Blooming

Its a busy time here and I feel incredibly lazy. Bad combination. Add to it that I'm also a bit restless and a bit stressed, happy, and worried.
As a result I have no inspiration to do anything. Not reading, not writing not investing time in all those sites I'm signed up in (Twitter? Food Buzz? Color Lovers? Expat Blog? and so on... oh my, what a list!). I'm not being creative and productive at all.
The main reason for all this: I'm leaving Kenya. Yes, again. This time to Norway. Really. To Oslo. I still can't believe it. It has been planned for quite a while. Now I have tickets- tickets because I have a stop over in Zurich. And I'm buying presents. And buying all sort of stuff I need. And sorting out all sort of stuff I need to do before. And, that a big and- I need to organise and tidy up my room. I want it all to be ready in time before I leave, don't want to do anything at the minute.

I'll arrive in Oslo in three (3) weeks exactly. I still can not believe it. Few months ago, I never thought I'd do such a thing. So also add very very excited to all those emotions swirling around.
So I have got much to do. On Friday I have another workshop, so I'm gonna concentrate on that for the next two days.
After that, I want to post some recipes. I've made so many tasty stuff I want to share.
I didn't even write about the Wimbledon men's final. I really wanted to. It was such a great game which kept me excited and sitting on the edge for so long.
So please excuse me for a while. There's still so much to show and share from Kenya before I move up north.
I use this chance to post pictures of our beautiful fuchsia. Enjoy.

Coconut Nut Bars

Coconut-phase-recipe-number-three-and-last (I made more delicious coconut sweets, but unfortunately did not take photos):

I was a bit bummed those bars did not look like the original ones I saw in At the baker's bench, because it look so so good there. However, I'm sure mine tasted just as great because they were finished the next day.
The crust was buttery and dreamy... And the coconut filling, oh well, we all know coconut is simply tasty.

I made the filling with walnuts like the recipe indicated, but personally I did not think the coconut and walnut taste that good together. I think I'd rather use other nuts such a pecans or almonds, add some more coconut and maybe add some white chocolate chips. That would be sublime!
Still, this is an excellent recipe (otherwise I'd tell you about it, right?), which I still drool over the thought of it.

Making and baking is very easy. So there you go:
Ingredients:
Crust-
112g unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup all purpose flour


Coconut filling-
3 medium/small eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence (few drops if its pure extract)
1 cup chopped nuts (can also add any chocolate chips)
1/2 cup shredded coconut (3/4 can be good too)
2 tbsp flour
pinch of salt

-Preheat oven to 190c
-Crust: Beat butter until fluffy and soft. Gradually add the sugar beat until incorporated. Stir in the flour.
-Press the dough into the baking tray. Bake for 20mins or until golden. Set aside.
-Filling (make few minutes before the crust finish to bake): Beat eggs with sugar until incorporated. Add in the vanilla and nuts (and chocolate, if using).
-Mix the coconut, flour and salt together. Add to the Filling mixture, stir well.
-Pour the filling on top of the crust. Smooth the top.
- Bake for an extra 20mins, until golden.
-Cool the pan on a rack. Cut into squares and serve.

Note: I did not lined a cling film or oiled the pan. I had no problem taking out the bars.

Selling My Kitchen Secrets

Recently I'm doing some stuff which do not include only lazing around, gym, shopping and uh... thats it, in fact, I'm getting quite busy. Busy earning money. I did not put an end to my unemployment (who wants to...) nor I did get a steady job. I just sell my kitchen secrets.

It all started few weeks ago. My mother invited some friends for dinner. Of course I made some stuff, and tried a new recipe for dinner rolls. The friends really enjoyed the dinner, and one of a them - a very social woman, offered me to make a fun cooking workshop for her friends.
i thought about it for a while and said yes. I had to make shopping lists, timetables, shopping, print out recipes and prepare everything I needed. It was very stressy and busy.
What else, I'm gonna cook for experienced women! What can I show and teach them they haven't seen yet? The key was simple and easy recipes. Well, the dinner rolls weren't very simple, but that was the only exception.

The day of the workshop, I was quite stressed, and worried. Eleven (11) women came. Oh my...
But surprisingly, they all enjoyed it. They asked lots of questions and took a big part of it.
And most important- they loved the food. I couldn't believe it. I mean, yeah, I tried my best to make delicious food, but I had no idea they'll like it that much.
The feedback was worth all the hard, dirty, tiring work and back ache! Success.

In fact, it was so successful, my mother's friend wants me to make another workshop.

It was also so good that one of the attendant told a friend of hers (who did not participate in the workshop) how good my recipes were. It sounded so good for her, she called my mother and asked her if I can come to cook for her this saturday, and come by later to teach her cooks some stuff, too.
Wow.
I kinda feel bummed I didnt do it before. But thats alright. I'm very happy to share recipes and acknowledge new techniques and ingredients with others. I find it very enjoyable.
I feel very lucky and happy to be given this opportunity.

Now I'm looking forward the other workshops. (I must say, it is not going to be some business of mine or a long term thing. Just temporary.)

Sorry I cannot help you in the kitchen or give you a workshop. But if you're interested, pop over the 'The Kitchen' section, you'll find lots good recipes (I made the butternut squash cake in the workshop). And you won't have to pay me ;)

Coconut Bundt Cake

Oh my. Its been more than a month since my last food post and since I wrote about my coconut phase. I did not forget. Here is coconut-phase-recipe-number-two:


I was requested to make a cake for a party. We have this pretty rose bundt pan, I decided to make a bundt cake and as I was in the height of my coconut phase, I decided it must be coconut. So I baked a coconut bundt cake from Epicurious.

While at the oven, the house was filled with the smell of freshly baked cake... Love that smell! The cake itself was wonderful, I did made some changes to the recipe and glaze and I'm sure the change wasn't big.
I must say that the cake was much more delicious and had a richer texture the next day (so I recommend you be patient).

Notes:
-I did not use sweetened coconut and coconut extract as I can not buy them here. it did affect the taste- less coconuty (but still very good!). Next time I'll definitely use both.
-I had to bake the cake and extra 15mins.
-As for the glaze, I did not use any coconut milk in it, just water and a drop of vanilla extract. I thought coconut cake and glaze might be too much, think the vanilla glaze themed very well with the coconut flavour of the cake.

Make and bake with slight changes (I do include the sweetened coconut and extract, it will be way better).

Ingredients:
3 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
225g unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
6 large eggs (or 7 small-medium)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
2 cups (packed) sweetened flaked coconut

-Preheat oven to 180c. Butter a bundt pan of 12-cup capacity, and sprinkle with flour.
-Mix together the flour and salt in a bowl, set aside.
-Beat the butter until soft and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar, beat until well blended.
-Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
-Beat in the extracts.
-Then add the flour alternating with the coconut milk. 4 portions of flour and 3 of coconut milk. (Must start and finish with the flour.)
-Fold in the flaked coconut.
-Pour the batter into the pan. Smooth the top.
-Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Or until a knife comes clean.
-Cool in the pan. Turn over.
-Glazing: mix together some water, vanilla extract and powdered sugar until you get the consistency you like. Pour on cake.

[Original recipe here.]

[The blue coconut flakes were done by placing some flaked coconut in a small box with a few drops of colouring. Shake well. Sprinkle.]

[Photo-wise- Unattractive, I know. I was in a rush. Bad planning. My fault.]

Roland Garros 2009 / Turkish Grand Prix 2009

I love sport weekends, when there are at least two events it can be such a bliss and keeps the excitement going for most of the weekend. Yesterday there were two major sports events. A boring one and an exciting one.

Roland Garros (French Open) was the exciting one. I started to follow the Grand Slams few years ago, mostly roughly but I feel it is a growing passion.
I really enjoyed watching the major games of RG (quarter-final to final). Great tennis, it keept me hooked for hours. There was times I skipped from the kitchen to the living room while cooking just so I wont miss any point. Yesterday was the men's final, with all the respect to the women, the men's is the most important game. I think it was too short, but great game by Federer! I was disappointed by Soderling, I didn't support him, but I saw his previous games and he was fantastic! I hopped he will play like that against Federer. But wrong I was, and after 3 sets Federer won. Ah, the joy!
Can't wait until Wimbledon (starting on june 22nd)!

The Turkish Grand Prix was disappointing. I was very happy to watch the men's final after this race.
What can I say, great hopes for Ferrari whom started well (6th and 7th), but quickly it became a dull grand prix. The most excitement was whether Vettel will be able to win or not while Button was cruising as 1st. And Button won again. ZZZzzzz....
Gone is the excitement of the first races. It is nearly mid season and seems like it is all over. Very disappointing. Very very very disappointing. I miss the excitement. I miss following the race closely not wanting to miss a second. Now it seems like there are only two teams racing Brawn and Red Bull. And one driver: Button.
Now I know why people used to dislike Schumacher back in his winning years. Not that I hate Button, but it is getting really dull.
In two weeks the engines will roar (louder, please) in Britain. Big hopes for the British drivers. I just hope there will be an exciting game with a different winner.

Forza Ferrari!!

Operation Done

I haven't written anything personal or about life in general for a while. That's because I was too busy being unwell. (I hope this wont turn to be a depressing post [I promise, its not that bad!])

First, my parents went to the homeland for 2 weeks. Me and Sorella thought it'd be great to have lots fun during this time. Did we have any wild time? Non. The day after they left, my sister woke up with a flu. Great. I took care of her for few days before I also fell for it. Bummer. So there we were, instead of having good time- on the couch surrounded by tissues moaning about our bad luck and lack of any fun. Like two old women, like my sister used to say.

Then I had a small operation. Not a big thing. Or so people said about removing a mole. A mole in neck which got my mother very worried (it was quite big). I had 2 weeks to mentally relax, accept and prepare for the operation (I'm scared of needles, and anything medical).
The day came. Stay cool, May. It is nothing. They said you wont feel anything. It will be over in 10 mins.
I saw the needle. Freaked out. Totally.
After 30 mins, with my mother totally upset with me, I decided to brave up and just do it. The injection were painful. The operation was one of the worse experience of my life. You feel no pain, but you feel everything. Cutting, removing, stitching. All of it. It seemed to take hours. I was shaking. Two hours after it was done- still shaking. I was given pain killers, and was fine most of the day. My only problem was the trauma and the huge plaster which bothered and prevented me from moving my neck. There were tears and pain. Sigh. Not pleasant at all.

The next day, early morning, Sorella left us. She spent 3 months here and had enough. Found a work in Europe. She's having fun before starting work.

I had stitches. Black stitches. it looked terrible. I refused look at it. It was hurting. I couldn't fall asleep at night because of my neck. I was taking antibiotics and hand no energy and no mood to do anything. I thought my week with the stitches will last forever. I couldn't even think about going back to the clinic.

Then it was Thursday. Yesterday. I built up as much courage as I could. I didn't believe people who said that removing stitches are nothing. Hey, they told me the operation will be nothing, and it was awful! I decided to really and seriously brave it up this time. My mom was prepare for hysterics. But I proved her wrong. It didn't hurt, just felt stinging. And before I knew it, they were all removed (all 5 of them).

Phew. I couldn't believe it was all over.

With that also came the lab report. It was just a normal mole. Oh my! Why did I had to go through all that pain for a simple one?? Oh well. At least it is over. And its nothing bad like cancer.

Now I just have a scar, a pink-reddish one. At least I can look at it. I told my sister on MSN that it looks like a small bite, and maybe people will think I'm a die hard twilight fan (never watched or read it). So I wear a scarf when I go out. I don't feel like having people staring at it.

Its all behind now. It was time to tell and take it out. I'm glad it is over. It wasn't easy. I'm glad I have people who were there for me and supported me during last week.

Now its time to heal the wounds.

Practice Photos

Here is a peek at what I'm photographing currently. I practice my skills and the new camera a lot and really like the results. I keep learning everyday, its a great experience. I can see it becoming a big hobby.
So this is just a peek. I'll post more with time.

My New Beauty

Say hello to my new beauty:

It was my grandma's idea. When she stayed here she noticed I take lots photos with my camera phone. One day she told me 'you know, it's really funny to see you taking photos with that phone all the time...' She gave me money for my birthday so I'll buy myself a proper camera.

And so the search started. I looked for months. It was really a big project for me, since I didn't want 'some' camera- I wanted to best I could get (well, when you don't work, there's lots spare time). Finally I found a model I liked and had very good reviews. My parents planned to buy it for me while they're visiting the homeland. But the model was sold out.
So it was option number 2, a more powerful and expensive camera: the Lumix TZ5. And this is my new beauty. My belated birthday present.

I got it on sunday. I so enjoy testing it and trying it out. Its really easy and simple to use, the results are great. So, it means there will be better photos here! Much better.
Can't wait to take and show photos!

(Yes, I know its not some super D/SLR, just some compact camera, but it does the work for me.)