Recipe: Vermicelli Bread

Make Vermicelli Bread for with this recipe:

• ½ pound vermicelli
• 4 cups unsweetened coconut milk
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 egg
• ½ cup whole wheat or all-purpose flour
  

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Prepare the vermicelli according to the package direction and drain. Heat the coconut milk and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes. Add the vermicelli and ginger. Beat the egg in a small bowl. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of the coconut milk mixture to the beaten egg, and then stir the egg mixture into the pan with the vermicelli. Whisk in the flour and pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 1 hour or until soft and spongy. You can cut it into squares or whatever way suits you.

Pic of the Week

One of the children at Shangalia orphanage shares his skills.

Recipe: Plantains in Coconut Milk

The wonderful thing about plantains is that they truly are a versatile food. As a plantain ripens, its high starch content changes to sugar. Plantains are good at any stage; it just depends on what you want to make. Green or "unripe" plantains contain a lot of starch and very little sweetness. Their starchy flesh is used more as a vegetable than a fruit. When buying ripe plantains, they should be firm and not mushy or cracked. Make plaintains in coconut milk for yourself with this recipe:

• 3-4 plantains, sliced in rounds
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of curry powder
• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1-2 cups of coconut milk
  

When peeling plantains or green bananas, moisten hands and rub with salt to prevent the juices from sticking to your hands. Cut off about 1 inch from both ends of the plantain. Using a sharp knife, make 2 lengthwise cuts at opposite ends of the plantain. While holding the plantain steady with your left hand, use your right hand to slide the tip of the knife under the skin and begin to pull it away, going from top to bottom. Soak the peeled plantains in salted water. Drain on a paper towel to use in your recipe.

Combine all ingredients, except the coconut milk, in a heavy saucepan and stir. Pour in 1 cup of coconut milk and simmer over low heat until the plantains absorbed the milk and are very tender. It takes a while for them to get soft; give them about the same time you would need for cooking potatoes. You can add more coconut milk if you desire. Serve hot and try with fish or curries.

Pic of the Week

Believe it or not, but you can see these little cuties while driving down the road in Nairobi!

Music Video of the Week

This is a video by the Ogopa DJs, and East African Urban group from Kenya. Happy Friday friends!

Recipe: Githeri

Githeri is a simple yet nourishing dish originated with Kikuyu tribe. In modern times it has become popular throughout Kenya. The combination of beans and corn supplies a full complement of protein for the often protein-poor diet of many Kenyans. Make githeri with this simple recipe:

• Corn, cut fresh off the cob or frozen -- 3 to 4 ears, or 2 cups
• Cooked beans, any type -- 2 cups
• Water -- to cover
• Salt and pepper -- to taste

Add the corn and beans to a large pot with enough water just to cover. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.

Feelings & Opinions, Part 1: Feelings

Feelings
Hisia
Do you feel…	Unasikia…?	oo-na-see-kee-a…
I feel…	Nasikia…	Na-see-kee-a…
I don’t feel…	Sisikii…	See-see-kee…
Cold	Baridi	Ba-ree-dee
Happy	Furaha	Foo-ra-ha
Hot	Joto	Joh-toh
Hungry	Njaa	N-ja
Sad	Masikitiko	Ma-see-kee-tee-koh
Thirsty	Kiu	Kee-oo
Mixed feelings
A little	Kidogo	Kee-doh-goh
I’m a little sad.	Nasikitika kidogo.	Na-see-kee-tee-ka kee-doh-goh
Extremely/very	Sana	Sa-na
I’m very happy	Nafurahi sana.	Na-foo-ra-hee sa-na
Somewhat	Tu	Too
I feel just OK.	Nasikia nzuri tu	Na-see-kee-a n-zoo-ree too

Pic of the Week

A colorful dance performance from some of the students.

Recipe: Irio

Originally a dish of the Kikuyu people, irio is a hearty and nutritious accompaniment to meals that has become popular throughout Kenya. It has many variations, but potatoes and peas are the staple ingredients with corn the most common addition. Irio is famously paired with grilled steak in the combination known as nyama na irio. Make irio for yourself with this recipe:

• Green peas -- 2 cups
• Potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks -- 1 1/2 pounds
• Water -- to cover
• Salt -- 2 teaspoons
• Corn, fresh or frozen -- 2 cups

Place the peas and potatoes in a large saucepan and add water to cover. Stir in the salt and place over medium flame. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are cooked through. Drain, reserving the liquid. Simmer the corn with a little salted water in a separate saucepan for a few minutes while the potatoes and peas are cooking. Mash the potatoes and peas together with a potato masher to form a pale green puree. Stir in the corn with a little of the reserved liquid and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Interests, Part 3: Cinema & Theatre

Cinema & Theatre
Sinema na tamthilia
I feel like going to a…	Nataka kwenda…	Na-ta-ka kwayn da…
Did you like the…?	Ulipenda…?	oo-lee-payn-da…
Ballet	Densi	Dayn-see
Film	Filamu	Fe-la-moo
Play	Tamthilia	Tam-thee-lee-a
What’s showing at the cinema/theatre tonight?	Kuna filamu/tamthilia gani leo?	Koo-na fee-la-moo/tam-thee-lee-a ga-nee lay-oh
Is it in English?	Ni kwa Kiingereza?	Nee kwa kee-een-gay-ray-za
Does it have (English) subtitles?	Kuna maandishi (ya Kiingereza) chini?	Koo-na man-dee-shee (ya kee-enn-gay-ray-za) chee-nee
Have you seen..?	Umeona…?	oo-may-oh-na…
Who’s in it?	Kuna waigizaji gani?	Koo-na wa-ee-gee-za-jee ga-nee
It stars…	Mwigizaji mkuu ni…	Mwee-gee-za-jee m-koo nee…
I like…	Napenda…	Na-payn-da…
I don’t like…	Sipendi…	See-payn-dee…
Action movies	Filamu zenye misisimko	Fee-la-moo zay-nyay mee-see-seem-koh
African cinema	Filamu za kiafrika	Fee-la-moo za kee-af-ree-ka
Animated films	Katuni hai	Ka-too-nee ha-ee
Comedies	Filamu za kuchekesha	Fee-la-moo za koo-chay-kay-sha
Documentaries	Filamu za hali halisi	Fee-la-moo za ha-lee ha-lee-see
Drama	Hadithi kama riwaya	Ha-dee-thee ka-ma ree-wa-ya
Hindi cinema	Filamu za kihindi	Fee-la-moo za kee-heen-dee
Horror movies	Filamu za kutisha	Fee-la-moo za koo-tee-sha
Sci-fi	Hadithi za kubuni za kisayansi	Ha-dee-thee za koo-boo-nee za kee-sa-yan-see
Short films	Filamu fupi	Fee-la-moo foo-pee
War movies	Filamu kuhusu vita	Fee-la-moo koo-hoo-soo vee-ta

Pic of the Week

Feeding time at the elephant orphanage in Nairobi.