We’ve continued the tradition of taking a cooking lesson in each of our destinations. Our awesome cook in Arusha, Mwaneidi, was more than willing to teach us her secrets of the kitchen. I would say it worked out pretty well, considering the only two words in English she knew was “Wow” and “Okay”. Although those two words are very essential, we needed Erin and Nayay to help us with their Swahili speaking skills.
Erin and Mwaneidi monitor the stovetop :)
First up was chapati. Yve was willing to do the first and stickiest job, the kneading. After the kneading was done, Mwaneidi demonstrated how to roll the dough, flatten it, smother it with cooking oil, roll it up again, and twist it into the shape of a cinnamon roll. We all rushed over after she was done, trying to give that chapati a try. Dad was first up and ready to rumble, he rolled the dough into a perfect sphere and flattened it out, but the cooking oil was the challenge. Dad was first up willing to clear up the path of mistakes, so he did his job. He filled a ladle up with cooking oil (mistake) and soaked it. As he rolled it back up and the oil slowly oozed out of the dough. It was still okay to cook but the person eating that one would get and extra soggy sensation. We all got to make one or two of them, obviously not as good and efficient as Mwaneidi, but still applauded with a “Wow” from her.
Trying to roll some chapati
Chopping.
Wescott and I both grabbed the sharpest knifes off the magnetic strip across the wall and slashed at our victims known as Garlic and Onion. Although they gave Wescott and I some battle wounds – sticky hands and burning eyes – they were tossed into a small pot and would soon be dip for our chapati. Of course we threw in some more spices to give it more pazazz.
Marqus getting in on the cooking lesson too!
I wandered off for a little while but then I jumped back in. It seemed Mwaneidi had started a new project. On the stove was a pan, and on top of that pan was the fluffiest, softest, tastiest and most delectable piece of chapati ever. My appetite shot up as I gazed at this chapati perfection. I guess Mwaneidi took over the kitchen just in case we didn’t burn the house down.
The kitchen scene
I noticed a mysterious pressure cooker an the stove. “What is that?” . “Beans!” Erin explained. Mwaneidi grabbed the pressure cooker from the stove and set in next to the sink. She clenched the knob at the top and pulled upward. Steam shot out the top. She did this repeatedly, and the kitchen now had a potent aroma of spices.
Everything on the stovetop
Mchicha (east african spinach) before it is cooked!
We all sat down, eager to eat what we knew was going to be delicious. One by one, dishes were brought over from the kitchen. I gormandized everything I could and it was delicious!
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