Thank You, Kesara

Thank you for staying in contact with Wairimu after medical school. Thank you for taking a position that landed you in Kisii. Thank you for having a sister, waiting for her nursing post to finalize, who wants nothing more than to help a near-stranger chop vegetables and peel fruit. Thank you for having DSTV, where watching Lady Gaga emerge from an egg-like pod during the Grammys felt normal. And thank you for allowing me to use your apartment for the better part of a day, with it's oven and refrigerator and freezer, to make a Valentine's Day dinner. So, a Kisii market-inspired menu, with only minimal ingredients (flour and yeast for dough; chocolate for melting; wine for drinking) store bought, all diligently photographed by Sarah.

Pan-Warmed Macadamia Nuts in Olive Oil and Salt

Avocado with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette

Pickled Red Onion & Chilled Cucumber Salad

 Sautéed Butternut Squash

 Roasted Root Vegetables with Yogurt-Cilantro Tzatziki

 Green Pepper & Tomato Pizza with Red Sauce 

and Eggplant & Caramelized Onion White Pizza

 Vanilla Ice Cream and Tropical Fruit Compote with Dark Rum and Ginger Root

 Chocolate Covered Frozen Sweet Bananas

Wine Spritzer with Lime Juice, Passion Fruit, and Frozen Mango Chunks

And, you know, candles.