3 RULES TO OBSERVE WHILE USING THE MICROWAVE OVEN

Every modern kitchen has to have a microwave oven. Many households use it to defrost or reheat food but some have learnt to cook using the microwave. This key piece of equipment has made the life of a bachelor a lot easier where microwave dinners are the norm.

How a microwave works.

Compared to conventional cooking method where food is cooked from out to the inside due to an external source of energy, a microwave cooks food from the inside to the outside.

This phenomenon is possible because food contains a high water content. Water absorb micro- waves (electromagnetic waves just under the frequency of radio waves). Water molecules vibrate and rub against each other resulting in friction and this produces heat; heat which warms food from the inside.

3 rules to observe when using the microwave.

1. Water absorbs micro- waves,
2. Glass transmits micro- waves
3. Metal reflects micro- waves

With these 3 principles it is easy to see why you shouldn't put metal in a microwave oven and why doing so results in disaster. 

Glass is the recommended material to use in microwave ovens due to their property of transmitting micro- waves.

Plastics and microwave ovens.

The greatest concern with using plastics in microwaves is the potential for the plastics to melt or warp. Most plastics that are used are made for storing margarine, ice cream, yoghurt and other food stuffs. These plastics have not been tested for use in microwave ovens so they can warp or melt.

Consequently, concern has been shown with the use of plastics due to migrating chemicals such as bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates used as plasticizers and which mimic human hormones, and not for the good.

Microwave safe plastics are available if you must use plastics. They have been subjected to testing therefore are approved for use in microwave ovens. 

Please refrain from using "Blueband" plastics. 

MY FAVOURITE SPICES

Every kitchen has to have a cabinet or a pantry full of dried herbs and spices. Even the most conservative of homes, where food is cooked as plainly as possible, has a few spices lying around.

My cooking style borrows heavily from the Middle and Far East so those spices are always available in the house. I usually find that the culinary style from these regions use spices in such a way that they are overpowering. On the other hand, I prefer spices to be far away in the background, rather than it punching you in the face and melting your mouth

Below is my personal preference of spices that I use regularly.

Black pepper.

This spice NEVER misses in any of my cooking. If I can sneak it in then I will. I love it because it is hot but unlike chillies it is not overpowering. When used in moderate quantities, the heat hits at the back of the tongue as you swallow giving a good surprise at the end. Too much and the food becomes extremely hot.

Cayenne pepper and cinnamon.

The heat of the cayenne is balanced with the sweetness of the cinnamon. Yes, I know cinnamon is a bit odd since its mainly used in desserts but it works well with other dishes too. Use cayenne pepper sparingly. It is extremely hot and can turn a meal in to a disaster. About half a teaspoon of cayenne is enough followed by a teaspoon of cinnamon. Cayenne pepper comes to its own when you make jerk chicken.

Cumin and cloves.

 This is a winning combination. Its a marriage made in heaven and delivered to our taste buds. Cumin and cloves come to their own in njahi (black beans) and with the horrible tasteless soya meat. I would be careful with the cloves since it packs a little more punch in the flavour department and can be overpowering. Other than that you should try this combination. It is amazing.

Basil and oregano.

For when am feeling a little bit Italian. Okay, when am feeling like making fake Italian dishes. 2 spices cannot substitute for the culinary experience from Italy. Basil is great with minced meat. Oregano and basil go well in red sauce which when added to pasta makes a big difference from your usual boiled pasta. I hate plain boiled pasta.

Garam masala.

Green grams (ndengu) have never been the same since I discovered this spice. It can be used in pilau together with pilau masala but I highly recommend that you try it with ndengu.

Pilau masala and cardamon.

Cardamon is one of the most expensive spices that you can pick up from the shelves of your local supermarket, but its worth it. Orginally I found it being used in mandazi and cakes: I use cardamon and pilau masala in my fried rice (recipe coming soon). 

Bay leaf.

The underdog. I rarely use it because it is usually at the back of the spice cabinet. When the leaves are boiled, they infuse a lemon-like flavour in to the dish. Works great with soups and syrups as well as its a great way to put some flavour into boiled rice. Just remember to take them out before serving as they are not meant to eaten

These are some of the few spices that I love to use. What is your favourite spice?

AMERICAN PANCAKES

It is such a beautiful feeling to wake up to the sight of freshly made pancakes in the morning such as these.

Unfortunately, that is a feeling am yet to experience. I usually make these pancakes for others to enjoy. 

These pancakes are easy to make and have the ability to impress different groups of people. I have made the pancakes for breakfast, hikes, house parties and when I have friends over. The recipe is versatile and soon you will learn to make your own style of pancakes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½  teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar 
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil

Method

1. Combine the first 5 ingredients (dry ingredients) in a large bowl, mix well and make a well in the center of the mixture.
2. Add eggs, milk and oil to the dry ingredients, stir until the dry ingredients are moistened. A whisk or a hand mixer will be helpful to prevent lumps from forming.
3. Heat a griddle (thick-bottomed non-stick pan or chapati pan will do) add a little oil to prevent the pancake from sticking.
4. For each pancake, use a ¼ cup to pour the pancake batter onto the hot griddle. 
5. Cook pancakes until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked; turn pancakes; and cook other side.

Yield: 7 pancakes

Serving size: 1 pancake

Optional: For those with a sweet tooth, add one more tablespoon of sugar.

For cinnamon pancakes: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder in step 1.

ENJOY 

WHAT DO ADULT MALE MOSQUITOES EAT?

What do adult male mosquitoes eat?
(A) Blood
(B) Plant nectar and juices
(C) Feces
(D) All the above

Did you say blood? 

Well you were wrong.

The correct answer is plant nectar and juices.

Adult mosquitoes (both males and females) feed on plant nectar and juices to obtain glucose which provides the nourishment needed.

However, the female mosquito requires a blood meal in order to obtain proteins that are required to produce eggs. Only a few species of mosquitoes are able to store enough energy as larvae, to produce eggs when they are adults, without the needing a blood meal.  For every blood meal, a female mosquito lays a batch of eggs. The blood can come from humans, mammals, birds or reptiles with different species having different preference for sources.

Male mosquitoes do not take a blood meal at any point in their life.

Further reading on what mosquitoes eat

Watch video of Male mosquito (Culex spp) feeding on plant nectar

MICRO-COMRADES

During the last week of 2014 I had the pleasure of staying in one of the public universities. While there, I had my first encounter with bed bugs (Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus) Obviously the Kenyan student community doesn't  know these nasty little critters by their scientific names but they are known as “micro-comrades”

I talked to various people and I found out that bed bug infestations are not limited to only public universities but to also private institutions, homes, apartments, hospitals, dormitories and hotel rooms. In fact, bed bug infestations are a worldwide problem since bed bugs are found in both temperate and tropical climates.

Adult bugs are easily identifiable. These are oval shaped, flat, wingless and approximately 5 mm long. Adults are reddish brown (chestnut) in colour, whereas immatures are smaller and may be light yellow. They have a pyramid-shaped head with prominent compound eyes, slender antennae and a long proboscis tucked underneath the head and thorax.

 Bed bugs are ectoparasites that feed exclusively on blood (obligate hematophagous) and can live for 12 months without feeding and up to 1.5-2 years in colder environments.

In addition to being able to live for long periods without food these critters excel in hiding during the day, and feeding at night. Hiding places are usually within 1 to 2 metres of suitable host and include seams of mattresses, backside of headboards and even behind hanging wall pictures and in cracks in the wall.

For those lucky enough to have shared a bed with these bugs then they will understand how irritating the bites are. The bite causes an itchy maculopapular wheal. A raised bump in the skin area. In severe cases, urticarial reactions and anaphylaxis (allergy) can also occur. There is no known literature showing that bed bugs are transmitters of pathogens so we should be able to rest easy at night. The main problem caused by bed bugs is that they cause irritation when they bite and as a result disturb sleep.

  

I once tried to crush a bed bug but I couldn't. Their flat bodies make them hard to squash with the power of a slipper. So control of these bugs is by fumigation and use of pesticides. Special attention is paid to the mattresses but it is necessary to consider other hiding places so as to effectively get rid of infestations.

After my week had ended and I got back home, none of my bags went into the house. Bed bugs are easily transmitted through movement of luggage and furniture so I made sure that my luggage was properly washed and disinfected before reintroduction back into the house.

I am sure that after the holidays the "micro-comrades" will be happy with the return of the student community. I am hoping that our paths will never cross again with these "micro-comrades."