My Friday

I am a girl who makes lists. Lists of all kinds. Both Em and Hero seem to have developed my love of lists, and are always volunteering to make ones for me.

Every Friday morning we sit down after breakfast to make a shopping list, to take with us on our weekly shop. Sometimes we all make one long list. Or, Em and Hero will work on the list while I tell them the things to include. Or, like yesterday, they each made a list of their own. Em not needing any help with the writing, but Hero needing the sounds and letters spelled out to him.

He was very proud of his list, and walked along the road, reading out the words, item by item. In the shops, he walked from aisle to aisle, pointing out the things we needed, reminding me (and everyone else in the shop who had reasonable hearing) of the remaining items on the list, from time to time.

Back at home, it was time for some craft fun. In their scrapbooks, they each drew an outline of a shape they wanted. Then, being supplied with beads, stickers, feathers, shells and coloured sticks, Hero made this collage of a boat.

Em did this house, taking her time to create symmetry and pattern.

Then on to water colours. Hero's rather abstract painting.

And Em's fish. Both now taking their place on the fridge, displayed for the week or fortnight, until the next display-worthy artwork comes along.

In the morning, Em announced that she wanted (me) to make a local baked dish called a kiru boakibaa. I knew that it was made using a batter made with flour, sugar and coconut milk which was then baked in a tin and cut into squares. But I had never attempted it. Nor did I have a recipe for it. So I asked my mum. Who proceeded to tell me a recipe. But her ingredients included some items which I didn't think sounded fully authentic, so I checked with my aunt. But then, my aunt didnt have any ideas about measurements - just make a batter with flour, sugar and coconut milk, she told me. So that was no help. I referred then to my sister, who is currently working on a cookbook of traditional Maldivian home cooking. I was sure she would have the answer. But all she told me was NOT to follow my mum's recipe as it had turned into a disaster when she had tried it herself!

So, I decided to take matters into my own hands, and proceeded to make my own version of the kiru boakibaa. I made the batter with equal portions of sugar and flour, adding sufficient coconut milk to made a not-too-thick batter. I flavoured it with pandan leaves, and poured the whole thing into a cake tin and baked it in the oven. Half way through, I sprinkled on some grated nutmeg and added some caramalised onions on one side (one side because Em doesn't like onions and I do). It came out of the oven looking like this:

And cut into squares, it was rather nice with a cup of tea.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekends!