Shepherd's Pie!

Sorry, I have been quiet for a while.... So I decided to make a shepherds pie....actually, no...more like, I had very many potatoes, some vegetables, and minced mutton. I have definitely made variations of this pie with different kinds of meat and still called it shepherd pie! 

So sometime last year, I discovered (... rather, was informed) that it is called 'shepherds' because ideally, it is made of mutton. Also, because a shepherd is he who tends and rears sheep. Yeah, you get the drift... How wasn't that obvious to me?

Anyway, so here I was. Straight from the office, feeling tired from battling traffic but eager to make a good meal. I didn't have anything for lunch because I forgot to pack my food and I was scared as hell to buy any. Why, you ask? Try having a severe bout of h.pylori (my friend, I even pack water to work! No jokes there!)

 Back to the post... So it's a very simple meal to prepare.

Serves 5

For the Mash:

10 medium sized potatoes

2 tbs Butter 

1 cup of Milk

Salt

Pepper

For the Filling:

Mutton

Olive Oil

Onions

Tomatoes

Mushrooms

Courgette

Green Pepper

Garlic

Salt

Pepper

For the Topping:

Cheese

 I always start cooking by preparing the item that would take the longest to cook. In this case, the potatoes. I boiled them with salt for 10-12 minutes.

 While that was boiling, I quickly fried onions and garlic, quickly followed by the mutton. I then added the remaining vegetables to the pan.

Once the potatoes were ready, I drained the water and added the butter and milk when the potatoes were still hot. This is the trick I use to get that perfect, silky-smooth consistency in mashed potatoes. I then add pepper for extra flavour.

I then layer the oven dish starting with the meat, then a layer of cheese in between to serve as a binder, then followed by the mash and more cheese at the top. 

 I then place the dish in a slightly preheated oven at 180° C until the top layer of cheese melts and is slightly golden brown.

 Ready to be devoured!

Thank you for reading!

Food Review: The Terrace, Qaribu Inn!

Pictures by DannySkech

Hey guys, so Dan and I had lunch at Qaribu Inn last Monday. I had first been to Qaribu Inn in May this year with my boss who was looking for a quiet place our team could sit and work with minimum distractions. Ok, let me start from the beginning... A few months back, I had driven around Loresho and and noticed the bright orange Qaribu Inn sign. With around thirty minutes to kill, I decided to randomly drive in and check out their premises, seeing that I am constantly scouting for venues to hold work meetings. I was met by jolly staff who were eager to give me a tour of the establishment and let me just tell you that when I walked in to the terrace restaurant, I knew that it was only a matter of time before this beautiful hidden gem was known to the world.

So fast forward to May, when bossman asked me to book a venue for a meeting that was not only close to town but with a quiet environment, Qaribu Inn just popped into my mind! So after that initial experience, I was super excited and honoured when the management accepted my request for a non-sponsored food review. 

About Qaribu Inn:

Qaribu Inn is an easily accessible 3-star budget hotel that offers comfortable accommodation for business and holiday travellers. The hotel provides a meeting room for conferences for up to 100 people and cosy and well-designed rooms for accommodation. The spacious terrace restaurant overlooks a well maintained gently sloping grass path with canopying trees bordering a picturesque dam that is frequented by ducks.

Contact information: www.qaribuinn.com

{By the pond}

{Beautiful views overlooking the terrace}

{Friends across the pond}

The Meal:

When I was reading their menu, I came across the Qaribu Inn beef burger. From my experience, any food or beverage that is named after the establishment is definitely something worth trying out.... its like a signature meal. So Dan, my brother and I all ordered for the Qaribu Inn beef burger but I opted to have it with vegetables instead of fries. So we put out our order and the meal was ready in 12 minutes, which was perfect seeing that I purposely did not have breakfast so I could thoroughly devour the meal. The meal cost KShs. 700 and additional KShs. 200 for juice.. {or in my case, for the virgin mojito}.

 Let me just tell you, this was one succulent burger! At first glance, the burger looked so big but I gently squashed the burger so that everything can fit for several big bites. The meat patty was well done and so deliciously juicy. The cheese was that perfect consistency.. half solid, half melted. Then there was this exquisite relish on top of the cheese! I think it was caramelised onion, but the colour and the delicate sweetness made me think of caramelised beets.... the jury is still out. And lastly to top it off, bacon! Yuuuuummm! May the heavens open and shower us with this burger! 

Verdict:

The location provided a perfect ambience to enjoy a meal with friends and family. The service was quick and offered with joy and pride. The waitress was very knowledgeable of the content of each dish after asking her several questions on the various meals offered on their menu. The food was very delectable and I will definitely be back! I would recommend that if you are anywhere around Loresho, Westlands or heck, anywhere in Nairobi, do pay a visit to Qaribu Inn and enjoy your meal overlooking the serene view of the pond!

Have a prosperous week!

Dress- Mr. Price | Earrings- Woolworths

Oven-grilled Chicken, Chips & Stir-fry Vegetables!

Cooking is about passion, so it may look slightly temperamental in a way that it's too assertive to the naked eye ~ G. Ramsey

Pictures by DannySkech

Anyone who knows me well definitely comprehends the kind of love relationship I have with food. It's deep. I cook when I am happy. I cook when I need to clear my mind. I cook when I am angry (...yes, and it still turns out good, if I say so myself :-). .... Basically, I cook a lot! It is intrinsic and I love it.

I haven't had a food post on the blog for a while and that had something to do with my numerous recent trips. 

My hope is that this segment of the blog shares quick and easy meals that anyone could effortlessly re-create using locally available produce. Anyway, back to the post. I made this easy meal last weekend. Just follow the quick recipes if you want to recreate the same meal. Enjoy!

{All the ingredients that you need}

{Sauces for the marinade}

Step 1:

1. Marinade the chicken.

{I used all the sauces above, sea salt, black pepper, onion and garlic}

Step 2:

Add olive oil, black pepper and some salt to the chips. {You can choose any other spice you like}

Step 3:

Lightly stir fry the onion, garlic, sweetcorn,  mushrooms, courgette, green pepper, tomato, basil leaves and coriander.

Step 4:

Put the chips and the chicken in the oven and keep flipping them as they cook along.

Finished product!

Have a blessed Thursday!

One more for the road!

 Another year gone guys! This is just a post on  what I have been up to lately. So my cast boot was finally removed and I am back to walking as usual! Well almost.... with the help of one crutch! Anyway, this is what I have been up to lately...

 Studio time with Dan

Ted Baker Dress {worn as a top}- Toi Market | Skirt- ATIAT | Ring- Mr. Price | Watch- Gifted | Bag- Luscious Trendz

 Attended a friends wedding and this was the décor along the aisle. Congratulations Den Dulks!

December chilling. More pics on my Instagram. Pweeeez follow me {@threadmuse}

 Calla Lilies during a trip to a farm in Limuru.

 Love the African inspired décor during a Sunday brunch at The Tribe! Ideas........

Blessed 2015 to you and your loved ones!

Lately!

 Hello guys! I've really missed being here! Well I am still home recovering from my fractured foot... 3 more weeks to go! Anyway, these are just a few pictures of what I have been up to lately....

I worked with my longtime friend Dan for a few portrait shots he was working on. He's an amazing photographer and videographer!

Was out on Friday for dinner to celebrate my girl Ida's birthday! Ida with the beautiful kitenge blazer with Kui below..

 Mrs. Den Dulk..

Yummy salmon pancakes with an orange sauce

 Pork wrapped up in bacon...

Have a blessed week ahead and please support the #MyDressMyChoice campaign follow the recent public stripping events that have affected many women in Kenya. Granted that decency is appreciated, all women should be allowed to wear what they are comfortable in. These abusers need to be prosecuted! 

Pita Bread, Fried Mince & Veg Sandwiches!

Hey guys, do you have moments when you are in too much of a rush to make a proper meal? Happens to me all the time. On such days, I make my quick fixes such as this sandwich.

It literally took me 10 minutes to prep and another 15 minutes to fry the vegetables and the garlic mince. The ingredients for the stuffing included;

      * Baby Corn

          * Green Pepper

* Carrots

* Onions

    * Courgette

* Garlic

*Pepper

                                                                    

Interestingly enough, I was planning to use some mayonnaise for the cream topping, but unfortunately, I had run out and so as I was preparing to use some natural yoghurt, I actually discovered some left over sour cream cheese in my fridge. It turned out so gooood! I made some fresh mint and pineapple juice served in a mason jar to accompany the sandwich. The ingredients for the cream topping included;

                                                                         * Cream cheese

                                                                         * Onions

                                                                         * Celery

                                                                         * Corriander

Have a blessed Friday and an awesome weekend ahead!

Chocolate Cake Dessert!

 Hello beautiful people! Finally the sun is out today in Nairobi! So todays post features the chocolate cake I made during the Sunday brunch we had with PikchaGUY a few weeks back. My mum-in-love gave me this recipe a few years back, which is simple & the outcome is very delicious. 

All you need is:

* 6 oz of flour

* 6 oz or butter

* 6 oz of sugar

* 3 eggs

* 1 oz of cocoa (preferably dark)

*1 oz of baking powder

* Baking tins

Mix all the ingredients in the food processor & bake at 180 C for 20-25 minutes!

I then mixed some cocoa, icing sugar, butter and homemade strawberry jam for the icing... And of course some ripe strawberries to finish it off.

Have a lovely Tuesday & thanks for reading!