First published in 2019. Intro photo changed in 2023 to update the name of Amolili (Nigerian Date Syrup) to Amoriri (Nigerian Black Plum Syrup) It’s difficult to think of cassava as a recent import to Nigeria because much of its classic cuisine is based on the tuber in different forms. From snacks of boiled cassava...
Category: Fruits & Vegetables
Three (3) Citrus Fruits in my Kitchen this Season
It’s raining, its sunny, it’s freezing, it’s snowing, it’s citrus season, baby! Talk about my favourite season because it’s also agbalumo season, and though I’m far from home, away from the source of that joy, I can bask in the joy here – of juice oranges and ugli, sanguinello and kumquats, tangerines, tangelos, mandarins and...
A Plantain Primer: Get to Know ’em – Colour, Ripeness & More
Plantain is a starchy ‘fruit’ that’s used throughout its various stages of ripeness. Through its colour gradients, from green to black, the sweetness and texture change. It’s important to say that in Nigerian cooking, most traditional applications and preparation of plantain are savory from appetizer to mains and sides so even when sweet ripe plantains...
Book Review: Thinking & Eating
Thinking & Eating – Recipes to Nourish & Inspire by the The School of Life is right up my alley. Why? It explores food as part of life, as more than eating. and why I admire their work a lot. Side note – I love Alain de Botton’s writing and this piece on crushes has...
Apple Fever: 30 Things to do with Apples
I grew up saying A for Apple and now I’m older, all I do is say A for Agbalumo but still, apples rock. For many years of my life, I ate apples and drank apple juice and cider and did no more. I threw away apple skins and still ate my apples till my eyes...
Apple, Cucumber, Green Pepper Salad, with Cilantro
This salad is easy to rustle up, requires no special ingredients or equipment and is a delight to eat any time of day or year – fresh, sweet, crunch, herby, tart, sour, spicy all make an appearance in the combination of apples, pickled cucumbers, green peppers – bell or jalapenos and my all-time favourite cilantro....
Rhubarb & Strawberry Jam Galette de Pérouges
‘Tis the season for rhubarb. And bread dough still, right? And you know that strawberry and rhubarb are a thing, no? It’s also the season of galettes and tarts, pies and cobblers. Crisps, pandowdies, crumbles and every combination of fruit and crust – top, bottom, crumbled, cut, laid down in rounds. I remember a friend...
Roasted Rhubarb & Ginger Jam
A simple recipe using roasted rhubarb which intensifies the flavour and keeps the colour – everyone’s happy! Get the roasted rhubarb recipe here For the jam: Put the roasted rhubarb and 3 tablespoons of juice into a small pan with the rest of the sugar and the grated ginger. Let cook for about 10 minutes...
Roasted Rhubarb Limeade
An update to a 10-year old post – still valid, I hope you enjoy it too:) The prospect of S’mores fired her up intensely. From deep in her belly, she longed to stoke a fire, so its rising flames and crackling sounds could warm her and melt her ‘mallows till they softened and oozed their...