sweet dish of Malawi Peanut Balls (Mtedza) by Anjimile Mtila Oponyo

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/8 cup sugar
3/4 cup finely chopped, roasted peanuts
1 tsp vanilla
pinch salt
1 cup flour
powdered sugar, for dusting
Method:Preheat the oven to 350F. Meanwhile, chop up the peanuts into tiny pieces.Then cream butter and sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer. When soft and fluffy, incorporate the peanuts, vanilla, and salt. Pile on the flour and mix until… a crumbly dough forms.Press together with the palm of your hands into balls.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until light golden brown.Roll into a happy pile of powdered sugar and don’t stop until each cookie looks like a delicate cloud.Enjoy with a friend (or a more-than-friend) who you love with all your heart

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Biltong recipe by Anjimile Mtila Oponyo

½ kilogram (1 pound) topside steak, cut into thin strips||
vinegar for rinsing

Vinegar Marinade:
1 cup vinegar
2 Tbs. salt
1 tsp. sugar
¾ tsp. coriander
½ tsp. black pepper
¼ tsp. salt pepper
1/8 tsp. baking soda

• Dip strips of meat in vinegar and wring out.
• Marinate strips for 24 hours, then hang strips in a warm, dry place until all the moisture has evaporated

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Favorite Malawian Fried White Ants recipe by Anjimile Mtila Oponyo

This is usually served as an ndiwo, but can be eaten as a snack. Many volunteers compare it to popcorn.

1 cup day-old white ants (these are large termites, in the winged stage)
½ cup water
2 Tbs. margarine
salt to taste

• Clean ants by removing wings and any foreign matter.
• Place insects in salted water and boil over high heat until water has evaporated.
• Reduce heat and add margarine.
• Cover and simmer for 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and serve immediately

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Chimbama/Mkate recipe by Anjimile Mtila Oponyo

15 very ripe bananas, peeled
1 to 2 cups ufa (preferably ngaiwa—see the nsima recipe above for an explanation)
banana leaves

• Take banana leaves and pass them over a fire. This makes them pliable.
• Run a knife down the spine of the leaf, trimming off the thick part.
• Cut them into thirds and rinse in water.
• Pound bananas with a mortar and pestle.
• Pound in enough ufa to make a dough.
• Place about a hamburger patty-sized amount of dough on each third of the banana leaf.
• Completely wrap dough up with the leaf.
• Place bundles in a pot vertically (do not pile too high) with enough water to cover the bottom.
• Cover and place on a fire. Place more coals on the lid.
• Check after 20 to 30 minutes. The dough should be bread-like inside.

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Mandasi Malawi recipe by Anjimile Mtila Oponyo

Donuts! These are commonly sold by women in the market or at bus stations to earn a little extra income.

2 cups flour (all-purpose wheat four)
pinch of salt
2 tsp. Baking powder
2 Tbs. sugar
1 beaten egg
1 cup milk or water
oil for frying

• Mix flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl.
• Add sugar, egg, and milk and beat until smooth.
• Drop spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, turning once.
• Drain and enjoy.

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Rice Phala recipe by Anjimile Mtila Oponyo

Another variation on breakfast porridge.

1 cup uncooked rice
2 ½ cups water
½ tsp. salt
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp. margarine
sugar

• Bring water to a boil and add rice.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Add milk and butter, cover and cook until rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
• Add sugar to taste.

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