Monthly Archives: June 2009

Recipes Malawi-style: Hot chocolate

Cocoa is something that just isn’t that useful most of the time. But in cold season, hot cocoa may just be the best thing ever in the whole entire world. Mix in a cup: 2-3 heaping teaspoons cocoa 1-2 heaping … Continue reading

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Recipes Malawi-style: Pumpkin leaves with poached eggs

This is one of my favorite dishes, and is Malawian with a twist. You can use different greens, too, like spinach or bonongwe or Chinese cabbage or anything else you like. Mnkhwani (Pumpkin Leaves) are my favorite, though. 1 small … Continue reading

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Recipes Malawi-style: Lemon Squares

For the crust: 1/3 cup margarine 1 cup flour ¼ cup sugar Dash cinnamon (optional) For the filling: 2 Tbs flour ¼ tsp baking powder ¾ cup sugar 2 eggs 1 Tbs finely shredded lemon peel Juice from 2 lemons … Continue reading

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Recipes Malawi-style: Fancy Cakes

The best cake recipes, probably in the whole world, are written by Nigella Lawson. But I like to mix and match my favorite recipes. Cakes Yellow cake with custard powder: 200 g plain flour 3 tbsp custard powder 2 tsp … Continue reading

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Recipes Malawi-style: Tuna noodle casserole

This is one of my common recipes that I just make up as I go along. Amounts are estimates, not hard and fast rules. This can feed two-four depending on the hunger and what ndiwo is available.. Cook until slightly … Continue reading

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Recipes Malawi-style: Banana Bread

My favorite banana bread recipe didn’t make the cut into the second edition of the Peace Corps Malawi cookbook. So, I’m going to reprint it here. This banana bread is very moist, but doesn’t rise much and is very pale. … Continue reading

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Recipes Malawi-style: Fudge-y Brownies

These are the absolutely best fudgey brownies on the face of the earth. If you like cakey brownies, these are not for you. Preheat oven to 150°C or 300°F Mix dry ingredients well: 1 cup cocoa powder 1 cup flour … Continue reading

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Recipes, Malawi-style, Part 1: Vegetable Rice Pilau and Zanzibari garam masala

I have had many requests for the recipes I use regularly. So, I’m going to write some of my favorites as well as the modifications I use to make them work in Malawi. I’m going to post the recipe I … Continue reading

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Malawian politics

Derek recently said that you don’t really need any other forms of entertainment other than following politics here. I can only give a brief summary, because it’s taken me too long to write this post, and so I’ve forgotten details. … Continue reading

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The high cost of living in Malawi

There was an article recently about the high cost of poverty in the US. While I thought the author for that article could have come up with better examples, it was interesting and reframed some random thoughts I’ve been having … Continue reading

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It’s not a bug, it’s a feature!

Obviously, I have not figured out how to properly use this function yet, but I’m sure it’ll be AWESOME when I do, ‘coz Sony wouldn’t do me wrong, would it? Oh, and it’s actually worse today. Noel and I are … Continue reading

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Wish you could see

In a country known for its interesting fashion sense, I saw what is perhaps the best outfit ever. Believe me when I say this guy has a lot of competition here. To start with, while gender roles are even more … Continue reading

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I have a post ALL WRITTEN, but

Oh, my technological gurus: The monitor on my laptop cracked. Again. Bastard. (For the record, I literally did nothing to make it crack in the first place. One night it was fine, the next morning it was cracked.) I can … Continue reading

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You know what I love?

Besides when I go to the chip stand and small children literally run screaming from me? When I go to the chip stand and find fried plastic in my egg. Mmmmm, bonus plastic!

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A little birdie told me

Someone pointed out to the prison officials at Zomba Central that an old, tattered, faded Malawian flag might not be the best thing in the world to have flying at a government institution. So, they decided to replace it with … Continue reading

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