CookingZone with Brenda: 2012

Monday, 17 December 2012

COOKINGZONE CHICKEN SALAD

Posted by Unknown

I was thinking of a perfect salad for Christmas and I came up with this recipe. Prepare it for your family and love ones.

Have a Merry Xmas people....#hugs

Ingredient:

cook and spice chicken breast and chopped in cubes.

stalks celery or spring onions chopped.

red bell pepper, seeded and chopped.

green olives, pitted and minced (optional).

cup of chopped red onion.

whole apple, cored and chopped.

iceberg lettuce or cabbage sliced and chopped.

cucumber seeded and chopped into cube.

Dressing:
Mayonnaise
lesser amount of honey
fresh squeezed lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

celery

red bell pepper

green olives

Preparation:

1. Prepare all of the salad ingredients and toss them together in a large bowl.

2. Prepare the chicken salad dressing in a separate smaller bowl. Mix together the mayonnaise, honey and lemon juice. Taste for the proper balance of sweetness. The salad dressing should not be too sweet nor too sour. Add more honey or lemon juice until you have reached the balance you want. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. Gently stir the dressing in with the chicken salad ingredients. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.

Friday, 14 December 2012

RICE PUDDING

Posted by Unknown

I remembered the first time I tried rice pudding, it was ASDA rice pudding, hmmm!!not a fan after I took a spoonful and the site #shakingmyhead. It was a write-off buy and coupled with the fact that my friend had a lot to say about it and since it was on buy 1 get 2 free, I packed ooo and bought 2 and got 4 free and my dear friend packed like 4 of it to get his 8. After that first day,I dumped the rest in my kitchen cabinet can't remember how it all disappeared.

I stumble into rice pudding again when I visited my aunt and the aroma and site oh my!! was breath taking and I decided to give it a try and I loved and enjoyed every spoonful that entered my mouth.

I asked for the recipe and prepared it one lazy Sunday evening and I came to the conclusion that home-made rice pudding is divine.

Enjoy your rice pudding recipe and hope you would try it out.

INGREDIENT:

1 cup uncooked white rice 1 cup of Milk
3 table spoon White sugar
½ tea spoon salt
1 Egg beaten
Raisins or mix fruit (optional)
½ table spoon butter
Very little drop of vanilla extract

PREPARATION:

Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a sauce pan; stir rice into the boiling water. Reduce heat low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

After which you add half cup of your milk, sugar and salt into the cooked rice; cooked over medium heat until thick and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in remaining half cup of milk, beaten egg and raisins; cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.

rice pudding (dessert)

NOTE: easy on the sugar you add to it, if its too sweet you would get tired of it easily.

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

OFE OHA/OHA SOUP

Posted by Unknown

A friend of mine requested for oha soup recipe and I thought I should share the recipe with you.. Merry Xmas #hugs Much Love

INGREDIENTS:

palm fruit,

beef,

dry fish ,

sliced oha leaf,

sliced uziza leaf,

crayfish blended,

salt ,

knorr cube,

pepper,

blended achi (thickener),

stock fish.

Oha Leaf

achi

(Alternative protein for your oha soup are snail, goat meat, cow leg, cow intestine, beef and co)

PREPARATION:

boil your palm fruit till its properly cooked; pound in a mortar or use your hands to squeeze out the juice; extract the juice using warm water and make sure its thick enough then per boil extracted juice with your beef and stock fish.... allow it cook for long and make sure the beef is well cooked before adding salt, knorr cube and pepper... alternatively per boil your beef and stockfish separately then add to the already boiling palm fruit juice and allow to cook for like 10-15mins. Then add salt, pepper, maggi and dry fish allow to cook for another 5 minutes before adding your crayfish and then achi to help thicken the soup.
Stare properly then add your oha leaf after 3 minutes add your uziza leaf and cooked for another 2 minutes and bring it down as your soup is ready.

Oha Soup

Enjoy your soup with Akpu, hot eba, poundo and the rest...

NOTE: (I was advice by my grand mum to shred oha leaf with my hands).

In place of the palm fruit you can use palm oil(red oil) and in place of blended achi you can go for coco yam per boil and pound properly.

cocoyam

pounded cocoyam

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

NAIJA PARTY FOOD MENU I KNOW

Posted by Unknown

JOLLOF RICE/FRIED RICE WITH SALAD: Party jollof rice has always had this special taste and people love it; on the other hand, most fried rice turn out pathetic. Fried rice are usually worsened by the added 'apologetic' salads.

I have also seen where a mixture of jollof and fried rice was served...though I eat it in parties whenever served shaa; I am still trying to understand the logic behind it... must I taste both? Well, na so I dey feel about am sha ooo.

MOI MOI: I don't even try these in parties. The enjoyment of moi moi is in what it contains...you know...orishirishi. Some would chop boiled eggs in very tiny pieces while some would add bits of crayfish or corn beef which only suggests that the cooks were trying so hard to prove that the moinmoin was rich.

I have discovered, also, that party guests don't usually eat moinmoin...this could be down to poor quality or the fact that there are barely enough to go round.

SMALL CHOP: small chop is a new trend in our society and its making serious waves ooo! Right now, small chops business is a lucrative one. A tray of small chops goes from 6k to 12k Naira and this is basic ooo! If the tray would contains other orishirishi like snails, barbecue and co you will be paying up to 25k for it.

However, most party organisers go for the basics like spring rolls, samosa, mosa and buns.

SWALLOW: For swallow you would definitely see Eba and Egusi soup as this is the common soup. Some of them are very rich but there is usually not enough to carter for all guests, especially in big occasions.

Very few organisers make ogbono and vegetable soup...personally I don't even eat them when offered..

FRIED CHICKEN, FISH OR DRY MEAT: Your plate must have one of these. I have noticed that guests usually prefer fish to meat. My issue with fish is that they usually come with this taste peculiar to defrost fish

Can we really go beyond this party menu above and host your guest with sumptuous and memorable meal during this festive period?

let's share our ideas on what you would love to eat when you go to a party...

CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 OF PARTY FOOD MENU

Monday, 3 December 2012

HEALTHY DIET OR HEALTHY FOOD

Posted by Unknown

You want to choose correct sort of healthy food, which will render you wealth of health.

Even so, avoiding the food that can additional lead to illnesses which includes diabetes, heart illness and cancer is as well Essential. One has to expand the range of healthy food possibilities for which includes a good diversity of scrumptious and tempting foods.

A great and balanced Diet plan insist on restricted intake of sugar and salt, saturated fats, meats and cholesterol whilst consuming sufficient vegetables, wholegrain, low fat dairy things, fruits, fresh meats, poultry products, fish, nuts and so on.

Intake of lots of vegetables and fruits offers a wonderful supply of fibers, vitamins and minerals. This will assist you to retain a illness totally free, Healthful physique.

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

NBA WINNERS LISTED

Posted by Unknown

NIGERIA BLOG AWARD WINNERS have been listed HMMMMM!!! http://mycookingzonewithbrenda.blogspot.com/ did not win best food blog this year but surely next year. Thank you all so much for voting *hugs*

GRUB MAGAZINE MEDIAN EDITION COVER PAGE

Posted by Unknown

Monday, 5 November 2012

VOTING ENDS ON 11TH NOVEMBER

Posted by Unknown

GOOD MORNING PEOPLE; HAVE YOU REMINDED A FRIEND TO VOTE http://mycookingzonewithbrenda.blogspot.com AS YOUR BEST FOOD BLOG VISIT http://nigerianblogawards.com/vote.php and go to BEST FOOD BLOG select MY COOKING ZONE WITH BRENDA you would receive an email afterward make sure you confirm. To confirm click on the confirmation link so your vote would be counted (check your spam mail in case you can't find it in your inbox) for 1st timer voters only.

If you had voted initially (the first voting session) your vote will automatically be counted as you need no confirmation.

Please tell a friend and help spread the good news.

SHUKRIYA (THANK YOU)

Friday, 2 November 2012

MY MAN VS THE GAME PART 2

Posted by Unknown

I did an article some time ago (you can find it HERE) about the game of football and the delicacies that go along with it, but after seeing the Chelsea vs. Manchester united game last Sunday my story had to change.

Number one rule don’t be in the losing team (*wink*... as if na you dey play the ball).

In that article, I suggested that ladies should serve their men Asu or pepper soup as they watch a game of football...hehehehehe, on a second thought I think that might not go down low...ooops! I meant go down well especially if the dude’s team is losing. For example, imagine serving diehard Chelsea fans Asu or Pepper soup last Sunday as Manchester United broke their hearts...na waste naa! Dem no go touch am!!
So my new advice for the ladies is if his team is playing against a dated opponent or a high profile match in which pride and/or trophy is at stake...don’t bring anything edible to the table as he would be very uncomfortable to have it. You can, however, get him some lager or water to occasionally douse the tension and wet his throat especially if he is the screaming type *wink*.

You may be wondering why I have changed my opinion...okay, as an amebo, let me tell you what happened! That Sunday, I went to a joint with 5 dudes to see the Chelsea vs. ManU match. 3 of them were Chelsea fans; 1 was an arsenal fan who believed Chelsea will win the match and 1 was my fellow Manchester united fan.

To be honest, as the game started I doubted that my boys would win...but pampampam...the ball was in the net and it was ManU on top! That gave me hope and the feeling that we could really win the game.

Lest I forget; I was eating suya before the match started. I bought it as I watched Newcastle play Westbrom...the game was without tension because I was sure my boys would win...and yeah! I’m a Newcastle fan by location.

When the Chelsea/Manchester United match started, I lost my appetite ‘cos I was tensed; I actually stopped eating the suya at one point. A friend had to remind me that the suya was getting cold but I couldn’t care less. When I saw the first goal, I was so excited that I dove into the Suya and ‘popped’ my Guinness Malt...hehehehe, no blame me! I had to pop something as champagne no dey!

The funny thing was that 2 of the Chelsea fans and the silly Arsenal fan I came with were having Owo and Starch...immediately after the first goal, the food was abandoned! I so laughed at them and made jest of the whole thing! It was at this moment of pure ecstasy that Power Holding decided to withhold their power, and since the joint had no functional standby generator we had to leave for another joint.I finished my suya and Malt shaa ooo...but the Owo and Starch were left.

On our way to base 2, I had to follow updates on my Mobile Football Score Centre and pampampam...RVP made it 2 nil, I nearly ran mad with joy! It’s really fun being in the winning team.

When we got there, chei! If you see crowd! The thing was too much and people sat as if they were in a church or lecture room...everyone faced the large screen and the usual round table arrangement seen in joints was ditched. Nobody was in the mood to drink or buy anything. Even the guys who prepare Asu and shawarma left their stands to see the match too.

When Chelsea scored their first goal, the joint erupted with loud insane screams. The Manager didn’t find it funny shaa...I heard him complaining that he was running a generator for the game, yet people wouldn’t buy things. He threatened to turn off the TV if people didn’t start ordering stuff.

It was at the halftime break that tables were arranged, beer started flowing round the tables and my Chelsea fans-friends even had the ‘impetus’ to order isi ewu...they were lucky to have finished the isi ewu before Ivanovic was shown the red card; dem for abandon am as they abandoned the Owo and Starch.

You should have seen my friends when we scored the third goal...even their lager turned into stone...they couldn’t swallow...hehehehehe.

I thought about my previous article and I came back with another conclusion that you can only enjoy football with your man when he is watching a game in which his favourite team is not involved; or a game which he is sure that his favourite team would win. In such games, snacks and even isi ewu would do wonders. But if you have a feeling that the match is going to be a tough one which he really wishes his club should win...try and get him to go see the match with his friends or in a joint because I doubt if you would like to take the blame alone if things go wrong and his team loses.

I am a lady and a Manchester united fan. I know how I feel when Manchester United is losing or the match is a dead heat not to talk of a guy. Hope I was able to clear the air.

Thanks for your time once again.

Monday, 29 October 2012

NIGERIA BLOG AWARD

Posted by Unknown

PLEASE IF YOU VOTED ON THE Monday (October 22), Tuesday (October 23), or Wednesday October 24 (before 2pm EST), we ask you to please submit your vote again by visiting http://nigerianblogawards.com/vote.php. If your vote was counted the first time, you will get a message saying “You have already voted.

On Tuesday, it was discovered that votes submitted by people whose email address was already in our system were not being captured properly. This was resolved on Wednesday.

TO VOTE COOKING ZONE WITH BRENDA AS YOUR BEST FOOD BLOG VISIT http://nigerianblogawards.com/vote.php and go to BEST FOOD BLOG select MY COOKING ZONE WITH BRENDA you would receive an email afterward make sure you confirm.

To confirm click on the confirmation link so your vote would be counted.

Please tell a friend and help spread the good news.

Thanks You...

Saturday, 27 October 2012

BREAKFAST COMBO:SHARE YOUR PANCAKE COMBO

Posted by Unknown

PANCAKES

BACON

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

NIGERIA BLOG AWARD

Posted by Unknown

Once upon a time I bugged your phones n facebook page soliciting for your votes.

My blog along side 3 others has been Nominated for BEST FOOD BLOG on NIGERIA BLOG AWARD.

YOU made it happen; THANK YOU so much. Say me THANK YOU to your friends who voted for my blog.

I really do appreciate. Thanks for making my day.

The Final voting session started on the 22nd of October am sure we would make it happen again.

TO VOTE COOKING ZONE WITH BRENDA AS YOUR BEST FOOD BLOG VISIT http://nigerianblogawards.com/vote.php and go to BEST FOOD BLOG select MY COOKING ZONE WITH BRENDA you would receive an email afterward make sure you confirm.

To confirm click on the confirmation link so your vote would be counted.

Please tell a friend and help spread the good news.

Thanks You...

MINI DIRECTORY

Posted by Unknown

Good Morning People: Our Mini Directory is ready...To view the list click on Vendors Directory or visit the link directly on http://brendo4luv.wix.com/cookingzondirectory# would update the list before the end of the day.

Friday, 19 October 2012

MINI DIRECTORY 4 FOOD N PASTRY VENDOR +

Posted by Unknown

I have been receiving calls and e-mails from friends asking me where they can purchase tasteful small chops at a very reasonable rate or where they can get marvelous cakes for a cheaper amount. A friend wanted to host a small party recently and she needed good caterer that can prepare correct and tasty food for 50 people I had to call a friend whom I know will know a friend that will know somebody that is a good caterer. I had to wait like another 2 hours to get feedback #PHEW.

We have decided to create a mini directory of all these information on this blog. So if you know anyone who falls into these category including any event planner or anyone that has something to do with food and you think the public would really benefit from it inform them.

Can you or Do you know anyone that can make perfect SMALL CHOP, delicious CAKES/CUP CAKES, unbelievable GRILLED FISH, ASUU, ISI EWU AND NKWOBI, breathtaking EVENT HALL DESIGNER, COOK/CATERER that can perform savory and tasteful meals for guest, ETC....

Tell them to send in their details to grubsmagazine@gmail.com in this format:

1. Name (Personal or Business Name)

2. Type of Business and Location

3. Contact Number

4. E-mail Address

5. Images of what you are selling

6. Price List (optional: though it won't be added to the site)

7. List of things you sell and any other info you would want to share with us.

So people can easily access your details and contact you; also you can refer them to this blog so they can see images of what you have done previously.

Monday, 15 October 2012

WHAT'S YOUR PARTY FOOD MENU????

Posted by Unknown

Apart from fried rice and jollof rice, what do we actually serve our guest during occasions? I know some go extra miles adding moi moi; swallow (eba) and soup to the menu list. I will call the rice syndrome our tradition.

What actually prompted this article? Hmm! I went house hunting with a friend recently and we went to this particular house that had everything you would want in a house..."na your money kill am sha"...but it was really not that expensive. The house came with security including dogs that look like lions, clean water, 24 hours power supply, spacious parking lot, very clean environment plus a sweet landlady, "God bless her"! We met the landlady on our way in and she was super cool with us and... her accent hehehe! You would know she follow enjoy old naija money well well! She is the type that will definitely send her maid to take food to you most weekends (I'm assuming oh!) and would always ask "how you are doing" with her sweet American accent.

Anyway, the building itself wasn't that spectacular. We had doubts as we had seen better houses...sentiments were coming into play but we shrugged them off and stuck to our grounds.

As we were leaving the agent had to inform the landlady and she came back with food packs of AKARA... very hot AKARA! I was like "wow akara?!" It so happened that she was marking her son's birthday with AKARA on the party menu and she wanted us to have some with a message that she liked us and would want us to be her tenant. She was so sweet that I almost convinced my friend to take the house. Should I call it being sentimental because the lady bribed us with akara or that she was such a nice lady and would make a good landlady? It's not everyday you get to meet such property owners.

I was thrilled that part of the party food was AKARA... it was a new concept for me that I couldn't wait to share this with you and get your opinion.

Can we ever try something different from what we always have on party menus? Have you ever seen anything different?

Please share your thoughts on what food you would like to see on your party menu no matter how hard it is to prepare.

Lest I forget! I enjoyed my akara with ijebu garri... #makingsense #SMILING.

Thursday, 11 October 2012

BREAKFAST RESULT

Posted by Unknown

Online Graphing

BREAKFAST WINNER

COOKED NOODLES, FRIED EGGS & DICED BEEF PRESENTED BY APPLE

DINNER RESULT

Posted by Unknown

Online Graphing

DINNER WINNER

FRIED CHIPS, GRILLED FISH, GREEN PEAS, CARROT & PEPPER SAUCE DIP

PRESENTED BY BANANA

LUNCH RESULT

Posted by Unknown

Online Graphing

LUNCH WINNER

BROWN RICE WITH SALAD SAUCE/STEW
PRESENTED BY CHERRY

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

RESULT COMING SOON

Posted by Unknown

BEST DINNER, LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PHOTOs with all images and result coming your way soon

Thursday, 4 October 2012

BEST DINNER PHOTO

Posted by Unknown

PAWPAW

APPLE

BANANA

PINEAPPLE

ORANGE

STRAWBERRY

APPLE: CHIPS & GRILLED FISH
BANANA: CHIPS, GRILLED FISH GREEN PEAS & PEPPER SAUCE
PAWPAW: IRISH POTATOES IN VEG, SHREDDED BEEF IN PEPPER & DICED EGG SAUCE(OGE'S POT)
PINEAPPLE: BOILED YAM & FISH VEG SAUCE
ORANGE: BOILED YAM & EGG SAUCE
STRAWBERRY: STARCH & BANGA

BEST LUNCH PHOTO

Posted by Unknown

WATERMELON

APPLE

CHERRY

LEMON

ORANGE

PINEAPPLE

APPLE: WHITE RICE &STEW WITH COLESLAW

CHERRY: BROWN RICE WITH SALAD SAUCE/STEW

LEMON: WHITE RICE & STEW GARNISH WITH BANANA

ORANGE: BANGA SOUP & STARCH

PINEAPPLE: WHITE RICE & FISH STEW GARNISH WITH VEG

WATERMELON: VEGETABLE WHITE RICE WITH CHICKEN & BEEF SAUCE GARNISH WITH FRIED PLANTAI
N

Wednesday, 3 October 2012

YOUR BEST BREAKFAST PHOTO

Posted by Unknown

APPLE

WATER MELON

ORANGE

CARROT

LEMON

GRAPES

APPLE: NOODLES, FRIED EGG & DICED BEEF
CARROT: FRIED YAM & EGG SAUCE
ORANGE: VEG SALAD, PANCAKES WITH APRICOT JAM
LEMON: NOODLES. FRIED PLATAIN & BOILED EGG
WATERMELON: HOME MADE BURGER, CHIPS & COLESLAW
GRAPES: FRIED EGG WITH MUSHROOM, TOAST BREAD & MILK

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