Culture Shock: It's What's for Breakfast {with recipe and links}

When you go to the grocery store in Uganda and all these options unfold before you.... you think you've landed in the Promised Land... until you read the price tag.  $6 for the tiniest box.  And almost $10 for the big box.  Grateful we can get them. But inspired to find other breakfast alternatives for the everyday nosh.

A chapati (indian flatbread common in Kampala), slathered with peanut butter and wrapped around a banana.  Or a rolex (not the watch, and not bought on the street corner, but homemade): a chapati or tortilla wrap with scrambled egg, onion and tomato.  Eggs. Pancakes made from DIY bisquick (keep leftover pancakes in the freezer to reheat for an easy breakfast) {see below}. Homemade granola bars.  Pumpkin scones. Homemade Lara bars. On Christmas morning, my mom's cinnamon rolls are a must. Muffins of all sorts.  Pumpkin baked oatmeal muffins.  Green smoothies. Banana Muffins.  {see below}

Another thing I forgot about while we were in the U.S. was the ants!  My heavens- the ants!  An effective solution: make a simple syrup 1 part water + 1 part sugar, cook in a saucepan until dissolved.  Add borax (yes, you can get it at Shoprite in Kampala).  Soak some cotton balls in the solution and put them where you see ants most frequently (overnight so kids don't mess with them).  As the ants feast on the sugar water laced with borax, they will carry it home to the queen, and hopefully your situation will improve.

Having a baby here this term, we've found some parenting style differences.  And no, when it's 65 F... my baby will not be wearing a parka, and seven blankets.

DIY Bisquick
from the Newcomer's Guide to Cooking in Africa

9 cups flour
1/3 cup baking powder
1T salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups shortening (Crisco in the U.S., Kimbo in Uganda)

Mix dry ingredients.  Work the shortening into the mix until crumbly.

To make pancakes use 3 cups DIY Bisquick, 1 1/2 cups milk and 1 egg.

To make biscuits use 2 cups DIY Bisquick, and 2/3 cup milk.  Drop onto cooking sheet. Bake 10 minutes at 450F

Banana Muffins

1 1/2 cup flour (can mix whole wheat and all purpose)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

3 large bananas, mashed
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup oil

Mix dry ingredients.  Add wet ingredients. Combine until moist. Spoon into muffin tins. Bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes.

What do you eat for breakfast??