School Closings: Experience Kenya the land of the safari

After travelling the world with my family Im back in Kenya now, almost 3 years since I came back. Still a housewife and Cooking here at cook-italian-way. Must accept I haven't been very creative with recipes lately. Have you ever been in Kenya? Would you like to experience the real Kenyan life? WOuld you like to share news of Kenya with your friends? Answer is simple, Im looking for housewives interested in travel, I will help you organise an exciting stay here in Kenya. See Kenya real Kenya, Experience real Kenya. If interested leave me a message here or send me mail at marydotmarete (at)gmail dot com You can also visit http://yarhkenya.blogspot.com/, an initiative by a 9 year old and see how you can help. With school closings, this is good time to experience the Kenyan hot weather.

KenyaDecides: Elections in Kenya

Yesterday night we were treated to the Elections Kenya Debate 2013, next week Kenya votes. Food Security was mentioned here and there, a country like Kenya with its diverse resources people should not be going hungry whether rains come or not. So how do we solve the food security issues? After the elections on Monday, of course like any competition there are going to be loosers and winners, just keep your spirits high whether you loose or win, think tomorrow, the Kenya everyone wants where everyone goes to bed with a full stomach, decent living and basic needs for all. On that day, a Tiramisu will do for me it will lift me up!

Nairobi's hottest weather this February: A cool milk shake will do

A milk shake is a cool way to stay cool with these hot temperatures nairobi is experiencing. No special recipe for this: Milk, fruits of your choice, some sugar and ice plus a blender and your job is done, that is if KPLC's Nairobi famous blackouts not on your side.

I have read that KPLC is going to revise the rates (upward - steeply) so watch out your consumption, Im talking about those who want to watch their pockets and what they spend. Not those whom bills are paid by companies they work for. Watch out also for hiked prices in consumer prices when these new rates are introduced. We are going solar!

Nobody told you corner

This is a topic I have been meaning to cover on this blog for some time. "SUFURIAS" yes sufuria, those aluminium cookwares. Look at this article if you never read it and please pass on to your neighbours and friends. Start sharing health facts and lets save our health: Sufuria's are a health hazard - you are poisoning yourselves. From Standard Newspaper Dated October 16th 2012 by James Ng'ang'a New research reveals that millions of unsuspecting Kenyans who utilise aluminium cookware could be cooking their way to early graves due to the poisonous effect of aluminium metal, writes JAMES NG’ANG’A Read On

Healthy Eating in Nairobi: Whats on my plate?

Greek Salad My way! Life is as complicated as you make it. When I pack my bags and move to a different country Italian food for me doesn't stop there. I try my very best to adjust with local ingredients and still enjoy my Italian style recipes. My Kenyan style greek salad: Lettuce, Olives (Thank God they are everywhere in the shops in Nairobi), onions in Kenya plenty, cucumber locally cultivated and yes the famous Feta cheese you find imitation made locally so I go for it. All in a bowl, some Olive oil (must confess - this is the only ingredient I cannot do without the Italian one. Now if you go to Chandarana supermarket if not finished Italian Olive Oil is on great offer. And I have bought a few bottles. And yes I give cooking lessons for those who wish to cook something different. Leave me a message on this blog to organise or just find me on twitter @marym a.k.a Happy Housewife. I'll also leave you with this Channel to watch when you have a second! http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9wfeIHQLPq6lUpimk0ZYCQ?feature=plcp

Mediterranean Diet: Fish, chicken, lots of vegetables, olive oil and fruits

Tracking

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Beef Pa-naeng (beef in dry Red curry)

My holiday in Thailand in the year 2002, was full of surprises and new adventures. I had just got married the year earlier and it was fun travelling far away after I had left my mother country just a year earlier.
Little did I know that a year later we would move to Thailand for my husbands work and live there for the following 2 years.

Ingredients:
250g Coconut Milk
160g Pa-naeng or red curry paste (I use one spoonful- as thai food is usually hot make sure you dose this according level of support of hot chilli)
650g Beef tenderloin, thinly sliced
35g Fish sauce
30g brown sugar
30g finely crushed peanut or chunky peanut butter
6g Kaffir lime leaves, thinly sliced
20g red chilli peppers, thinly sliced lengthwise (I use capsicum as it is meant for garnish)

-Mix the coconut milk with the red curry paste in a sauce pan. Heat the mixture and stir until it forms bubbles.
-Lower the heat and continue stirring the mixture until the red oil surfaces.
-Add sliced beef in the hot curry mixture . Raise the heat, add fish sauce and sugar. When beef is almost done , add crushed peanuts. Lower the heat and cook the beef until it is done and the sauce becomes thick.
-At this point, more fish sauce and sugar can be added if needed. The regular taste trend of this dish is the balance between saltiness and sweetness.
-Garnish the curry with the thinly sliced red chilli peppers (I use here capsicum)and kaffir lime leaves.
Serve with steamed rice.
Note: Thai meals are served not in courses but various dishes at the same time all with steamed rice.

Eating Healthy food in times of recession

Brocolli and Cauliflower

Healthy benefit of Brocolli and Cauliflower: High in Antioxidants and they contain phytochemicals (phytonutrients)which act as Anti-Cancer.Also rich in Vit.C, fiber and calcium.

From the cruciferae family like kale (sukumawiki) How to cook it: There are easy to complex recipes on how to prepare this. My easiest is frying on the pan with garlic and butter or oil. 2-3 servings a week is acceptable but if you go an extra mile for 4-5 servings a week the better for you and your family. Another way of cooking cauliflower that i love is the lasagne way. Ingredients:cauliflower, butter, flour, milk,emmental cheese, parmesan,salt,pepper, double cream or cooking cream. 1)you divide the florets and cook them for 15minutes in boiling salty water. When cooked you drain away the water. 2) Prepare Bechamel sauce see my earlier recipe for how to make bechamel sauce

Mix the bechamel with grated parmesan and emmental. 3) Butter an oven proof dish pour in the cauliflower and cover with the sauce cook in the oven at 220°C until turns golden brown.

Serve your healthy nice and tasty cauliflowers and toast to a healthy family!

Mediterranean Diet: Fish, chicken, lots of vegetables, olive oil and fruits

Italian recipes pizza, tiramisu, cakes

Pizza forever:

Pizza Forever! Holy Pizza!


Home made Tiramisu the way I like it, try it and your friends will never have enough:

Lift your soul!


Birthday cake that says it all:

Happy birthday in style!


and of course other delicious discoveries not only on your birthday

Enjoy! Spread the word!

check them out.

Tiramisu the Kenyan Way

Yesterday was my birhtday. I wanted to prepare something special for myself.

The making of Tiramisu - Mascarpone cream, finger biscuits, Chandaria maccoffee, eggs and strawberries.

Strawberry or Italian original?

Happy birthday to me!

Happy birthday to me in Nairobi. Off to the market. You have no idea what is going to cook in my kitchen tonight. Keep visiting this blog for some Scorpion birthday mixes. And thanks to all friends who visited my blog on this special day. Welcome, grab this drink and feel at home. look around and see what you might be interested in cooking this coming weekend. I'm in the kitchen preparing ideas for christmas

The making of Lasagne: Behind the scenes

The making of the Lasagne: Episode 1
Characters: Flour, eggs, pots, water
Besciamel sauce: Milk, butter
meat sauce: Minced meat, carrot, onion, red wine (optional), tomatoe puree.
Lasagne, originated from Italy like some of the worlds most celebrated delicacies like pizza. Lasagne is sheets of flat pasta filled with beef sauce (ragu) and besciamel sauce. The making of Lasagne is easy but needs patience because of different steps. The making of the dough The rolling into thin sheets

Boiling the sheets Lasagne Composition: Sheets of Lasagne are alternated with meat sauce and besciamel

Cooking in the oven.