It’s been some time since I posted recipes in this space.
Here in Africa, we have been so grateful to have found a grocery store that sells food familiar to us- packets of pasta or spaghetti at a dollar each, minced meat, bacon and even Chinese tofu (beancurd) at prices lower than that back home. Seeing a familiar and distinctly Asian food like tofu lights me up every time I see it in the frozen section- it beckons me to rush to it and buy a few packets at a time, before they run out, which is often! We also could not believe we found blocks of cheese, likely imported from the Middle East.
With tomato paste, cheese and flour at hand, the Hungry Husband becomes easy to please!
Luscious and juicy Ugandan-grown vegetables are found in generous and fresh supplies on a street by a dirt road. Shopping means getting ones feet into dirt and grit, with the sun scorching above, and the feathers of fighting chickens in a nearby rusty metal coop fluttering in the air… but it is a great way to stretch one’s dollar, if you master the local language and built friendships with the store-keeper. Two dollars can buy you 30 tomatoes, 8 to 10 large carrots, or a dozen eggplants to last you a week!
The sneaky husband stealing a picture of me buying our weekly groceries!
So here’s starting off the New Year with the Hungry Husband’s first request:
“Do you think you could make garlic bread?”
To which my reply was, “If you can think it, I’ll try and make it!”
Here goes! Home-made Cheesy Garlic Bread from Scratch.
If I can make it in Africa, you can make it too : )
(It’s a little time-consuming, but it worked great for me doing my reading in Theological Studies in between!)
Food for Love:
Dough:
- Yeast mixture:
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 teaspoon instant yeast
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- 2 cups white flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
Grated Parmesan cheese
Garlic Butter:
- 1/3 stick of butter
- Sprinkle of oregano/ mixed herbs
- Sprinkle of salt/ black pepper
- Cloves of garlic
The Act:
1. Mix the yeast, sugar and warm water in a cup. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it turns magically creamy. (Don’t let the houseflies get to it!)
2. Mix 2 cups of flour and a teeny sprinkle of salt in a big bowl. Pour in the yeast mix and mix until a soft gooey dough forms.
3. Massage and knead it with your hands. WARNING: This gets STICKY! But don’t make the mistake of adding too much flour though, it should be sticky : )
4. Place this sticky lump in a well-oiled bowl (I used olive oil) and place a clean, damp cloth over it. I used a paper towel soaked in water folded in half.
5. Place it in a warm place. I put my oven to low heat for a few minutes, switched it off, then placed the bowl in there. Then I went off to do my reading : )
6. Once the dough has doubled in size, knead it again. Then place it in the warm again till it doubles in size again. Feel free to do anything else in the meantime!
7. Now, place the sticky gooey dough in a nice baking loaf tin and bake it at 175 degrees Celsius for 20- 30 minutes. Once it turns a little golden at the top, sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top with some herbs. I love oregano and rosemary.
8. For the garlic spread, simply place all the butter, salt, black pepper, herbs and crushed, minced garlic into a little saucepan until it begins to melt. I added some garlic powder and thyme into it too : ) (It’s amazing how many herbs you can get in Uganda, mostly imported from Kenya).
9. Your home will smell AMAZING when the garlic butter melts and when your fresh bread comes out!
10. Assemble. Slice. Spread and voila!
I served this garlic bread with some black pepper chicken drumsticks (will share this recipe another day) on a cold night with a hearty minestrone stew- basically a mish-mash of leftover vegetables- tomatoes, corn, beans, carrots, onions, garlic and spinach, with minced beef, pasta and a tablespoon of tomato paste.
Hearty Minestrone Stew
Black pepper chicken drumsticks and cheesy, herby garlic bread
Bon Appetit!