Taking packed lunch to work every day can save you!!!

The New Year will have many of us making resolutions to save money here and there.
And new research reveals office workers can save more than £1,300 over the year just by taking in lunch from home each day.
This has really help my family,when i was growing up, i knew my dad eat out while his at work and i will hear him complaining how expensive it was every month, and also when i started working also i will eat out during lunch, but guess what guys? i end up spending more money, though, sometimes i took my food from home, but the urge of eating out did not help.
But now that i have my own family i realized i need to save money for my family, i made a budget on how much food we consume and i realize we spend more eating out, so i decided to always make a park of lunch for my husband to work and also mine to school which is cool,
You can still eat whatever you like (although i advice you eat  healthy) if you know the recipe of what you eat out, if you are in a country where you have coffee breaks, you can get a flask and make your warm beverage, all this will reduce your cost of eating monthly, you will realize you are saving money for yourself,
Its easy, if you are not the time that wake up early, prepare the food and put it in the fridge, in the morning you are good to go, but i prepare my food every morning, because am use to it!

Try this today, or it might even be your new year resolution,
HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE !!!!!

Nigerian Coconut Rice with a Twist!!!

This Nigerian rice is called the Jollof Rice with a twist! It feels good to see the looks on your guests' or friends' faces when they think you are serving them the good old Jollof Rice but bam, the moment the first spoon enters the mouth, you are sure to get the looks of pleasure! It makes you feel good, doesn't it? although some people prepare it and make it a bit of white but this is kinda different!
Yes, it looks the same as the Jollof Rice you know but the aroma and taste is different. Why don't you surprise your guests tonight or this New year by preparing this easy dinner recipe?

Ingredients
Rice - 3 cigar cups | 750g
Tomato Stew 500 mls
Coconut Milk 600 mls
Chicken (whole chicken or drumsticks)
Pepper - to taste
Salt (to taste)
Onions - 2 medium sized bulbs
Seasoning – 3 Maggi/Knorr cubes & Thyme (1 teaspoon)

Before you cook Coconut Rice
Prepare the tomato stew if you don't have some in the freezer. It is advisable to prepare tomato stew before hand and keep in the freezer. This is so that whenever you want to cook any jollof rice related dish, it is just a matter of adding it to your cooking.
If you will use whole chicken, wash and cut the whole chicken into pieces. Place the pieces in a pot; add water till it just covers the pieces of chicken, add the chopped onions, stock cubes and thyme and start cooking. The cooking time depends on the type of chicken. The rooster or cockerel cooks much faster than the hen but the hen is tastier.

Cooking till done and add salt to taste. Put the pieces of chicken in a sieve to drain, then fry with vegetable oil. You can also grill it in an oven. This is to give it a golden look which is more presentable especially if you have guests for dinner.
Now is the time to extract the coconut milk.
Parboil the rice using the method of parboiling rice. Wash the parboiled rice and put in a sieve to drain.

Cooking Directions

Now we need a pot big enough to accommodate the rice till it is done. Bear in mind that the rice will normally rise by at least one quarter of its quantity from the parboiled state to the done state.
Pour the chicken stock, coconut milk and the tomato stew into the selected pot. Set on the stove to boil. Add the drained parboiled rice, salt and pepper to taste. If necessary, top up with water to bring the water level to the same level as the rice. This is to ensure that all the water dries up by the time the rice is cooked.
Cover the pot and leave to cook on medium heat. This way the rice does not burn before the water dries up.
If you parboiled the rice as described, the rice should be done by the time the water is dry. Confirm that the rice is done by tasting it. That’s the way coconut rice is cooked.

Serve with fried plantain, Moi Moi, Nigerian salad or coleslaw.

Importance of Onion

Tears and bad breath-these are the two things usually associated with onion . But there is much more to these popular vegetables, which is known not only for it's unique flavours but also for their therapeutic benefits. Onion and garlic are guaranteed to transform any meal into a profoundly aromatic culinary experience.

Onion is a vegetable cultivated in almost all the countries of the world and consumed across the globe in a country like Nigeria, you hardly cook any type of soup without using onions. Except for a few communities, onion is used for cooking purposes by almost all the people. Not only does the vegetable lend an excellent taste to dishes, but is also associated with imparting a number of health benefits to its users. In fact, onions are said to have therapeutic, antibacterial, antifungal and loads of other beneficial properties.

Onions contain more than one hundred sulfur-containing compounds. These sulfur compounds are what cause the eyes to tear up when cutting onions. One particular sulfur compound has been found to prevent the biochemical chain of events that lead to asthma and respiratory ailments.

Higher intakes of fruits and vegetables have been associated with a variety of health benefits. Research shows that onions may help guard against many chronic diseases. That's probably because onions contain generous amounts of a flavonoid called quercetin. Other sources are tea and apples, but research shows that absorption of quercetin from onions is twice that from tea and more than three times that from apples. Studies have shown that quercetin protects against cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.


The higher the intake of onion, the lower the level of glucose found during oral or intravenous glucose tolerance tests. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that allyl propyl disulfide is responsible for this effect and lowers blood sugar levels by increasing the amount of free insulin available. Allyl propyl disulfide does this by competing with insulin, which is also a disulphide, to occupy the sites in the liver where insulin is inactivated. This results is an increase in the amount of insulin available to usher glucose into cells causing a lowering of blood sugar.


Culled from Here

How often do we clean our sponge ?

As for me, those days i don't really care about how my sponge is, although its usually clean but its not something i take note of, a sponge is excellent for wiping up messes and absorbing liquid quickly, it can also absorb harmful food-borne along the way.Though you can’t eliminate 100 percent of germs lurking in a sponge, there are several ways to dramatically reduce the risk of cross-contamination—which can lead to food poisoning
Clean Sponges Daily. To lower the risk of cross-contamination, you should sanitize your sponge. While testing common household methods used to disinfect sponges,
Replace Frequently. Even after two or three uses, your sponge may be teeming with bacteria. And while cleaning your sponge daily help reduce the risk of food poisoning, you should consider replacing your kitchen sponge regularly. If your sponge starts to smell at any point—toss it out immediately.
Store in a Dry Location. It’s important to not only wring out your sponge completely after each use and wash off any loose food or debris,i don't usually take note of this, because i remembered my mum use to have a sponge case which is usually wet, but you should also store it in a dry location. Letting your sponge lay wet on a counter-top takes longer for it to dry and allows harmful bacteria to multiply quickly as well as increases the opportunity for bacteria growth. Also, avoid leaving any damp sponges in an enclosed area such as a bucket or under the sink.
Wipe Up Meat Juices. Cleaning up spills from ground beef with a sponge can increase your chances of spreading harmful food-borne pathogens. Instead, use a paper towel or disinfectant wipes to clean up spills and other bacteria-loaded messes.

Use on Countertops. Many sponges contain millions of bacteria—and it only takes a few to get you sick. Avoid spreading those germs and bacteria to countertops by using a paper towel or disinfectant wipe to reduce the chances of cross-contamination with your sponge.

Eating healthy within a budget

A question I’ve gotten a lot lately is how to eat a real food diet on a tight budget. I can be certain, since this was one of my biggest struggles when i started eating this way.Along the way, I’ve discovered a few resources and tricks for stretching a budget while eating healthy foods, so I’ve compiled them in hopes that they can help you too!

Tips 1 Meal Planning

    Write down 14-28 recipes that your family likes that are healthy. If your budget is tight, pick   recipes that are also inexpensive to make.
    On the front of a 3×5 index card, write the meal and the recipe.
    On the back of the index card, write how much of each ingredient is needed for this recipe for your family size. (I usually plan for leftovers)
    To meal plan: once a week or once a month, pick out the number of meals you need and put them in order for the week. Turn them over, add up the total of the ingredients, and you have a shopping list (just cross off any ingredients you have already)!
    Stick the cards on the fridge or bulletin board and put them away in your recipe box as you use them.
     (This system can help you stick to a list, and helps ensure that you always have foods prepared or ready to prepare, which limits impulsive purchasing and eating! )

Tips 2 Find Inexpensive vegetable

Veggies can vary tremendously in price, depending on the time of year and the source. Focusing on veggies that are in season will help cut costs some.
In the winter, we use a lot of frozen vegetables since they are cheaper, and in my opinion, fresher than the “fresh” produce that has been shipped halfway around the world.

Vegetables like cabbage and potatoes are inexpensive year round and can be great fillers and substitutes in recipes. I stock up on things like these when they are in season, usually buying several cases of  potatoes from farmers markets.

Cabbage costs just peanut from farmers when in season,

Tips 3 Grown your own food

Its also inexpensive to grow your own food, i remembered my dad doing this, we have some fruits and vegetable in our own company, also it helps us to breath a fresh air, though where i live presently i don't have space to grow, but i will advice you to grow some vegetables if you have space, like berries, fruit tree etc .

Tips 4 Get some Chicken

The area you live differ , if you are living in Africa or USA, its possible to do this, growing your own birds saves money and also you get to eat healthy chicken and eggs, like i said earlier, we had a farm and we have birds like chicken , turkey etc, it save cost and its healthy.

Tips 5 Don't buy drinks

If you are trying to eat healthy, hopefully you’ve already cut out things like soda, canned drinks, and processed juices from your food budget. If not, do it now! This alone is a big step in improving overall health.

If you have consumed much of these beverages in the past, go back and look at the percentage of your food bill that they take up. In general, buying beverages in any prepared form is an expensive and unhealthy option.

Even fruit juices cause a big insulin spike in the body, and are expensive without offering much nutrition.
N.B Cutting those items from the food budget will often free up a lot of cash for healthier options. If you aren’t a fan of only drinking water, ever… there are still some healthier and cheaper options for nutritious drinks.you can make an home made juice .

Don't Eat out much
We don’t eat out… :-) I admit, I love eating out. Not because the food is good (it usually isn’t) but because I don’t have to cook or clean for one whole meal. This is a big deal when you cook three hot meals a day and then have to do the dishes (and mop the floor as they case may be with a two year old!). That being said, eating out even once a month can use up a lot of the food budget at once. Saving the money from eating out lets me provide healthier options for me family at home, and none of us miss eating out much.  (apart from  a *Date*)

How to improve in your cooking

Everyone wants to become better in any skill they have. Cooking is no exception. Even if you think you are hopeless in the kitchen; like everything else, practice and increasing your knowledge makes perfect. Just relax and pretend that you are playing with the ingredients and you will realize that cooking is not such a task.

Increasing your knowledge
Constantly increasing your knowledge of cooking is important because you already know the basics of cooking and you are interested in improving your skills. Search for recipes on the web and in cookery books, read them through even if it is a recipe for a meal you think you have perfected. With Nigerian food recipes, and any other world recipe, there are often many ways to cook a meal and achieve the same results. So there's always something new to learn. When you eat a familiar meal and you notice an improvement in the taste, it is good to ask the cook what he/she did to achieve that

Timing
This is one of the top tips of how to become a better cook because you may know all the ingredients you need, spend a lot of money on premium ingredients but get the timing wrong and all the money and time spent goes to nothing. Knowing the right time to add certain ingredients goes a long way to making your food taste better.

Organisation
Some things need to be done before you even light up the stove for example; you can take your time and cut up every vegetable that needs to be chopped, place them in separate bowls and set aside. This is so that once it is time to add these, it will be a matter of putting them into the pot rather than hurriedly washing and cutting them up just before you add them

Attention to detail
Watch out for how your cooking can benefit from low, medium or high heat. Sometimes, you need high heat to get that white rice to dry quicker as medium heat will cause it to become soggy.

Have the basic tools you need
Something as basic as a chopping board is essential in the kitchen. It will help you cut the carrots or green bell pepper better as opposed to doing these without. It may be worth investing in that expensive blender because it gives you the best tomato puree

Plan Ahead
It is a good idea to plan what you want to cook well ahead of time. This is so that you can be sure to buy all the necessary ingredients for preparing the recipe.

Choose your time carefully
It is best to cook when you are sure you will have minimal distraction. Do not plan to cook when your favorite TV programme is on air or on a day you brought some work home. The less you are distracted from your cooking, the better attention you will pay to the preparation of the meal. This way, there will be no burnt/overcooked meals later!

Give yourself plenty of time
Always give yourself plenty of time to cook your chosen recipe. With practice, you can estimate the time it will take to cook, for instance Ofada rice before it is meal time. This way, you will not need to rush through your cooking. Also, if you invited friends over for a meal, you do not want to be dashing to and from the kitchen when you should be talking with your visitors

Be adventurous in the kitchen
Feel free to throw a few vegetables in the frying pan to make your very own gravy. You can start by using your favorite vegetables, then eliminate and substitute later if you feel that some of them do not fit in the mix due to their taste or texture. Soon, you will be wowing your friends and family with a recipe that started as a concoction! Remember, it is your kitchen so play with the ingredients as much as you want.

Often does it
Practice, they say, makes perfect. The more often you cook, the more you learn new and better ways of the art of cooking. The frequency of cooking also boosts your confidence in the kitchen. Let's say you cook Isi Ewu every weekend, you will be perfecting on the different stages of the cooking, if you cook it only once every 2 months.
We hope that at least one of the above tips will help you in your quest to become a better cook. Happy Cooking!

How to eat during workout

Food consumed before exercise is only useful once it has been digested and absorbed.  This means you need to time your food intake so that the fuel becomes available during the exercise period.  The time required for digestion depends on the type and quantity of food consumed.  Generally, foods higher in fat, protein and fibre tend to take longer to digest than other foods, and may increase the risk of stomach discomfort during exercise.  Large quantities of foods take longer to digest than smaller quantities. Generally, food is better tolerated during lower intensity activities, or sports where the body is supported (e.g. cycling) than sports such as running where the gut is jostled about during exercise.  A general guide is to have a meal about 3-4 hours before exercise or a lighter snack about 1-2 hours before exercise. You need to experiment to find the timing, amount and make up that best suits your individual needs.

What if I exercise early in the morning?

It is not always practical to eat a meal 3-4 hours before exercise.  If you train early in the morning you should opt for a light snack about an hour before exercise.  For example, some fruit or on the way to training along with some fluid such as a glass of milk or juice.  Make up for your smaller carbohydrate intake prior to exercise by consuming carbohydrate during the event or training session.

Should I avoid eating before exercise if I am trying to lose weight?

Exercising in a fasted state (8 hours since the last meal) results in a greater proportion of fat being used as the exercise fuel compared to doing the same workload after a carbohydrate-containing meal or snack.  However, it is possible that you may be able to exercise harder and for a longer period if you consume carbohydrate before exercise.  Overall, this will result in greater energy use and a better contribution to the negative energy balance that is needed to cause fat loss.  To make a decision about eating before your workout, it is useful to consider the goals of the session. If your primary goal is to improve performance, have something to eat before exercise.  If your primary goal is weight loss, and you will do the same amount of exercise regardless of whether you eat or not, save your meal until after the session.

Health benefit of sex in your body

Yes sex, i have heard lots of people say sex is good for blablabla , but i use to ignore it until i start to research about the health benefit of it, even though this blog is a food blog, but i just feel like sharing this topic, since it has to do with health, i discovered that sex is not just two people making love, but it carries health benefits without people noticing it, Want to get healthy and have fun at the same time? Anything that exercises your heart is good for you, including sex. Sexual arousal sends the heart rate higher, and the number of beats per minute reaches its peak during orgasm.
But as with most exercise, it depends how you do it. Some studies show that the average peak heart rate at orgasm is the same as during light exercise, such as walking upstairs. That's not enough to keep most people fit and healthy. according to my findings, adults should do at least 150 minutes (two and a half hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week.
Unless you’re lucky enough to have 150 minutes of orgasms a week :-),  try cycling, brisk walking or dancing.
People who have sex feel healthier
It could be that people who feel healthier have more sex, but there seems to be a link between sexual activity and your sense of well-being. A study of 3,000 Americans aged 57-85 showed that those who were having sex rated their general health higher than those who weren't. And it’s not just sex, it's love too. People who were in a close relationship or married were more likely to say they felt in ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ health than just ‘good’ or ‘poor’. It seems that emotional and social support can boost our sense of well being Having heart disease doesn't have to hold you back in the bedroom. Experts advise that you can usually have sex as long as you can do the everyday activities that have the same impact on your heart without causing chest pain, such as walking up two flights of stairs.
Of course, a healthy sex life can lead to a feeling self-confidence and happiness for both men and women. Feeling good emotionally can lead to greater health benefits. A poor sex life or no sex life can trigger depression or contribute to a person’s negative sense of self. A fulfilling sex life can play a key role in the good health of a steady relationship and the mutual good feeling can help sustain the other health benefits of sex.
Another weird health benefit of an overtly sexual act can improve your smile. That is, teeth have been shown to benefit from semen. Minerals, zinc, and calcium within semen can reduce tooth decay. A healthy set of teeth is just one more benefit that intimacy can safeguard.
Regular intimacy cuddling, hugging, touching along with intercourse can promote mutual healing and provide many health benefits. The fact that intimacy feels good is good for your health. Science has demonstrated that the sense of touch is important to maintain good health. Of course, it is important to take precautions—dangerous sexually-related infections and disease can cancel out the great health benefits of sex. But, as humans are sexual creatures, it should be no surprise that sex (after all risk factors are protected against) is really good for you.




(Source: Rerkpattanapipat P, Stanek MS, MN Kotler. Sex and the heart: what is the role of the cardiologist? European Heart Journal )

Foods for stunning skin

I found out that  people have lots of skin problem and the first thing that comes to their mind is what cream to use? i realized that eating well and healthy makes skin glow even without using expensive cream or prescribed, i saw this and i thought i should share!
Broccoli-This cruciferous veggie is high in antioxidants, including vitamins C and E. The vitamin C in broccoli aids in collagen production and keeps your skin healthy and supple, while vitamin E protects your skin cell membranes and guards against UV radiation damage.





Almonds-These nuts are one of the best food sources of vitamin E. Eat whole almonds as a snack or add sliced almonds to salads, cereal, yogurt, stir–fry or baked goods. You can also toast almond slivers and serve them on top of fish, chicken, or even rice or pasta dishes. The vitamin E in almonds can help nourish your skin and protect it from the sun's damaging UV rays. Just be sure to eat them in moderation, since almonds and other nuts are calorie–dense.


Whole Wheat Pastas and Breads-Another skin–friendly antioxidant is the mineral selenium, which is found in whole wheat pastas and breads. Selenium helps protect your skin against environmental damage and promotes elasticity and general skin health. High–dose selenium supplements have been linked to health problems, so it's always best to get your selenium from delicious food sources.



Carrots-Crunch on carrots to keep your skin healthy and vibrant. Carrots are high in beta carotene, an antioxidant that is converted to vitamin A inside the body. It helps repair skin tissue and protects against the sun's harsh rays. Enjoy carrots raw in salads or with a low–calorie dip, or try roasting them to develop a rich, sweet flavor. (Bonus! Cooked carrots deliver even more skin–friendly beta carotene than raw ones.)



Pumpkin Seeds-Pumpkin seeds are a skin superfood because they're so high in zinc. Zinc protects your cell membranes, helps maintain collagen, and promotes skin renewal. Enjoy pumpkin seeds on their own as a snack, add them into a homemade trail mix, or sprinkle them on yogurt or oatmeal





Fish-Salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, and rainbow trout all contain omega–3 fats, which help fortify skin cell membranes, protect against sun damage, and may also reduce the risk of certain forms of skin cancer. These healthy fats allow water and nutrients into the skin while keeping toxins out, and may also fight inflammation in the skin. Just don't cancel out the benefits of eating fish by preparing it in unhealthy ways. Avoid deep–fried fish, and go for baked, grilled, roasted or poached instead!

Water-It's not a "food," per se, but water is crucial when it comes to skin health because it flushes toxins out of your body, delivers nutrients to your cells, and keeps your organs functioning. It also helps keep your cells plump and full, which makes your skin look firmer and clearer. To get more water in your daily diet, fill up a large reusable container with ice–cold water each morning, and keep drinking from it throughout the day. And drinking water isn't the only way to keep your skin cells hydrated. Many fruits and veggies are more than 75 percent water (by weight), so they're a terrific source of H2O, too.


culled from Here

Health benefits of bitter leaf

bitter leaf is common among every home in Nigeria, either Igbo,Hausa or Yoruba The igbo calls it onugbo, the Yoruba calls it ewuro and the hausa calls it shiwaka. Bitterleaf mostly is eaten as a vegetable. in igbo land while the Yoruba use it more as a medicine. The fact is that bitter herbs are good for the body. Bitter herbs helps to tone the vital organs of the body, especially the largest organ of the body. Bitter leaves should always be taken fresh. Nigerians eat a lot of bitterleaf, but they often squeeze out the bitterness from the leaves before eating it. What is left then, is mere chaff, with little or no medicinal value. The following are some of the uses of bitter leaf.(below is not a prescription but its been used traditionally)

STOMACH ACHE- Chew the tender stem of the plant like chewing stick and swallow the bitterness. This is a well known remedy for stomachaches. In some cases, the ache stops within a few minutes. An alternative is to pound the fresh leaves in a mortar and press out the juice. Add a pinch of salt to three tablespoons of the undiluted juice and drink. This brings immediate relief.
SKIN INFECTION- For skin infections such as ringworm, itching, rashes and eczema, the pure, undiluted extract of bitter leaf is excellent. Simply apply it to the affected part daily.
DIABETES,LOSS OF MEMORY,PROSTATE CANCER,GENERAL WEAKNESS,STROKE,PNEUMONIA,INSOMIA,ARTHRITIS and the list goes on,,,,,,,
you can also check how to cook it Here

Importance of yogurt on our skin

Why Yogurt is Good For Your Skin
I remembered my best friend always use yogurt on her face every night but i don't really care then, later i start to find out why and what it really does to the skin, and i discovered that its full of protein, enzymes, and zinc, yogurt does a great job at cleaning up and softening your skin. It lightens dark spots and blemishes and helps protect your face with its antioxidant properties.
It’s just a tad bit acidic, which makes it great as an exfoliator, and it restores balance to your skin’s natural
 it gives an awesome consistency to food-based masks and scrubs. It’s soft, yet it’s not afraid of working hard to bring back the skin’s youthful glow. Best of all, it’s not harsh and pretty much anyone can benefit from a slathering of yogurt, regardless of whether your skin is dry, oily.
Quick and Easy Yogurt Tips
Dab a little bit of plain yogurt on a blemish. Leave it on as long as you want (but no less than 10 minutes). This should help clear up that unsightly spot, and it will help reduce the redness associated with it.
Smear yogurt on a sunburn. Apply the yogurt to the ouchie areas half an hour before showering. It’ll cool you down, and it will help lessen your glowing redness.
Make a quick yogurt facial mask using … only yogurt! Just take that yogurt and put it on your face (lemme hear you say “Crunchy!”). Make sure your face is clean beforehand, and leave this simple pimple (or no-pimple, as the case may be) remedy on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

Benefit of using Shea butter

I got to know shea butter while i was young, i will watch my dad while eating it, (weird hun?) he mix it with his pap, (ogi), and i use to ask why? it smells 'bad' and coupled with the fact that its tasteless, he will just tell 'its healthy my daughter' . now that i had my child, i remembered him telling me that i should use it on my son's skin till his a year old which i did.

Shea butter is a natural conditioner for hair. It is produced from the Shea-Karite tree nut, which is a native tree found in the tropics of East and West Africa. It provides extraordinary moisturizing properties and is therefore known as “mother natures conditioner”.
It’s been utilized for decades in areas of Africa not only for the hair but also because of its skincare and therapeutic qualities. It has been utilized in restorative healing burns and injuries, to get rid of surgical marks, dermatitis, and stretch marks.
Sooth Irritated Scalp
Shea butter has been used for centuries to sooth dry itchy scalp or dandruff on African Hair. It’s also a great source to provide moisture for dry or damaged hair. It is usually utilized like a foundation for health-related creams, and it has been believed to possess anti-inflammatory qualities. It absorbs easily into the scalp and it does not clog the pores. It provides moisture from the roots on down to the ends. It is therefore extremely beneficial to hair that is relaxed, colored, or heat-treated.
Sealant for the Hair
Black hair has the tendency to be dryer than any type of hair due to the texture. The natural sebum from the scalp has a hard time sliding down the shaft to the ends because of the bends or coils of black hair. Shea butter is frequently found in curly hair treatments because of its emolliating qualities. This makes it excellent for locking in moisture without leaving your hair greasy and heavy. Since it aids in fastening moisture into hair it’s fantastic for keeping your hair protected against the weather.
You can use it alone or you can add it to your favorite conditioner to give you extra moisture. It’s also a great additive for shampoos and hair creams.
Protection Against Heat
Shea butter does not sit on the hair, instead it absorbs into the hair strand/shaft without leaving a greasy or heavy feel. However it does coat the hair shaft so that it is protected against damage from the heat tool being passed along the hair.
Shield Against UVS
Shea butter is believed to have a low amount but sufficient SPF to protect your hair against the damage from ultra violet rays of the sun. This is definitely beneficial for processed or color treated hair.
Softener for Hair
Shea butter is great for softening hard brittle hair. It’s an excellent moisturizer, and therefore offers that advantage for dried as well as fragile curly hair.
Is all Shea Butter the Same?
There are two types of Shea Butter refined and unrefined. Unrefined Shea butter means it has more of its natural goodness. One of the reasons shea butter is refined is to eliminate it’s natural aroma which may not be liked by some. However the odor does absorb fairly quickly. If you want to use an unrefined Shea butter with less of an aroma, its been recommended to use Shea Butter from Uganda or East Africa. It cost slightly more, but it is also known for being able to make your hair a little softer and it’s slightly better at moisturizing

Culled from Shea Butter.

How to make 'Agege bread'

A dictionary defines bread as, “A staple food made from flour or meal mixed with other dry and liquid ingredients, usually combined with a leavening agent, and kneaded, shaped into loaves, and baked”. By way of identification, Agege bread is a ‘regular white bread’, baked from flour, margarine (often baking fat), sugar, yeast, and little water. It is known for its softness; it is ‘yeasty’; has hard outer brownish layer and white soft inner part that ‘draws’.




Ingredient
- 4 cups bread flour
- 2 table spoon dried yeast
- 2 table spoon salt
- 4 table spoon sugar
- warm water
How to prepare 
Mix all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Start to add the warm water a little at a time, mixing with your hand as you go along. You want to form a soft and stretchy dough that isn't too sticky. you can use roughly a third to half a glass of water.
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for a few minutes until smooth then place back in the bowl and cover with a damp napkin. Leave to rise for about an hour.
Knead the dough lightly and place in a loaf tin (lined with greaseproof paper, if possible).
Bake in a pre-heated oven, 225c, for 40-45 minutes.
When done, leave to cool . Or tear at it immediately if you really can't wait (to which I must add: I take no responsibility for burnt fingers).

Some say Agege bread goes very well with stews, beans pottage, talk less of margarine, and a good dip into a mug of beverage like tea or cocoa. *yummy* but i love it with my 'Agoyin beans'

Source -http://www.vegannigerian.com/2013/08/agege-bread.html

Kitchen tools for every woman

Cooking pots- in a country like Nigeria you hardly cook anything without your big cooking pots :-)

Rubber cutting board- rubber cutting boards is easier for me to use, though i also have the hard board with wood but the rubber is more comfortable while cutting your vegetables

Pair of knives- good sharp knives is very important while cooking, it make it easier and faster 
Well this i don't have a name for it :-) (maybe chopping broom)- but as it is, its a very essential tools for the yorubas in Nigeria, it is use for grating 'Molokhia leaf'

Mixing bowls-why don't you need it? from baking to cooking this bowls are essential for every cooking

Kitchen spoons - there are various types of spoons, from frying to mixing, , this set of spoon are good to go in the kitchen, i don't know the name one by one, but i i just buy them since i really have use for it, when i fry, or when i serve.although most of the time i prefer wood spoon to the stainless steel, in my opinion i think it makes you food to get burnt before time, so i usually use the wooden spoon

Can openers -as simple as it looks, its powerful i must say, i remembered sometimes when i have to cook and i don't have it, i go crazy, especially now that am far from home, most of the things i buy are in can, it very important to have it

Grater - there are different types, but this two am use to, it is easier and faster for me,


Hand Towel- avoid white towels in the cooking area, though it doesn't matter but i prefer it in colors



And the list goes on and on. but it is good to start your tools with the most essential ones, cooking is fun, so it more fun when you have the right tools with you!

Ghanian Shitto! (Ata dudu)

Ghanaian shitto is a sauce mostly eaten by the Ghanaian you can use it to eat rice, yam even barbecue, few Nigerians also eat this, but my husband is obsessed about it, we always buy the ready made sauce at the shop all the time until i took a challenge of knowing what it is made up and i realize its not that hard after all, i sent my mum the recipe since its my first time, so she bought it and send it to me which still make it look like a *ready made* but at least now i know what it is made of and trust me guys you never wanna miss it!
You can make it spicy and hot or mild taste but i prefer it hot, that is the whole idea :-)

Ingredient
1 cup ground red chili pepper (cayenne)
3 cups vegetable oil*
2 cups ground dried shrimp**
2 cups ground smoked herring***
1 1/2 cups onion puree
2 medium-size tomatoes, pureed
1 cup tomato paste
salt to taste
1-2 cubes of Jumbo or Maggi seasoning, preferably shrimp flavor (this is optional!)

How to prepare
Be sure to use a pan with a heavy bottom, so the sauce won't burn.
Add oil to the pan and heat it. Add onion and tomato ingredients and fry the mixture for about 10 minutes, being careful not to burn it. Add the dry ingredients into the pan, stir well, and continue cooking it for an additional 30 minutes. Add salt to taste.
The finished sauce should be a rich dark reddish-brown color and have a thick texture, not at all runny. Some of the oil may separate out and that is fine. When cooled, put the sauce into a clean glass jar and cover. Make sure about half an inch of oil stays on the top, covering the paste. This sauce keeps indefinitely and does not need refrigeration.
Note
You can use any size dried shrimp, tiny to big, and if you buy them already ground it saves time. If you start with whole dried shrimp, grind them finely in a mortar or use a blender/food processor to do it for you.

How often do you use lemon?

I remember when i was growing up, my dad use to drink his water with lemon every morning and i don't understand why, but later i also thought maybe because we grow it in our garden and he feels he need to use it  :-), but later i realize there are many health benefits of lemons that have been known for centuries. The two biggest are lemons’ strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers and their use as a weight loss aid because lemon juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser.




i found out how important it is and the benefit  Here
Lemons contain many substances–notably citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin, and limonene–that promote immunity and fight infection.

How to go about it? You should be using purified water and it should be lukewarm not scalding hot. You want to avoid ice cold water, since that can be a lot for your body to process and it takes more energy to process ice cold water than the warm. Always use fresh lemons, organic if possible, never bottled lemon juice. I squeeze 1/2 a lemon with each glass and I drink it down first thing before I eat a single thing.
There are different benefit you get while using lemon and i will mention few:

1) Aids Digestion. Lemon juice flushes out unwanted materials and toxins from the body. It’s atomic composition is similar to saliva and the hydrochloric acid of digestive juices. It encourages the liver to produce bile which is an acid that is required for digestion. Lemons are also high in minerals and vitamins and help loosen ama, or toxins, in the digestive tract. The digestive qualities of lemon juice help to relieve symptoms of indigestion, such as heartburn, belching and bloating.

2) Cleanses Your System / is a Diuretic. Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials in part because lemons increase the rate of urination in the body. Therefore toxins are released at a faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy. The citric acid in lemons helps maximize enzyme function, which stimulates the liver and aids in detoxification.

3) Boosts Your Immune System. Lemons are high in vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds.  They’re high in potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function. Potassium also helps control blood pressure. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) found in lemons demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects, and is used as complementary support for asthma and other respiratory symptoms plus it enhances iron absorption in the body; iron plays an important role in immune function. Lemons also contain saponins, which show antimicrobial properties that may help keep cold and flu at bay. Lemons also reduce the amount of phlegm produced by the body.

4) Balances pH Levels. Lemons are one of the most alkalizing foods for the body. Sure, they are acidic on their own, but inside our bodies they’re alkaline (the citric acid does not create acidity in the body once metabolized). Lemons contain both citric and ascorbic acid, weak acids easily metabolized from the body allowing the mineral content of lemons to help alkalize the blood. Disease states only occur when the body pH is acidic. Drinking lemon water regularly can help to remove overall acidity in the body, including uric acid in the joints, which is one of the primary causes of pain and inflammation.

5) Clears Skin. The vitamin C component as well as other antioxidants helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes and it helps to combat free radical damage. Vitamin C is vital for healthy glowing skin while its alkaline nature kills some types of bacteria known to cause acne. It can actually be applied directly to scars or age spots to help reduce their appearance. Since lemon water purges toxins from your blood, it would also be helping to keep your skin clear of blemishes from the inside out. The vitamin C contained in the lemon rejuvenates the skin from within your body.

6) Energizes You and Enhances Your Mood. The energy a human receives from food comes from the atoms and molecules in your food. A reaction occurs when the positive charged ions from food enter the digestive tract and interact with the negative charged enzymes. Lemon is one of the few foods that contain more negative charged ions, providing your body with more energy when it enters the digestive tract. The scent of lemon also has mood enhancing and energizing properties. The smell of lemon juice can brighten your mood and help clear your mind. Lemon can also help reduce anxiety and depression.

7) Promotes Healing. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), found in abundance in lemons, promotes wound healing, and is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of healthy bones, connective tissue, and cartilage. As noted previously, vitamin C also displays anti-inflammatory properties. Combined, vitamin C is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of good health and recovery from stress and injury.

8) Freshens Breath. Besides fresher breath, lemons have  been known to help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. Be aware that citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so you should be mindful of this. No not brush your teeth just after drinking your lemon water. It is best to brush your teeth first, then drink your lemon water, or wait a significant amount of time after to brush your teeth. Additionally, you can rinse your mouth with purified water after you finish your lemon water.

9) Hydrates Your Lymph System. Warm water and lemon juice supports the immune system by hydrating and replacing fluids lost by your body. When your body is deprived of water, you can definitely feel the side effects, which include: feeling tired, sluggish, decreased immune function, constipation, lack of energy, low/high blood pressure, lack of sleep, lack of mental clarity and feeling stressed, just to name a few.

10) Aids in Weight Loss. Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. Studies have shown people who maintain a more alkaline diet, do in fact lose weight faster. I personally find myself making better choices throughout the day, if I start my day off right, by making a health conscious choice to drink warm lemon water first thing every morning.

Ofada Rice Stew! (how to prepare)

Ofada rice is a popular rice among the Yoruba's in Nigeria especially the egbas! the rice is well known for its specially aroma, the smell alone is enough for you to know what is cooking, but today am not talking about the rice but the special stew that goes with it!  i got my ofada stew recipes yesterday from Nigeria (the special recipe lol!) and i decided to prepare it for the independence day celebration !

Recipe
40 pcs  habanero peppers (rodo)
2  tatashe
1 locust bean seasoning the special recipe (Iru, ogiri okpei or dawadawa)
20cl red palm oil (at least)
1 big onion
1 handful crayfish (i used grounded one)
850g fish or meat or both (i used cat fish)
Shaki (cow tripe)
Note
Before coking blend the pepper/tatashe/onion a little and make sure you can still see the pepper make sure its is not grounded completely!
How to prepare
Cook all the meat and fish with the stock cube till well done.
Pour the pepper blend into a separate pot and cook on high heat till all the water dries up.
Pour the red palm oil into a clean dry pot and bleach till it turns clear. It should look like vegetable oil when done. It took me 10 minute , Your own time may vary depending on the type of heater you have and the quantity of oil.
Leave the oil to cool down a bit then add the boiled pepper puree. Fry till all the water has dried from the pepper.
Add the crayfish and locust bean seasoning, the orisirisi  :-) meat and fish and stir well.
Add salt to taste, leave to simmer and it is ready to be served.
Serve with Ofada Rice. !
Enjoy! Happy Independent day Nigeria

Ethopian Doro Wat with Quick Injera

Doro Wat with Quick Injera  is a meal in Ethiopia with a memorable experience. When you have dinner in an Ethiopian home or restaurant, you eat the tablecloth! :-) , the meal is always dressed , dishes are served on a large platter covered with Injera, Ethiopian sourdough crepes. Then more Injera is served on the side. The Injera is tangy and pliable, and is used instead of utensils to pick up the rest of the food. i don't know how to make it tho! but i love the experience when i had the dish and i felt i should share!
The experience alone make me feel satisfied and i decided to find the recipes

Ingredient (culled from Here)

For the Doro Wat:
3 lbs. boneless chicken, breasts and thighs, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 large onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 sticks (1 cup) butter
1 cup red wine
2 cups water
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cardamom
2 Tb. garam masala
1/3 cup hot smoked paprika
1 Tb. crushed red pepper
2 tsp. fenugreek seeds
1 Tb. dried thyme
3 Tb. tomato paste
1 Tb. sugar
1 lime, juiced
For the Injera Recipe:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup buckwheat flour
2 Tb. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
4 cups club soda
1 cup white or rice vinegar
Oil for pan

Directions:

For the Doro Wat: Place all the ingredients, minus the lime juice, in a slow cooker and cover. Cook for 4-6 hours--depending on your slow cooker settings--until the chicken is tender. Then mash the chicken to shreds with a potato masher (or the bottom of a ladle.) Stir in the lime juice and keep warm.

For the Injera Recipe: In a large bowl, mix both flours, salt and baking soda together. Whisk in the club soda until smooth. Then add the vinegar and whisk.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Pour oil on a paper towel and wipe the skillet with the oiled paper towel.

Using a scoop, pour batter into the skillet creating a 6 inch circle. Carefully swirl the pan around to thin out the batter until it measures 8-9 inches across.

Cook for 1 minute, then using a large spatula, flip the Injera over and cook another minute. Remove from the skillet and stack on a plate.

Repeat with remaining batter. The Injera will seem slightly crisp in the pan, but will soften immediately when placed on the plate.

Once finished cooking the Injera. Cut the circles in half with a pizza cutter, roll into tubes and stack. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Serve the Doro Wat and Injera together, tearing piece of Injera and using it to pick up the Doro Wat.

How you can prepare your yam in 2 ways!

I love yam a lot, i  like to prepare my yam in different ways but my friends specifically told me to tell them my recipe on how i prepare my yam, but today am going to mention 2!
Yam Porridge
The yam porridge can also be called Asaro its widely eaten by the Yorubas in Nigeria, it is mainly yam cooked with ingredients and the resulting dish contains some soupy liquid.and some people add vegetables to it why some don't!
Ingredients
1 kg white yam
Red palm Oil (to make it look like a soup)
1 smoked fish (Titus/mackerel) / dry fish
1 tablespoon grounded crayfish
medium onion
Fresh green vegetable (i use spinach but its not important)

Ghanaian Chicken and Peanut Butter Soup

The chicken and peanut butter soup is mostly eaten by the Ghanaian though i heard it a west African soup but i have a story behind this soup, five years ago, i use to work for an IT firm in Nigeria,and a Ghanaian family (our customer) invited me for a lunch one faithful weekend, i was glad and i decided to visit, but my boyfriend called me that i have to see him the same weekend that i had plan to visits my Ghanaian friends
But would i rather go to 'eat' or see my love ? ( lol ) so i quickly picked my phone and i called them 'hey i had an emergency and am not coming blablabla' but after then they had a baby and i have to go see the baby and i was served Chicken and Peanut Butter soup, OMG! i really loved the soup to the extent that i keep visiting the family (who wouldn't anyway!)
Afterwards they left the country without saying good bye, i keep searching for the recipe and i finally found it Here and Here so i you can decide the type of method you want!

INGREDIENT 
(3 lb) chicken, cleaned and cut into 16 portions
4 small onions, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon ginger paste
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic paste
21 fluid ounces chicken stock
1 lb smooth peanut butter
18 ounces water
1 (14 ounce) can plum tomatoes
1 hot red pepper, de-seeded and roughly chopped
Directions:
Place a large saucepan/casserole pot over a medium heat. Fry the chicken pieces, skin side down, for 10 minutes or until browned. Using tongs, turn the pieces of chicken over to seal the underside.

Stir in two of the onions, ginger and garlic for five minutes or until translucent and softened.

Pour in the chicken stock and season with salt. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

In a separate small saucepan, mix together the peanut butter with the water. Gently bring the mixture to the boil, stirring occasionally to.

prevent burning and a lumpy mixture. Gently simmer for 5–10 minutes or until the oil from the peanut butter settles on the surface.

In a food processor, blend together the remaining two onions with the tinned tomatoes and red pepper. Add this mixture to the chicken and simmer for 5 minutes.

Finally, add the peanut butter mixture to the chicken pan and simmer for a further 30 minutes.

Optional - pour soup into a bowl and place rice ball in the middle

Enjoy!!!!

How to make suya spice!!

When I uploaded my 'Nigerian Suya video', from instagram, ( Here ) the question from my friends was:  I can't buy suya spice where I live, how can I make it? But the requests for suya spice recipe kept pouring in and am thinking about how many people would be able to enjoy Suya in their own homes, I was challenged to find out how to make this special suya pepper !


How to Make Suya Spice 
All these recipe have to be complete so as to feel the overall flavor of your suya spice!
5 tablespoons crushed Kuli Kuli (110g) (Hausa nut)
5 tablespoons ginger powder (75g)
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper flakes (6g)
10 strands of African Negro Pepper known as Uda in Igbo
1 small stock cube (4g)
½ teaspoon salt

What you need
Crushing tools
Sieve
Plastic bowls
Spice/Coffee grinder
Before you make the Suya Spice
Crush the Kuli Kuli with a mortar and pestle or put in a plastic bag and crush with a blunt object. Kuli Kuli usually comes in different shapes and sizes and this crushing makes it easy for you to measure it and blend it in the dry mill or coffee grinder.
Crush the dry cayenne pepper in a mortar or any other rough container till the skin separates from the seeds. You don't need to pound it. When done, put in a flat tray or plate, so that the flakes will move to one side then pick them out. Later, you can grind the seeds and use them in other Nigerian recipes.
Break the African Negro Pepper into pieces and crush the stock cube.

Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
Grind in small batches in the dry mill till they turn into powder. Any coffee grinder will do this job very well.
When done, sift the suya spice with a sieve to remove all fibre from the African Negro Pepper and ingredients that did not blend well.
That's all! The suya spice is ready to be used in making Nigerian Suya.
Put the suya spice in plastic bags or containers and store in the freezer. It can last for years and still retain its taste and flavour. But who would want to keep suya spice in the freezer for years anyway? When there are lots of suyas to be made with them! lol!

Where does your food come from?

Technology has made feeding people a lot easier for farmers. This is good. It has made it so that people do not have to be farmers to grow their own food. Today, individual grows food, sometimes they are also active in marketing them,but lots of people are involved in our food today, like the farmers, the warehouse operators, the retail grocers, the pilot, etc (the list goes on)
Reading,and finding information is a great way for people to have a better understanding of what they are eating and where it comes from., i remember while growing up, we just go to the market and buy foods, and sometimes we will be told where the food come from but most people don't cares!
Food From Nigeria!
Nigeria lies on the western Africa coast, on the Gulf of Guinea, surrounded by the countries of Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Between the desert-like north of the country, touching the Sahara, and the tropical south, there are plateaus, hills, forest, Savannah and a coastal plain good for farming. The climate is always hot and, although rainfall varies from almost nothing to rain forest conditions, most of the rain happens during a single rainy season. if you visit Nigeria there are common food you find everywhere such as-
Jollof rice – a dish made of vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers,  and meat or fish, . Jollof rice is the Nigerian typical main course.
Fufu – a starchy food made with ground plantains or yams. Fufu served with stews and other recipes with a sauce, usually on a plate at the center, you should roll pieces of fufu with your fingers and use it to scoop the stew or dip in the sauce.
Suya – meat kebabs coated with ground peanuts and chili and barbecued.
Dodo – fried plantains, usually peeled, sliced and fried in palm oil.
Boli – baked plantains, usually baked whole.(also on a grill)
Yam chips – a popular snack (also called dundun)
The list of popular vegetables includes cassava, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, okra, spinach, onions, peas, and yams. Bananas, oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, melon, guava, and limes.

West African Diet

Africa, the second largest continent in the world, is rich in geographic and cultural diversity . It is a land populated by peoples with histories dating to ancient times and cultures shaped by innumerable tribes, languages, and traditions.  the culture of food and eating in the different regions of Africa is important to people throughout the world.


Within West Africa, there is considerable variation in the staple food. Rice is predominant from Mauritania to Liberia and across to the Sahel, a region that stretches across the continent between the Sahara and the southern savannas. Couscous is the prevalent dish in the Sahara. Along the coast from Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to Nigeria and Cameroon, root crops, primarily varieties of yam and cassava, are common. Cassava, imported from Brazil by the Portuguese, is boiled and then pounded into a nearly pure starch. Yam is the chief crop in West Africa and is served in a variety of dishes, including amala , iyan (pounded yam) and egwusi (melon) sauce. Millet is also used for making porridge or beer.

The African Diet

Throughout Africa, the main meal of the day is lunch, which usually consists of a mixture of vegetables, legumes , and sometimes meat. However, though different meats are considered staples in many areas, . However, fish is abundant in coastal regions and in many lakes.

The combination of various foods is called stew, soup, or sauce, depending on the region. This mixture is then served over a porridge or mash made from a root vegetable such as cassava or a grain such as rice, corn, millet, or teff. Regional differences are reflected in variations on this basic meal, primarily in the contents of the stew. The greatest variety of ingredients occurs in coastal areas and in the fertile highlands. Flavorings and spiciness have varied principally due to local histories of trade. In the traditional African diet, meat and fish are not the focus of a meal, but are instead used to enhance the stew that accompanies the mash or porridge , Meat is well-liked among carnivorous (meat-eating) Africans.

Traditional Cooking Methods.

Traditional ways of cooking involve steaming food in leaf wrappers for instance moi-moi from Nigeria, ( or corn husks), boiling, frying in oil, grilling beside a fire, roasting in a fire, or baking in ashes. in some Africans countries, cooking outdoors or in a building separate from the living quarters are their traditions . African kitchens commonly have a stew pot separately due to often use, staple meals are normally eaten with the hands.

West African Fruit.

Plantain, a variety of banana, is abundant in the more tropical West Africa. Sweet plantains are normally fried, while hard plantains are boiled or pounded into fufu. Dates, bananas, guava, melons, passion-fruit, figs, jack-fruit, mangoes, pineapples, cashews, and wild lemons and oranges are also found here.

Protein Sources.

Meat sources of protein include cattle, sheep, chicken, and goat, though beef is served all the times not just for holidays and special occasions. Fish is eaten in the coastal areas. Because of the Islamic influence, pork is localized to non-Muslim areas. In these regions, "bush meat" is widely eaten, including bush rat, a large herbivorous rodent, and antelope. Giant snails are also eaten in various parts of West Africa.