Dear LPG readers, 

I know that you are now accustomed to hearing about my many culinary mistakes, and I made this month’s biggest one before I even got to the kitchen or the shops.  When I was choosing an Independence Day for this month, I told you all about my plan to ‘honour’ Slovenia. Still, you will remember that last month’s recipe celebrated Norway’s independence.   That fell quite early in May, which meant that I made it in April.  To cut a long story short, I got all my dates even more mixed up than my recipes, so I have chosen to take us on a new destination this month….  Welcome to my take on a Somalian delicacy.

I thought that something a little sweet might be in order, although I suggest that any diabetic readers who try this one limit their enjoyment to a very small portion.  

It was the picture that drew me to this particular recipe (together with the introductory note about how simple it was to make).  

There was only one ingredient that I had never tried, and that was saffron.  When I looked up where I could get this, the internet also informed me that Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, so I knew that, simple. However, making a dish of Halwa, with the addition of something as luxurious as this herb promised to be, even I could not get it wrong.

I did one better than following the recipe to the letter. I followed the video (mainly because of the amount of sugar that was requested), but apart from the fact that my version did not look quite as ‘gloopy’ as the one in the video, I think I did very well.

My taste testers were also impressed, although a couple of them, like me, had to limit their tasting session due to the high sugar concentration and their tolerance levels. The saddest thing is that after getting all the nods of approval, I noticed something else that, until that point, had slipped my mind.   The unopened bottle of Saffron.   I bought it and did all that cooking before realising that I forgot the thing that should have made all the difference.  I’ll have to try again…

After conducting more research than I did last month, I have discovered that Burundi celebrates its independence on July 1st.  I plan to impress while recreating a plate of Ibiharage. I hope you will join me for a taste of something from their local area… 

CB, Lewisham.

CB offers us a preview of the next meal she will be attempting

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