Mouthwatering Homemade Mandazi – Kenyan Doughnuts

One of the items that we sold at our yard sale were Kenyan doughnuts called Mandazi They are also known as Swahili Buns or Swahili Coconut Doughnuts. Mandazi are a type of fried bread which is a popular snack in Kenya. They  can be eaten as a side dish with fruit flavoured dips, with chai (tea) or as a snack on their own.

Mandazi are very similar to a yeast doughnut, and is similarly then fried. One thing that makes them stand out is that often include a few teaspoons of spice such as cardamom, cinnamon, allspice or ginger. This gives them a sweet and aromatic essence to them. Some variations might also include adding coconut milk to add some sweetness or some chopped peanuts or almonds to add texture and flavour.

They are quite simple to make and when you taste them, you will understand what makes them so popular! Give this recipe a try and let us know in the comments or on Facebook how they turned out!

Ingredients

• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tsp dry yeast
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 tsp spice (one or more of the following to total one-quarter teaspoon: cardamom, cinnamon,allspice, ground ginger)
• 2 tbs butter, margarine, or vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup warm milk (optional)
• 1 egg, lightly beaten (optional)
• pinch of salt
• oil for deep frying
• icing sugar for dusting (optional)

Directions

1. All pastry ingredients should be allowed to come to room temperature if they have been in the refrigerator. When using yeast: mix the yeast with a few spoonfuls of the warm water (105-115 F).
2. In a mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, and spice (cardamom is most common in Eastern Africa). Add the yeast. Mix the water, butter (or margarine, or oil), milk, and egg together. Gradually add this mixture to the flour while kneading into dough. (If not using milk and egg use additional water as necessary.) Knead until a smooth and elastic dough is formed—fifteen to twenty minutes. Place dough in a clean bowl, cover with a cloth, and allow to rise in a warm place (such as on oven that has been heated to 100 degrees Fahrenheit then turned off) for an hour or more.
3. Divide the dough into several hand-sized pieces. Roll or press the pieces into circles about one-half inch thick. Cut circles into halves or quarters (or whatever you like). Some cooks (when using yeast) place the dough on a cookie sheet and let them rise a second time.
4. Heat a few cups of vegetable oil to 300 degrees Fahrenheit in a skillet or deep pot. Fry the dough in the hot oil, turning a few times, until they are golden brown all over. Fry only as many together as can float in the oil without touching one another. Place on paper towels to drain. Serve warm.
5. Dust with icing sugar if desired

(Recipe courtesy of http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Kenyan_Mandazi)

(Header photo from Goway Agent News)

Our Second Annual Yard Sale was a Success!

On September 12, 2015, Kuamini held its second annual garage sale in Burford, Ontario! This was a huge success and we thank everyone who brought pre-loved items to be sold and who stopped by our sale. At the end of the day, we raised over $1500, which was more than last year.

We were wondering what the weather would be like, since the weather reports were calling for rain all weekend. But other than a few moments of drizzle, we had a rain-free day, which contributed to making the day much more enjoyable and successful!

In addition to selling used items, we also had a small bake sale with items brought in from our volunteers. Our president, Jackson, also made Kenyan doughnuts called mandazi, which were a huge hit! We will upload a recipe in our next post for you adventurous chefs to try! If you make some, send us a photo and show us how they turned out!

Kenyan Mandazi (Doughnuts)

As well, we featured some beautiful artisanal crafts brought back from Kenya. The artisans there make beautiful bead jewellery, artwork and figurines. We still have a few pieces left over, so look for them at our next fundraising event!

Our Kenyan Artisanal Crafts

Not all of our yard sale items were sold at our sale, but they did not go to waste. Everything that was left was donated to another local charity, Pennies for Freedom, who are dedicated to fighting human trafficking.

Finally, we would like to thank all of the volunteers that make Kuamini a possibility. We have a dedicated team that worked tirelessly on collecting items, transporting them and setting up for the sale. They are the driving force behind our organization!

Jaclyn, Jackson and Jennifer

Jackson telling customers about Kuamini’s projects

Garage Sale Fundraiser

Our board members had a meeting on Monday and I find myself really inspired by the people on “Team Kuamini”. A really positive, fun and compassionate group of people. One of us will get an idea and from it, sparks ten more ideas from all of our creative minds.

One of the major topics of discussion that we tackled in the board meeting was fundraising. It’s really  the next step that we need to make in order to progress with getting the word out about Kuamini and starting to do the work we need to do in Kenya.

We brainstormed many fundraising ideas and we are going to be starting these initiatives in just a few weeks! The first thing we are doing is a garage sale in Paris Ontario. We are going to sell good, used items and also delicious baked goods. The funds that we raise at the sale will go towards renting a booth at another event which will give us the chance to get the word out about Kuamini and also to raise more funds so that we can purchase mosquito nets and possibly construct latrines in Kenya.

If you live in Brant county and would like to either donate goods, volunteer at the sale or shop at the sale we’d love to hear from you!! You can leave a message here or contact us on facebook.