Thursday 17 November 2011

ISI EWU

Posted by Unknown


INGREDIENTS 
Goat head preferably male as it is easy to cook diced
Potash(akawu)
Palm oil
Garden egg leave(akwukwo ofe) sliced
Crayfish blended
Knorr cube
Salt
Fresh pepper diced
Onion diced



PREPARATION:
Per boil your goat meat and spice to taste
Allow it to cook properly
you enjoy your goat head when is properly cooked and soft
Sieve per boiled meat to drain water. 

 PASTE PREPARATION:
Soak your potash in little water
Pour the potash water into a pot or motar,
Add red oil
Mix  the mixture together till its thick and yellow in color

 ISI EWU PREPARATION:
Add knorr cube, salt, crayfish, pepper and onions and stare 
Add goat meat to the paste and stare properly making sure all ingredients blends in; taste to confirm all ingredients are complete
Finally add garden egg leaf (akwukwo ofe)

 I guess your isi ewu is ready...

N/B: You can use the paste to make cow leg (nkwobi), african salad (abacha) and ugba; and still eat boiled yam and boiled unripe plantain with the paste.









 




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ISI-EWU PLOT

Posted by Unknown

Every Friday morning my Blackberry contact’s status reads TGIF; instead of smiling that weekend is here for me to rest and spend valuable time with my man, I frown because he leaves every Friday evening to return at the early hours of Saturday. He comes home so tired and would sleep all till 12pm when he would wake up to watch the premier league games which kick off at 12:45pm. 

Before we got married, truth be told, I enjoyed the usual Fridays' after-work hanging out with him. He was just the man of my dream, he was the happening guy I always wanted in my life. After we got married, I had to stop hanging out with him even though he didn’t like the idea but I just couldn’t keep up as I had chores to do at home.

There is this particular joint he patronizes with his friends every Friday night; he adores their isi ewu (goat head), and, to be honest, their isi ewu is very tasty!! All the same I needed to device a way to keep my husband home every Friday night. I couldn’t tell my friends what has been bothering me because I knew they would point out that my husband has been this way even before I met him and that I either talk to him about it or learn to live with it... Oh! How I hate the statement 'live with it'. Due to this, I decided to tackle the problem my own way without involving anybody.

One Wednesday evening after work I decided to drive down to the restaurant before it opens for the evening; on getting there I asked for their madam. At that point I had no plan but I knew I needed to see her. As I was shown to her office, she saw me, smiled and gestured that I should sit as she was on the phone. When she was done with the call, I introduced myself and also admired her office. I told her that I was a frequent visitor to her restaurant as a single lady but that I could barely afford to hang out since I got married; I confessed that most Friday evenings I craved for her isi ewu; this made her laugh so hard that I was embarrassed. When she eventually controlled her laughter, she thanked me for acknowledging her isi ewu; I then told her that I needed a huge favour from her with regards to learning how to prepare isi ewu. She initially seemed surprised at my request but later smiled. She wrote down the ingredients for me and explained how to prepare it. I was quite grateful to her and happy that the first part of my mission was accomplished.

I drove home in excitement and in taught of my next line of action. On Thursday evening I sent SMS to my husband and his close friends informing them that TGIF will be happening in my house on Friday at 8pm. I was expecting 5 of his friends and their wives who were also my friends. I bought drinks and stocked the fridge with their favourite beer; I also bought goat heads and spices for the occasion. As soon as I got home, I boiled the goat head and spiced it well; that the aroma dragged my husband to the kitchen as he was still wondering what was going on. I told him it was my treat and he should just look forward to it, he didn’t pressure or ask any question- he only nodded and left.

On Friday evening, at exactly 5pm, I left office for home to get the evening started. I got home checked the fridge to make sure the drinks were chilled enough; they were quite cold and ready to be gulped. I went straight to the kitchen to mix my paste as I warmed up the goat meat. To add to the fun, I decided it will be nice to see a movie as we rocked the night; I chose Nikita Season 2 because we have seen Season 1. I made sure there was enough fuel in the generator in case power holdings decide to hold light. At about 8:30pm, my husband walked in with 2 of his friends; few minutes later everyone had arrived and was seated. With the guys in the seating room and the girls in the kitchen with me; I called my husband and took him to the fridge where I showed him the drink I stocked. He was excited and willingly helped serve the drinks while I went back to the kitchen.

The girls were eager to know what I was celebrating and i just told them it’s nice to have friends around once in a while and they agreed. They helped in the dishing and serving and when everyone was settled, eating and drinking I played Nikita Season 2 from episode 1 to 6. As I was making sure everyone was having a nice time, I caught my husband staring at me and I went to sit beside him for some little cuddle and he held me so tight as if I shouldn’t move; I smiled to myself thinking 'wow! this is exactly where I want to be every Friday evening! Whoops! I did pull this off'.

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Friday 14 October 2011

I COOK AND ANOTHER GIRL WARM HIS FOOD

Posted by Unknown

I remember the first day i entered my boyfriend's kitchen, i was so excited to prepare his meals and also partially tensed as i didn’t even know if he would enjoy them. i fear that he might end up saying the meal was ok but for me “ok” is not just enough; i wanted an 80 to 100% score line; anything less is a no-no for me. I was so cautious; forming neat girl and all in the kitchen...any utensil used never stays in the sink longer than 2 minutes (you go fear clean babe), i tidied the kitchen sink and table, wiped off even the tiniest of stains on the pot... i did all these just to impress the man in my life, by making him realize how well i could take care of his kitchen/home if he makes me his.*smiles*

While he was busy playing games and chatting on his blackberry(PINGING in a silly way), i was slaving away in the kitchen. My legs hurt so bad because i went straight to the kitchen after spending 3 hours walking round the market. I was to prepare stew, egusi soup, vegetable soup and prepare salad; I also decided it would be nice to grill chicken and fish and keep in the fridge for him... 50 minutes later he would pop his head into the kitchen and ask if i was alright and i would nod and tell him everything is ok at which he goes back to playing his game and chatting on blackberry as i would hear the sound and laughter. After about an hour 20 minutes of slaving in the kitchen; my sweet boy friend popped his head into the kitchen and ask IF the food was ready (Holy pumpkins!!); he didn't think it right to at least ask WHEN will the food be ready? (imagine! he should “kmt” jor!)though i would reply "soon honey". well... in 3 minutes, i rushed into the sitting room with a plate of grilled chicken and fish just to keep his mouth busy, he smiles and thanked me.... i then rushed back to the kitchen to finish up the cooking.

Finally the food got ready, he immediately popped his head into the kitchen with this mischievous look which always makes me smile hmm... with a smile by the side of his mouth, he said "I’ll be sited at the dinning". We ate silently; after the meal he looked up and said "darling, you really want me to gain 5kg over night" with a nod of the head, i smiled at him; he smiled back at me and headed to the sitting room to continue his game.... yeah, i had to clear the dishes alone (lazy bone!!).

4 days later i went to visit my boyfriend. As i had my own keys, i had no issues letting myself in though he was away... To my greatest surprise, right in the kitchen(my territory) a girl was wearing my man's shirt and a pair of boxers i bought him; to worsen everything, she was actually warming the food i spent 3 freaking hours to buy in the market, 2 hours to cook, plus my sweat and leg pains for crying out loud!!! As i was about to pounce on her someone called my name... Then i realized i was dreaming!! Thank God.

But come to think of it, things like this actually happen right...? What would you do if you find yourself in that situation?

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CABBAGE SAUCE

Posted by Unknown



Ingredient: cabbage, fresh tomatoes, fresh pepper, onions, salt, knorr cube, vegetable oil.
You can add chicken breast or raw egg

Preparation:
Slice your cabbage in bits, dice your tomatoes, pepper and onions, fry in very hot oil and add spice of your choice, allow to dry properly. If you wish, you can add your chicken or raw egg after which you add your cabbage. Allow 2 minute and bring it down.

You can enjoy your cabbage sauce with boiled yam and plantain, fry yam and plantain, white rice.

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JADOO!!!

Posted by Unknown

Correct me if am wrong o! Can a world chef’s food go tasteless?
Now read carefully please:

A friend of mine cooks so well that her hubby and her friends call her ‘SPICE GIRL’. This my babe got the shock of her life the first day her mother-in-law came visiting; in the name of impressing her mother-in-law my friend decided to prepare her native soup (Ofe Onugbu) which we call bitter leaf soup with plenty orishirishi, but to her greatest surprise this food was tasteless (they couldn't manage it o!), even her husband was shock at the taste.

Now, the problem my super-cook friend has right now is how to redeem herself before her in-laws because they now see her as a spoilt brat who cannot cook. Even the husband got tired of defending her… it has gotten too bad that when there is a family gathering or occasion, spice girl is never allowed to cook alone(as she has been labelled a bad cook); even if she does cook there must be someone supervising her which makes her so tired of trying to prove herself. 

Why did her food go tasteless in the first place is our question?

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UNRIPE PLANTAIN PORRIDGE

Posted by Unknown


Ingredient:
unripe plantain, palm oil, knorr cube, salt, fresh pepper, onions, crayfish, fish either dry or fresh or bush meat if you have and pumpkin leaf or spinach.


Preparation:  peel your unripe plantain and dice in cubes, per boil with warm water and allow cooking for some time, adding onions, crayfish, knorr cube, salt, fresh pepper and whichever kind of fish you wish to use, then add palm oil. Do not stir as it will start burning (i advice you stir after adding your vegetable leaves). finally add your vegetable leaf and turn off the fire less than 2 minutes after adding the vegetable leaf.
Plantain porri
 (When i'm ill, i prefer preparing my plantain porridge with dry fish and i make sure the plantain is unripe.)

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Tuesday 11 October 2011

GIZZARD SAUCE

Posted by Unknown


Ingredient: fresh tomatoes (very hard), fresh pepper, fresh tatashi, onions, ginger, gizzard, garlic, salt, knorr cube,vegetable oil, and curry powder.




PREPARATION
Dice your fresh tomatoes, pepper, onions, tatashi, ginger, garlic. Drain the tomatoes to remove any dripping water. Steam your gizzard adding salt, pepper, ginger, knorr cube, onion, and little garlic and curry powder if you wish. You are to use the ginger for the gizzard alone while steaming it. Cover for some minutes without adding water that's if you wish; while some may like their gizzard soft others may like there’s crunchy so monitor according to your preference. Allow the water to dry up very well then add your vegetable oil and fry your gizzard till it is brown then add your diced onions and garlic fry for 1 to 2 minutes depending on your burner, add your tomatoes, pepper and tatashi, also add your maggi, salt and curry powder; allow to fry properly for 7 minutes and then your gizzard sauce should be is ready.

N/B: In place of gizzard you can use chicken breast, goat meat, beef or jumbo shrimp.
jumbo shrimp
chicken breast
You can enjoy this sauce with white rice, boiled yam or fried yam, spaghetti, boiled Irish potatoes or boiled plantain... yummy.


goat meat sauce

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PAMPATA STEW

Posted by Unknown

Ingredient: Pumpkin leaf (ugu) or spinach, fresh tomatoes, fresh pepper and onions, dry fish preferably kpanla, knorr cube, salt and vegetable oil you can add beef if you wish.





PREPARATION:

Dice your tomatoes, pepper and onions, then fry just like the way we fry our fresh tomatoes/tin tomatoes (you can use fresh alone), after frying, spice well with your preferred ingredients, then add your dry fish (kpanla fish) which we fondly call "aunty nwanne's" fish (if you're using beef then add as well). Make sure it’s to your taste then add your vegetable leaf (ugu) or spinach gently. Remember, what you’re cooking is called Pampata stew so there must be plenty of vegetable or (spinach leaf). Do not add any other water as the only water must come from the vegetable. But whatever quantity of vegetables you put into the pot it must blend with the stew. Meaning you must use your discretion while adding your vegetable, wait for about 2 to 3 minutes and your Pampata stew is ready.


You can eat your pampata with white rice, boiled yam, plain beans, boiled plantain or Irish potato.


NB: To make your pampata stew taste more like a Pampata stew, i advice you use Aunty Nwanne's fish, which is kpanla fish... hmmmmm delicious flavour.

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Saturday 8 October 2011

AM A BETTER COOK THAN ALL THE GIRLS HAVE DATED

Posted by Unknown


"I don't need a woman (in terms of cooking and doing other house chores) in the house now!", these were the exact words of my extremely good-looking Uncle who is 39yrs old, works for an oil servicing company in Nigeria (you can imagine how comfortable he is); and the most amazing of all is his cooking talent! (You wan try). Back in the days, I felt sorry for my uncle's babes (girlfriends). At home with them, one would hardly feel the impact of a woman because 'dear uncle' would follow the lady to the market (caring bobo!). Not only does he carry their stuff, he also prices food stuffs like a penniless young lady (Araroro of the first order! Mtscheeeewwww). 

And when he 'manages' to allow any of the girls into his kitchen, it would look like she was writing a Jamb exam or something, which obviously pisses the babe (girlfriend) off and the food ends up being cooked by 'dear uncle'(how horrible can that be!).
My Uncle is so proud of his cooking; he even finds faults with his mum's cooking. He hardly visits restaurants, and when he does, he comes out of the restaurant with one recipe or the other (brain cracking!), or he googles the recipe. When he is offshore, he keeps monitoring the chef who cooks their food; in fact he just doesn't give up.

My dear uncle is so particular about clean environments, he constantly sweeps and mops; his house is sparkling clean that visitors unconsciously tip toe about. Most of the girls could not cope so...we all know how it ended; and the funny part is it rarely bothers him as there is always another girl waiting to fill up the space; he is never lonely.

My 'dear' Uncle boasts every day about how a better cook he is compared to the girls he had dated.
Personally, I am of the opinion that he never gave them a chance to prove themselves all because of his so called "perfect talent". Sometimes I wonder if all these happen because he hasn't found the right person or he's just being the jerk most men have always been; or do you think there is a woman out there who can actually please or beat him to it?
There are guys out there who are like my Uncle, how do we break them down?

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Thursday 6 October 2011

LEFT OVER SMOKED TURKEY STEW

Posted by Unknown




Prepared 01/01/11 
Ingredient:
5 big fresh tomatoes
4 medium fresh pepper
1 big onion (dice half)
1 big green bell pepper diced
2 big red bell pepper
½ cup of diced spring onion
1tsp curry powder
½ salt to taste
2 bouillon cube
3 large clove crushed garlic
½ tsp of grated ginger
2 csp of vegetable oil
Smoked turkey.


Preparation: 
1.    Blend together tomatoes, pepper, onion, red bell pepper add a little ginger and garlic
2.    Steam after blending and allow to dry up
3.    Pour vegetable oil into a hot pot add a little salt, diced onions, remaining garlic and sautéed ,
4.    After 2mins add the smoked turkey into the hot oil  and stir continuously for about a minute
5.    Add already steam tomatoes paste into the pot and stir; ( if you are using a pot that is not non-stick I would advise you stir continuously to avoid burning).
6.    Stir to blend in all ingredients in the pot and before adding the remaining ingredients taste to confirm paste has been fried through.
7.    Add green bell pepper and spring onion, allow it to cook for another minute, then turn off the heat.

8.    Remember green pepper has to be crunchy.

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