Nisha and Nishanth's Culinary Debacles

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Mogo (cassava) with Lamb in Creamy Coconut Sauce Ingredients 2 lb cassava (frozen can be used) 1 pack of coconut cream (a picture can be seen here) 1 lb lamb, cut into cubes 3-4 garlic cloves; minced 2 inch ginger; grated 3-4 chilies; minced 1/4 tspn turmeric 1/2 cup chopped coriander salt to taste 2 limes; juiced coriander leaves for garnishing. 1. Marinate the meat with garlic, ginger and sal t for at least 2 hours. 2. Peel the cassava, cut into large chunks and boil and drain. Cut into cubes. 3. Boil the meat, drain, add coconut cream to the meat stock, add the turmeric, chilies, coriander leaves and c...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Mbaazi za Nazi - Pigeon Peas in Coconut Sauce This is also an East African dish. It is usually served with Mandazi (coconut bread). Nazi is Swahili for Coconut. The combination of the two is heavenly ! Try it for yourself. Ingredients 1 cup dried pigeon peas; soaked overnight, and boiled (in the pressure cooker) 1 400gm can of coconut milk 1 medium onion or 2 small; finely chopped 2 clove garlic; minced 1 inch ginger; grated 3 chilies; minced 1/4 tspn turmeric powder 1/2 cup coriander; chopped fine 1 tbspn vegetable oil salt to taste Method 1. Fry the onion in medium hot oil, when golden brown, add the bo...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Mandazi - Coconut Bread This East African coconut bread is slightly sweet and has often been likened to doughnuts. It is available everywhere in East Africa; it is typical street food, Mandazi is eaten at anytime, for breakfast with tea, for a snack or with bharazi(lentils) for lunch or dinner. Ingredients 2 1/2 cups plain flour 3 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon yeast 1 tablespoon freshly grated or dried coconut 1/2 cup coconut milk 1/2 teaspoon roughly ground cardamom warm water to bind Oil to deep fry Method 1. Mix all the dry ingredients, add the coconut milk and mix, add warm water for form a soft dough...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Matoke in a Groundnut Sauce or Green Bananas in a Peanut Sauce Matoke is a typical Ugandan dish, it is stuff that we grew up on. Groundnuts are used in many African countries as a base for a savory sauce for meat or vegetables 4 Matoke or green bananas; peeled and cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks 1/2 cup peanuts (I have used pink skinned, but any peanuts will do) 1 tbspoon of vegetable oil (not olive because that is rather strong tasting) 1 stem of coriander; chopped finely 1 medium onion; chopped finely 2 cloves garlic; minced 1 inch ginger; grated 3-4 chilies; minced 4 tomatoes; blanched, peeled and chopped f...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Pinto Beans Curry –or-Spicy Maharagwe - which is Swahili for Beans Having lived in East Africa, our preparations are peppered with Swahili and Gujarati. Ingredients 1 cup dried pinto; soaked overnight and boiled (I used the pressure cooker; about 10 mins) 2 Potatoes, peeled and cut in small cubes 3 Cloves garlic; peeled and minced 2 inch ginger; peeled and grated 3 large tomatoes; blanched, peeled and chopped 1/2 tspn cumin seeds 1 tspn mustard seeds 2 - 3 chilies slit through the centre 1/2 tspn turmeric powder 2 tspn coriander and cumin powders 2 tspn oil salt to taste 1. Heat the oil in a pan, add th...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence 'Fried' Mogo – Fried Cassava Mogo is Cassava in Swahili This is a 'no fry', healthy recipe Ingredients 1 large tuber of cassava (or 1 pkt frozen cassava) Juice of 2 Limes 1/2 cup olive oil chili flakes salt Method 1. Cut the tuber into 3 pieces, peel 20 by slitting the skin on one side, the skin will peel of quite easily. 2. cut in large chips and boil with a little salt. (In the case of frozen mogo; boil with some salt) 3. Slice into thin (1/2 - 3/4 inch wide. 4. Mix the olive oil, lime juice, and chili flakes, add to the cassava, toss to ensure that all the pieces are evenly coated. 5. P...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Mayai Dungri’s shaak - or -Spicy Scrambled Eggs Mayai is eggs in Swahili, dungri is onions and shaak is curry in Gujarati, this is a traditional family recipe. We usually have it as a light supper or lunch. Not breakfast, but hey anything goes! Ingredients 1 medium potato; diced 1 medium onion; chopped finely 2 tomatoes; blanched, peeled and chopped finely 1/2 cup chopped chives 2 cloves garlic; minced 1 inch ginger; grated 2 chilies; chopped finely 1 tspn coriander / cumin powder 1/2 tspn turmeric 3 eggs; beaten 1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves salt to taste 2 Tablespoon olive oil Method 1. Heat the oi...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Mutton Biryani - East African Style Ingredients Mutton Masala: 2 lb mutton on the bone cut into 2 inch pieces 1/2 cup yogurt 2 inches ginger; grated 6 cloves garlic; minced 5 chilies minced 1/2 tspn saffron 8 large tomatoes (blanched, peeled and liquidised) 12 small potatoes (extra oil to fry) 2 tablespn oil 2 sticks cinnamon 4 pods cardamom 5 cloves 1/2 spn cumin seeds 8 medium onions; minced fine in a food processor 2 tspn coriander/cumin powder 1/2 tspn turmeric 1 tspn garam masala salt to taste Rice: 3 cups basmati rice; was hed well; and soaked in water for 30 mins 1...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Tumbua Ndizi/Gonja or Sweet Plantain Fritters Tumbua Ndizi is a typical East African dish, Ndizi means bananas in Swahili. In East Africa we have 4 kinds of bananas Matoke: Green (raw) bananas which never ripen to yellow, the flesh is mainly carbohydrate, and although when ripe it is sweeter, it can not be eaten uncooked. When cooked the flesh become soft, it is a bit like potato. Gonja, are sweet cooking bananas, when cooked they do not become soggy and soft like ordinary bananas. When very ripe they are black on the outside. They can be cooked in coconut; just fried or fried in batter (tumbua) Ndizi w...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Vitumbua- is a Tanzanian dish, made from rice flour, coconut, yeast and cardamom. When made well it is fluffy and literally melts in your mouth. Ingredients 2 cups finely ground rice flour 2 tblspn plain white flour 2 tblspn fresh grated coconut (available frozen in most Asian stores) 1 400 gm tin coconut milk (half) cup hot water 1 tspn dry yeast (half) cup sugar (half) teaspoon roughly ground cardamom seeds oil Method 1.. Mix rice flour, grated coconut, and the coconut milk and hot water to form a thick paste. The temperature should be equivalent to body temperature. 2.. Add the sugar, cardamom and yea...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. Mogo (Cassava) Mogo is another East African food that we relish. It can be eaten just boiled; like the sort we used to get in the canteen at Schools, Tanzania with just some salt and red chilies, yum. It cost 10 cents, for 50 cents you could get it fried with tamarind chutney. We (the girls) also used to sneak out to Deejays on Sunday afternoons, via the kitchen at the back, we were not supposed to eat at Deejays. But every Sunday, we would go for 'a walk' armed with 50 cents from Uncle, straight to Deejays! When we got home Dad and Mom used to wonder why we were not as hungry as we normally were! Ahhhhhhh those were the days. This is a masala version - of mogo =0 A Ingredients 1 large tuber of cassava (or frozen cassava) 1 400gm can of tomatoes; crushed 1 large onion; chopped finely 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 teaspoon mustard seed 2/3 cloves of garlic; minced 2/3 green chil...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Matoke with beans (green bananas with beans) Ingredients 4 - 5 matoke (green bananas from Uganda) 1 400g can red kidney beans 1 200g can peeled tomatoes 2 cloves garlic - minced 1 inc h ginger - grated 2 chilies - minced 1 table spn vegetable oil 1 tspn mustard seeds 1/2 tspn turmeric 2 teaspoons coriander/cumin mix salt to taste Method 1. Peel the green bananas and place in cold water, (otherwise they discolor). 2. Heat oil in a pan, add the mustard seeds, as soon as they start to splutter, add the tomatoes, garlic, ginger and the minced chilies, stir and fry for a few minutes. 3. Add the cumin, coriande...

A recipe i got from a forward which will surely be appreciated by those of us brought up in East Africa. it was kindly pointed out by saju that the posts were from the blog "chachiskitchen.blogspot.com". thank you for the same and apologies that it was wrongly posted - there are pictures available too http://chachiskitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20African%20Influence Makate Mimina (coco nutty rice pancake) This is an East African Dish. Usually served with a hot coconut chicken curry (bit like Thai green curry). Ingredients 2 Cups Rice 1 pint milk 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 tspn yeast 1/2 packet creamed coconut or 1 1/2 cups of coconut milk 2 table spn butter or margarine 1/2 tspn cardamom seeds 1 1/2 cups water (makes 2) Method Wash the rice and Soak it for 3-4 hours or overnight. Add the yeast to a little water with 1 tspn sugar. Let it ferment. Dissolve the coconut cream in 1 1/2 cups of hot water. Drain the rice and add warm milk to it, liquidize until smooth. Add the coco...

We stopped here on the way to Whitesands National Monument. The food over here is just awesome. The tortilla chips and salsa they serve is good. I tried out a cheese, chicken and potatoes bouritto. They are located at: 1200 N White Sands Blvd Alamogordo NM 88310 575-437-0820

We stopped at Bamboo Garden Restaurant, Carlsbad for dinner. There was a chinese and american buffet with a lot of variety. If you are the kind who enjoys chinese food you would like this place. They are located at: 1511 S Canal St, Carlsbad, NM‎ - (575) 887-5145

We stopped by at Pizza Hut, Carlsbad for dinner and it was pretty decent. I had Chicken Alfredo Bake. The service was pretty slow with only one person to serve but it could be due to the fact that it was the labour day weekend. They are located at 1201 S Canal St Carlsbad, NM 88220 (575) 887-1922

We stopped by at Happy's for lunch before going to Carlsbad Caverns. They are a small place that is always crowded. It takes them at least 30 minutes to serve you food. My husband liked the chilli cheese dog, the burger according to him was just ok. I had chicken quesidallas and i didnt like it much. They are located at: 4103 Natl Pks, Carlsbad, NM 88220 Phone: 505 887 8489