One of the downsides of being used to cooking for at least 5 people over the last 7 years is that when you are home alone and hungry, you do not remember how to divide food into small cookable portions for at least 2 people. 2 people because you just might have a visitor. It is good to be prepared as my mum always says.

Today is one of those days. Sigh!

I have been undecided on how to prepare chicken wings that I have been craving for the last few days. Kenchic has a 500gm 8 piece chicken wing pack that I bought recently. Now here is the challenge, I do not seem to have an appetite of late. If I do breakfast, I will do fruits and simple snacks for the rest of the day. So, how am I to devour 8 pieces when 3 pieces feel like a mountain of ugali? I mean, the 2 piecer plus fries from Chicken Inn takes me 2 days to finish. But if I don't balance my meals in my diet, then the supplements from my doctor will not work out & it will mean another expensive medical review.

Well, thanks to the lack of appetite, I have plenty of leftovers that will make my doctor very happy. Here's my home alone version of hot & spicy wings with eggplant and potato wedges.

For the potato wedges

1. 5 medium-sized potatoes
2. A dash of paprika
3. A dash of black pepper
4. Salt to taste
5. 3 tablespoons of coconut oil (Kentaste)

• Wash your potatoes with the skin on and thoroughly remove all mud, dirt and/or blemishes.
• In a steamer, steam the whole potatoes for 20 minutes just to allow them to cook partially.
• If you do not have a steamer, boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes thereabout.
• On a cutting board, divide the partially cooked potatoes into quarters/wedges.

• Heat oil on a wide pan till smoking as you spread the paprika and black pepper onto the wedges.
• Add the wedges onto the pan and arrange them such that they are able to cook on one side till slightly browned before turning them over to the other side.

• Add/sprinkle salt to taste & place on a kitchen towel to drain excess oil.

For the eggplant, here is the recipe.

Home Alone Spicy Chicken Wings

1. 8 pieces, chicken wings
2. Half a teaspoon of chilli. Or hot chilli flakes
3. Half a teaspoon of black pepper
4. 1 tablespoon ginger & garlic paste
5. A quarter cup of soy sauce
6. 3 medium-sized onions, chopped
7. Salt to taste
8. 5 tablespoons of coconut oil (Kentaste)

• In a bowl, mix the chilli, black pepper, ginger & garlic and soy sauce.

• Wash the chicken thoroughly and dry in a kitchen towel before adding onto the marinade. Let it marinate for at least 3 hours.
• Steam the chicken till partially cooked in about 20 minutes. How to know, pierce any bone joint with a toothpick and light pink fluid should come out instead of red (blood).

• Once done, add the chicken wings onto a wide pan & fry the onions until translucent/soft (not browned) before adding the partially cooked chicken wings.

• Again, do not keep turning the chicken wings. Place them in the pan nicely and turn after every 5 minutes till each side is browned. Watch out that the onions do not burn by adjusting the heat accordingly.
• If there is any marinade left in your bowl, add onto the pan and allow it to cook down with the wings.

Voila!!!!

Update: I cleared my plate. However, I am about to experience a food coma.

For the steamer, I got it from Kaluworks sometime back. Not sure if they are still being produced. Comes in handy for a variety of foods such as nduma (arrow roots), sweet potatoes, green maize, peas, steamed veggies etc.