegetable oil. Add salt and put in the oven for half an hour.

After 15 mins,  turn the butternut and let it roast for another 15 mins.

When well roasted,  remove from oven and place in a blender or food processor with warm water and blend.

You can sieve the mixture for a smooth texture but I like my butternut with a rough texture.

Place in a pan to heat, add cream and parsley leaves for garnish.

You can add potatoes and carrots while roasting the butternut.

Serve with toasted bread.

Mango Juice

Quick Healthy Simple

We Need:

- 5 medium sized apple mangoes
- 1 cup of grated beet root
-1 cup of water
-1 tablespoon of honey (optional)

Place the peeled and cubed mangoes in a blender,  add the beetroot. Add small amounts of water to your preference.

Add the honey and blend for 30 sec.

Serve with chilled ice cubes.

Lettuce and Beet root Salad

Simple, Quick & Easy Healthy Salad

Ingredients :
-Two medium sized lettuce
-A cup of grated beet root
-Handful of sliced white onion
-Mayonnaise or Salad Cream
-Salt to taste

Clean all the lettuce and tear the leaves with your hands into sizes that you prefer.

In a separate Bowl, mix the onion, beet root,  onion and mayonnaise,  add salt to taste.

Mix in the lettuce and serve.

You can add toasted bread or small pieces of chicken for a mouth watering experience.

Sere Bites Biryani/Birani

The ideal biryani curry should be marinated overnight if possible. Makes the beef tender and also adds the oomf!

Curry Ingredients, (Serves 6)

• 1kg Beef Steak, cut into thick cubes
• 500ml of sour milk or plain yogurt
• 1 cup of grated paw paw (optional)
• 1 tsp of each, fresh cardamon, cinnamon, cloves
• 3 tbsp of fresh ginger & garlic
• 1 tbsp of pilau masala, curry powder & 2 chilli beef cubes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 5 large potatoes
• 3 large onions
• 5 large tomatoes
• Salt to taste.

Wash the meat and place in a container or clear bag. Add the sour milk or yogurt, grated paw paw, fresh cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, fresh grated ginger and garlic and salt. Refrigerate the mixture in the lower part of the fridge overnight.

Lets Cook

• Slice the onions and deep fry until brown. Deep fry the potatoes and place aside.
• In a hot pan, add the marinated ingredients and let it simmer. Add the curry powder, beef cubes, pilau masala and salt, stir and let it cook.
• After 15 mins, add the deep fried onions and potatoes and stir. \
• Add some oil used to fry the onions and potatoes, to your taste
• I like my biryani curry spicy so i add black pepper, cayenne and more pilau masala.
• Add salt to taste.

Biryani Rice

 

• 4 cups of Pishori Rice
• 8 cups of boiling water 
• Food colour 
• Handful Raisins
• 3 tbsp cooking oil

Add the oil in a hot pan then the rice and stir in low heat. Add the boiling water after 2 mins and let the rice cook.

When the water has almost dried up, add the raisins and food colour.

Reduce the heat for 10 mins and serve.

Have some sour salad on the side and homemade chili..

Sere Bites Pilau

Pilau is a East African Coastal dish that is very simple to make and very economical.

Ingredients

2kg Rice
2kg Meat
3 large onions
2 tomatoes
4 large potatoes
2 tablespoons of grated ginger & garlic
Pilau Masala Powder
2 tablespoons of curry powder
1 teaspoon of black pepper
A handful of fresh cardamom, cumin seeds, cloves
Cooking Oil
Salt to taste

Lets Get Cooking

• Wash and soak the rice
• Boil the meat in a separate pan with 2 Tablespoons of pilau masala & a teaspoon of salt
• Add cooking oil in a different heated casserole pot, add sliced onions and stir until brown, add chopped tomatoes and 1/2 cup of warm water.
• When the water has reduced, add the meat and stir until the meat has mixed well with onions & tomatoes.
• Add the curry powder, black pepper & salt with 4 cups of boiling water. (1 cup of rice, 2 cups of water).
• Add the cumin seeds, cardamom seeds & cloves.
• Let it cook for 5 mins, then add the soaked rice and stir. Partially close the lid.
• Add the halved potatoes when the water has almost drained.
• Cover the pot with foil paper and with lid. Reduce the hit.
• Serve while hot after 15mins minutes.

• Serve with room temperature cucumber salad 

Sere Bites: Thin Pancake Recipe

I love love pancakes especially the thin ones and not drenched in oil. Here is one that is Easy and healthy. (For savoury food)

Ingredients

2 cups of all purpose flour
2 eggs
1 cup of milk
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
100g of melted margarine
A pinch of cumin seeds
1/4 cup of sugar

Let's Cook

• Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another.
• Add the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and and stir,
• Pour in warm water and mix to your desired thinness.
• Heat a skillet, add a small amount of cooking oil and rub the surface and add the pancake batter and spread around the skillet.
• Flip on the other side and add some oil if its stick.
• When the pancakes are brown, they are ready :-)
• Repeat the process until all the batter is done.

You can have it with spicy stew or mince meat

Sere Bites Doughnut without the Hole

This is a combination of doughnut and swahili bun, aka Mandazi/Mahambri. I made them in Ramadhan and was a hit :)

Ingredients

• 2 kg All purpose baking flour
• 4 eggs
• 250g of margarine
• 500g sugar
• 1/4 cup of yogurt
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• Green Cardamom (iliki) crushed, the fresh cardamon is green and has a stronger scent.
• warm water

Kneading

• In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cardamon and yeast. Add melted margarine and mix well (mixture should look like breadcrumbs)
• Add the yogurt and eggs, mix and gradually add water and start kneading. DO NOT KNEAD FOR MORE THAN 10 MIN so that the doughnuts without the hole won't be tough.
• Cover with a moist cloth for 1 hour or until you finish cleaning the house :)

Cut and Fry

• You can use any cutter to design your doughnut without a hole, but i used the a glass to cut them out.
• Take a handful of the dough, flatten on a flat clean surface, flatten to 1/2 an inch and cut them out.
• Place the cut out on a flour dusted surface and repeat the process on the remaining dough.
• Deep fry until brown.

Serve while warm with Masala tea or you can wait it cool and dust icing sugar and serve with chilled ginger juice.

KalKals

My thumb had a workout... ;) Thank you Sahra

Kalkals is a somali and Indian dessert.

Ingredients

500 g of all purpose flour
100 g of butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder

Ingredients for coating

100 g of sugar
2 teaspoons of cardamon powder

Lets get Cooking

In a bowl, add the flour and the melted margarine and mix. Make the mixture look like bread crumbs.

Add water gradually while kneading.

Make a smooth dough and let it sit for 20 minutes under a moist cloth.

Cut the dough in small balls, then take each ball and flatten on a new or clean hair comb.

Add some oil on the comb if the dough sticks to it.

Deep fry the kalkals until brown.








Syrup Time.

Melt the sugar in a small amount of water. Add the kalkals into the syrup and flip until all the kalkals are coated.

I like my kalkals cold so i place them in the fridge :)

Enjoy

Noodles Fried Eggs

Easy, cheap and healthy (serves 3)

We need;

8 eggs

4 packs of noodles

1 onion

3 tomatoes

1 teaspoon beef curry powder

Pinch of pepper

Lets Cook Noodles

• Heat 3 cups of water with a pinch of salt.
• Add the noodles in boiling water and slightly cover the lid.
• When the noodles soften, reduce heat for 5 mins, drain the remaining water.

Lets Cook Eggs

In a heated pan, add a healthy amount of cooking oil.. let it heat up and add diced onions and diced tomatoes and stir until the mixture softens.

Add the spices and stir with a small amount of warm water. Let the water dry and add the beat eggs and stir.

Place the noodles on a flowery plate and add the fried eggs on top.. Sprinkle some onion leaves.

ENJOY