Egusi soup (Melon Soup) is Unarguably the most popular Nigerian soup everyone loves. It's quite versatile too as it's prepared by every single tribe in Nigeria though the methods of preparation might differ slightly.
No matter how it is prepared, the end result still remains the same good old tasty soup
In the north it's known as Miyan Gushi, in the east it is known as Ofe egusi, in the west it is known as efo-elegusi.
It could also be prepared with different leaves such as Ugu leaf "fluted pumpkin leaf", Onugbu "Bitter leaf, Afang "Wild spinach", water leaf e.t.c
A different leaf means a different flavor.
One of the reasons why i love preparing Egusi soup with bitter leaf is, with bitter leaf the soup tends to last longer without the taste changing while being refrigerated but when prepared with ugu leaves, it's best eaten within a time frame. Also, bitter leaf makes it fingerlicking good.
How to make Egusi soup with bitter leaf
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: Over 45 minutes
• Serves :
Ingredients:::
• 2 Cups Melon Seeds "Egusi"
• 600g Red beef
• 1 medium sized Stock fish
• 2 Medium Smoked fish
• 1/2 Cooking spoon Cray fish
• 5 chili pepper "Shombo"
• 3 red scotch bonnet pepper "Ata rodo"
• 1 medium sized onion
• 1½ Cup palm oil
• 1 Cup Bitter leaf - Pre-washed
• 3 Seasoning cubes
• Salt to taste
Directions:::
Step 1: The first step is to peel the egusi by removing the white Egusi seeds from the brown shell. Place the peeled Egusi in a dry mill (The smaller grinder that comes with the Cup blender) and grind till smooth. It might start to cake up but never mind, that's not a problem.
Step 2: Bitter leaf is always sold pre-washed in the Nigerian market. To be on the safer side and to avoid making your soup extremely bitter, it's always advisable to Boil and re-wash the already washed bitter leaf.
Place the pre-washed bitter leaf in an empty pot and add some water. Cook on medium heat for 10mins. Strain and rinse about 2-3 times more. Squeeze out the excess water and set aside for later use. Please taste it before adding to the soup (There's no remedy to Bitter Egusi soup - If you've got, please share below)
Step 3: Wash the chili pepper and scotch bonnet. Dice or blend into a puree - Set aside.
Step 4: For the Stock, you could use any type of meat or fish you choose to. For this particular recipe, i used a mixture of Stock fish, Smoked fish & Beef.
Wash the Beef, Stock fish and Smoked fish (remove the bone). Place the beef in an empty pot, add the blended pepper puree and Chopped onion (you could also blend the onion), Crushed seasoning cubes and just enough water to cover the content of the pot. Cook on medium heat for about 25 minutes. Add the salt, washed stock fish and smoked fish, Cook for another 5 minutes. Turn off the burner and set aside.
Step 5: In an empty pot, pour in the palm oil and heat it for 1minute ,then mix the ground Egusi with halfcup of warm water to make paste. On medium heat, stir fry for about 3 minutes till it starts to dry up but don't let it burn. Note you can mix your egusi with blend or chop onions if you want it to cake up very well.
Step 6: Pour in the meat & fish stock in step 4 above, add the ground crayfish, Stir and cover the pot. Leave to cook for about 15 minutes till the Egusi swells and cakes up a little. By this time, the oil would have settled on top.
Step 7: Add the washed bitter leaf, stir and cover the pot. Leave to simmer for 5-7 minutes before turning off the burner.
Serve with any "Swallow", Yam or Rice.
Monday, 31 July 2017
Thursday, 6 July 2017
10 DIFFERENT WAYS TO COOK PLANTAIN RECIPES
10 Different Ways To Cook Plantain - Plantain Recipes.
Plantain is one of the most popular food staples enjoyed by many across the country. It's a nutrient filled fruit that contains an ample amount of vitamins and minerals.
It can be enjoyed in various ways due to it's versatile nature. It's quite similar to banana in shape but contains less sugar than bananas but starchier.
Plantain is rich in carbohydrate, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins A,B6,C, potassium, magnesium and iron. It has got different stages of ripening which reflects in the skin color at each stage (green, yellow & black) and this gives it it's versatility due to the type of dishes that can be prepared at each stage of ripening.
In no particular order, here are some plantain dishes to make.
1. Gizdodo (Gizzard & Plantain) Recipe.
If you haven't noticed, i'm a real sucker for fried plantain. Sometimes i wonder if it's possible to actually fry plantain without sneaking a few into my mouth while at it.
2. Cocoa Mosa - Using Overripe Plantain
Admit it, you've always felt tingly sensation of guilt when you have to throw away over ripe plantain that may be too soft to be fried. For me, nothing goes to waste. Instead, they can be re-purposed into better things like this mini bite sized treats.
3. Ukodo (Urhobo yam & plantain pepper soup)
Wadoo!!!! Is it just me or did the weather get chilly all of a sudden. This is the best type of weather for one of my favorite south-south recipes....Ukodo.
4. How to Make Sweet Plantain Empanadas Recipe
Sweet, savory plantain empanadas are a delight for the whole fam every single time i make it. I've always loved plantain (Duh! abeg who doesn't?) but making empanadas with yummy fillings is a whole different ball game entirely.
5. Sweet spicy plantain chips recipe.
The key to getting the perfect crunch is all about picking the right plantains. Unlike the unripe plantain chips which is made using green plantains as shown previously, it's best to use the semi ripe plantains that's just about turning yellow for this to get that "Sweet" taste.
6. Boli (Roasted plantain) - How to roast plantain at home
When you love something so much you ensure you have ample supply of it at all times. This is one of the reasons why i decided to grow plantain on a small portion of borrowed farm land.
7. Unripe plantain chips
Did you know that Unripe plantain chips are really easy to make at home? It's so true. For me. I'd say they are even easier to make than most Nigerian snacks.
8. Plantain Mosa
Throwing away rotten plantains is as common as buying them. We all know the drill, once the skin gets almost black, it goes into the waste bin and the cycle of buying and throwing starts again. Well, not anymore as i'm about to show you how to turn overripe plantains into a delightful snack anytime.
9. Unripe plantain porridge recipe - Ojoko Awai.
Unripe plantain porridge is a meal enjoyed by most people but commonly prepared for those trying to reduce their sugar consumption or those with diabetes. It's traditionally prepared with the green unripe plantain though to make it a little bit sweet, some people prepare this dish by mixing ripe and unripe plantain together.
10. Plantain moi moi (Ukpo Ogede)
Ukpo Ogede "Plantain Moi moi" is a popular dish in the eastern part of Nigeria. it's a sweet savory steamed dish made with over ripe plantains especially those with black skins (As long as it isn't rotten on the inside) so they don't go to waste.
Plantain is one of the most popular food staples enjoyed by many across the country. It's a nutrient filled fruit that contains an ample amount of vitamins and minerals.
It can be enjoyed in various ways due to it's versatile nature. It's quite similar to banana in shape but contains less sugar than bananas but starchier.
Plantain is rich in carbohydrate, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins A,B6,C, potassium, magnesium and iron. It has got different stages of ripening which reflects in the skin color at each stage (green, yellow & black) and this gives it it's versatility due to the type of dishes that can be prepared at each stage of ripening.
In no particular order, here are some plantain dishes to make.
1. Gizdodo (Gizzard & Plantain) Recipe.
If you haven't noticed, i'm a real sucker for fried plantain. Sometimes i wonder if it's possible to actually fry plantain without sneaking a few into my mouth while at it.
2. Cocoa Mosa - Using Overripe Plantain
Admit it, you've always felt tingly sensation of guilt when you have to throw away over ripe plantain that may be too soft to be fried. For me, nothing goes to waste. Instead, they can be re-purposed into better things like this mini bite sized treats.
3. Ukodo (Urhobo yam & plantain pepper soup)
Wadoo!!!! Is it just me or did the weather get chilly all of a sudden. This is the best type of weather for one of my favorite south-south recipes....Ukodo.
4. How to Make Sweet Plantain Empanadas Recipe
Sweet, savory plantain empanadas are a delight for the whole fam every single time i make it. I've always loved plantain (Duh! abeg who doesn't?) but making empanadas with yummy fillings is a whole different ball game entirely.
5. Sweet spicy plantain chips recipe.
The key to getting the perfect crunch is all about picking the right plantains. Unlike the unripe plantain chips which is made using green plantains as shown previously, it's best to use the semi ripe plantains that's just about turning yellow for this to get that "Sweet" taste.
6. Boli (Roasted plantain) - How to roast plantain at home
When you love something so much you ensure you have ample supply of it at all times. This is one of the reasons why i decided to grow plantain on a small portion of borrowed farm land.
7. Unripe plantain chips
Did you know that Unripe plantain chips are really easy to make at home? It's so true. For me. I'd say they are even easier to make than most Nigerian snacks.
8. Plantain Mosa
Throwing away rotten plantains is as common as buying them. We all know the drill, once the skin gets almost black, it goes into the waste bin and the cycle of buying and throwing starts again. Well, not anymore as i'm about to show you how to turn overripe plantains into a delightful snack anytime.
9. Unripe plantain porridge recipe - Ojoko Awai.
Unripe plantain porridge is a meal enjoyed by most people but commonly prepared for those trying to reduce their sugar consumption or those with diabetes. It's traditionally prepared with the green unripe plantain though to make it a little bit sweet, some people prepare this dish by mixing ripe and unripe plantain together.
10. Plantain moi moi (Ukpo Ogede)
Ukpo Ogede "Plantain Moi moi" is a popular dish in the eastern part of Nigeria. it's a sweet savory steamed dish made with over ripe plantains especially those with black skins (As long as it isn't rotten on the inside) so they don't go to waste.
Saturday, 1 April 2017
COCONUT JOLLOF RICE
The iconic jollof has proven itself as the most versatile Nigerian meal to make. From the Classic jollof to native jollof to spaghetti jollof or even agidi jollof.....i could go on and on with the endless list. When it comes to jollof, there's really no limit to how you make it. The coconut flavor in this jollof recipe would keep you going back for more.
How To Make Coconut Jollof
Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: Over an hour
• Meal Type : Main Course
• Misc: Serve hotter
Ingredients:::
• 1 kg Beef
• 5 Plum Tomatoes
• 2 Tatashey(Red bell pepper)
• 5 chili pepper (Shombo)
• 5 Red scotch bonnet pepper(Ata rodo)
• 1 cooking spoon Tinned tomato puree
• 1 Red Onion
• 3 Cloves Garlic,minced - optional
• 2 whole coconuts
• 4 Bay leaves 'whole'
• 1 tbsp. Dry Thyme
• 1 tbsp. Curry powder
• 5 Seasoning cubes
• 3 cups Rice
• Salt to taste
• Vegetable Oil for frying
Directions:::
Step 1: The first step is to prepare the stock. Rinse the beef severally and place in a pot. Season with crushed seasoning cubes, salt, curry, thyme and ground/minced ginger,chopped onion and garlic. Boil till tender and your Beef Stock is ready . Remove the meat from the stock and fry in a separate pan. If you don't like beef, you could use Turkey for Turkey stock, or chicken for Chicken stock Here . Set the stock aside separately and the oil used in frying separately. You'd need these later.
Step 2: Rinse the rice thoroughly and place in a pot. Add enough water just enough to cover the rice and par boil for 10 mins. Rinse the parboiled rice with cold water, drain and set aside. OR Soak the rice in hot water for some minutes, rinse with clean water, drain in a sieve and set aside.
: Step 3: Next, Remove the seeds from the tatashe rinse well. Rinse the Tomatoes, chili pepper, Scotch bonnet pepper (ata rodo) and onion well too. Blend everything to a smooth puree. Pour the blended puree into an empty iron pot and boil till there's no water left leaving just the concentrated puree in the pot.
Step 4: For the coconut milk, remove the coconut flesh from the shell and cut into smaller pieces. place this into a blender, add some water and blend. Strain off the milk to separate it from the chaff.
Step 5: Add the tinned tomato paste into the boiled tomato and pepper puree. Pour the Oil used in frying the meat into the tomapep puree and use it to fry the tomapep puree while stirring constantly so it doesn't get burnt for about 5minutes
Step 6: Pour the Beef Stock (meat water) into the fried puree and mix. Add the coconut milk,Check the salt, seasoning and spices and add more if needed. Gently add the parboiled rice into the puree and stock mixture and make sure the stock covers the rice, if it doesn't simply add water to ensure it does. Add the Bay leaves to the pot and cover.
Step 7: Leave the jollof to cook and soften and once you notice the liquid in the pot has almost dried up leaving concentrated tomato puree at the top, turn with a wooden spoon or spatula. Once the rice is done, turn off the burner and leave to cool.
How To Make Coconut Jollof
Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: Over an hour
• Meal Type : Main Course
• Misc: Serve hotter
Ingredients:::
• 1 kg Beef
• 5 Plum Tomatoes
• 2 Tatashey(Red bell pepper)
• 5 chili pepper (Shombo)
• 5 Red scotch bonnet pepper(Ata rodo)
• 1 cooking spoon Tinned tomato puree
• 1 Red Onion
• 3 Cloves Garlic,minced - optional
• 2 whole coconuts
• 4 Bay leaves 'whole'
• 1 tbsp. Dry Thyme
• 1 tbsp. Curry powder
• 5 Seasoning cubes
• 3 cups Rice
• Salt to taste
• Vegetable Oil for frying
Directions:::
Step 1: The first step is to prepare the stock. Rinse the beef severally and place in a pot. Season with crushed seasoning cubes, salt, curry, thyme and ground/minced ginger,chopped onion and garlic. Boil till tender and your Beef Stock is ready . Remove the meat from the stock and fry in a separate pan. If you don't like beef, you could use Turkey for Turkey stock, or chicken for Chicken stock Here . Set the stock aside separately and the oil used in frying separately. You'd need these later.
Step 2: Rinse the rice thoroughly and place in a pot. Add enough water just enough to cover the rice and par boil for 10 mins. Rinse the parboiled rice with cold water, drain and set aside. OR Soak the rice in hot water for some minutes, rinse with clean water, drain in a sieve and set aside.
: Step 3: Next, Remove the seeds from the tatashe rinse well. Rinse the Tomatoes, chili pepper, Scotch bonnet pepper (ata rodo) and onion well too. Blend everything to a smooth puree. Pour the blended puree into an empty iron pot and boil till there's no water left leaving just the concentrated puree in the pot.
Step 4: For the coconut milk, remove the coconut flesh from the shell and cut into smaller pieces. place this into a blender, add some water and blend. Strain off the milk to separate it from the chaff.
Step 5: Add the tinned tomato paste into the boiled tomato and pepper puree. Pour the Oil used in frying the meat into the tomapep puree and use it to fry the tomapep puree while stirring constantly so it doesn't get burnt for about 5minutes
Step 6: Pour the Beef Stock (meat water) into the fried puree and mix. Add the coconut milk,Check the salt, seasoning and spices and add more if needed. Gently add the parboiled rice into the puree and stock mixture and make sure the stock covers the rice, if it doesn't simply add water to ensure it does. Add the Bay leaves to the pot and cover.
Step 7: Leave the jollof to cook and soften and once you notice the liquid in the pot has almost dried up leaving concentrated tomato puree at the top, turn with a wooden spoon or spatula. Once the rice is done, turn off the burner and leave to cool.
MELON SOUP WITH PUMPKIN LEAVES (OBE EGUSI)
Egusi soup (Melon Soup) is Unarguably the most popular Nigerian soup everyone loves. It's quite versatile too as it's prepared by every single tribe in Nigeria though the methods of preparation might differ slightly.
No matter how it is prepared, the end result still remains the same good old tasty soup
In the north it's known as Miyan Gushi, in the east it is known as Ofe egusi, in the west it is known as efo-elegusi.
It could also be prepared with different leaves such as Ugu leaf "fluted pumpkin leaf", Onugbu "Bitter leaf, Afang "Wild spinach", water leaf e.t.c
A different leaf means a different flavor.
One of the reasons why i love preparing Egusi soup with bitter leaf is, with bitter leaf the soup tends to last longer without the taste changing while being refrigerated but when prepared with ugu leaves, it's best eaten within a time frame. Also, bitter leaf makes it fingerlicking good.
How to make Egusi soup with bitter leaf
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: Over 45 minutes
• Serves : 6
Ingredients:::
• 2 Cups Melon Seeds "Egusi"
• 600g Red beef
• 1 medium sized Stock fish
• 2 Medium Smoked fish
• 1/2 Cooking spoon Cray fish
• 5 chili pepper "Shombo"
• 3 red scotch bonnet pepper "Ata rodo"
• 1 medium sized onion
• 1½ Cup palm oil
• 1 Cup Bitter leaf - Pre-washed
• 3 Seasoning cubes
• Salt to taste
Directions:::
Step 1: The first step is to peel the egusi by removing the white Egusi seeds from the brown shell. Place the peeled Egusi in a dry mill (The smaller grinder that comes with the Cup blender) and grind till smooth. It might start to cake up but never mind, that's not a problem
Step 2: Bitter leaf is always sold pre-washed in the Nigerian market. To be on the safer side and to avoid making your soup extremely bitter, it's always advisable to Boil and re-wash the already washed bitter leaf.
Place the pre-washed bitter leaf in an empty pot and add some water. Cook on medium heat for 10mins. Strain and rinse about 2-3 times more. Squeeze out the excess water and set aside for later use. Please taste it before adding to the soup (There's no remedy to Bitter Egusi soup - If you've got, please share below)
Step 3: Wash the chili pepper and scotch bonnet. Dice or blend into a puree - Set aside.
Step 4: For the Stock, you could use any type of meat or fish you choose to. For this particular recipe, i used a mixture of Stock fish, Smoked fish & Beef.
Wash the Beef, Stock fish and Smoked fish (remove the bone). Place the beef in an empty pot, add the blended pepper puree and Chopped onion (you could also blend the onion), Crushed seasoning cubes and just enough water to cover the content of the pot. Cook on medium heat for about 25 minutes. Add the salt, washed stock fish and smoked fish, Cook for another 5 minutes. Turn off the burner and set aside.
Step 5: In an empty pot, pour in the palm oil and heat it for 1minute ,then mix the ground Egusi with halfcup of warm water to make paste. On medium heat, stir fry for about 3 minutes till it starts to dry up but don't let it burn. Note you can mix your egusi with blend or chop onions if you want it to cake up very well.
Step 6: Pour in the meat & fish stock in step 4 above, add the ground crayfish, Stir and cover the pot. Leave to cook for about 15 minutes till the Egusi swells and cakes up a little. By this time, the oil would have settled on top.
Step 7: Add the washed bitter leaf, stir and cover the pot. Leave to simmer for 5-7 minutes before turning off the burner.
Serve with any "Swallow", Yam or Rice.
No matter how it is prepared, the end result still remains the same good old tasty soup
In the north it's known as Miyan Gushi, in the east it is known as Ofe egusi, in the west it is known as efo-elegusi.
It could also be prepared with different leaves such as Ugu leaf "fluted pumpkin leaf", Onugbu "Bitter leaf, Afang "Wild spinach", water leaf e.t.c
A different leaf means a different flavor.
One of the reasons why i love preparing Egusi soup with bitter leaf is, with bitter leaf the soup tends to last longer without the taste changing while being refrigerated but when prepared with ugu leaves, it's best eaten within a time frame. Also, bitter leaf makes it fingerlicking good.
How to make Egusi soup with bitter leaf
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: Over 45 minutes
• Serves : 6
Ingredients:::
• 2 Cups Melon Seeds "Egusi"
• 600g Red beef
• 1 medium sized Stock fish
• 2 Medium Smoked fish
• 1/2 Cooking spoon Cray fish
• 5 chili pepper "Shombo"
• 3 red scotch bonnet pepper "Ata rodo"
• 1 medium sized onion
• 1½ Cup palm oil
• 1 Cup Bitter leaf - Pre-washed
• 3 Seasoning cubes
• Salt to taste
Directions:::
Step 1: The first step is to peel the egusi by removing the white Egusi seeds from the brown shell. Place the peeled Egusi in a dry mill (The smaller grinder that comes with the Cup blender) and grind till smooth. It might start to cake up but never mind, that's not a problem
Step 2: Bitter leaf is always sold pre-washed in the Nigerian market. To be on the safer side and to avoid making your soup extremely bitter, it's always advisable to Boil and re-wash the already washed bitter leaf.
Place the pre-washed bitter leaf in an empty pot and add some water. Cook on medium heat for 10mins. Strain and rinse about 2-3 times more. Squeeze out the excess water and set aside for later use. Please taste it before adding to the soup (There's no remedy to Bitter Egusi soup - If you've got, please share below)
Step 3: Wash the chili pepper and scotch bonnet. Dice or blend into a puree - Set aside.
Step 4: For the Stock, you could use any type of meat or fish you choose to. For this particular recipe, i used a mixture of Stock fish, Smoked fish & Beef.
Wash the Beef, Stock fish and Smoked fish (remove the bone). Place the beef in an empty pot, add the blended pepper puree and Chopped onion (you could also blend the onion), Crushed seasoning cubes and just enough water to cover the content of the pot. Cook on medium heat for about 25 minutes. Add the salt, washed stock fish and smoked fish, Cook for another 5 minutes. Turn off the burner and set aside.
Step 5: In an empty pot, pour in the palm oil and heat it for 1minute ,then mix the ground Egusi with halfcup of warm water to make paste. On medium heat, stir fry for about 3 minutes till it starts to dry up but don't let it burn. Note you can mix your egusi with blend or chop onions if you want it to cake up very well.
Step 6: Pour in the meat & fish stock in step 4 above, add the ground crayfish, Stir and cover the pot. Leave to cook for about 15 minutes till the Egusi swells and cakes up a little. By this time, the oil would have settled on top.
Step 7: Add the washed bitter leaf, stir and cover the pot. Leave to simmer for 5-7 minutes before turning off the burner.
Tuesday, 28 March 2017
HOW TO MAKE CHAPMAN
The general idea and method of preparation is to mix an orange soda (Fanta for example) with a fizzy lemon/lime soda (Such as sprite), A black currant drink to give it the unique red color (Such as Grenadine syrup or Ribena (Preferably the undiluted concentrate) ), Slices of Natural fruits such as Lemon, Lime, Orange and Cucumber to go with the sodas as well as beautify the drink and Finally, dashes of an aromatic bitter (Such as Angostura aromatic bitter or Alomo bitters) which is used to reduce the sweetness of the drink.
This usually leaves it with a nice slightly bitter after taste. When preparing for kids, this could be skipped. To make it easier to get ingredients, i used our very own alomo bitters which you can get around every corner on the streets and also ribena and it turned out great. This drink is so easy to make yet very Unique in it's own way as i'm about to show you in this quick tutorial.
How to make Chapman drink (Fanta Chapman)
• Prep time:10 mins
• Serves : 3-4
• Misc : Serve Cold
Ingredients:::
• A bottle of Fanta (50cl)
• A bottle of Sprite (50cl)
• Grenadine syrup, Homemade zobo syrup, or Blackcurrant drink (preferably undiluted)
• Aromatic Bitters: Angostura bitters or Alomo bitters (a cap full) - Contains alcohol
•1 medium sized orange
• 1 lemon or lime
• Cucumber
• Ice cubes
The orange, lime, lemon and cucumber are used for garnishing
Directions
Step 1: In a large glass jug, add a cap of the aromatic bitter (i used Alomo bitters). Pour in the blackcurrant drink/ Zobo syrup or spoons of the Grenadine syrup. Gently pour in the Fanta and Sprite and mix.
Step 2: Slice the Orange, Lime/Lemon and Cucumber (Do not remove the skins). Add some few slices of each into the Jug. this gives it a slightly sour taste and also enhances the flavor. Leave some few slices for garnishing.
Step 3: To serve, pour into a long glass cup or glass mug, add the ice cubes and a few fruit slices. Serve Chilled!
This usually leaves it with a nice slightly bitter after taste. When preparing for kids, this could be skipped. To make it easier to get ingredients, i used our very own alomo bitters which you can get around every corner on the streets and also ribena and it turned out great. This drink is so easy to make yet very Unique in it's own way as i'm about to show you in this quick tutorial.
How to make Chapman drink (Fanta Chapman)
• Prep time:10 mins
• Serves : 3-4
• Misc : Serve Cold
Ingredients:::
• A bottle of Fanta (50cl)
• A bottle of Sprite (50cl)
• Grenadine syrup, Homemade zobo syrup, or Blackcurrant drink (preferably undiluted)
• Aromatic Bitters: Angostura bitters or Alomo bitters (a cap full) - Contains alcohol
•1 medium sized orange
• 1 lemon or lime
• Cucumber
• Ice cubes
The orange, lime, lemon and cucumber are used for garnishing
Directions
Step 1: In a large glass jug, add a cap of the aromatic bitter (i used Alomo bitters). Pour in the blackcurrant drink/ Zobo syrup or spoons of the Grenadine syrup. Gently pour in the Fanta and Sprite and mix.
Step 2: Slice the Orange, Lime/Lemon and Cucumber (Do not remove the skins). Add some few slices of each into the Jug. this gives it a slightly sour taste and also enhances the flavor. Leave some few slices for garnishing.
Step 3: To serve, pour into a long glass cup or glass mug, add the ice cubes and a few fruit slices. Serve Chilled!
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN SHAWARMA
Chicken shawarma is a tasty sandwich wrap which is pretty easy to make. It's really similar to beef shawarma with the only difference being that chicken is being used instead of beef as it is in beef shawarma.
For the Hot press (To seal and heat up the wrapped shawarma), you could make do with a grill, sandwich Toaster or a frying pan….They both serve the same function only that one heats both ways (Most times leaving grill marks) and the other heats one way leaving no line at all.
How to make chicken shawarma
•Prep time: 20 minutes
•Cook time: 5 minutes
•Yield: 10 Shawarma
Ingredients:::
• 3 medium sized carrots
• ½ medium sized cabbage
• 1 medium sized cucumber
• 2 green pepper - Optional
• 2 tbsp. chili powder
• 10 pieces Pita Bread (Shawarma bread)
• ½ kilo grilled chicken (with the bones removed)
• Mayonnaise - As desired
• Ketchup - As desired
• 2 tbsp. Vegetable oil
Preparation/Directions:::
Step 1: Chop the cabbage, Grate the carrots, Dice the green pepper & slice the cucumber- Set aside separately
Step 2: Shred or dice the grilled chicken and set this aside
To assemble:::
Step 3: Get one pita bread and open the pocket (This divides it into two). Place one on top of the other.
Step 4: Rub mayonnaise over the bread on top. Add the cabbage, carrot, green pepper, cucumber, chicken.
Step 5: Sprinkle with powdered chili and drizzle with ketchup and more mayonnaise.
Step 6: Fold to seal the contents and place on the grill (Greased with a little vegetable oil). Reduce the burner to the barest minimum and let the shawarma heat up on the side with the open flap . Flip and do the same for the other side.
Yep! Your Chicken shawarma is ready. Serve.
For the Hot press (To seal and heat up the wrapped shawarma), you could make do with a grill, sandwich Toaster or a frying pan….They both serve the same function only that one heats both ways (Most times leaving grill marks) and the other heats one way leaving no line at all.
How to make chicken shawarma
•Prep time: 20 minutes
•Cook time: 5 minutes
•Yield: 10 Shawarma
Ingredients:::
• 3 medium sized carrots
• ½ medium sized cabbage
• 1 medium sized cucumber
• 2 green pepper - Optional
• 2 tbsp. chili powder
• 10 pieces Pita Bread (Shawarma bread)
• ½ kilo grilled chicken (with the bones removed)
• Mayonnaise - As desired
• Ketchup - As desired
• 2 tbsp. Vegetable oil
Preparation/Directions:::
Step 1: Chop the cabbage, Grate the carrots, Dice the green pepper & slice the cucumber- Set aside separately
Step 2: Shred or dice the grilled chicken and set this aside
To assemble:::
Step 3: Get one pita bread and open the pocket (This divides it into two). Place one on top of the other.
Step 4: Rub mayonnaise over the bread on top. Add the cabbage, carrot, green pepper, cucumber, chicken.
Step 5: Sprinkle with powdered chili and drizzle with ketchup and more mayonnaise.
Step 6: Fold to seal the contents and place on the grill (Greased with a little vegetable oil). Reduce the burner to the barest minimum and let the shawarma heat up on the side with the open flap . Flip and do the same for the other side.
Yep! Your Chicken shawarma is ready. Serve.
HOW TO MAKE COW LEG SOUP(NKWOBI)
How to make Nkwobi
Nkwobi is a Nigerian dish which Originates from the Eastern part on Nigeria. It's a delicacy which delights the heart of any man i tell you. Do let me know how it goes once you try it out.
How to make Nkwobi & Ugba
• Prep Time: 40 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour
• Serves: 5-8 people
Ingredients:::
• 1.5 kg Cow leg (cut into sizable pieces)
• 2 Seasoning cubes
• 2 Ehuru seeds “Monodora myristica”(Calabash Nutmeg)
• 8 Cooking spoon palm oil
• 1 small sized Edible Potash(akaun/ kanwa)/ 1 tbsp. ground potash
• 2 tbsp. Ground crayfish
• 2 Fresh red scotch bonnet pepper/ 2 tbsp. Ground chili pepper
• Salt (To taste)
• 1 cup Ugba (also Known as Ukpaka)
• Water
For Garnish:::
•1 Medium sized Onion
•10 Utazi leaves (Gongronema Preparation:::
Before preparing Nkwobi you have to take note of this following.
1. Cow leg: Cow leg is the Original bonny meat to use for this dish. This means it's got more of bones and less beef on it. If you don't have cow leg, you could substitute for goat leg or Calf leg. Before cooking cow leg, you have to take note that it takes a very long time to cook. If you have a pressure cooker, you could use it to save time and Gas.
Wash the cow leg thoroughly and place in a pot. Add some chopped onion, Seasoning cubes and cook till Soft. Make sure the liquid left in the pot is minimal and concentrated to ensure the seasoning gets into the bone meat. -Set this aside.
2. Ehuru/Ehu seeds: This is what gives the dish its authentic local flavor. It cannot be substituted for the normal Nutmeg. To make it easy to remove from the shell, it could either be pan roasted or roasted in open flame
.•
Pan roast: Place the ehuru seeds on an empty dry pan and leave to heat while tossing once in a while on dry heat till you hear it crack open. Peel the skin and place the the peeled ehuru in a mortar. Pound and set aside
•Open flame roast: Place the ehuru seeds on a dry burner on medium heat. leave for a while till it chars. Crack open and place the the peeled ehuru in a mortar. Pound and set aside
. Potash: This is the special ingredient that makes the palmoil Curdle and change colour. To prepare, place the powdered potash in a bowl. Add some water and stir. What you need is the liquid and not the residue. Just stir and set aside. An alternative to potash is Ngu which is more Local than potash but its quite rare and is mostly found in remote areas.
4. Utazi leaves: Utazi is Used as a garnish for this meal. It has a Bitter taste and gives the dish a wonderful Bitter flavor. It's Used sparingly though since most people cannot stand the bitter taste. To prepare, wash and chop -Set aside
5. Ugba: Usually, Nkwobi on its own is tasty but when oil bean seed 'Ugba' is added, it becomes simply mouth watering due to the additional flavor it gives the dish. To prepare, wash the ugba with clean water and set aside.
6: Onions: This is Usually used as a Garnish and is eaten raw. To prepare, wash and slice the onion into rings - set aside.
: Now you are done preparing the ingredients, its time to prepare the Main Nkwobi.
Preparation of the Nkwobi sauce
Step 1: In a Medium sized pot/pan, Heat the palm oil till it gets a little bit hot (Not bleached). Gently sieve in the dissolved potash liquid making sure you don't pour in the residue. Ensure there are no lumps in the mixture by stirring thoroughly
Step 2: Keep stirring till the Oil Turns bright yellow and thick:
Step 3: Add the ground ehuru, Pepper, Crayfish to the sauce and mix.
Step 4: Gently add the Ugba, pour the cooked cowleg into the sauce (with very little meat stock). Stir Very well and place the pot on the Burner and allow the mixture to simmer for about 5-8 minutes
Step 5: Dish Out into the traditional Nkwobi bowl and garnish with the sliced onion rings and Utazi leaves.
Serve with a Chilled drink or a glass of palmwine
Nkwobi is a Nigerian dish which Originates from the Eastern part on Nigeria. It's a delicacy which delights the heart of any man i tell you. Do let me know how it goes once you try it out.
How to make Nkwobi & Ugba
• Prep Time: 40 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour
• Serves: 5-8 people
Ingredients:::
• 1.5 kg Cow leg (cut into sizable pieces)
• 2 Seasoning cubes
• 2 Ehuru seeds “Monodora myristica”(Calabash Nutmeg)
• 8 Cooking spoon palm oil
• 1 small sized Edible Potash(akaun/ kanwa)/ 1 tbsp. ground potash
• 2 tbsp. Ground crayfish
• 2 Fresh red scotch bonnet pepper/ 2 tbsp. Ground chili pepper
• Salt (To taste)
• 1 cup Ugba (also Known as Ukpaka)
• Water
For Garnish:::
•1 Medium sized Onion
•10 Utazi leaves (Gongronema Preparation:::
Before preparing Nkwobi you have to take note of this following.
1. Cow leg: Cow leg is the Original bonny meat to use for this dish. This means it's got more of bones and less beef on it. If you don't have cow leg, you could substitute for goat leg or Calf leg. Before cooking cow leg, you have to take note that it takes a very long time to cook. If you have a pressure cooker, you could use it to save time and Gas.
Wash the cow leg thoroughly and place in a pot. Add some chopped onion, Seasoning cubes and cook till Soft. Make sure the liquid left in the pot is minimal and concentrated to ensure the seasoning gets into the bone meat. -Set this aside.
2. Ehuru/Ehu seeds: This is what gives the dish its authentic local flavor. It cannot be substituted for the normal Nutmeg. To make it easy to remove from the shell, it could either be pan roasted or roasted in open flame
.•
Pan roast: Place the ehuru seeds on an empty dry pan and leave to heat while tossing once in a while on dry heat till you hear it crack open. Peel the skin and place the the peeled ehuru in a mortar. Pound and set aside
•Open flame roast: Place the ehuru seeds on a dry burner on medium heat. leave for a while till it chars. Crack open and place the the peeled ehuru in a mortar. Pound and set aside
. Potash: This is the special ingredient that makes the palmoil Curdle and change colour. To prepare, place the powdered potash in a bowl. Add some water and stir. What you need is the liquid and not the residue. Just stir and set aside. An alternative to potash is Ngu which is more Local than potash but its quite rare and is mostly found in remote areas.
4. Utazi leaves: Utazi is Used as a garnish for this meal. It has a Bitter taste and gives the dish a wonderful Bitter flavor. It's Used sparingly though since most people cannot stand the bitter taste. To prepare, wash and chop -Set aside
5. Ugba: Usually, Nkwobi on its own is tasty but when oil bean seed 'Ugba' is added, it becomes simply mouth watering due to the additional flavor it gives the dish. To prepare, wash the ugba with clean water and set aside.
6: Onions: This is Usually used as a Garnish and is eaten raw. To prepare, wash and slice the onion into rings - set aside.
: Now you are done preparing the ingredients, its time to prepare the Main Nkwobi.
Preparation of the Nkwobi sauce
Step 1: In a Medium sized pot/pan, Heat the palm oil till it gets a little bit hot (Not bleached). Gently sieve in the dissolved potash liquid making sure you don't pour in the residue. Ensure there are no lumps in the mixture by stirring thoroughly
Step 2: Keep stirring till the Oil Turns bright yellow and thick:
Step 3: Add the ground ehuru, Pepper, Crayfish to the sauce and mix.
Step 4: Gently add the Ugba, pour the cooked cowleg into the sauce (with very little meat stock). Stir Very well and place the pot on the Burner and allow the mixture to simmer for about 5-8 minutes
Step 5: Dish Out into the traditional Nkwobi bowl and garnish with the sliced onion rings and Utazi leaves.
Serve with a Chilled drink or a glass of palmwine
HOW TO MAKE VEGETABLES SALAD
Here's why i love salads; It's healthy, mouthwatering and easy to make. did i also mention that it goes with just about any meal i.e jollof rice, fried rice, coconut rice, and a host of others. When making mine, i combine a host of things; sweet corn, green peas, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce,carrots, eggs and YES macaroni with a drizzle of salad dressing
Just imagine having a bowl of this tasty salad on a hot day.....can you taste it? I love it really chilled, but it's also great when it's warm too.
How to make vegetable salad
• Prep time: 30 minutes
• Meal type: Appetizer
• Misc: Serve chilled
Ingredients:::
• 1 medium sized cabbage
• 1 small cucumber
• 5 lettuce leaves
• 3 medium sized carrots
• 3 small tomatoes
• 1 medium sized green bell pepper
• 2 cups sweet corn
• 1 cup green peas - salted, boiled
• 2 cups macaroni - salted, boiled
• 4 eggs - hard-boiled
Directions:::
Step 1: Rinse the cabbage and chop. Slice the cucumber into 2 from the middle, remove the seeds, rinse and chop. Rinse the lettuce, tomatoes, green bell pepper & carrots, chop.
Step 2: In a medium sized bowl, combine the whole ingredients together and mix everything together. Pop it into the refrigerator to chill and also prevent it from getting sour.
Step 3: To serve, simply dish out into small bowls and drizzle some salad cream or mayonnaise over it. Serve alone as an appetizer or as a side with any rice dish.
HOW TO MAKE MORINGA SOUP(MIYAN SOGALE)
[22/03, 3:05 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Having a small farm of my own has helped in several rewarding ways. i love the fact that i get to grow most of my food and this has helped me appreciate farmers even more. One of the plants i grow on the farm is moringa.
[22/03, 3:06 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: After learning about the health benefits which i documented here, i decided to grow my very own moringa tree
[22/03, 3:07 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Apart from the leaves being used in preparing the popular zogale tea for weightloss, it is also used to make salads and soups.
[22/03, 3:08 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: One of the soups it's used for is miyan zogale, a tasty Nigerian soup which originates from the Northern part of the country. It's a groundnut based soup prepared with moringa leaves locally known as Zogale in Hausa language, gyada "roasted groundnuts", peppers, tomatoes and a host of other ingredients.
[22/03, 3:09 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: How to make miyan zogale
• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: Over an hour
• Region: Northern Nigeria
• Misc: Serve hot
[22/03, 3:09 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Ingredients:::
• ½ kg Meat
• 1 medium size dried fish
• 2 Large bunch Zogale "Moringa leaves"
• 3 Large size fresh tomatoes
• 3 medium size fresh pepper
• 1 medium size Onion
• 1 tbsp. Yaji
• ½ cup Gyada "Groundnut" (Raw Shelled)
• 1 tsp. Kaun "potash"
• 1½ litres Water
• ½ flat Daddawa "Dawadawa"
• 2 cooking spoon palm Oil
• 3 seasoning cubes
• Salt to taste
[22/03, 3:10 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Directions:::
Step 1: Pick and wash the Zogale leaves, drain off any excess water and place the leaves in a pot with ½ litre of water and Kaun. Boil for about 5-8 minutes and drain off the water and set aside.
[22/03, 3:11 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Note: I sincerely don't know the reason why zogale is boiled with Kaun because left to me i'd rather rinse the leaves with salt water to retain the wonderful nutrients and skip the kaun due to the adverse effects.
[22/03, 3:12 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Step 2: Cut up the tomatoes and onion into small pieces but grind the pepper - set aside
[22/03, 3:13 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Step 3: Roast the groundnut slightly for about 5 minutes using an empty frying pan without oil. Fry for about 10 minutes while stirring constantly. Allow to cool then peel off the skin and grind in a blender to a smooth paste - set aside
[22/03, 3:13 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Step 4: Wash the meat thoroughly, Place in a pot season with a tablespoon of salt and add some slices of onions. Steam for 10 minutes till the meat gives off it’s juice. Add 2 cups of water, Leave to cook for at least 15 minutes or until it is tender. Wash and de-bone the fish, add into the stock and cook for 5 minutes before turning off the burner.
[22/03, 3:14 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Step 5: In an empty pot, heat up the palmoil for about 2 minutes, add the chopped tomatoes, onions and the ground pepper, stir-fry for 10 minutes. Add the groundnut paste into the pot.
[22/03, 3:17 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Rinse the blender cup with a little water and pour into the pot. Add the meat with the stock, ground dawadawa, crushed seasoning and yaji, stir and allow to boil for about 15minutes. Add the Zogale leaves and leave to simmer for 3 mins before turning off the burner. Serve with Tuwo shinkafa, tuwo masara, Burabisko or any form of "swallow
[22/03, 3:23 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Note.Kanwa is added to soften leaves nowadays people substitute it with baking powder.. If you boil ordinary zogale leaves it takes forever as in ur gas go finish but u can use firewood it tastes better without Kanwa or baking if u have the patience..
[22/03, 3:06 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: After learning about the health benefits which i documented here, i decided to grow my very own moringa tree
[22/03, 3:07 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Apart from the leaves being used in preparing the popular zogale tea for weightloss, it is also used to make salads and soups.
[22/03, 3:08 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: One of the soups it's used for is miyan zogale, a tasty Nigerian soup which originates from the Northern part of the country. It's a groundnut based soup prepared with moringa leaves locally known as Zogale in Hausa language, gyada "roasted groundnuts", peppers, tomatoes and a host of other ingredients.
[22/03, 3:09 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: How to make miyan zogale
• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: Over an hour
• Region: Northern Nigeria
• Misc: Serve hot
[22/03, 3:09 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Ingredients:::
• ½ kg Meat
• 1 medium size dried fish
• 2 Large bunch Zogale "Moringa leaves"
• 3 Large size fresh tomatoes
• 3 medium size fresh pepper
• 1 medium size Onion
• 1 tbsp. Yaji
• ½ cup Gyada "Groundnut" (Raw Shelled)
• 1 tsp. Kaun "potash"
• 1½ litres Water
• ½ flat Daddawa "Dawadawa"
• 2 cooking spoon palm Oil
• 3 seasoning cubes
• Salt to taste
[22/03, 3:10 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Directions:::
Step 1: Pick and wash the Zogale leaves, drain off any excess water and place the leaves in a pot with ½ litre of water and Kaun. Boil for about 5-8 minutes and drain off the water and set aside.
[22/03, 3:11 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Note: I sincerely don't know the reason why zogale is boiled with Kaun because left to me i'd rather rinse the leaves with salt water to retain the wonderful nutrients and skip the kaun due to the adverse effects.
[22/03, 3:12 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Step 2: Cut up the tomatoes and onion into small pieces but grind the pepper - set aside
[22/03, 3:13 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Step 3: Roast the groundnut slightly for about 5 minutes using an empty frying pan without oil. Fry for about 10 minutes while stirring constantly. Allow to cool then peel off the skin and grind in a blender to a smooth paste - set aside
[22/03, 3:13 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Step 4: Wash the meat thoroughly, Place in a pot season with a tablespoon of salt and add some slices of onions. Steam for 10 minutes till the meat gives off it’s juice. Add 2 cups of water, Leave to cook for at least 15 minutes or until it is tender. Wash and de-bone the fish, add into the stock and cook for 5 minutes before turning off the burner.
[22/03, 3:14 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Step 5: In an empty pot, heat up the palmoil for about 2 minutes, add the chopped tomatoes, onions and the ground pepper, stir-fry for 10 minutes. Add the groundnut paste into the pot.
[22/03, 3:17 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Rinse the blender cup with a little water and pour into the pot. Add the meat with the stock, ground dawadawa, crushed seasoning and yaji, stir and allow to boil for about 15minutes. Add the Zogale leaves and leave to simmer for 3 mins before turning off the burner. Serve with Tuwo shinkafa, tuwo masara, Burabisko or any form of "swallow
[22/03, 3:23 PM] ibraheemmonsurat42: Note.Kanwa is added to soften leaves nowadays people substitute it with baking powder.. If you boil ordinary zogale leaves it takes forever as in ur gas go finish but u can use firewood it tastes better without Kanwa or baking if u have the patience..
Tuesday, 21 March 2017
HOW TO MAKE FRIED RICE
fried rice is a delicious meal which is quite popular with kids and adults. It's also likely to come top on the list of foods loved by Nigerians. No Birthday, Wedding, Event, Ceremony is complete without fried rice which makes it a favorite go-to meal for special occasions. With the colorful veggies in the rice, i'd have to say it's highly nutritious. Fried rice can be served with Salad, Chicken, Fish, Moi Moi.
Ingredients:::
• 3 cups White Rice
• 2 cups Liquid Stock (Boiled meat water) i.e. Turkey stock, Beef Stock or Chicken stock
• 2 tbsp. Curry Powder (For Colour)
• 3 Seasoning cubes
• Salt to taste
• 4 cloves Garlic,minced
• 8 tbsp. Vegetable oil
• 3 medium sized Carrots
• 2 large Green Capsicum (Green bell pepper)
• 1 cup Green Peas
• 2 bulbs Red Onion
• A handful Green Beans
• 200g Cow Liver
Directions:::
Preparation of the liver
Wash the liver thoroughly with water and dice. Place the diced liver in a small pot, season with salt and steam for 10 minutes. Turn off the burner and set aside.
Preparation of the vegetables
Step 1: Scrape the back of the carrots, Wash and dice.
Step 2: Remove the seeds from the green bell pepper, Wash and dice.
Step 3: Wash and dice the runner beans.
Step 4: Wash and steam the green peas with a little salt to taste.
Step 5: Wash and chop the Onions.
Set the veggies aside.
Preparation of the Curried rice
Step 1: Parboil the rice in water for about 10mins. Cooking for this short period of time ensures it doesn't get too soft before the real curried rice preparation as well as removes some of the starch to prevent it from sticking together. Wash and rinse with clean cold water.
Step 2: Place the washed rice in a pot and add the Stock (I used turkey stock for this). Add some water, Curry powder (For color and taste), Seasoning cubes, Salt to taste and minced garlic. Cover the pot and leave to cook till the liquid in the pot dries up leaving the softened (But not too soft) rice .
The Fried Rice Preparation
Fried rice is usually done in batches (if you want to go the Authentic way) so you’d have to divide the veggies, rice and liver into 4 batches (let’s call it batch 1,2,3,4) Step 1: Heat two tbsp. of vegetable oil in a large pan.
Step 2: Add the batch 1 veggies (carrot, green pepper, peas, runner beans, onions) and stir-fry for about 1 minute. Add the liver (Batch 1) and stir-fry for 2mins. Add the rice (Batch 1) and stir to incorporate the mixture, leave for 1 minute before turning out into a pot.
Repeat the process above till the whole batch is used up
Note.If you do not want to go through the stress, Simply Stir-fry all the veggies and liver in a pan, Add it to the curried rice and mix to incorporate. Leave to heat further on low heat before turning off the burner.
Ingredients:::
• 3 cups White Rice
• 2 cups Liquid Stock (Boiled meat water) i.e. Turkey stock, Beef Stock or Chicken stock
• 2 tbsp. Curry Powder (For Colour)
• 3 Seasoning cubes
• Salt to taste
• 4 cloves Garlic,minced
• 8 tbsp. Vegetable oil
• 3 medium sized Carrots
• 2 large Green Capsicum (Green bell pepper)
• 1 cup Green Peas
• 2 bulbs Red Onion
• A handful Green Beans
• 200g Cow Liver
Directions:::
Preparation of the liver
Wash the liver thoroughly with water and dice. Place the diced liver in a small pot, season with salt and steam for 10 minutes. Turn off the burner and set aside.
Preparation of the vegetables
Step 1: Scrape the back of the carrots, Wash and dice.
Step 2: Remove the seeds from the green bell pepper, Wash and dice.
Step 3: Wash and dice the runner beans.
Step 4: Wash and steam the green peas with a little salt to taste.
Step 5: Wash and chop the Onions.
Set the veggies aside.
Preparation of the Curried rice
Step 1: Parboil the rice in water for about 10mins. Cooking for this short period of time ensures it doesn't get too soft before the real curried rice preparation as well as removes some of the starch to prevent it from sticking together. Wash and rinse with clean cold water.
Step 2: Place the washed rice in a pot and add the Stock (I used turkey stock for this). Add some water, Curry powder (For color and taste), Seasoning cubes, Salt to taste and minced garlic. Cover the pot and leave to cook till the liquid in the pot dries up leaving the softened (But not too soft) rice .
The Fried Rice Preparation
Fried rice is usually done in batches (if you want to go the Authentic way) so you’d have to divide the veggies, rice and liver into 4 batches (let’s call it batch 1,2,3,4) Step 1: Heat two tbsp. of vegetable oil in a large pan.
Step 2: Add the batch 1 veggies (carrot, green pepper, peas, runner beans, onions) and stir-fry for about 1 minute. Add the liver (Batch 1) and stir-fry for 2mins. Add the rice (Batch 1) and stir to incorporate the mixture, leave for 1 minute before turning out into a pot.
Repeat the process above till the whole batch is used up
Note.If you do not want to go through the stress, Simply Stir-fry all the veggies and liver in a pan, Add it to the curried rice and mix to incorporate. Leave to heat further on low heat before turning off the burner.
HOW TO MAKE WATER YAM PORRIDGE(IKOKORE)
Ikokore recipe - How to Make Ikokore "Water Yam Porridg
Ikokore is a meal native to the Ijebu people from the southwestern part of Nigeria. Just like Ojojo, it's made with water yam and also very similar to ekpang nkukwo. The final texture of this dish is similar to a pudding or porridge. Just one taste and you're bound to get hooked. Some people add peppered stew to it while serving, others serve it plain but it's all a matter of choice.
Ingredients:::
• 1 medium size Water yam
• 7 medium chunks Beef
• 5 pieces tripe (sharki)
• 4 medium size dry fish (shawa)
• 2 cooking spoon palm oil
• 2 tbsp. Fresh pepper (shombo "chili" + Ata rodo "Red scotch bonnet pepper") - ground
• 2 tbsp. crayfish
• 2 seasoning cubes
• Salt to taste
Directions:::
Step 1: Slice and peel the skin off the water
Step 2: Wash the yams and cut into chunks. With a grater, grate the yam slices. You'd notice the drawy texture of the grated water yam - set this aside
Step 3: In a medium sized pot, place the washed beef and sharki. Season with salt to taste and crushed seasoning cubes, add just enough water to cover the meat in the pot and cook for about 20 minutes till tender. Break and remove the bones from the fish and wash. Add into the meat pot and leave to cook for about 5 minutes. Turn off the burner and transfer the cooked meat and fish from the pot into a separate bowl leaving the stock.
Step 4: Add some more water to the stock, palm oil, ground pepper puree, check for salt and add more if necessary. Place the pot back on the burner and leave till the liquid in the pot starts to boil.
Step 5: Add some salt to taste and also crushed seasoning to the grated water yam. This is to ensure it has some taste since it's going to be in lumps. Once the stock liquid starts to boil, start adding scoops of the water yam paste into the liquid. You can use the hollow of your washed hand for this or a spoon. Once you drop the water yam paste into the pot, it'd float to the top. cover and allow to cook for 10 minutes. Sprinkle the crayfish over it. Don't stir the ikokore in the pot else it'd scatter. Just leave it to cook.
Step 6: Now add the meat and fish removed earlier and leave to simmer for about 5 minutes more. Serve!.
Ikokore is a meal native to the Ijebu people from the southwestern part of Nigeria. Just like Ojojo, it's made with water yam and also very similar to ekpang nkukwo. The final texture of this dish is similar to a pudding or porridge. Just one taste and you're bound to get hooked. Some people add peppered stew to it while serving, others serve it plain but it's all a matter of choice.
Ingredients:::
• 1 medium size Water yam
• 7 medium chunks Beef
• 5 pieces tripe (sharki)
• 4 medium size dry fish (shawa)
• 2 cooking spoon palm oil
• 2 tbsp. Fresh pepper (shombo "chili" + Ata rodo "Red scotch bonnet pepper") - ground
• 2 tbsp. crayfish
• 2 seasoning cubes
• Salt to taste
Directions:::
Step 1: Slice and peel the skin off the water
Step 2: Wash the yams and cut into chunks. With a grater, grate the yam slices. You'd notice the drawy texture of the grated water yam - set this aside
Step 3: In a medium sized pot, place the washed beef and sharki. Season with salt to taste and crushed seasoning cubes, add just enough water to cover the meat in the pot and cook for about 20 minutes till tender. Break and remove the bones from the fish and wash. Add into the meat pot and leave to cook for about 5 minutes. Turn off the burner and transfer the cooked meat and fish from the pot into a separate bowl leaving the stock.
Step 4: Add some more water to the stock, palm oil, ground pepper puree, check for salt and add more if necessary. Place the pot back on the burner and leave till the liquid in the pot starts to boil.
Step 5: Add some salt to taste and also crushed seasoning to the grated water yam. This is to ensure it has some taste since it's going to be in lumps. Once the stock liquid starts to boil, start adding scoops of the water yam paste into the liquid. You can use the hollow of your washed hand for this or a spoon. Once you drop the water yam paste into the pot, it'd float to the top. cover and allow to cook for 10 minutes. Sprinkle the crayfish over it. Don't stir the ikokore in the pot else it'd scatter. Just leave it to cook.
Step 6: Now add the meat and fish removed earlier and leave to simmer for about 5 minutes more. Serve!.
Sunday, 19 March 2017
Shoko yokoto (Celosia Argentia) also known as Lagos spinach is a leafy vegetable which is very popular in the western part of Nigeria. It's actually the main vegetable used in the preparation of the iconic "Efo riro" Vegetable soup. It's rich in Beta-carotene, Folic acid, Ascorbic acid, protein, calcium, iron. Here's how it's prepared. .Prep time: 20 mins
• Cook time:1hr 10 minutes
• Total time: 1 hr 30 minutes
• Region: Western Nigeria
Ingredients:::
• 1 medium sized Stock Fish "Panla"
•1or 2 large Smoked Fish
• 600g Red Beef meat (Cut into chunks)
• 7 Red scotch bonnet pepper (Ata rodo)
• 2 Red Capsicums (Red Bell pepper a.k.a Tatashey)optional
• 4 Chili pepper a.k.a Shombo
• 2 large Red onion
• 11/2 cups Palmoil
• 1 cups dry prawns (with the head removed)optional
• 3 Heaped tbsp. Locust beans (Iru)
• 1 cooking spoon Crayfish, Ground optional
• 2 Seasoning cubes, Crushed
• Salt to taste
• 1 large bunch Shoko yokoto leaves
Directions:::
For soup stock any type of meat such as Goat meat, Cow Intestines "Roundabout", Tripe a.k.a Sharki ,Cow Liver, Smoked Cow skin "Pomo", Chicken, Cow meat and Fish Can be used but for this I used only Smoked Fish, Stock fish (panla)and Cow Beef (Red meat), sharki & ponmo.
Step 1: Soak the Stock fish in hot water for 10 mins and rinse with cold water. Shred it with your fingers and set aside. Remove the bones from the smoked fish, wash and set aside.
Wash the Cow beef, sharki and ponmo thoroughly with water and place in a medium sized pot. Add two seasoning cubes, salt, water and leave to cook on medium heat. 25 mins into the cook time, add the Smoked fish and Stock fish (Should be soft by now) - leave to cook for 10 mins more. The water left should be minimal by now. Turn off the burner and Set Aside.
Step 2: Pluck the shoko leaves from the stem. Discard the purple flower if you come across it. Chop the shoko leaves with a knife and place in a bowl. Add about ½ teaspoon of salt, pour boiling water over it and place a lid over the bowl. Shoko is said to be bitter and soaking in hot water helps remove the bitter taste. Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Rinse out the shoko immediately with cool water so it doesn't turn dark. Drain off excess water
Step 3: To prepare the pepper puree, rinse the scotch bonnets (Ata rodo), Red bell pepper a.k.a Tatashey (Remove the seeds cos it’s usually bitter) onions and Chili pepper. Place in a grinding machine and blend. Pour the blend in a small bowl and set aside.
Step 4: In an empty pot, add the palm oil and leave to heat for about 1mins. Add the(Locust beans) iru Stir fry for 1mins. Then add the blend pepper
Gently add the soup stock including the meat and fish, 2 seasoning cubes, crayfish, prawns and leave to cook for about 10mins. Step5: Add the chopped shoko and stir to combine the mixture. Leave to simmer for 5 mins. Turn off the burner and leave the pot open to let out steam.
Serve with any form of Swallow, pounded yam,Amala or eko
• Cook time:1hr 10 minutes
• Total time: 1 hr 30 minutes
• Region: Western Nigeria
Ingredients:::
• 1 medium sized Stock Fish "Panla"
•1or 2 large Smoked Fish
• 600g Red Beef meat (Cut into chunks)
• 7 Red scotch bonnet pepper (Ata rodo)
• 2 Red Capsicums (Red Bell pepper a.k.a Tatashey)optional
• 4 Chili pepper a.k.a Shombo
• 2 large Red onion
• 11/2 cups Palmoil
• 1 cups dry prawns (with the head removed)optional
• 3 Heaped tbsp. Locust beans (Iru)
• 1 cooking spoon Crayfish, Ground optional
• 2 Seasoning cubes, Crushed
• Salt to taste
• 1 large bunch Shoko yokoto leaves
Directions:::
For soup stock any type of meat such as Goat meat, Cow Intestines "Roundabout", Tripe a.k.a Sharki ,Cow Liver, Smoked Cow skin "Pomo", Chicken, Cow meat and Fish Can be used but for this I used only Smoked Fish, Stock fish (panla)and Cow Beef (Red meat), sharki & ponmo.
Step 1: Soak the Stock fish in hot water for 10 mins and rinse with cold water. Shred it with your fingers and set aside. Remove the bones from the smoked fish, wash and set aside.
Wash the Cow beef, sharki and ponmo thoroughly with water and place in a medium sized pot. Add two seasoning cubes, salt, water and leave to cook on medium heat. 25 mins into the cook time, add the Smoked fish and Stock fish (Should be soft by now) - leave to cook for 10 mins more. The water left should be minimal by now. Turn off the burner and Set Aside.
Step 2: Pluck the shoko leaves from the stem. Discard the purple flower if you come across it. Chop the shoko leaves with a knife and place in a bowl. Add about ½ teaspoon of salt, pour boiling water over it and place a lid over the bowl. Shoko is said to be bitter and soaking in hot water helps remove the bitter taste. Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Rinse out the shoko immediately with cool water so it doesn't turn dark. Drain off excess water
Step 3: To prepare the pepper puree, rinse the scotch bonnets (Ata rodo), Red bell pepper a.k.a Tatashey (Remove the seeds cos it’s usually bitter) onions and Chili pepper. Place in a grinding machine and blend. Pour the blend in a small bowl and set aside.
Step 4: In an empty pot, add the palm oil and leave to heat for about 1mins. Add the(Locust beans) iru Stir fry for 1mins. Then add the blend pepper
Gently add the soup stock including the meat and fish, 2 seasoning cubes, crayfish, prawns and leave to cook for about 10mins. Step5: Add the chopped shoko and stir to combine the mixture. Leave to simmer for 5 mins. Turn off the burner and leave the pot open to let out steam.
Serve with any form of Swallow, pounded yam,Amala or eko
How to Prepare Ogbono Soup with pumpkin leaves
How to Prepare Ogbono Soup with pumpkin leaves .My Mtn: Ogbono soup is a local Nigerian dish known mainly for its slimy consistency just like okra soup, though a bit thicker. The seeds of the ogbono is ground and used as a thickener. The preparation varies due to different tastes and cultures; Some people prefer their ogbono soup Plain, some others prefer it with leafy vegetables while a few others prefer adding Okra or egusi to it. Whichever way, ogbono is enjoyed due to its slimy consistency which makes ingesting morsels of swallow easy.
The Ogbono seed also known locally as Apon is gotten from the nut of the African wild mango. It's believed to help in weight loss and also lowering cholesterol levels in the body. Some people have also started selling it in capsules.
Ogbono Soup Recipe
•Prep time: 10 minutes
•Cook time: 1hr
•Total time: 1hr10minutes
Ingredients:
•1 kilo Beef meat(Cut into chunks)
•4 seasoning cubes
•1 small stock fish head
•2 cooking spoons palmoil
•Pumpkin leaves “Ugwu”, chopped
•3 tbsps Ogbono, Ground
•1 cooking spoon Crayfish, Ground
•5 yellow scotch bonnet, ata rodo ,Ground
•1 medium sized onion,Ground
•1 tbsp. Salt
•7 cups water
We’d start with the Soup stock preparation
Method:
1. Soak the Stock fish in hot water for 10 minutes and rinse
1. Soak the Stock fish in hot water for 10mins and rinse with cold water. Shred it with your fingers and set aside
METHOD.
1. Soak the Stock fish in hot water for 10mins and rinse with cold water. Shred it with your fingers and set aside
2. Place the chunks of beef meat in a medium sized pot and add 4 cups of water. Season with 2 seasoning cubes, 1 tsp. salt, diced scotched bonnet & onions; Cook for 25mins.
2. Place the chunks of beef meat in a medium sized pot and add 4 cups of water. Season with 2 seasoning cubes, 1 tsp. salt, ground scotched bonnet & onions; Cook for 25mins.
3. Add the shredded stock fish and leave to cook for another 2minutes
4. Turn off the burner and remove the beef and fish into a bowl leaving the stock in the pot.
Ogbono soup preparation (Method 1):
5. Turn the Burner back on; Add 3 cups of water, 1tsp. salt & 2 seasoning cubes. When it starts to boil, add the ogbono & crayfish; leave to thicken for about 10mins making sure you stir consistently so it doesn't get burnt under.
6. Add the palmoil and leave to boil for another 10mins
7. Add the cooked meat & fish which had been set aside, chopped pumpkin leaves; mix & leave to simmer for 5mins
Ogbono soup preparation (Method 2):
The fastest way to prepare ogbono soup is to pour the palmoil into the empty pot and add the ground ogbono. On medium heat, start to stir the mixture till the ogbono added to it dissolves. This should take about 10 minutes. Once it dissolves, pour in the meat and fish stock, stir and leave to cook for a while. It's ready once it thickens and starts to draw. Now you can add the other ingredients which includes the chopped vegetable.
off the burner and serve with any form of swallow.
*Kitchen Notes:
• Ground Ogbono is powdery but if left for a few hours, it tends to look like little stones. Not to worry, once added to the stock, it dissolves completely and still thickens the soup.
• Ogbono soup is best enjoyed with washed hands. Just dig into it, Don’t be shy
• You could blend your onion & pepper for the stock preparation. Personally, I love the flavor yellow scotch bonnet gives to my soups so I use it often.
• Ogiri is another flavor enhancer especially "Ogiri okpei (looks like small stones )" or "Dawadawa (Looks Flat)" which is used mainly for ogbono. If you don’t have it around, you could skip adding it.
The Ogbono seed also known locally as Apon is gotten from the nut of the African wild mango. It's believed to help in weight loss and also lowering cholesterol levels in the body. Some people have also started selling it in capsules.
Ogbono Soup Recipe
•Prep time: 10 minutes
•Cook time: 1hr
•Total time: 1hr10minutes
Ingredients:
•1 kilo Beef meat(Cut into chunks)
•4 seasoning cubes
•1 small stock fish head
•2 cooking spoons palmoil
•Pumpkin leaves “Ugwu”, chopped
•3 tbsps Ogbono, Ground
•1 cooking spoon Crayfish, Ground
•5 yellow scotch bonnet, ata rodo ,Ground
•1 medium sized onion,Ground
•1 tbsp. Salt
•7 cups water
We’d start with the Soup stock preparation
Method:
1. Soak the Stock fish in hot water for 10 minutes and rinse
1. Soak the Stock fish in hot water for 10mins and rinse with cold water. Shred it with your fingers and set aside
METHOD.
1. Soak the Stock fish in hot water for 10mins and rinse with cold water. Shred it with your fingers and set aside
2. Place the chunks of beef meat in a medium sized pot and add 4 cups of water. Season with 2 seasoning cubes, 1 tsp. salt, diced scotched bonnet & onions; Cook for 25mins.
2. Place the chunks of beef meat in a medium sized pot and add 4 cups of water. Season with 2 seasoning cubes, 1 tsp. salt, ground scotched bonnet & onions; Cook for 25mins.
3. Add the shredded stock fish and leave to cook for another 2minutes
4. Turn off the burner and remove the beef and fish into a bowl leaving the stock in the pot.
Ogbono soup preparation (Method 1):
5. Turn the Burner back on; Add 3 cups of water, 1tsp. salt & 2 seasoning cubes. When it starts to boil, add the ogbono & crayfish; leave to thicken for about 10mins making sure you stir consistently so it doesn't get burnt under.
6. Add the palmoil and leave to boil for another 10mins
7. Add the cooked meat & fish which had been set aside, chopped pumpkin leaves; mix & leave to simmer for 5mins
Ogbono soup preparation (Method 2):
The fastest way to prepare ogbono soup is to pour the palmoil into the empty pot and add the ground ogbono. On medium heat, start to stir the mixture till the ogbono added to it dissolves. This should take about 10 minutes. Once it dissolves, pour in the meat and fish stock, stir and leave to cook for a while. It's ready once it thickens and starts to draw. Now you can add the other ingredients which includes the chopped vegetable.
off the burner and serve with any form of swallow.
*Kitchen Notes:
• Ground Ogbono is powdery but if left for a few hours, it tends to look like little stones. Not to worry, once added to the stock, it dissolves completely and still thickens the soup.
• Ogbono soup is best enjoyed with washed hands. Just dig into it, Don’t be shy
• You could blend your onion & pepper for the stock preparation. Personally, I love the flavor yellow scotch bonnet gives to my soups so I use it often.
• Ogiri is another flavor enhancer especially "Ogiri okpei (looks like small stones )" or "Dawadawa (Looks Flat)" which is used mainly for ogbono. If you don’t have it around, you could skip adding it.
Sunday, 12 March 2017
NUMBER ONE IN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
*Finland is ranked No.1 in the world in Education. What’s so great there!*
• A child goes to school there only at the age of 7. The torture does not start at 2 ½ as it is elsewhere.
*• A child learns from each move that it comes across in this early age at home.*
• From the age of 7 to 10 the child spends 50% of it’s time in school and the remaining as vacation.
*• The school timings are also less and equal importance is given to Music, Arts and Sports too*
• The schools there have relaxation rooms for the children to take rest if they feel tired.
*• Until the age of 13 there is no grading and no report cards for students.*
• If their parents are inquisitive of the child’s progress they can apply to know that.
*• Since there is no grading there is no pressure on the student to compete.*
• They are not given homework. Students can do their homework in the subject of their choice.
*• A doctor stationed in each school monitors their health and advices.*
• Only a maximum of 600 students are permitted in a school.
*• There aren’t any private schools. All are Govt. run. There is equality in education for all.*
• 99% of children in Finland get primary education.
*• Students who hail from a country where there aren’t exams excel in competitive exams elsewhere.*
• You may wonder how this is possible. A UN research explains this…..
*• UN does an annual research about the happiest children in the world. Finland stands first.*
• Educationists from other countries flock to Finland to understand their system more.
*• 1500 representatives from 56 countries go there every year.*
• The country’s major foreign exchange comes from education tourism.
*• A teachers job in Finland is highly valued .*
• The teachers there have a major stake in the laws and policies of the country.
*• Every third child there wants to become a teacher. But it’s not so easy.*
• Only students who excel are considered for this post.
*• They are given 5 years of Teacher Training, 6 months of Military training, One year of onsite teacher training, Training in the Laws and Policies, Fire service, Self Defense, First Aid.*
No wonder the Crime rate is so low in Finland.
Good upbringing breeds responsible Adults.
*Thoughts to ponder:*
• Don’t find fault in children. Don’t hesitate to appreciate when they do good.
• No one knows what a child can become. Keep encouraging them.
• Edison was considered dumb and thrown out of school.
• Louis Pasteur was an average student in school.
• Einstein was considered an idiot in school.
• Talk to children daily about their goodness.
• Don’t compare a child with another.
• Talk about successful people to them.
• Instead of telling them how not to be, just tell them about how to be.
• Don’t curb them to the house
• Give them good examples and independence.
• If you talk to them about a bed of flower they’ll understand the path of thorns.
• Tell them about hardwork. They will get to know about laziness.
• When you tell them about successful people they will understand the reasons for failure.
And for all these, we need good parenting and good governance.
• A child goes to school there only at the age of 7. The torture does not start at 2 ½ as it is elsewhere.
*• A child learns from each move that it comes across in this early age at home.*
• From the age of 7 to 10 the child spends 50% of it’s time in school and the remaining as vacation.
*• The school timings are also less and equal importance is given to Music, Arts and Sports too*
• The schools there have relaxation rooms for the children to take rest if they feel tired.
*• Until the age of 13 there is no grading and no report cards for students.*
• If their parents are inquisitive of the child’s progress they can apply to know that.
*• Since there is no grading there is no pressure on the student to compete.*
• They are not given homework. Students can do their homework in the subject of their choice.
*• A doctor stationed in each school monitors their health and advices.*
• Only a maximum of 600 students are permitted in a school.
*• There aren’t any private schools. All are Govt. run. There is equality in education for all.*
• 99% of children in Finland get primary education.
*• Students who hail from a country where there aren’t exams excel in competitive exams elsewhere.*
• You may wonder how this is possible. A UN research explains this…..
*• UN does an annual research about the happiest children in the world. Finland stands first.*
• Educationists from other countries flock to Finland to understand their system more.
*• 1500 representatives from 56 countries go there every year.*
• The country’s major foreign exchange comes from education tourism.
*• A teachers job in Finland is highly valued .*
• The teachers there have a major stake in the laws and policies of the country.
*• Every third child there wants to become a teacher. But it’s not so easy.*
• Only students who excel are considered for this post.
*• They are given 5 years of Teacher Training, 6 months of Military training, One year of onsite teacher training, Training in the Laws and Policies, Fire service, Self Defense, First Aid.*
No wonder the Crime rate is so low in Finland.
Good upbringing breeds responsible Adults.
*Thoughts to ponder:*
• Don’t find fault in children. Don’t hesitate to appreciate when they do good.
• No one knows what a child can become. Keep encouraging them.
• Edison was considered dumb and thrown out of school.
• Louis Pasteur was an average student in school.
• Einstein was considered an idiot in school.
• Talk to children daily about their goodness.
• Don’t compare a child with another.
• Talk about successful people to them.
• Instead of telling them how not to be, just tell them about how to be.
• Don’t curb them to the house
• Give them good examples and independence.
• If you talk to them about a bed of flower they’ll understand the path of thorns.
• Tell them about hardwork. They will get to know about laziness.
• When you tell them about successful people they will understand the reasons for failure.
And for all these, we need good parenting and good governance.
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
HAPPY NEW MONTH
Happy New Month SMS & Wishes
Below is the best collection of Happy New Month Messages, Happy New Month Text Messages, Happy New Month SMS, wishes, and text messages for every relationship type.
I bet you will find a new month message that describes that feeling of unending warmth and affection you feel towards your wife, boyfriend, or husband.
There is a new month wish for your girlfriend, sister, mum, dad and brother. Even clients and customers too.
This messages works well as Happy new year messages too. Just change the month to year.
Continue browsing…
See the New Month SMS Below!
As the new month begins, Here are my wishes for you:May this month keep you healthy, May you achieve all of your daily targets; May you remain happy and whole; May this month be better than all of the previous months of this year! Happy New Month to you
Just keep saying AMEN…
Surprises + Elevation + Peace + Favor + Wealth + Success + Longlife +Joy + Promotion + Protection + All & more shall be yours IJN Happy New Month ..
Always remember to never forget and never forget to remember that your resolution to be successful is more important than anything. Drive your eyes heart with motivation and go into this new month to achieve great things. Have a Splendid New Month my buddy
happy new month to my sweetheart.
Happy new Month Dearie… I think about you more than you’d ever know
A new month is so refreshing, you can make new experiences,
go on new adventures and just be plain happy!
That’s just what I wish for you.
Happy New Month
Life is too short. Enjoy and have fun. Forgive your friends. Love by heart. Laugh out loud. Do everything that makes you smile. Wishing you a splendid new Month and remain cool.
As the sun shines and is Visible for all to see… So shall the Glory of God be in your Life always. Happy New Month.
Read: Top 10 New Month Messages for FRIENDS
A fresh and joyful month
Is in relation to come,
May God sanctify you?
With cheerfulness
And delight which
You miss in the
Previous month.
Happy New Month.
May your tomorrow be brighter, May this new month be more successful, I wish this month brings more inspiration and love in your life, Happy new month.
Open your Mind to Possibilities
You’ll be amazed by what you are capable of achieving
We are powerful beyond measure.
May the Almighty God balance d equation 4 U dis new Month.
Happy New Month
Saturday, 18 February 2017
21 TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Being successful often means learning from those who have already
achieved their goals. Having a mentor is an amazing blessing to an
entrepreneur, but not everyone can find one in person.
If you haven’t yet found your personal business guru, here are 21 tips for young or aspiring entrepreneur to help get you started.
Related: The 3 Key Elements to Make Your Business a Success
Related: 7 Reasons Rock Star Entrepreneurs Hit Home Run After Home Run
If you haven’t yet found your personal business guru, here are 21 tips for young or aspiring entrepreneur to help get you started.
1. Challenge yourself.
Richard Branson says his biggest motivation is to keep challenging himself. He treats life like one long university education, where he can learn more every day. You can too!2. Do work you care about.
There’s no doubt that running a business take a lot of time. Steve Jobs noted that the only way to be satisfied in your life is to do work that you truly believe in.3. Take the risk.
We never know the outcome of our efforts unless we actually do it. Jeff Bezos said it helped to know that he wouldn’t regret failure, but he would regret not trying.Related: The 3 Key Elements to Make Your Business a Success
4. Believe in yourself.
As Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” Believe that you can succeed, and you’ll find ways through different obstacles. If you don’t, you’ll just find excuses.5. Have a vision.
The founder and CEO of Tumblr, David Karp, notes that an entrepreneur is someone who has a vision for something and a desire to create it. Keep your vision clear at all times.6. Find good people.
Who you’re with is who you become. Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, noted that the fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.7. Face your fears.
Overcoming fear isn’t easy, but it must be done. Arianna Huffington once said that she found fearlessness was like a muscle -- the more she exercised it, the stronger it became.8. Take action.
The world is full of great ideas, but success only comes through action. Walt Disney once said that the easiest way to get started is to quit talking and start doing. That’s true for your success as well.9. Do the time.
No one succeeds immediately, and everyone was once a beginner. As Steve Jobs wisely noted, “if you look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” Don’t be afraid to invest time in your company.10. Manage energy, not time.
Your energy limits what you can do with your time, so manage it wisely.11. Build a great team.
No one succeeds in business alone, and those who try will lose to a great team every time. Build your own great team to bolster your success.12. Hire character.
As you build your team, hire for character and values. You can always train someone on skills, but you can’t make someone’s values fit your company after the fact.Related: 7 Reasons Rock Star Entrepreneurs Hit Home Run After Home Run
13. Plan for raising capital.
Richard Harroch, a venture capitalist, has this advice for upcoming entrepreneurs: “It’s almost always harder to raise capital than you thought it would be, and it always takes longer. So plan for that.”14. Know your goals.
Ryan Allis, co-founder of iContact, pointed out that having the end in mind every day ensures you’re working toward it. Set goals and remind yourself of them each day.15. Learn from mistakes.
Many entrepreneurs point to mistakes as being their best teacher. When you learn from your mistakes, you move closer to success -- even though you initially failed.16. Know your customer.
Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, cited knowing your customer as one of his three keys to success. Know those you serve better than anyone else, and you’ll be able to deliver the solutions they need.17. Learn from complaints.
Bill Gates once said that your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. Let unhappy customers teach you where the holes in your service are.18. Ask for customers’ input.
Assuming what customers want or need will never lead to success. You must ask them directly, and then carefully listen to what they say.19. Spend wisely.
When you spend money on your business, be careful to spend it wisely. It’s easy to spend too much on foolish things and run out of capital too soon.20. Understand your industry.
Tony Hsieh, the founder of Zappos, once said, “Don’t play games you don’t understand, even if you see lots of other people making money from them.” Truly understanding your industry is key to having success.21. Deliver more than expected.
Google's Larry Page encourages entrepreneurs to deliver more than customers expect. It’s a great way to get noticed in your industry and build a loyal following of advocates.Being a successful entrepreneur takes a lot of work, a lot of vision and a lot of perseverance. These 21 tips, from entrepreneurs who have already found success, will help you navigate the path much more easily.
Saturday, 11 February 2017
NUGGETS FOR NOBLES
Take a risk in your life,if you win you can lead ,if you loose you can guide.
People are not what they say but what they do,so judge them not from there words but from there actions.
When someone hurt you dont feel bad,because is the law of nature that the three that bears the sweetest fruits get maximum number of stones.
Take whatever you can from your life because life started taking them from you even your last breath.
In this world people will throw stone on the path of your success,it depends on what you make from them-A wall or A bridge.
challenges make life interesting,overcoming make life meaningful.
There is no joy in victory, without running the risk of defeat.
A path without obstacles leads no where .
Past ia good place to visit but certainly not a good place to stay.
You cant have better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.
People are not what they say but what they do,so judge them not from there words but from there actions.
When someone hurt you dont feel bad,because is the law of nature that the three that bears the sweetest fruits get maximum number of stones.
Take whatever you can from your life because life started taking them from you even your last breath.
In this world people will throw stone on the path of your success,it depends on what you make from them-A wall or A bridge.
challenges make life interesting,overcoming make life meaningful.
There is no joy in victory, without running the risk of defeat.
A path without obstacles leads no where .
Past ia good place to visit but certainly not a good place to stay.
You cant have better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.
Monday, 30 January 2017
Conversations With Visionary Colleagues About The Empowerment Model
Monsurat Oluwatoyin M.D.,
Monsurat: How has the Empowerment Workshop assisted you in your own life?
Adeola: It gave me a foundation of self-trust that I needed to co-create my business; Women to Women. I have no idea how I would have believed I could do this without the reinforcement of the empowerment model. I actually don't know how people go through their lives without knowing these principles of how the universe works. Otherwise you are a boat without a rudder.”
"It is very easy to tell people, ‘Be strong, you are beautiful, you are capable, don’t do this, do that, don’t worry about that, who cares what others think', etc. What is missing is the idea of instilling worth. How do we raise a child to feel he /she is worthy — worthy of good friends, worthy of healthy relationships, worthy of speaking his/her mind and of being heard, worthy of his/her dreams, worthy of trying something nobody else has done?"
"If someone doesn’t feel worthy, they might do something they don’t really want to do, because they don’t have the courage or strength to say so. They may be coming from a place of fear rather than a place of personal love, respect and power."
"The Top Success Training Institute teaches people that they are valuable and have a voice, by giving them information and tools to use. When child feel confident about their bodies, their intelligence, their worthiness and their sexuality, they have the opportunity to go into the world and fully express themselves — as men, as women, as humans. If we spend too much time having conversations with ourselves about not being good enough, pretty enough, sexy enough or accepted enough, we are limiting ourselves to what we think the world thinks of us, rather than putting forth what we think of ourselves, what we find important, what we want to contribute to the world."
"Everyone has something important to share, and if that beautiful energy is wasted, then the world never gets to see it, and a child misses out on what it feels like to be strong, free, worthy and capable."
"The Mission of Top Success Training Institute is to educate, empower and inspire people by raising awareness, developing communication skills and cultivating self respect."
Monsurat: How has the Empowerment Workshop assisted you in your own life?
Adeola: It gave me a foundation of self-trust that I needed to co-create my business; Women to Women. I have no idea how I would have believed I could do this without the reinforcement of the empowerment model. I actually don't know how people go through their lives without knowing these principles of how the universe works. Otherwise you are a boat without a rudder.”
"It is very easy to tell people, ‘Be strong, you are beautiful, you are capable, don’t do this, do that, don’t worry about that, who cares what others think', etc. What is missing is the idea of instilling worth. How do we raise a child to feel he /she is worthy — worthy of good friends, worthy of healthy relationships, worthy of speaking his/her mind and of being heard, worthy of his/her dreams, worthy of trying something nobody else has done?"
"If someone doesn’t feel worthy, they might do something they don’t really want to do, because they don’t have the courage or strength to say so. They may be coming from a place of fear rather than a place of personal love, respect and power."
"The Top Success Training Institute teaches people that they are valuable and have a voice, by giving them information and tools to use. When child feel confident about their bodies, their intelligence, their worthiness and their sexuality, they have the opportunity to go into the world and fully express themselves — as men, as women, as humans. If we spend too much time having conversations with ourselves about not being good enough, pretty enough, sexy enough or accepted enough, we are limiting ourselves to what we think the world thinks of us, rather than putting forth what we think of ourselves, what we find important, what we want to contribute to the world."
"Everyone has something important to share, and if that beautiful energy is wasted, then the world never gets to see it, and a child misses out on what it feels like to be strong, free, worthy and capable."
"The Mission of Top Success Training Institute is to educate, empower and inspire people by raising awareness, developing communication skills and cultivating self respect."
The Top Success Training Institute Certification Program
Top Success Training Institute was created by Ibraheem Monsurat
Oluwatoyin in the year 2015, the empowerment Workshop’s purpose is to
empower individuals to envision and create the life they most want. Tens
of hundreds of people from around the country have participated in
this workshop over the past two years, and it has been acclaimed as
one of the most powerful personal development training programs
available. TSTI's Certification Program is the Institute’s flagship training program and
the foundation of all the empowerment competencies taught in the
Institute. The best participants from each category would not only be certified, but would also be offered a chance to lead this training program and be provided a strategy and tools to enroll participants..
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
For over three years, the Empowerment Workshop has been offered to support people in creating their life as they most want it. It is based on the world-renowned empowerment work of Ibraheem Monsurat.
The workshop premise is that our beliefs create the conditions of our life. If we wish to change our life, we need to envision the new possibility and transform the limiting beliefs that are creating the current socio-economic situation. The workshop applies this transformationa
As a foundation for this transformation work, the workshop helps individuals create a healthy core belief system, use the tools of intention, affirmation and visualization to help manifest their dreams, and cultivate the personal power to sustain their growth over time. Workshop participants apply these tools to create dynamic visions in each area of their lives.
Over the past three years, the Empowerment Workshop has helped tens of hundreds of people nationwide to create lives filled with hope, possibility, passion, meaning, and contribution.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- Any students from any part of the country, individuals wishing a proven and turnkey personal development training program.
- Individuals
wishing to integrate the Empowerment Workshop into existing curriculum
including leadership development and professional training
programs.
- Indivi
duals wishing to integrate the core competency of empowerment into an organizational development practice, community-based behavior change initiative, or transformative social change strategy.
- Social
workers or social service agencies working with disenfranchised populations such as the homeless, unwed mothers, and domestic abuse victims.Individ uals, NGO’s, national and international government agencies, and aid organizations wishing to empower disenfranchised women in the developing world.
For over three years, the Empowerment Workshop has been offered to support people in creating their life as they most want it. It is based on the world-renowned empowerment work of Ibraheem Monsurat.
The workshop premise is that our beliefs create the conditions of our life. If we wish to change our life, we need to envision the new possibility and transform the limiting beliefs that are creating the current socio-economic situation. The workshop applies this transformationa
As a foundation for this transformation work, the workshop helps individuals create a healthy core belief system, use the tools of intention, affirmation and visualization to help manifest their dreams, and cultivate the personal power to sustain their growth over time. Workshop participants apply these tools to create dynamic visions in each area of their lives.
Over the past three years, the Empowerment Workshop has helped tens of hundreds of people nationwide to create lives filled with hope, possibility, passion, meaning, and contribution.
Feedback On Monsurat's Empowerment Work
“I have either
taken or evaluated most training programs aimed at individual or
organizational change. The empowerment work of Monsurat,
however, was profoundly different. I was deeply impressed by the
elegance of the methodology they have honed over two years including
their training design and delivery. I continue to rely on the
empowerment model as a foundation for my work.”
“The Training Institute profoundly affected my life. It gave me a foundation of self-trust that I needed to create my business. I have no idea how I would have believed I could do this without the reinforcement of the empowerment model.”
“Monsurat Oluwatoyin proved she is truly a visionary in moving individuals to higher levels of performance, specifically within our complex organizational system. she helped my team through an intense, personalized learning experience using her unique transformational learning approach. She built our consulting skills and worked with us to leverage our collective talent and create business results. Through Monsurat's work, this team now has daily practices focusing on their vision. Monsurat is one of the heaviest hitting and most highly respected woman. she goes beyond inspiration to transformation. She helps clients achieve the results they want.”
“...Monsurat Oluwatoyin speaks with a voice of total authenticity, great compassion, and a seasoned understanding of all the challenges, joys, and dangers that one is likely to encounter along the path of service. Her [work] can change your life and expand your vision for what you are here for “Monsurat is always fostering the quiet light of hope…She has lived the questions she explores… disclosing so many of the secret bridges between the inner hemisphere of the soul and the outer world of action.”
“The Training Institute profoundly affected my life. It gave me a foundation of self-trust that I needed to create my business. I have no idea how I would have believed I could do this without the reinforcement of the empowerment model.”
“Monsurat Oluwatoyin proved she is truly a visionary in moving individuals to higher levels of performance, specifically within our complex organizational system. she helped my team through an intense, personalized learning experience using her unique transformational learning approach. She built our consulting skills and worked with us to leverage our collective talent and create business results. Through Monsurat's work, this team now has daily practices focusing on their vision. Monsurat is one of the heaviest hitting and most highly respected woman. she goes beyond inspiration to transformation. She helps clients achieve the results they want.”
“...Monsurat Oluwatoyin speaks with a voice of total authenticity, great compassion, and a seasoned understanding of all the challenges, joys, and dangers that one is likely to encounter along the path of service. Her [work] can change your life and expand your vision for what you are here for “Monsurat is always fostering the quiet light of hope…She has lived the questions she explores… disclosing so many of the secret bridges between the inner hemisphere of the soul and the outer world of action.”
A Brief History of Top Success Training Institute
In 2015, Ibraheem Monsurat Oluwatoyin founded this empowerment institute to
explore the question: how do you empower people to grow and realize
their full potential? She wanted to shift the focus from fixing problems
and healing the past, to focusing on what we want for our lives, our
organizations, our communities, and our world – and how to achieve it. Enabling people to envision and realize their dreams was the
approach they called “empowerment.” The term “empowerment” was new in
the vernacular of transformation, as was her approach. This
transitional
social innovation soon began attracting attention. People came to learn
about empowerment for themselves, their communities, their
organizations and their causes. They came from different places all over
the state. They included social entrepreneurs, community organizers
and environmentalis
The results from these works is a robust and rigorously tested transformationa
- DEPARTMENT OF AGRIC EXTENSION OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY ILE IFE,OSUN STATE.
- BAPTIST CHURCH ILARE, ILE IFE,OSUN STATE.
- DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY ILE IFE, OSUN STATE.
The results from these works is a robust and rigorously tested transformationa
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