Mama has been too scared to even try it, let me just tell you. Look how happy that woman looks on the cover! Look at those perfect rolls of injera! This was not helping my complex.
But then I went and invited 50 people to our place to celebrate Ethiopian Christmas and I thought it was time to put on my big girl panties and go for it.
I first called this amazing woman and talked for about an hour (not just injera, mind you, it was actually an awesome, soul filling convo, anywho...). In that time she gave me all of the tips, that happen to be in the book but were helpful nonetheless, I would need to know in order to make this successful.
I rolled up my sleeves (and visited Greatest Grains, our local whole foods market) and went to work. First step looked the way she said it was supposed to:
Then just 6 or so hours before party time you add some boiling water and voila!
While that was fermenting I checked out my good friend Captain Murdock's blog to prepare some traditional Ethiopian food. As I texted her every 5 minutes or so (I think I have self reliance problems) I successfully made Doro Wat (pictured here without chicken first):
And sega wat:
Dear friends, it was not all fun and games in the kitchen though. There were onions. Lots of freakin' onions. And I'm SUPA sensitive to those delicious little boogers. I've recently gotten creative.
The smell lingered for HOURS people. HOURS. The kids ran outside to escape the potency. I, however, kept the goggles on during all food prep until the smell dissipated.
I took no real pictures of the actual night. The day passed too quickly. 30 minutes before people were to arrive my mom was making some aklilt and I was making shiro. It was not pretty.
How did the injera turn out you ask? Not great. I couldn't figure out how to get it to not stick to the pan. My brother-in-law, Jake, took over and was able to get a few decent rolls out of it but it was still "meh".
It tasted grainy-er than I've tasted and it was too dry. All of this was obviously because of my being a novice. I've promised myself (and Tomas) that I will learn how to do it right by 2013. And I will.
If you want pictures of the ridiculous amounts of love and cuteness that were at the party go to Beth's blog or my fabulous sister's blog.
The night (and the food) was a great success. Tomas especially was in his element. When he was in the care center they called him "Little mayor". He was the epitome of that Saturday night. So hilarious.
In the end, truly, it was a magical night. We are so blessed to have such a great group of people who love and care for our family. Makes a girl feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
11 comments:
When you get that injera figured out, you let me know. I'm looking for a magic secret...
Ha! That sound exactly the way our night went. LOL
We had a full house and did not take one picture and our injera was an absolute disaster. We have promised Mihiret that we will keep Trying and we refused the urge to write an 't behind the can on our beautiful book. LOL
Good for you for trying! I think I'm going to learn how to make all the sides first (while getting an order of injera through carryout). We went out for Ethiopian that night and it was so freaking good. I've been craving it ever since. Thank goodness there is a new Ethiopian restaurant that just opened in our town. Woohoo!
LOL. Your goggles totally cracked me up! What a prefect idea, because holy onions, it's hard to get through all that chopping.
I'll make my injera one more time and take closer notes and share my recipe. I've done it a few times and it has never ended in disaster, so it must be fairly fool-proof? Did you ever buy that grill?
Oh the smell. I hardly cooked much at all and my eyes were pouring tears from the onions. I had no idea you invited so many people to your feast. Totally awesome! You rock the western hemisphere. I think next year I'm coming to your house.
Y'all need to share your injera trouble spots - - and promise you'll try 3 times. I'm waiting on a resupply of teff since we're injera cookin' and eatin' fiends here! The goggles are freakin' hilarious. Your crock pots meals are awesome, too.
I will attest that Captain Murdock makes some wicked good injera. It is not as sour as what I had in Ethiopia, but is more sour than what you usually get in a restaurant in the States. Still, when in doubt, I say MAIL ORDER IT. If you need a link, let me know.
You know we loved being there. Thank you, thank you again.
You are so incredibly ambitious! I love how you surround yourself and celebrate family and life and love....it is beautiful
We had so much fun! The food was delicious! Thank you:)
Love the goggles.
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