Steamed White Basmati Rice with a little kick!

I introduce to you, some kitchen fun! I know you will all be in Uni, and sometimes you just want to fix yourself something good to eat as oppose to all the junk you end up eating around campus (and what have you). Well, I will be sharing with you some of my favourite recipes and offer some pictorials to assist you in creating the different dishes. So it is only proper to begin with a staple.... plain old steamed rice, with a little kick! No more boko boko rice!lol!

P.S I will give a list of spices that you should carry with you from home, as they are fresh and pretty inexpensive.

Ingredients:
1 Cup Basmati Rice (or long grain rice)
Cold water
1 and 1/4 Cup hot water
3 Cardamon pods
1 Cinamon Stick
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Salt to taste

Prior preparations:

Sock rice in cold water, making sure the water covers the rice, for about 15 minutes (This method helps soften the rice grains)

Pour out the cold water and wash the rice once. Drain all water out from the rice.

Cooking:

Place cooking pot/pan on cooker, and set it on medium heat. While the cooker begins to heat up, pour in your oil, cardamon pods, cumin seeds and cinammon stick, and let them cook for 1 minute. 

Then pour in your drained rice

Stir all ingredients together, making sure all grains of rice are covered in oil.

Add your hot water, and salt to your liking. You can taste the water to know if the salt is enough.

Cover your pot and reduce the heat to medium low. Leave the rice to cook for 20 minutes. Do not open the pot any point. 

Once the 20 minutes are up, remove pot from cooker, with the lid still on, and let it cool for 3 minutes. Follow by forking the rice(that is mixing the rice with your fork), and Voila....! Bon appetite! You can try it at home!

If there is anything you would like me to cook, let me know. 

One of my favourite Indian curry "Butter Chicken" will be up next!

Waterloo Bridge

To get to class, for the last couple of weeks i've had to walk through Waterloo Bridge to where the programs were held.
When I think back to when I first had the thought of studying in London and thought this place would be all gloomy with just tall boring buildings and no atmosphere- if I saw this, it would have changed my mind.

There is only a river across the bridge, but it makes a big difference! It feels like you're walking by the sea (probably only during cool during summer days like now)... but imagine it being like walking through Salandar Bridge.



The view is of Canary Wharf. Basically one of the two major business districts here in London. Like the Posta area in Dar. There they have UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest and they're now finishing the tallest building in the European Union.

I don't know if....

... I am the only one who has been living under a rock, but I found out that google has an audio translate!!!! Well, I have been cracking up at all the swahili pronunciations and have been learning some french. Check it out if you haven't already!

http://translate.google.com/

Have a nice Sunday!

Thames River Cruise

I took this one on a cruise over Thames River. They call it CanaryWharf. It's maybe has got the New York City look and feel (notice shorter skyscrapers), but it's defiantly London!
I guess cities look extra special when surrounded by water, even when it's only a river!

We also managed to cruise through the Tower of London.

St Paul's Catholic Church

I thought i'd start sharing some of the photos i've taken whilst here in London before anyone else got to see them, so here will be their exclusive debut/launch before they show up on places like Facebook.

Here is a photo I took of the St. Paul's Catholic Church here in London.
It would have been nice if that whole street in front of the church was shut to get a better view of it, but London is way too busy. If you click on the photo you'll get a better view. Enjoy!

Fun facts:
The church sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London.
Also St Paul's is the second largest church building in the United Kingdom after Liverpool Cathedral.

UPDATE:
After our presentation at the London Stock Exchange, which was on the buildings to the left of church, I got a second chance to try get a better photo of the church building.

Kitchen Planking Disaster- Must See...

Hahahaha! I know right, hilarious.
At least we know she's fine after that attempt.

Samsung Infuse 4G!