Yummy Recipe's Straight from Kenya-Sweet Potato Coconut Pudding (Mbtata)

We get many questions from people all over the United States and other countries regarding our humanitarian experiences. We love these questions and we certainly love to answer them. One of most fun questions we get asked is, "Do you starve over there (Africa)?" or "What on earth do you eat?". The answer is that we actually eat well and the food is very good! Though we have to be very careful what we eat and follow all travel/CDC guide lines because we must stay healthy, we definitely do not "starve". Sharing meals with fellow volunteers, those we serve, and with our hosts is one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences. You all get a chance to relax, let your hair down, talk and laugh!

In order to answer some questions and to have fun ourselves we would like to bring to the table the life of what we experience in Africa by sharing some recipes and memories with our readers. I remember my first experience in the kitchen while in Kenya. It was my third trip to Africa and we were working in the small town of Naivasha, not too far from Lake Nakuru. I had noticed that the women who cooked for us were always up cooking our breakfast long before we ever woke and then would return in the afternoon to cook our dinner which was absolutely amazing. Our breakfasts usually consisted of one or more of; boiled eggs, toast, pancakes, fresh fruit, cereal with hot milk (fresh from the cow that morning). Dinners range from; meat somosa's, cabbage & tomatoes, pasta, potato's & pea's, green beans, chicken, goat, fish, sweet potatoes, spinach & kale, ugali, fresh fruit, and pita bread. Two-five of these items would be served, not all at once. The ladies never complained and I would always hear them giggling away in the kitchen, though I couldn't understand but a few words of what they were speaking.

After the first week I couldn't stand it and had to get into that kitchen. I wanted to be apart of the comradeship that these ladies had. I tip-toed into the kitchen and after a game of charades I managed to get it through to them that I wanted to participate, help, and learn from them (after a lot of giggling).  In that one afternoon I gained so much, both in learning to cook but also the connection of women. You also do not need to speak the language in order to be apart of the bond between women, you just need to take part.

 

Meal preparation is mainly done in a small kitchen area and then the cooking outside, unless a modern stove is available inside. Most of the experiences I've had, the cooking is done on a charcoal stove/oven or open fire outside the kitchen.  

I am going to share with you all one of the recipe's I learned that afternoon and I promise more will come. This is a favorite of my husband and two kids as well as many other friends and family. Sweet potato coconut pudding or Mbtata in Swahili. Super yummy and I serve as a desert though you could serve as a side dish depending on your meal plan. This is super easy and can be made ahead of time and frozen. It's also good warm or cool though it's the perfect comfort food when warm.

1 cup fresh ground coconut
4 baked sweet potato's, peeled and cubed

3 eggs, whisked
¾-1 cup sugar
¾ cup coconut milk, goats milk, or heavy cows milk (just milk!)
4 tbsp melted butter
1-2 tsp of any spices you have on hand (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cloves)
pinch of sea salt

Blend together all ingredients and ONLY 1/2 cup of coconut, reserve the other 1/2. Poor into lightly greased or buttered baking dish or casserole dish and smooth. Sprinkle remaining coconut on top. Place in a 350° oven and bake for 30 minutes. Serve hot or cool. Garnish with fresh whipped cream, ice-cream, mint, or alone. mzuri sana! (very good!)

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