Looooong weeekend - Let's BBQ!!

Hata Kama tulinyimwa Moi Day, Mashujaa Day is coming! :)

What are you up to this long weekend? Most of us will take this opportunity to get together with our families and go visit our parents up country, it's not too often that some of us get to see them. The rest will be either working or relaxing with their friends in the city. 

As is the Kenyan Culture, we are all about Meat! Nyama Choma to be precise. We have several places in Nairobi where you can go with your friends and get a mbuzi or some chicken and have a good time. But do you really trust where you are getting your meat from? The dust, dirty water, dirty hands that touch oil, paper, money and even worse! So when you wake up on Sunday on top of your already pounding head, your stomach decides to go to driving school...

You do not need that. How about you have one at home? The weather for the last couple of days has been beautiful, it takes very little preparation and with the help of your friends, it can turn out to be quite cheap and really fun! Leme download to you the steps on how you can quickly have a grand nyama choma afternoon in your backyard - Sizzling Spare Ribs, Grilled Beef Steaks...Sausages and Kebabs! I'm hungry! 

• Only invite meaningful friends aka the ones who contribute to costs...uchumi mbaya.
• Write out a list of items you would need -Mbuzi, Potatoes, Unga, Veggies complete with prices etc and give it to your friends. They can pick what they can afford to bring or alternatively you can calculate the costs of all your items and split between yourselves.
• Split tasks - Usually the men deal with the meat (buying, cutting, grilling) and the women come up with the accompaniments (Ugali, Fries, Kachumbari, Naan..) 
• These can all be prepared at once, when everyone is there - fosters conversations and everyone gets to know each other and bond. Or everyone could come having made their bits and you have more time to sit and relax instead of running around cooking.
• Do not grill cold meat. Meat that is for grilling is meant to be room temperature. Read more on how to grill your meat.
• Preheat the grill to the right temperatures, this cuts down your time.
• If you want to marinate your meats for the BBQ, make sure you have the right marinade prepared in good time. 
• Put in sausages, chipolatas etc as bitings as the main meats grill.
• Put out plenty of refreshments for your guests, some good music and enjoy the long holiday!

Opportunities for Young Farmers

The youth and Women expo currently taking place at the KICC has been lauded as one of the biggest steps towards empowerment and development. More youth, women and disabled people are urged to get into business. The government is ready to involve you.A gazette notice on July 18th gave the directive for women, youth and disabled persons to be given a chance to participate in building the nation.The new directive sets aside 30% of all public tenders for youth, women and persons with disabilities.

Although it officially kicked off yesterday, I may have spotted some tenders in the dailies which made me smile. Just a month ago, one of the National Oil Corporation advertised tenders for different items and services and it felt so good to notice that some of the requirements to apply for the tender was that you must be an SME or Youth funded project. I was impressed because it means you no longer need 10 years worth of experience to offer professional services.

Small businesses, micro enterprises or disadvantaged persons who wish to participate in public procurement have to register at the National Treasury or the respective county treasury offices. All the registered entities from the national and county treasuries shall be consolidated and published by the Public Procurement Authority. All public entities are required to comply with the new rules and file quarterly reports with the Public Procurement Authority.

Just the other day, through an advert, the president also welcomed the youth to access funds for businesses and development. The uwezo fund is available for women and youth who wish to set up businesses and make a livelihood for themselves.There are very many jobless youth in Kenya but unlike the recent past, more opportunities have come up.It is upon us to take advantage of the opportunities available.

If you have been thinking of farming, I think you are right on time. Just the other day, Kenya's biggest corporate giant, Safaricom, through the Safaricom Foundation gave a grant of Kshs. 20 million to the initiative which helps young farmers get a market for their produce.

The opportunities are amazing. You can easily access the money to start off your farm projects with your friends. The market has been opened up to include you. If you have just started commercial farming, now it is time for you to start thinking big by applying for big tenders and selling your products online. What is still holding you back from pursuing your dreams?

Benefits of marinating your meats

A marinade is a savoury acidic sauce in which food is soaked to enrich its flavour or to tenderize it. The purpose is still as it was in the earlier centuries: to tenderize and flavour.

 Marinades typically consist of an acidic ingredient like vinegar, lemon juice, wine, plus oil and herbs or spices. Red meat marinades do not always contain oil since the meat generally contains enough fat.

To marinate is a verb that means to soak food in a marinade. You treat the meat like a sponge and enable the meat to absorb flavour.

Apart from tenderizing your meat, marinating your meats infuses flavours directly into the meat giving out a rich aroma and a delightful taste.

There is no specific recipe for marinating your meats therefore you can be as creative as you wish. Depending on your tastes, buy the kind of spices with the flavours of your choice. If you like sugar, go ahead, some Chinese marinade recipes consist of sugar and they may just be useful. The secret is to blend in the spices and seasoning well enough so the end result is a tasty treat.

There are two types of marinades. Dry and wet. A dry marinade consists of salt, herbs, and aromatics. You are advised to add some oil to your dry marinade to aid in pasting. This kind of marinade is excellent for quick meals and tender cuts of meats which do not require tendering.
A wet marinade normally consists of salt, spices and some acid. They are especially great for tenderizing meats as well as flavouring them.

You can marinate any kind of meat be it chicken, beef, fish, pork and so forth. Apart from the flavours, the amount of time taken to marinate one cut of meat also varies from another. Chicken can be well marinated after two hours while for a tough cut of beef, you may need to do it overnight. Ensure that you set time aside for marinating before you get cooking as this will slow you down. The secret is to start marinating long before you intend to cook. That way, you can flavour your meat, forget about it and later on cook it with the rest of your meal.

While looking for recipes, ensure that you get spices that are agreeable with you and to those around you. Keep in mind that the more the flavours, the tastier your meats will be so ensure that you blend in at least four different types of seasoning to your marinade. Be sure to also find the right marinades for your type of meats. Different spices taste better with different kinds of meats so ensure you get the right chicken, beef, pork or fish marinades.

Next Wednesday, come back and read about different marinade recipes for different types of meats.

What's so great about Aloe Vera?

When I was young, we went to visit our grandmother upcountry who at the time lived near a forest - it wasn't a forest, that's what kids translate as many trees...we would play in this "forest" all day, and one day I got a nasty cut on my knee. My grandmother got a panga, cut a piece of the Aloe Plant and applied it's gel all over it. The wound was sealed in a matter of hours and healed a few days later.

Aloe Vera may as well be one of the most versatile medicine in existence. It has been cited in various texts dating back to the 1st Century AD, called the Harmonious Remedy by the Chinese, Herb of Immortality by the Ancient Egyptians. It's healing and rejuvenating characters have been hailed by many scientists and doctors too who recommend it to their patients.

Most people who grow Aloe do it for ornamental reasons, its thick fleshy leaves and its interesting flowers provide aesthetic value and for its medicinal purposes. Aloe grows well in low rainfall areas meaning it can survive in your garden out back or you could grow it in a pot in your house - it must be a well drained pot in sandy potting soil and bright sunny conditions. Too much sun may cause it to burn and too much water because of non drainage will cause it to shrivel up. It is relatively resistant to most insect pests though some species of pests may cause a decline in plant health. They are though simple and easy to maintain and they can survive for a long time.

Aloe Vera in its raw for has numerous benefits from used as a food preservative water conservation in small farms to dilution of semen for the artificial fertilization of sheep!  Most cosmetic companies are now purporting to put Aloe Vera in our soaps and lotions and pills and etc....but how much do they really put in for you to really get the benefits you are paying for? You know the saying, if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself.
The clear gel like substance contains Saponin, a chemical compound that acts as an antimicrobial agent used to treat wounds and increase its healing, burns, cold sores, sun burn, skin infections and to moisturize dry skin. Some chemicals in the aloe gel seem to be able to increase blood circulation in the vessels. The aloe gel well seems to have properties that are harmful to bacteria and fungi. If you have dry skin, or you have been sunburnt in the last coupla days that the sun has shown bright, apply some of the gel on your face for a few minutes and wash off - if you must. It has a refreshing feeling and it will moisturize your face.

When you need some aloe, just cut out a piece and squeeze out the gel and apply it generously on the affected areas - cutting it will not kill the plant. It will seal up and continue growing - if this does not prove to you its regenerative powers, I dunno what will!

Table manners...learn them!!

Table manners is not just for children. misbehaving at the table is actually expected of them, but for you? Tis unacceptable. Terrible dinner manners could be the reason you do not get a certain job, or the girl that you took to an expensive place and you wonder why you did not get a call back! A lot of importance is placed on how one behaves while eating as it reveals quite a bit of your character t the other person - eating is a human basic need, how you behave when hungry says it all.

Kwa kibanda the general rule is just don't hit anyone with your elbow as you lift your hand to your mouth, but at a fancy restaurant you gotta leave your "uncivilized" habits, sit straight & learn how to eat with a fork and knife. Which fork and which knife I'm I supposed to use? Why the many knives and forks anyway you may ask? This arrangement confuses many, be worried not, we got it down for you. If you are going to a fancy restaurant, by the time you are done reading, you will be comfortable and well behaved!

• When you sit down, unfold your napkin and place it on your lap. Do not shake it open. Napkins are used for dabbing at your mouth,you do not tuck it into your shirt like a bib neither is it for wiping your hands or your face!
• The waiters always serve on the left. So as they approach, remember this and slightly lean to your right to accord them access to place your food in front of you. 
• Your drink, rather your glass is the one always to your right. This is important to remember - your food is on the left your drinks on your right. Always.
• If you must get up in the middle of the meal, excuse yourself politely and place your napkin on your chair - it indicates that you are coming back.
• Do not gulp or slurp at your drink, drink from the edge in small sips (Ladies...)

• Flatware (knives, spoons & forks) how to use them - always eat from the outside in. This means your outer most fork, spoon or knife are the ones you are to start with. To your left side are the forks - the salad fork is your outer most fork, followed by your dinner fork. To your right - your soup spoon is on your outer most right, followed by a beverage spoon (mainly for pudding) salad knife then dinner knife next to your plate. The dessert fork & spoon are the ones above your plate. 
• During a formal meal, eat when everyone begins eating. It is crass to start of on your own and have the others watch you. Sit up straight and do not put your elbows on the table. 
• When you are taking a break from eating, keep the knife & fork facing down on the plate, on the sides. This signals that you are not done with your meal. Do not point your flatware at anybody while talking, and most of us pick up our drink as we still hold our forks - stop it. Put down your fork and pick up your drink.
• And if you happen to drop your knife or fork, do not use it again or use the napkin to clean it - the waiter will exchange it for you.
• Food is passed to the right, not to the left. Do not pass food across the table & do not reach for it from across the table either.
• When you are done eating, place your fork & knife at the center of your plate, together, the tines (pointed thingis) of the fork facing up with the knife under it - this signals the end of your meal and your plate will be taken away. Same goes for your napkin, tidily place it on the side of your plate, not crumpled or folded.
• Be nice to the waiters, without them you would not enjoy your fabulous dinner!
• Be nice to your dinner mates, keep the conversation cool and polite and relax!