Author: Kaluhi (Page 19 of 23)

Grilled Cheese Chicken Sandwich

May 29, 2015 / Kaluhi / 6 Comments

Have you ever tried out a new recipe with so much excitement but it turned out way below average? That happens to me too sometimes. I was so excited to make some crunchy drumsticks sometime back but they were not as good as I anticipated. My first and most honest critics, my family ,thought they really could have tasted better. And I agreed. Even though they looked really good, they were grossly under-seasoned. I could not bring myself to post a recipe that I myself don’t stand confidently by. Quality of content trumps quantity of content any day.

So the next day, I decided to use the left overs from the remaining drumsticks and make something else. I decided to make grilled cheese chicken sandwich which was so indulgent and so so sooo perfect. This brought back my confidence after that no-so-good drumstick kitchen experience. And this was one of the tastiest recreation of left overs I have made to date!

I encourage you too to try new things. You will fail…numerous times, just as I do. But do not run away from the kitchen forever. Take it as a learning experience and up your game each time. You will become even better as a result 🙂

Peppery Carrot and Garlic Ndengu

May 26, 2015 / Kaluhi / 28 Comments

You know those times when you are just chilling at home then guest come knocking? I know all Kenyans can relate to this since in our culture, it is quite normal to show up/visit unannounced. While it is a good thing as it preserves the sense of community, ~~most of the time~~ sometimes , you really are not prepared for them. And it is considered rude not to serve guests something small to eat while they are in your home. So we resolve to offering whatever is there to make them feel at home.

We once received unexpected guests some Sunday ago. We had nothing flamboyant to prepare, so we gave them exactly what we were having for lunch that afternoon- Coconut Rice and this Peppery Carrot and Garlic Ndengu. While this is a very normal meal to us, the guests were so impressed with what we served them that they could have sworn we knew they were coming :D. This is not to show off, but to encourage you too to strive to make each meal a memorable banquet. So much so that eating fantastic food becomes part of your everyday life. After all, life is too short to wait for only special occasions to eat great tasting food. Have nice food as often as you can.

So for today: Peppery Carrot and Garlic Ndengu. Hope you try this out

Taking Stock 5

May 22, 2015 / Kaluhi / 10 Comments

With 84 posts behind me and a jumble of recipes in my head, it is time to take a pause and smell the roses… or the food.. or whatever we want to smell :D. Here we go: Taking Stock 5.

Pork sausage, Beef and Cheddar Meatballs

May 19, 2015 / Kaluhi / 13 Comments

“That was fantastic, D!” I always know a meal is good mum ends her dinner with that comment: And my sisters and when my daddy gobble it down really fast. I have been trying a lot of new recipes and techniques lately and I was over the moon when this turned out better than I could have anticipated. My first meatball recipe is significantly different from this one. You can try both and see which one you personally like best. But judging form how fast these meatballs were cleared, this recipe is a winner!

They were cooked in two phases. They have two types of meat: pork sausage and minced beef which come together in the most beautiful flavor bomb. The cheese adds a lot of moisture and flavor. The juicy, rich sauce that coats them will make your tongue lick your brain.

Garlic Masala Fries

May 15, 2015 / Kaluhi / 18 Comments

I am not such a big fan of junk food as I highlighted in this post not too long ago. But in all honesty, I find it so hard to turn down a good plate of masala fries. And I guess these garlic masala fries have to be the only exception. Fries have become quite common in Kenya over the past decade and different ways to have them have come up with time. I first heard of masala fries from my eldest sister while I was still in boarding school and the name alone made my mouth water. I vowed to have a taste of them as soon as my holiday begun. With some of my savings at hand, I made my way to Wimpy and bought some. I was not disappointed!

Today I made masala fries, but added my little twist to them, as usual! I added plenty of garlic which brought out the taste of the chilli so well and added to the juiciness of the masala sauce. These garlic masala fries iare a must try for all my readers.

Spring Onion and Cumin Seed Farfalle Stir-Fry

May 12, 2015 / Kaluhi / 0 Comments

I just feel like I must begin by reassuring you not to be intimidated by the name of this dish. LOL! Remember when we did this dish with a very different name, but it turned out very simple (and most popular for that month)? This farfalle stir fry is one of those dishes with long name but so simple to make. I promise! This is simply a stir fry made using a type of pasta called farfalle, which in my opinion are the prettiest pasta on the face of the earth. They resemble little bows and the girly girl in me almost automatically gravitated to them.

This stir fry was suggested to me by my friend, Vidhi, who loves cooking just as much as I do. Her recipe used cardamom seeds and white sauce. I put my own twist to it and used the ingredients I have available. Because this type of pasta is already inherently beautiful, this shaves off a lot of time trying to make the dish look pretty. Do read through and discover how easy this farfalle strir fry is to make:

Chinese Vegetable Fried Rice

May 8, 2015 / Kaluhi / 6 Comments

My late aunty, Aunty Kavetsa, one of those people you could never shake off or forget even if you met her for just one minute. One word that could summarize her personality is fire. She was fiercely loving, fiercely protective, very resolute and downright honest (sometimes, a bit too honest :D) Some of the many firsts I have experienced was through or with her; my first plane ride, my first Mombasa visit, my first encyclopedia, my first knowledge of the constellations and my first sampling of Chinese food. I remember she once took us for dinner to China Plate in Nairobi and ever since, I have always been fascinated by oriental Chinese flavors. This backdrop of nostalgia inspired today’s dish. It is easy to make. My sisters enjoyed it and I hope you do too 🙂

In other news, I have been featured in Healthy Woman Magazine, May Issue, and this vegetable fried rice is the recipe I made while their team came over to interview me. It has already hit the shelves and costs only 350 shillings. Do grab yourself a copy :).

Chocolate and Raisin Banana Split Delite

May 5, 2015 / Kaluhi / 0 Comments

I am the kind of person who is very analytical before I get into something. A few weeks before I started this blog, I used to post some pics of what I make at home on my personal Face Book page. I did that to see how the reception would be and how the public warmed up to them. To my surprise, people loved them and requested for the recipes. I was then sure the best platform to share the recipes would be via a blog.

One of the pictures I shared were those of this banana split. I made it first for my sisters and it was a hit. I initially made it with just ground nuts but this time I tweaked it a little bit and added some raisins for some extra sweetness. This is one of those very simple desserts that are just as healthy as they are breathtaking. The flavors of the chocolate, robustness of the raisins, softness of the vanilla yoghurt and texture of the nuts came together in perfect harmony in this banana split.

As I posted on Instagram, for the month of May, I shall focus on very simple recipes that bring out high profile flavors. Today, feast your eyes (and tongue) on this 🙂

Carrot and Bell Pepper Mushroom Saute

April 29, 2015 / Kaluhi / 0 Comments

When ever my parents visit Maragoli, Western Kenya, they always bring us lots of fresh produce. This is because the produce is usually fresher and cheaper so they usually take full advantage. Among the things she brings from time to time are uvwova (mushrooms). I am not sure which type they were but they were white with long lean stems. I am a big fan of them especially when sauteed and they substitute meat really well. At home, my mum, daddy and myself always eat them whenever are cooked. Over Easter, I bought another type of mushroom from Nakumatt Galleria, Chestnut Mushrooms, and this time round everyone loved them. My sisters gobbled them down and I totally loved them too. If you want to try something new, really fast and healthy, this mushroom saute is it.

Minced Beef Kebab with Tangy Dip

April 24, 2015 / Kaluhi / 2 Comments

I had a real Kebab addiction problem while I was in high-school. The love I had for these was so strong it was almost obsessive. I needed my kebab kick each and every day. They used to be quite cheap back then. And when the prices increased, I just could not fuel my addiction so I kicked it.

I have never made kebabs on my own. I decided to give them a try but with a recipe and style that differs from the ones that are traditionally had in Kenya. Mine did not use eggs to hold the meat together, but used bread crumbs.Instead of deep frying mine, I grilled them. And to make this more flavorful, I added a beautiful array of spices.

I hope you give this a try 🙂 <3

Homemade “Baked” Beans

April 21, 2015 / Kaluhi / 2 Comments

I am one of those people who never EVER skips breakfast. Whenever I wake up, I am usually starving and my body is ready to take in its first meal as soon as it can. As this is the first meal of the day, I try as much as possible to make it as balanced and as healthy as possible. When I have plenty of time on my hands, I always incorporate some protein in my breakfast since it keeps me fuller for longer. And since I have really high metabolism, this works to my advantage always :).

Baked beans are one of my fave protein breakfast dishes. They are so delicious and very filling. We usually buy the ready made ones in our home but I decided to try make my own at home. They were even better than the bought ones. This you must try!

Chicken Stew – Kuku Kienyeji

April 17, 2015 / Kaluhi / 23 Comments

I always enjoy getting feedback from my followers about all the recipes I develop and about the recipes they would like to see. A few weeks back, I had my second ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on instagram where my followers got a chance to ask me anything be it food or non food related. One of the questions that I was asked by one of my followers was a recipe for chicken stew. I love all things chicken and I quickly jumped at this suggestion hence the birth of this recipe. I decided to go all Kenyan on it and made chicken stew- kuku kienyeji.

Kuku kienyeji refers to chicken that have not been bred or raised on commercial feeds but are left to feed on whatever they find around; free range chicken. Their meat can be a bit tough, but when cooked well, it literally slides off the bone. It is all bout technique. Its meat is very lean and slightly darker in color compared to broiler. The taste is also more wholesome. Chicken stew- kuku kienyeji is simply one of the heartiest meals on the face of this earth. This chicken stew recipe contains the fresh flavor of ground coriander, green bell pepper and red onion which makes this so rich and with layers of different flavors. You will fall head over heels in love with this!

Mushroom and Tomato Frittata

April 14, 2015 / Kaluhi / 2 Comments

Like every blogger, I often hit those writing blocks when I just do not know what to post next. To get over that, I usually turn to various food blogs or scroll through some of my fellow foodie’s IG feeds for some inspiration. This usually works perfectly! No sooner am I done surfing than I am bubbling over with new recipe ideas to try out.

One of my most inspirational foodie feeds on Instagram is Miss Mandi Throwdown by Mandi Sarro . She can really throw down some serious dishes!!!! From what I noticed about her, she likes her meals really wholesome, just as I do. And like any other African lady, she often incorporates the previous day’s meals into the next day’s meal but in really creative ways. Nothing goes to waste! I like that so much. One way she does this is by making a frittata. I decided to give this a try and I am blown away.

Cayenne Pepper and Cheese Deviled Eggs

April 10, 2015 / Kaluhi / 0 Comments

I really love boiled eggs. I had a rocky relationship with them when I was little, as highlighted in this post, but nowadays I just cannot get enough!! Its one of those foods that are so filling and yet so healthy. Even in Kenya, on a day to day basis, it is almost impossible not to come across street vendors hawking some boiled eggs. Those sold on the streets are usually cut in half and some kachumbari put in that hollow. It is as delicious as it is nutritious. What makes boiled eggs so good is that you can have them with almost anything, in in any way you want.

Today I decided to have my boiled egg with a different kind of filling. Deviled eggs can be made in so many ways, but here is my take on it. It was so tasty, and so pretty. I was so happy with how this turned out. This is fantastic enough for cocktail bitings, delicious enough as a meal starter/appetizer for and healthy enough for a breakfast meal.

Hope you enjoy these deviled as much as I did 🙂

Spicy Grilled Beef Burger with Coleslaw

April 7, 2015 / Kaluhi / 16 Comments

I am not the hugest junk food fan . . What really gets my juices flowing is a good home cooked meal. Soul food is my thing :). But once in a while, I do crave some good pizza, burgers or any other juicy oily meal to gulp down. When it comes to burgers, I am usually very picky with where I get mine from. A lot of the times, I get some burgers with strange tasting patties most with really dry meat, while some tasting like plastacine (don’t wonder how I knew how that tastes like :D). To fix this, I started making my own at home. And to be honest, the flavor profile of my burger is light years ahead of those from fast food joints. My homemade pattie was super moist, so juicy and perfectly flavored. This was complimented so well with the most breathtaking sauce, which is also homemade.

Perfect for a picnic, a fun lunch with pals or just for yourself. This grilled beef burger is so explosive it will literally make your tongue lick your brain!

Mushroom noodles with pea and french bean stir fry

April 3, 2015 / Kaluhi / 7 Comments

I am always so excited when my small cousins, Mudola and Kadesa, come over to visit from Mombasa. The last time they came over, I made some simple spaghetti and my matata meatballs for dinner. The arrived just as I was taking the spaghetti from the heat. Mudola saw the spaghetti and yelled in excitement “Indomie!!!” and ran towards me. Indomie are a popular noodle brand in this country. And because noodles kinda resemble spaghetti, to 3 year old Mudola , I was making her favorite noodles. She quickly asked for some, and gobbled them down amid giggles, a cheeky sparkle in her eyes and that warm incandescence that filled the room whenever she laughed. She is adorable!

While they love spaghetti, I once in a while prep instant noodles for kina Mudola. I always go the extra mile because we just do not do kawaida here at #KK. Abit of fresh veggies to play up the flavor and bring it to life and it always turns out great. I like my recipes easy and tasty. This is no exception 🙂

Poached Eggs with chunky Tomato Salsa

March 31, 2015 / Kaluhi / 6 Comments

I like having my eggs in different kinds of ways. Poached eggs are very popular globally but I have never tired them just due to one reason. Fear. Fear of all that wetness and liquid yolk which I personally do not find appealing. While that is what excites most people, for me, that made me stay clear of poached eggs. But I decided to take the plunge after realizing that maybe it is not that bad after all. I did and I was so impressed. When I was doing my online research, I got the implication that making poached eggs is so complicated. But I found that not to be true. All you need is your ingredients, and an eager heart :). Hope you enjoy this to the max as much as I did.

Ginger and Spring Onion Njahi Stew

March 27, 2015 / Kaluhi / 43 Comments

I have always been fascinated by how njahi seeds look when raw. Like a small black bag with a neat white zip placed halfway on its side. Or like a tiny black pod with a strip of white paint. Or like a compressed skunk. They are kinda cute actually. They are black and white when uncooked but once they are cooked, they transform to this amazing deep mahogany shade. God is really creative with everything he does or made for us, don’t you think? I am not aware exactly where else in the world this seed can be found. From my online sources, they referred to as lablab beans; a name that is as funny as it is strange. Some people call them tuxedo beans, while others call them hyacinth beans. There are white ones, brown, black ones and even red ones but the popular ones in my country are the black ones.

In my country, these seeds are most commonly consumed by communities from the mount Kenya region. They have slowly gained popularity throughout the nation mainly due to their nutritional benefits. Some of the these its high in protein, folate, iron ,vitamin B6, zinc, calcium,magnesium and phosphorus. They are usually prepared with just onions, tomatoes and some light seasoning. But as you know, here, we always take it up another notch. This njahi recipe has plenty of flavor, which plays up the natural earthy flavor of these beans. I am really excited to share this recipe with you 🙂

Sweet Corn and Tomato Salad

March 24, 2015 / Kaluhi / 4 Comments

I love having some salad or fresh fruit with most of my meals. They add this freshness to all the meals and make them a lot more wholesome and complete. The easiest salad to have with your meals are coleslaw, and the most common here in Kenya is the amazing kachumbari. But this world has so much more to offer besides just those. And considering fresh produce can be found in my country at very low prices, this makes it even easier for us to indulge in this richness.

I have made this sweet corn and tomato salad and it was like sunshine and morning dew combined. It was so mellow, so light and so filling. It has the farmiliar flavors of kachumbari but has other additional ingredients which give it a more global approach. This is one salad that should never miss from your family dinner table.

Pineapple Marinated Teriyaki Chicken

March 20, 2015 / Kaluhi / 12 Comments

I made this teriyaki chicken on a hot February weekend. When I purchased my wings from city market, my main concern was getting home fast enough without them getting spoilt as a result of the excruciating heat. In as much as I love this weather, on that particular afternoon, I would have happily welcomed an unexpected down pour. When I did get home, the chicken had developed a strange slimy layer, to my dismay. I was so disappointed because I felt that I had wasted money on a dish I would not get to prepare. I told my mum about my disappointment and she explained to me that the chicken was not spoilt. It just develops that layer so as to protect itself from the effects of the heat on the short term. However, it needed to be washed off and marinated immediately. That calmed me down and got my adrenalin pumping for the actual cooking.

This teriyaki chicken turned out even better than I had anticipated. The sauce was phenomenal. The pineapple marinade was fantastic! My sisters, mum and daddy devoured these teriyaki chicken wings in a flash. This was way better than any chicken in any hotel, hands down! And this is not boasting, this is just what went down. As you read through, imagine yourself doing each step and you will see how easy this is. #musttry