Author: Kaluhi (Page 18 of 23)

Honey, Lemon & Cinnamon Tea

July 31, 2015 / Kaluhi / 12 Comments

One of the ways I love keeping myself warm is by a nice hot cup of tea. And I am pleased that these days there are so many teas that are in the market, many of which have so many health benefits. I have been really into green tea. I have noticed that some brands have tea that really does not have the essence of the ingredients they use. That is why I prefer brewing my own the tea at home. #LuhyasWillBeLuhyas

One of the things I learnt from my mom is that the longer and the slower tea brews, the deeper and more distinct the flavor will be. That is the same technique I applied to my honey, lemon and cinnamon tea. Pole pole ndio mwendo! This tea had all the ingredients layered up so well and is the perfect drink to warm you up.

Taking Stock Six

July 27, 2015 / Kaluhi / 16 Comments

Kaluhi’s Kitchen turns one today!!!! *jumps in air and waves pom poms* And I could not be more thankful for the amazing ride it has been thus far. I have learnt what it means doing something you like, just coz you like it, and enriching other lives in the process. I have learnt to constantly aim for excellent, regardless whether there is an audience or not. But most times, when you do aim for excellent, the audience does turn up.

For the growth, the journey, the small victories, the times I spread myself out too thin, the critics and the support and my beloved readers who I would be nothing without, Thank You. Today, let us pause and recount.

Easy Dessert – Cake and Custard

July 21, 2015 / Kaluhi / 12 Comments

Have you ever smelt something or ate something and it immediately reminded you of a memory of something or someone? I am sure you have experienced this, whether food related or not. When it comes to food, one of the aromas that take me back to the 90’s is the aroma of custard. It reminds me of the afternoons we would spend with uncle Kivayiru at his home in Kileleshwa. My sisters and I loved it there! We would play so much, get sooooo dirty and fall right asleep in our car ride back home in Langata. To this day, I love custard. There is a way to make it from scratch, but a little shortcut hurt nobody. Especially now that temparatures are dropping, cake and custard will sure warm you up.

Salt Bar and Grill

July 19, 2015 / Kaluhi / 6 Comments

The junction is always a bee hive of activity regardless of which day of the week. People moving through the mall lost in their own business and chatting away. In the midst of all this rests Salt Grill and bar, sitting like and oasis of relaxation in a dessert of bustling activity. My first impression of Salt grill and bar was class, indulgence and quality; both in terms of service and product. I was pleased to discover that they lived up to my expectations. Thank you Eat Out Kenya and Yummy KE for introducing me to this gem!

Salt is a name that mirrors restaurants with the same name in Europe that offer very high service and product. It is an easy name to remember and kinda has a modern feel to it. Formerly known as WWW, this is the ultimate wine bar in Nairobi. Unlike majority of the restaurants that mostly offer french wine, Salt Grill and bar ventures into the unexplored. They have wines form all over the globe but also offer Californian wine from the Napa Valley and Wines from Spain too. These regions are not strongly associated with wine production, but they understand the craft and make really good wine.

Broccoli and Pea Cabbage Stir Fry

July 17, 2015 / Kaluhi / 10 Comments

We all have those meals we just do not feel drawn to, for no particular reason. I am not a big fan of cabbage, unless it is cooked in a certain specific way. It takes a short time to cook, and that makes it very easy to over cook. Alot of the times I have had it in various places in Nairobi, it is overcooked. And where there is a problem, that is a chance for you to step in and make that dish to be fantastic. That makes cooking exciting.

Cabbage is a very healthy vegetable and I like adding more character to it to make it more wholesome. Today’s cabbage stir fry is one my mom developed. I did not change/add anything because I felt it was just perfect as mom made it. I liked it so much and decided to share the recipe with you. I have a feeling you will like it just as much 🙂

Pan Fried Fish with Sweet and Sour Ukwaju Sauce

July 14, 2015 / Kaluhi / 36 Comments

It was 1999 and me and my best friend Ngina were playing outside. Her cousin,Shena, had just come back from the coast and ofcourse, with plenty of goodies. One of the things she brought were ukwaju (tamarind). To us they looked like dates. And if they looked like dates, and felt like dates, then they had to taste like dates…How wrong we were. After puting a handful into our mouths, it was not long before we spat them out. They were so sour. So much so that our tongues kept zinging. LOL. I vowed never to eat sour ukwaju ever again, and wondered why people even liked them.

Now, older and wiser, I have learnt how to use this sour ingredient. After my eldest sister brought them home after some days at the coast, I decided to give it a try. This totally paid off!

Flame Tree Restaurant at Sarova Panafric

July 11, 2015 / Kaluhi / 12 Comments

I had the privilege to attend the unveiling of the new menu for Flame Tree Restaurant at the Sarova Panafric. The Sarova Panafric is the only Pan-African hotel and home to authentic African tastes. To retain their reputation as the preferred hospitality hotel in the region, they constantly seek improvement and exceeding of expectations. This was evident and reflected in their menu. Their “Best of Kenya” concept seeks to offer the best locally produced and sourced foods in three culinary areas which are: traditional Kenyan cuisine; Western cuisine with an African influence and Swahili/Coastal Kenyan cuisine. Their meals have an African touch but with the highest level of eclectic global appeal and prepared with such great skill and execution. It was nothing short of excellence and opulence.

If you are like me, you have a mental list places you wish to visit or dine one day. Not to prove anything, but to simply enjoy the experience that good quality and service brings with it. If you have your list of places you want to dine in the near future, you had better add Flame Tree Restaurant to it.

Peppery Hot dog with Lemon and Garlic Plain Yoghurt Sauce

July 10, 2015 / Kaluhi / 10 Comments

Let’s be honest for a second… the whole world loves hot dogs. Or at least in my head, the whole world does. Perfect snack. And depending on what you add to them, you can get all food groups into your hot dog. There are so many ways to have your hot dog. And that gets me excited since it awakens my creative power.

I decided to make my hot dog with the frankfurter sauteed with green bell peppers until they are crispy. I also decided to replace the mustard with a tangy lemon and garlic plain yoghurt sauce. So for my 100th post, savor on this brilliant and delicious beauty.

Avocado and Sesame Seed Milky Omelette

July 7, 2015 / Kaluhi / 8 Comments

Absolutely nothing in this world feels as energizing as beginning a day full of energy and zeal. With optimism and will to conqure the day ahead. And this energy is ony topped by having a power breakfast to take you through the day. And because breakfast if the most important meal of the day, do it big.

For my breakfast dish, I decided to make an omelette. There are so many ways to make an omelette, such as this other recipe. This recipe was inspired by my memories of Maragoli, where my dad would make omelette with milk for my sisters and I when we were little girls. I added my little twist to this and it was so so great and filling. It so easy too. You must try this out 🙂

Garlicky French Beans and Carrots

July 3, 2015 / Kaluhi / 21 Comments

This is one of the most common dishes in Kenya. For me, I like it as an alternative to cabbage, which I am not a big fan of. Also known as green beans or sting beans by different people around the globe, they are still as good by by other name. They are also very very healthy. There are many ways to cook french beans and carrots but here is my take on them. I like mine alot more savory and rich that is why I have them with plenty of garlic. Garlicky is not a word but today it is. If you are looking for an alternative to your usual veggies or a substitute to those you do not like, today is your lucky day!

Pea and Potato Stew

June 30, 2015 / Kaluhi / 38 Comments

Potato stew is rather common in Kenya. Probablly because you can throw in various ingredients and having them cook all at once. This saves plenty of time. Unfortunately for most, this meal falls short of flavor. But in our home, we have found a way to have this taste great all the time. After years of tweaking my mum’s recipe, we finally settled on the best potato stew.

I shared this picture on Instagram and Face book a while back and it received quite a nice reception. I decided to share our family recipe today and I know you will like it. Regardless of what you make, no matter how basic, never ever compromise on how it tastes and looks. For today: Pea and Potato Stew

Orange Zest Funfetti Pancakes

June 26, 2015 / Kaluhi / 2 Comments

I get inspiration for my recipes from almost anything, but usually from things that tug my heartstrings. Today’s recipe was inspired by personalities that embody and radiate sunshine and joy. Those are the personalities of my two young cousins Kadesa, 8 and Mudola, 4. They make me so happy and I just love hanging around them. Last time when they came over, I prepared this dish. This time round I made this, though after they had left. I feel these funfetti pancakes fun, warm and happy feel captures what I feel when I am around these two girls.

I made pancakes last time with raisins and some orange syrup and they were explosively fantastic. This time round, I decided to add funfetti, some freshly squeezed orange juice and a milky syrup. They were so so good. If you loved the raisin pancakes, you will love these funfetti pancakes.

Potato Salad

June 23, 2015 / Kaluhi / 8 Comments

Among the shows I am always glued to are cooking shows. Recently I have been watching Pioneer Woman which is quite new on food network. It is one of my favorites these days. The host, Ree Drummond, makes her recipes so easy and do-able and I guess that is why I gravitated towards her since it is the same thing Ii try to achieve with my blog. I liked her warm aura too and her show immediately from the very first episode. Plus she lives a life that I hope to mirror one day: She is family oriented, she loves to cook and does it damn well, she lives on a ranch (I want to live on a ranch too :)), and she is so graceful.

Todays recipe was inspired by her. She made this pea salad and I decided to put my own twist to her recipe using ingredients I have at hand and ended up with a potato salad. And it was fantastic! Thank you Ree Drummond 🙂

While we enjoy some sunshine before the July iciness, this you have to try this out guys!

7 most common food myths denunked

June 19, 2015 / Kaluhi / 4 Comments

We have all heard those do’s and dont’s about cooking , food and being in the kitchen. While many of them hold ground and have truth to them, others are just not quite true. With the society at large becoming more health conscious, alot of foods are being avoided at all costs. I am a believer that every single food can contribute to the well being of our bodies. It is just important for you not to overindulge. Here are some 7 most common food myths:

Spicy Beer Beef Stew

June 16, 2015 / Kaluhi / 24 Comments

I am not much of an alcoholic drink drinker. But one of the things I enjoy doing is cooking with some alchohol. During the coking process, much of the alcohol burns off and the food remains with just the taste and depth of that particular drink. I have seen time and time again people making their beef stews with beer and I was slightly taken aback as to why it was so popular. This was until I tried it myself. And all I can say is, the beer+beef combination is a match made in heaven. This author agrees too! I am always for trying out new things and pushing myself beyond what I am used to. And this really paid off. This beer beef stew is the perfect comfort food. I really cannot put in words how good this is. You just have to try it for your self.

Butternut Soup with Crispy Toasted Seeds

June 12, 2015 / Kaluhi / 16 Comments

I could hear the rumble of thunder from a distance, and I knew that particular weekend would be a cold, rainy one. The house grew dark & cold, so I went upstairs to grab myself a pair of socks. No sooner had I come back down than the rain began aggressively beating on the roof. Huge, angry drops of May Nairobi Rain. A bright flash of lightning lit the entire sky and with it, power was gone. Typical! Since I could not go anywhere outside, nor watch anything I decided to retreat to my favorite place: the Kitchen. That day, I decided to prepare some soup to warm myself up as I waited for electricity to return and keep myself busy.

This butternut soup is so beautiful I literally stared at it for so long. I took so many pics of it and it is one of my most visually appealing dishes yet. It is so filling, very nutritious and very warming. While it is currently not as rainy in Nairobi right now as it was a week ago, it is still rather cold especially in the evenings (22° C / 72F qualifies as cold in this equatorial country). This is the best soup for you to have. Whether as a the perfect prelude to a magnificent meal or just to warm you up, this butternut soup will still make you happy!

Chili and Ginger Githeri

June 9, 2015 / Kaluhi / 19 Comments

I am one of those people who can never EVER miss githeri when it is cooked. It’s almost an obsession. Ask my sisters, I absolutely love githeri. When I tell this to people, I get that look as though I just said I love eating kittens, live ones, in a graveyard, while chanting sacrilegious hymns of an extinct tribe . This may be because majority are yet to have that deliciously celestial githeri-eating experience. But I will give you one..

One of my earliest recipes on this blog was that of githeri, where I prepared it with coconut cream and curry which brought our its softer elements. You can get that recipe here. This time, I am using stronger flavors of chilli and ginger which brings out its more savory side. There is more than one way of preparing anything. And that is what makes cooking very exciting and a constant adventure. Do not allow your self to cook one meal the exact same way for all the days of your life. You will be missing out!

To warm you up as days get colder: Chilli and Ginger Githeri

Cake Festival 2015 – How it went down…

June 7, 2015 / Kaluhi / 14 Comments

When the event organizers for the Cake Festival 2015 say come and eat as much cake as you can, they are actually very very serious about that. This event had about 200 bakers showcasing their skill. It was a day of pure indulgence. We ate so much cake and I feel I will not have any more cake in a long long time. The bakers were very engaging and warm and majority of them had really high quality cake. And the best part is that all funds raised from this event shall be used to further education for students who come from needy backgrounds. It was all for a worthy cause.

This is how it went down.

Fried Nduma with Crunchy Bread Crumb Crust

June 5, 2015 / Kaluhi / 14 Comments

Have you ever eaten something after years of resistance and wondering why it took you too long to try it? That was me with nduma. Just like I did matumbo, I would avoid putting it in my mouth at all costs for reasons unbeknown to me. But when I finally did, I can not have enough. Nduma are what we Kenyans refer to arrow roots. They are super duper nutritious and taste so good. Thank God I got over my senseless fear,LOL.

At home we usually just have them boiled. But I have been encouraged by numerous people to try them fried. Everything fried is tastier after all, so I decided to give this a try. To add to the texture, I coated the nduma with breadcrumbs, seasoned lightly with nutmeg which transformed this to the most glorious breakfast meal. My tongue has never been as delighted! Yours will be too, promise!

Cayenne and Red Onion Nyama Choma Dry-fry

June 2, 2015 / Kaluhi / 9 Comments

In my country it is almost an abomination to throw away left overs of any meal. In the Kenyan spirit of resourcefulness, all meals that are left over from the current meal are set aside to be eaten as part of or for the next meal. Wastefulness is totally discouraged in our culture. And I believe that is a totally fantastic thing.

But lets be honest, at times having left-overs over and over can sometimes be monotonous. Hence it is always advisable to change things up and add new flavors to and transform an already awesome meal. Following the Madaraka day celebrations, we had some left over nyama-choma. To make this richer and tastier, we usually turn this into a dry fry. The process of frying it tenderizes the meat further but it still retains that smokey flavor. The onions and the chilli enhance the flavor of the nyama choma meat so well. It is soo good, just typing this made me salivate.