Kenyan carrots & ginger soup - porkkana-inkiväärikeitto

Carrots and ginger soup - porkkana-inkiväärikeitto

When visiting Kenana farm a week back in Kenya (you can read a bit more HERE), we were served this delicious carrots & ginger soup. Best carrot soup I have ever tried. Just before I left we happened to drive by a large carrot farm just as they were harvesting the carrots, so we have lots here at home. Can't wait to prepare the first pot!

Carrots & ginger soup - serves 3-4

1 large onion, peeled and sliced
2 gloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1 ginger root
1 kg carrots
1/2 l water
Salt & pepper
Coriander
Whole milk (or cream)

1. Fry the onions and garlic until they are slightly brown
2. Peel the carrots and slice them, then add to the pan. Fry for 5 minutes.
3. Peel ginger root, grate and add to the pan. Fry for 5 minutes more.
4. Add water and bring it to boil for 25 minutes or until carrots are well cooked.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the pan from the stove
6. Liquidize until smooth (I like mine always a bit rough, but up to you!), then add chopped coriander and a little bit of whole milk (or cream).
7. Serve hot with fresh bread.

Doesn't it sound perfect?

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Vieraillessamme Kenanan tilalla Keniassa reilu viikko sitten, meille tarjoiltiin aivan mielettömän herkullista porkkana-inkiväärikeittoa. Parasta porkkanakeittoa, mitä minä ikinä olen maistanut. Ja juuri ennenkuin reissuun lähdin, satuimme juuri paikalle, kun eräällä tilalla oli porkkanannosto meneillään, ja niitä on nyt tuossa terassilla pari säkkiä. Ehkä tänä iltana saadaan soppa aikaiseksi!

Porkkana-inkiväärikeitto - 3-4 annosta

1 iso sipuli, kuorittuna ja pilkottuna
2 valkosipulinkynttä, kuorittuna ja pilkottuna
1 inkiväärijuuri
1 kg porkkanoita
1/2 l vet
Suolaa ja pippuria
Korianteria
Punaista maitoa (tai kermaa)

1. Paista sipuli ja valkosipuli pannulla, kunnes vähän saanut väriä
2. Kuori ja paloittele porkkanat ja lisää pannulle. Paista n. 5 minuuttia.
3. Kuori ja murskaa inkiväärijuuri, lisää pannulle ja paista n. 5 minuuttia lisää.
4. Lisää vesi ja keitä n. 25 minuuttia tai kunnes porkkanat ovat pehmeitä
5. Lisää suolaa ja pippuria maun mukaan. Poista pannu liedeltä.
6. Soseuta. Lisää pilkottu korianteri ja loraus maitoa / kermaa
7. Tarjoile kuumana tuoreen leivän kera

Eikö kuulostakin herkulliselta?

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Kenana Knitters - changing lives stitch by stitch

Kenana Knitters

Ms. Patricia Nightingale, a beautiful, kind and talented lady - the founder of Kenana Knitters which is a grassroots business that was founded by local Kenyan, Patricia Nightingale, who wanted to assist a group of individuals, as they were lacking a market for their homespun yarn. 

With clever consideration, she helped transform their yarn into unique creations with her distinctive designs, including plush toys, home décor, clothing and accessories. With a vision to further impact the community, the group taught women in the area to knit beautiful, organic products using local, sustainable resources. By providing a safe, family-friendly working environment, Kenana Knitters empowers women, offering them a chance to work and take charge of their lives, with dignity.

Patricia Nightingale - founder of Kenana Knitters

The women are allowed to work from home, or they gather at the Kenana Knitters workshop and do the needed spinning, knitting or weaving there. They may even bring their children with them.

Kenana Knitters - perfect snacks on their way

Kenana Knitters - the workshop

Kenana Knitters - spinning wheel

Kenana also supports women and girls, who might be disabled, for finding less demanding tasks for them to do.

Kenana Knitters - home spun and dyed natural wool

We visited Kenana farm last week, arrived a bit late Friday afternoon due to some problems with the traffic in Nairobi (this doesn't tell anything about it really ;)), and didn't have a chance to see the women at work. But we saw the garden (the board meeting room, that is), we saw the container (the office, that is) and we saw the warehouse (some more containers, that is). We talked for hours with Patricia, learning about the project, and their way of life in rural Kenya. We stayed in one of their beautiful, unique guesthouses (you can learn more about the guest houses at www.kembu.com) built and designed by Andrew, Patricia's son. Had a wonderful dinner prepared by Isaac (we even asked for the Ginger-Carrot soup recipe, will be in the blog during the weekend). The nights are cool, as the farm is around 2000 m above the sea level, and they are also DARK. No difference whether you have your eyes closed or shut ;).

Everything is so wonderfully, peacefully down to earth, and yet they have everything they need.  This project is 100% what I believe in - women helping themselves with their own hands, learning a new skill, becoming good at it and supporting their family locally, with locally purchased materials. And passing the talent forward to others around them. And this project, in turn, is already able to support the local orphanage.

If you wish to purchase any Kenana products to show your support, please visit our shop at www.werannas.com. Please contact us at info(@)werannas.com, if you wish to become a reseller for the products.

Kenana Knitters - home spun spider monkeys

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Kikoi trading - we take care of the faces behind the products

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya

First of all: I want to thank Maijakaisa, the owner of Kikoi Trading, from the bottom of my heart, for joining me on my first trip to Kenya. First to Africa actually. I saw HER Kenya, and I’ve fallen in love already.

We spent hours on Thursday in Triangle market, a small handicraft market in Nairobi, where the artisans sell their work. Some of them were making the products right there, some of them make them during the evenings, some of them gather a group of women and make them together (I even met the Picasso of Africa ;), or at least he introduced himself as such. And I mean - who wouldn’t support Picasso by buying some of his work, if he comes to you in a market in Nairobi??).

This place is where some of Kikoi’s products are originally from, and I truly can sign Kikoi’s statement – we take care of the faces (and hands, one could add) behind our products. Wonderful, just beautiful women. Funny, smily….and when I ask to take a photo, they get all serious J!! When the others see Maija making orders in number of stalls she has made business with also before, they wait patiently, and then call ‘Sista, please come inside and take a look at my products, as well!’

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya

We passed by Westgate shopping mall a couple of times, where the terrible things took place just couple of weeks back. The roads were blocked and there is the army and the police everywhere in the city center, their machine guns visible. You wouldn't want to mess with these people.

On our way back to Maija’s friend’s house, where we were staying before hitting the road for Kenana Knitter Critters in Njoro, we stopped to buy some flowers and to meet Robert, the talented man behind Kikoi’s banana tree products. We ordered some of new products, let’s see what he comes up with J.

After having a quick dinner we were back at the house – and met the most hilarious people on earth – the owners of Simbaexperience.fi, a Finnish travel agency organizing tailored trips to Kenya and elsewhere in Africa. I don’t remember laughing out loud like that for a long, long time! And and and – we were offered some dinner company AND a Night Safari in the Nairobi national park on Saturday evening before my flight back home (more about this later).  What all you can fit into 3 days when you happen to be in right places at right times…Below what I thought would be my Safari experience ;).

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya - I was told by the seller this is Kenyan technology ;)

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Apple rings and Antti Karppinen, 2013 IPA winning photographer

Just to clarify - THESE PHOTOS ARE NOT TAKEN BY ANTTI KARPPINEN :)! Some of Antti's work you can see HERE (there's a slight difference ;)).

Apple rings - Omenachipsit

After receiving only a 2 hr Skype training from Antti Karppinen, 2013 International Portrait Award winning photographer, last Thursday, I think I've accomplished best shots I've ever taken. And I want to thank Antti. Seriously, humbly thank him. Take it from me - he really knows his thing! We were planning to organize a workshop in one of the major cities in Europe during the fall, but that just didn't work out. And everyone being so busy, this was now the best alternative we had at hand before my trip to Kenya on Wednesday (Yes, I am going to see where the Kenana owls are actually being made :)))) !!) 

Apple rings - omenachipsit

Kikoi banana tree plate

Antti knows I am a visual person, and being that, sometimes forms, textures and colors just jump at you. The exceptions from the rule, they somehow glow. Afterwards you look at the photo taken with your phone or  Ixus, and feel disappointed. With me - almost never I capture the object the way I see it.  I know the camera doesn't take the photos, but perhaps it will help at least a little to have a better one to carry around.

And- you know the feeling when you have a new camera in your hand? Okay, here is the on/off and here I shoot...Antti agreed he will show me 5 things to do with the camera. I can say I have a clue of perhaps 1 so far, after 600 kind of serious shots taken during the past 3 days, but it is a start. I am not allowed to use zoom, which was bit of a challenge when there was 4 walls, a huge pile of wood and all kinds of equipment around, but I thought at least this time the best shots are of the intended objects :).

Antti - one more time, thank you! We continue...

Apple rings - Omenachipsit

And oh - about the apple rings! These are just plain. I took out the core, and cut the apples into 1-2 mm thick slices, and had them in 75 C oven for 8 hours. The scent in the house is delicious, but at least my apples sweat, so wipe the oven from inside every hour or so. If the moist is dripping on top of the apples again, the drying is kinda pointless ;).

Oat - Kauralyhde

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Apple crumble and learning to use my Canon EOS 650D

Easy and fast apple crumble - helppo ja nopea omenapaistos

I don't have much of a sweet tooth really (chocolate and SALT licorice don't count), but I do love the combination of sweet and sour. Apple crumble, the very traditional Finnish version with oatmeal on top, is one of my very favorites. There are tons of different kinds of recipes available, but let me share this 15-minute-preparation-time one. If you don't consider the butter and sugar, it is even healthy ;).

Easy and fast apple crumble - helppo ja nopea omenapaistos

Easy and fast apple crumble - helppo ja nopea omenapaistos

Easy and fast apple crumble recipe

5-6 sour apples (try to find local organic ones)
organic cane sugar
ground cinnamon

topping:
2-3 dl oatmeal
0.5 dl brown sugar
0.5 dl organic cane sugar
1 tsp vanilla sugar
100 g soft (melted) butter

Turn the oven to 200 C. Cut the clean apples into slices and toss them into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle some sugar and cinnamon on top. For the topping, mix all ingredients and spread it evenly on top of the apples. Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes, until the apples are soft and the topping has turned golden brown.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. A glass of champagne on the side makes this treat even tastier!

Champagne with apple crumble

After this weekend's projects we still have apples left, even though the kids eat them every day. The kids are growing tired of eating them, let's see if I still need to find ways to use them...

These photos I've taken with my new camera. Nothing I had in mind, but...we have an old well on our yard, it's kind of nice really, but I just couldn't make the photos work. There just seemed to be too much of everything, too many details here and there, and the photos just got too busy, just the way I don't like them ;). So I focused on the close-ups (again). So much easier to take. Another try today. 

If you are interested in any of the products used, you find the Kikoi raw silk runner HERE, the vintage wooden tray HERE and the Petra Lunds Lera Inga plate HERE. 

Autumn flowers - Syyskukkia

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En ole kovastikaan makean perään (suklaata ja salmiakkia ei siis tietenkään lasketa, ne kuuluu perusravintoon), mutta tykkään makean ja happaman yhdistelmästä. Tämä ihan perinteinen omenapaistos on ihan suosikkeja. Tästä löytyy mielettömän paljon reseptejä netistä, ja ja jokainen voi sieltä luoda oman versionsa. Itse teen aina sen mukaan, mitä kaapista sattuu löytymään. Nyt siellä oli jo ostettuna fariinisokeriakin, yleensä löytyy tähän aikaan vuodesta sellainen edellisestä joulusta jäänyt kova lomppi. Mutta on joitain asioita, joita en vaihda, ja yksi niistä on tuo ruokosokeri. Lapsuus Vietnamissa opetti juomaan teetä ruokosokerin kera, ja se nyt vaan on niin hyvää. Jos ette ole kokeilleet, kokeilkaa. Mums.

Omenapaistos maistuu tietysti parhaalta shampanjan kera, ja tämän kuvaajanoviisin rekvisiittalasi jotenkin tyhjeni tuossa kuvatessa. Niinkuin kyllä tuo lautanenkin. Oli täydellinen syksyinen iltapäivä kuvaamiseen, vaikkei kuvista nyt ihan sitä tullut, mitä päässäni kuvittelin. Meillä on pihassa sellainen vanha kaivo, ja ajattelin, että siinä saisi kivoja kuvia. Mutta siinä oli liikaa kaikkea detaljia ympärillä, en onnistunut kohdistamisessa jne.jne. Kuvista tuli sellaista sekamelskaa, juuri sellaisia, joista en tykkää, niin taas mentiin näihin lähikuviin. Mutta tänään on taas uusi päivä kameran takana.

Välillä tuntuu hassulta, kun on jotenkin osaksi alitajuisesti luonut itselleen tällaisen Weranna's -kodin, ja oman keittiön romppeet onkin kaupan tuotteita. Mutta jos siis kiinnostuit jostain, Petra Lunds Leran lautanen löytyy TÄÄLTÄ, Guthabenin kierrätyspuusta valmistettu laatikko/tarjotin TÄÄLTÄ ja Kikoin ihan rustiikkinen, raakasilkkinen kaitaliina TÄÄLTÄ.

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Frames on shelves - 30 euros later

Frames on shelves - taulut hyllyille

Yes, I was surprised myself...it REALLY is more about - just get it done, woman!! I got it done. Took a couple of hours in total, and 30 euros. 20 euros for the shelves from Ikea, and 10 euros for the matt black paint and a paint brush.

Frames on shelves - taulut hyllyille

Frames on shelves - taulut hyllyille

Looks nice and neat, doesn't it? All the frames of different style and color - together happily ever after.

Frames on shelves - taulut hyllyille

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Itsekin yllätyin, että se TODELLA on kiinni viitseliäisyydestä, eikä rahasta - nyt vaan projektin kimppuun, nainen!! Tehty, pari tuntia ja 30 euroa myöhemmin. 20 euroa käytin hyllyihin Ikeasta, 10 euroa mustaan mattamaaliin ja pensseliin.

Näyttää aika söötiltä ja siistilta, eikö? Kaikenmaailmaiset pikkukehykset - nyt yhdessä onnelliset aina ja ikuisesti.

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Crochet carpet - Knit Hit Kit virkattu matto

Crochet carpet - virkattu matto

Do you like crochet carpets? I love them. I was a bit skeptical about the practicality, need to admit, before I got one on our bathroom floor from our wonderful, beautiful crochet queen Salla.  It is there, in front of the shower, and gets wet every day. It dries well, and feels wonderful under the feet. And gets washed every week, and tumble-dried (I have this severe allergy for that dish-cloth smell - if I even sense, it is on it's way somewhere in our house, the object gets to be washed in 60 degrees. No exceptions.). Crochet carpet seems to be getting better every time.

Crochet carpet - virkattu matto

Crochet carpet - virkattu matto

Crochet carpet - virkattu matto

And - aren't these just pretty? The Novita Tube weft is perfect, perfect, perfect. Soft yet strong. We are starting to sell it as soon as we get the product open in the shop, but the Knit Hit Kit carpets are available already in 3 colors - unfortunately the instructions are still only in Finnish.

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Tykkäätkö virkatuista matoista? Itse olen ihan rakastunut niihin. Täytyy tunnustaa, että olin vähän skeptinen niiden käytännöllisyydestä ennenkuin sain yhden meidän ihanalta, kauniilta virkkauskuningattarelta Sallalta. Mutta nyt - virkattu matto on tuossa kylppärin lattialla, ja vielä suihkun edessä, ja kastuu ainakin pinnalta joka päivä. Kuivuu hyvin, ja tuntuu ihanalle jalkojen alla. Se pestään koneessa joka viikko, ja pyöritetään vielä kuivurissa (Mulla kun tuppaa olemaan tämä tiukka allergia sitä tiskirätti-hajua kohtaan - jos vaan tulee sellainen tunnekin, että joku kohde kotona saattaa alkaa haisemaan, se joutuu heti 60 asteen pesuun. Ei poikkeuksia.). Siellä pesussa tämä ihmematto tuntuu paranevan kerta kerralta.

Ja - eikö nämä nyt ole vain kauniita? Novita tuubi, jossa on 50% kierrätyspuuvillaa, on täydellistä, täydellistä, täydellistä. Pehmeetä mutta vahvaa. Ihan kohta saatavissa tuolta kaupastakin, tällä hetkellä saatavana Knit Hit Kitteinä 3 eri värissä. 

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