Today, I have three stories & recipes to share on and with Agbalumo – Success with an awesome chutney, A’yt and outright ‘Fail’. Here’s to delicious cake first. Long dreamt of and easily made was this cake. See that orange nugget – top right hand of the wedge of cake below? That’s a piece of dried Agbalumo. All the ingredients required are in season – Agbalumo, Carrots, Oranges. Agbalumo here is used in two forms – pureed and dried (chunks). Everything about this cake was great – the ease of making and baking, the texture and taste – carrots grated...
How to Tenderize Chicken
Sure you could use pawpaw skin or pineapple juice to tenderise your humble chicken breast but if you aren’t looking for a flavour bias, this method will help. And it’s easy peasy too. The principle is to ‘denature’ the proteins – in the normally tough, dry chicken breast or other body parts of Le chicken. The key? Boneless, bone-free meat. Denaturation of proteins involves the disruption and possible destruction of both the secondary and tertiary structures. We already know one way to get cooked, tender and flavourful chicken breast – by poaching, here’s another – it’s my bash and chop...
Baked: Pawpaw & Lime Scones
I love Pawpaw. Love. I may not have it often but I’ll often go on a spree, not shopping mind you but cooking with it. Whether Salsa, or Chutney or Sauteed, I’ve come to love it. See the crunchy golden bottoms; the soft, craggy tops, the aroma of vanilla, lime and warmth…Thank you, Jesus. This is one of my favourite ways to have it in a sweet preparation – baked with its partner in sublime, lime. To achieve perfection, I turned to Mrs Larkin – Scone lady extraordinaire, whose acquaintance I was fortunate to have made years ago on my beloved...
Guest Post: My First Biz Memories
Here’s Part 2 of Tipu’s nostalgic journey back to the days of Ebelebo. —–00000—– I come from a very sheltered home. My parents never let me take lunch money to school. Instead they gave me lovingly packed snacks of meat pies, cakes and my favorite mango juice for school. Somehow I got wind of this “TEMITOPE BISCUIT” – it was not like the sweet European biscuits we ate at home. This was different and locally made in Lagos or so I thought, because of the name. It didn’t taste like it was made from wheat flour so I assumed it was...
Guest Post: Ebelebo Memories
This post is written by Tipu, my childhood friend. We’re still good friends, from when we were both ‘this high’ and mischievous to boot. She’s the friend who taught me to make fondant. And with whom I foraged fruit. Ebelebo. Here’s Part 1 of 2 posts from her. Thank you dear. —–00000—– Huge trees to my childhood eyes. Ebelebo Trees. (Fruit to you, Lagosian? And Sea Almond to others) Little hands going through Ixora hedges for a space I can squeeze through. The sweet smell beckoning to me. I find some space and wriggle my slim body through the hedge; into...
IWD 2015: Work, Motherhood & I
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a always time of reflection for me. I think of the many ways I am a woman and all the ways I find myself challenged, whether by society or by myself. This year, I choose to celebrate me as a mother. With 3 children – one almost off to secondary school (I’m crying), I’ve decided that I want my greatest purpose on this earth to be mothering. To be the nurturing and raising of these children. Children who know right from wrong, who call me out when I veer off course, who recognise what they...
Nigerian Suya Burger…
…and tips on how to make the best burger. I mean how can you go wrong with minced beef, suya spice, vegetables and Fried Yam on the side. So now you know how to make shape a patty and store it, here’s how to cook it. And serve it of course. To serve, we had Buns – some toasted, some not Pickled onions, Tomatoes, Lettuce Scent leaf dip Fried yam. Yes, that’s fried yam on the plate Yaji – suya spice, to sprinkle on top The children loved it so much, they insisted on taking burgers to school the next...
How to Make a Hamburger
Here are a few tips for making and storing homemade hamburger patties. Get the finest minced meat you can find. Decide on the flavours you want to bring to the plate – in this case, suya… Making Hamburger Patties I love it when I think up a recipe and don’t have to wait for ever to act on it. I can’t even remember how I came up with the idea but it pushed Lasagna off the dinner menu on Thursday night. So much so that my daughter – #1, who’d begged for the Italian bake said ‘Mama, I’m both angry and...
Cooking with Kids: Pancake Faces
Staples. Perfect for Saturday mornings. So perfect the children can make their own. All it requires is pancake mix and a touch of creativity. It works on the principle of cooking sequence developing contrast and creating the smiley. What do I mean? Each part you cook before adding more batter defines that element. You begin with a greased pan. I use vegetable oil. Then using a small amount of batter, you spoon or squirt from a bottle, eyes and a mouth and a nose, if you wish. You let it cook, till bubbles start coming through – and the eyes are...