Tag: Made in Uganda

Savory Avocado Salsa

~ Sophie ~ 1 Comment

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Happy New Year friends! How has the year been treating you so far? I would like to hear all about it in the comments below.  I have a lot to be grateful for. The year started off low key for me and it has mostly been that way ever since. Also unplugging has never felt so good. In fact it was so great it was extended for another week!  But now I am back with fresh ideas (stay tuned for some awesome news!) and cannot wait to see what 2017 has in store for us all. If you have been following me on Instagram, you know that I took a trip back home and I still cannot get over the beauty that was my morning view for about a week! It is so splendid to see the details of the natural beauty that God has created. It truly is amazing!

Despite the fact that this is a refreshing avocado dish (because who does not want to start the year on a good note?!), we have been hit by a heat wave. OK. Maybe not a heat wave but the sun is scorching every corner of the country! It is so terrible.  So while we are tirelessly waiting for it to finally rain, I figured cool but hearty meals will have to do. First off is this avocado salsa. I named it avocado salsa well because it is a combo of avocadoes, some tomatoes and onions.  As easy as it is to make, it adds a lot of flavour to food. We have been eating it with katogo. ALOT!

 

What you will need:

5 Small ripe avocadoes

2 large tomatoes

2 Large onions

Lemon juice of one lemon

Parsley, finely chopped

Black pepper

Salt

Simsim (roast sesame) for garnishing

avocado salsa-AKIU

Observations:

  1. The avocadoes have to be very ripe
  2. You can substitute lemon juice for vinegar.
  3. Lemon juice prevents the avocado from changing color
  4. Add salt according to your preference

 

Method:

  1. Cut, core and peel the avocadoes.
  2. Finely chop the tomatoes and onions.
  3. In a large bowl, mash the avocadoes with a fork.
  4. Once fully mashed, add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
  5. Garnish with simsim and serve with your favourite meal.

 

 

 

How are you conquering the dry hot weather? Also let me know when you do try this simple recipe.

🙂

Sophie

Jackfruit Scones

~ Sophie ~ 1 Comment

 

I think this year I have had the most jackfruit! Partly because we have generous neighbours and partly because we have a jackfuit tree in the backyard that is yielding the juiciest fruits. I cannot even begin to describe the joy that comes with harvesting from your own garden! A piece of this sweet fleshy fruit is enough to carry you through the day. Seriously! Because jackfruit packed with a lot of natural sugars (read: very sweet!) and has a sweet pungent fragrance, I have enjoyed baking with it on more than one occasion. Yes some moments have been fails but then some have been so good. And these scones fall in the latter category.  Just so you know I have been making these scones from way back in 2012 and now I am finally sharing this recipe. it is a surprising texture and flavor altogether.

 

What you will need:

I C. Ripe Jackfruit, diced

2 C. Flour

¼ C. Butter/Margarine

¼ C. Milk

2 Tbsp. Sugar

½ Tbsp. Baking powder

 

Method

  1. Combine flour, baking powder and sugar and mix well. Rub in the butter till the flour is like coarse breadcrumbs.
  2. Add the diced jack fruit. Pour in the milk little by little while kneading until a dough forms.
  3. Dust your working area and using your hands press the dough to half an inch thickness.
  4. Cut the dough into three equal parts and pile them on top of each other. Using a rolling-pin, roll out the dough again to half an inch thickness.
  5. Using a glass or cookie cutter cut out the scones.
  6. Bake till they turn golden brown.

 

Serve warm.

Hope you do try these scones for the holidays.

🙂

Sophie

Curry Termite Mushroom Soup

~ Sophie ~ 6 Comments

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Happy December! I am sitting here wondering where 2016 went! Honestly as you grow older the years go by faster!

It is raining a lot and rainy season means mushroom foraging because the conditions are favourable for the fungi to grow. It is actually quite exciting to randomly find a mushroom while taking a walk. Two weeks ago we got a midnight call to go harvest termite mushrooms (which I have talked about here). Yes they are that rare and special.  I have childhood memories of picking these mushrooms. It was always a special treat to eat them because they appear randomly during the rainy season and if you can spot them you are a winner. Termite mushrooms are mostly used for soup. Now we Ugandans like using curry powder a lot. A LOT.  Flavouring this soup with curry was only natural. The curry adds to the distinct earthy flavor these mushrooms have. The dried version of these mushrooms is sold in most supermarkets but nothing beats fresh food! I realise I have been sharing quite a number of soups and stews lately. It is only because they are the order of the day.

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Find recipe here

 

🙂

Sophie