Porridge Yam & Poached Eggs

Aside Yam i don't think i can think of any other food i love so much............errrrr maybe pasta but not as much i love yam so that's why i try to make it even more interesting whenever i am making any yam dish.

This is what i tried with vegetables and yam instead of the normal yam porridge... Lol.. Let's go experimenting and see how yours will come out cus mine came out delissssssssshhhhh....... 

Ingredients: 

Yam (1/2 a tuber or whatever size works for you), carrots, green peas, green pepper, fresh tomatoes (4 medium size), fresh pepper, vegetable oil, liver, chicken, Onions, ugu leaves, eggs (depending on the servings, since i was making for just myself i used only one), curry powder, thyme, salt & knorr seasoning to taste. 

Preparation: 

1. peel,wash and dice the yam into cube shape as shown in the photo below and set in a pot on medium heat to cook for about 10 minutes.

2. Wash & cut the chicken/liver into desirable sizes and season with curry & thyme then allow it to boil, it is ready to be used when both are very tender. 

3. when properly cooked, carefully remove the bones from where they are present and shred the chicken in a meat mincer or pound in a small mortar if you don't have a meat mincer

4. Dice the liver into smaller pieces and set aside

5. Wash and chop the carrots, green pepper, fresh tomatoes,ugu leaves, and onions. 

6. Set a medium frying pan on medium heat and pour in 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil and allow to heat, then pour in the shredded chicken & liver and stir for about three minutes then pour in the chopped onions and continue stirring for another one minute, then pour in the blended pepper and allow to simmer for 3 minutes before adding the chopped tomatoes. Add salt and seasoning to taste. 

7. when properly cooked, add in the green peas, green pepper and carrot ( The reason for this is we all know vegetables shouldn't be over cooked not to loose their value). 

8. Now take this mixture and pour in the already cooked diced yam and stir gently until everything is evenly distributed and your yam is ready. 

For The Poached Egg: 

You might want to say Nigerians and too much packaging but poached eggs are very healthy since you don't have to fry, meaning you are not using oil or butter. Since i already have vegetable oil in the yam i prefer this method for me because it is healthy. 

All you need is water, a non stick pan and a fresh egg. 

Fill the non stick pan with a couple inches of water. Heat the water on high until it reaches a bare simmer and bubbles start appearing at the bottom of the pan, or bring the water to a boil and then lower the heat until the water is at a bare simmer (just a few bubbles coming up) then crack the egg into a small bowl or cup. Gently place the bowl/cup close to the surface of the hot water & gently slip the egg into the water. Cook for four minutes and gently lift with a flat spoon and serve............Easy as ABC
I would be giving tips on different methods on how to get your perfect poached eggs later on the blog. 
Meanwhile let me know how your yam turned out.
Enjoy!!! 

Yam Casserole (Yam Pizza)

Coming from the queen of inventions herself.......Ronke Edoho, got this recipe from her blog and i tried it out and it was delishhhhhhhhh!!!!

So, here we go fam let's try this out and see how it comes out. Here is how mine came out.........

Ingredients: 

1/2 Yam tuber (peeled and washed), vegetable oil, 8 large eggs or depending on the quantity of yam you are using, salt, pepper, medium sized chopped onions, plantain(optional), fresh tomatoes, green pepper, sausage (optional), salt to taste and knorr cubes.

Preparation Method:-

Using a hand grater or food processor, grate the raw yam and squeeze out the moisture as much as you can.

- Season the grated yam with some salt and pepper.

- Using a non stick pan pour in little quantity of vegetable oil and place on medium heat then add in the seasoned grated yam, using a flat spoon spread out the yam on the pan and press down.

- In a bowl, whisk the eggs, chopped onions, plantain, tomatoes, green pepper (all chopped) and add your Knorr cubes.

- Pour the egg mixture over the yam to coat evenly, then coat with the sausage.

- Cover the pan loosely with an aluminum foil and place in an oven that has been pre-heated to 350F or cook over a stove top at a very low heat for 30 minutes.

- Stick in a tooth pick after 30 minutes, if it comes out clean then it’s thoroughly cooked!

- Your yam casserole (or Yam pizza) is ready! Enjoy

Lumpy Egusi Soup Recipe

Egusi soup is made from melon seeds, this soup is very popular amongst many Nigerian families as it is easy and doesn't take much time to prepare but most people always desire the lumpy type (seedy type) and that's exactly the recipe we are putting up here today............  Enjoy and please don't forget to drop your comments *wink*

#Salsview 

Ingredients: 

Assorted meat of choice, 2-cups of blended egusi, fresh pepper, fresh tomatoes (about three to four would be just fine), blended crayfish, dry or smoked fish, kpomo (Cow skin), ugu leaves, vegetable oil, palm oil, medium size onion, salt and seasoning to taste.

Directions:

1.     Cut meat into desired sizes, wash, add some salt, onions and seasoning then allow to boil for about 30-minutes or more depending on how tender your want the meat to be.

2.     Blend the tomatoes and pepper to a smooth paste (Avoid making it watery).

3.     Rinse ugu leaves then slice

4.     Boil some water and pour in the egusi, using a spoon turn until it becomes a consistent paste and set aside for frying.

5.     Place on medium heat a pot and pour in two cooking spoons of vegetable oil and allow to heat up a bit then fry egusi paste cutting in small ball shapes then fry for about three minutes

6.     Add in the blended tomato paste into the frying egusi and stir, continue stirring for two minutes.

7.     Add in ½ cup of water and continue to stir so as to break up the egusi lumps into smaller pieces.

8.     At this point add in every other ingredient including the blended crayfish and taste for salt/seasoning to see if it is ok.

9.     Finally add the palm oil and allow to boil lightly for about ten minutes

Your Egusi soup is ready; you can serve with pounded yam, eba, wheat, amala, etc.  

Scrambled Eggs For the Weekend

Lucky you, it's the weekend and you don't work on weekends. So why not give yourself a special breakfast treat since you don't have to rush out like you do every morning on weekdays.
Scrambled eggs is not difficult to make and won't take much of your time so no need to sweat it out trying to give yourself a treat, i normally spend maximum of ten minutes making mine.

Ingredients: 
Eggs ( For a serving of two, 4 eggs would just be enough)

Evaporated milk (3-table spoon)

Carrot

Green Peas

Onions (Optional)

Spiced pepper or Scotch Bonnet (aka Atarodo)

salt or seasoning to taste

Butter or vegetable oil

Note: If you cherish your scrambled eggs in that yellowy color then i advice you use butter.

Preparation: 
1. Whisk the eggs and milk in a bowl with a pinch of salt, for a fluffy scrambled eggs you might want to whisk for about two minutes but don't  whisk it too fast as not to break up the protein DNA in the eggs ( you don't want to eat a nutrition-less meal.
2. scoop in two spoons of your butter in a non stick pan and place on medium heat
3. when butter starts to sizzle pour in your chopped onions, carrot and scotch bonnet and stir in your seasoning
4. allow to cook for 20 seconds then pour in the whisked eggs
5. Allow to cook for 30 seconds without stirring, then flip carefully with a flat spoon.
6. stir again then flip to the other side
Your Sexy scrambled eggs are ready, you can serve with bread & Tea/Coffee, Boiled or fried Plantain, yam, etc.

#Sals

Natural Lightening Face Mask

Lighten your face using natural products you can find in your kitchen without having to break the bank or buy creams that may contain harmful chemicals.
We have always known Honey to be a natural lightening agent, what is intriguing is the awesome results you can get when combined with ripe banana and lemon.
Banana face mask lightens dark spots, dull skin and clears of blemishes.

WHAT TO DO:
Using a clean small bowl, place 1 ripe banana and mash it into a lump free pulp. Then mix in 1 tsp of honey and 1 tsp of lemon juice and combine the ingredients forming a paste.

Wash your face with a gentle soap and pat dry with a soft towel. Using clean fingers, rub the mask into your face. Apply the mask in a slightly thick layer so it has time to sink in.

Keep on for 10 – 15 minutes. When the time is up, wash your face with just warm water. 

Be amazed with your glowing radiant skin.

It as simple as that!

Enjoy........

The Nigerian Head Wrap (A.K.A GELE)

The Nigerian Geles come in different fabrics such as the aso-oke, brocade and damask. 

A Gele is a flat piece of fabric, Paper-like fabric with plain or bold patterns (designs). 

Geles are worn by Nigerian Women to complement their traditional Attire. A Gele is usually the highlight of an appearance. A nicely tied Gele can compensate for a not so great looking outfit. A Gele is categorized as a clothing accessory amongst Nigerian Women.

the Gele today is a modern accessory for women to wear when they wish to dress up an outfit or celebrate an occassion (owambe).

 

Iro & Buba Redefined

Gone were the the days when iro & buba were an affair for the old and elderly, at the moment every young lady attending an owambe (yoruba name for party) every saturday is seen to be rocking a stylishly designed iro & buba either with one shoulder slightly fallen apart or sleeveless paired with a beautiful beaded accessories.
However, it doesn't matter how you decide to sew your iro & buba just make sure you have the right accessories to go with it and the details aren't too loud
Remember less is more
Enjoy!!!