Jasmine Atieno @PeopleDailyKe 

Passion has been the biggest secret in Veronica Kaswi’s  kitchen. The self- taught cook based in Nairobi, has during this pandemic amassed followers on her social media pages with recipes of mouth- watering Kenyan cuisines during the lockdown period as more followers seek to learn new cooking tricks from her every day. 

Before the pandemic struck, Veronica would get orders for home-cooked meals to be delivered within Nairobi, which would cost customers between Sh350 and Sh650, depending on the dish.  

However, ever since the Covid-19 crisis started, not  many people want to risk with deliveries. But what can a home-based food delivery business survive without sales?  

When the going gets tough, the tough getting going, sang American singer Billy Ocean.Or as the Swahili say, Lisilo budi, hutendwa. 

The current lockdown, according to Veronicah, is a blessing in disguise because most people are home and cooking a lot. 

The opportunity has in turn motivated her to up her kitchen game. Consequently, Kaswi Cooks has been receiving many requests from followers on what to cook next. 

Self-taught chef    

Despite the fact that she is not a professional chef, Veronicah says nothing beats the urge to try out new recipes and maybe tweak up the cooking flame or add a new spices to make meals more to her liking, which has in turn won the hearts of many. 

“I love hosting visitors and when I see my guests really enjoy eating my food, it motivates me to host and experiment more. So yes, my house is always open for free food,” says Vero’.

The young, self-taught chef started sharing her food videos and recipes late last year after being prompted by friends. 

“They actually saw potential in me that I didn’t. If procrastination was a person, that is me. So whenever I do a meal, I always hear the voices of my friends in my head. Up to, now some are even requesting for personal cooking classes or food catering services,” she says.      

Chicken  potatoes recipe                                                                

Since only local cooking ingredients are easily available in the country during the partial lockdown, Vero prepares and shares only Kenyan cuisines, her favourite being chicken dishes.  She shares with us how to prepare her mouth-watering, oven-baked chicken with potatoes. 

“I am not sure I have a fave dish to prepare. However, I make a lot of chicken dishes. From grilling, stew and fries. Guess it’s the Luhya in me and it’s easy to make. The secret is in marination,” shares Kaswi. 

Ingredients:  Assorted Chicken pieces, six medium potatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Others are one-teaspoon garlic and ginger paste, one teaspoon onion powder, a teaspoon of rosemary leaves and one teaspoon turmeric.

Also needed are one teaspoon paprika, soy sauce, cumin powder, lemon juice and olive oil.  And you are then ready to cook (see cooking method, right)