Tuesday 30 October 2012

Playing with recipes (Beef stew with Dumplings)

I always see a package at the super market fast frozen food section that says Beef stew dumplings with mashed potatoes and each time i wondered what it would taste like because the picture on the pack looked good...little did i know that it was even a meal! Its a British meal...Got home and checked it out and decided to make it...Trust me i was glad i did and am sure going to make it again next week and the week after that...will probably try it with chicken next time too...This meal is a winner, you can't go wrong with it...Deliciousssssssssssss i tell you my friends...

Ingredients

  • beef stew meat cut into bite size
  • butter
  • olive oil
  • thyme
  • flour/ suet
  • carrots chopped in large chunks
  • beef stocks
  • onions
  • green pepper chopped
  • mushroom sliced
  • bacon sliced
  • parmesan cheese
  • worcestershire sauce
  • garlic minced
  • baking powder
  • water to make dough
  • vinegar
  • milk
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • parsley chopped
  • bay leaf
  • potatoes
  • frozen peas


Method

1. Put the potatoes on fire and boil with salt.
2. Season flour with salt and pepper. Toss the beef and cote well with the flour.
3. Melt butter in a pan. Fry the coated meat until well-browned . Remove from pan and set aside.
4. Stir onion and garlic into same pan. Add the bacon. Stir in the carrots and green pepper. Add the beef stock, bay leaf, parsley, pepper, salt, worcestershire sauce and vinegar. Stir in the mushroom. Put the beef back in. Adjust seasoning and add water if need be. Simmer on low heat for about 1 hour. Remove bay leaf.
5. Now lets make the Dumplings. Mix together in a bowl, flour, milk, melted butter, baking powder, parmesan cheese. Scoop with a spoon and roll into a ball then drop in the stew on fire. Simmer but be careful not to destroy the dumplings, remove when they are cooked through but not dry.
6. Mash the boiled potatoes with butter, parsley and milk.
7. Your beef stew with dumplings is ready to be served with your mashed potatoes or with frozen peas simmered on melted butter, salt and pepper and enjoy. Absolutely delicious...

Beef Stew with Dumplings served with seasoned Peas

Oluwole Tolu best known as 'Tolu Playar' is back with a banging hit again...

Tolu Playar is a Nigerian American based artist, he came into the music scene with a bang some years ago and the left but he is back with two crazy smash hits singles that would keep you dancing on replay all day...He has been getting a lot of love from blogs and radio station and everyone see to be talking about these songs no wonder critics say it is the best song ever done by any Nigerian American based artist. Afro Deejays(USA Chapter) says it is the song with the best beat for this year entering 2013....The songs must have an AWESOME beat to get such applauding remarks.
He has worked with a few Nigerian music artist like: Klever J, Danny Young, LKT, Lord of Ajasa and a few American artist.
His two new smashing hit singles Okoto Azonto which is a dance song and Am so blessed that is a highly inspirational and uplifting song are both produced by Fliptyce the producer of Akon and Psquare - Chop my money and May D- Ile Ijo.
The songs are already creating a serious buzz on the internet and on radio stations in Nigeria, and would soon be on radio stations in the UK and USA, the video shoot will be done early next year.
You can like his fan-page on Facebook to get updates Tolu Playar, follow the link below and listen to the song and i bet you would quickly make it your ringtone...Cheers
Okoto Azonto -  http://www.hulkshare.com/d33d0j290idc

Am so Blessed -  http://www.hulkshare.com/bi66yp03ybcw

Tolu Playar



Revolutionary online radio station MusicNestRadio making waves...

MusicNest Radio....'Da Voice' is a global online radio station which plays the best in Afro beats, R n B, Hip Hop, Soul and Gospel to a worldwide audience 24 hours a day. Since its creation barely two months, it is fast becoming a cult figure: making crazy waves in the Nigerian Radio Industry with over 2,500 hits daily and still counting...With listeners all over Europe, Africa and even Asia. One of the major strength of this newest and most vibrant urban internet radio station is its unique style of mixing Naija lingo, local culture, and a no holds-barred, street-level approach to entertainment.
Sunkami Sanusi who is the Media Operations Director has this to say: 'We want to be 'Da Voice' of the people brining new and emerging Afro beats to the Diaspora while at the same time. we have got fashion, beauty, music videos and an entertainment blog called 'Da Voice'
MusicNest is made up of young, dynamic group of writers, bloggers, and media marketers based in London, Nigeria, the USA and Canada; MusicNest Radio's crew have an understanding of the codes and responsibilities of a true, credible media operation and have managed to make the station a success in a short period of time. The most unique service that MusicNest have is the ability to cover an event either via Audio/Video coverage online to a global audience. MusicNestradio.com website is a music and lifestyle entertainment media hub and all her listeners round the world love what they have heard and seen so far.
MusicNest has set the music scene buzzing with refreshing displays of innovative, and attention grabbing concept of the most important people in the game- The Listeners.
You better keep it locked on their website and download the mobile apps for easy and smooth access.
If you think you have got what it takes to work with a creative, innovative and intelligent crew like these guys, you have an opportunity to become one of their Presenters, Models, DJ,Writer and much more log on to their website and click on the 'Job' section  for more info...www.musicnestradio.com
Contact MusicNest via mail on info@musicnestradio.com and you can follow on Twitter @musicnestradio
So what are you waiting for log on now to www.musicnestradio.com and join listeners all over the world enjoying good musics anytime anywhere...Cheers




Monday 29 October 2012

Model turn Designer ISI ATAGAMEN taking over Fashion World

Isi Atagamen of Isi Atagamen Fashion Label (IAFL) has always had the dream of becoming a fashion designer she claims she got into modelling basically to have a first hand experience of people's reaction to cloths, a close up on how the fashion business is done while she was busy undergoing training at LISOF Art and Design College in South Africa. She set up her own fashion line after graduating called IAFL and started making her own cloths.
She unveiled her recent design titled 'Athena'  which was inspired by the idea of Greece, the ancient Greece costumes, the peaceful beautiful environment and the sea of Greece. The designs was featured in Style Mania magazine 2012 Travel issue, Her designs was said to posses subtle cuts and curves, a bit of architecture and structural engineering with her style of garment construction, which has unconventional layers and details, she makes it difficult to compare her designs with any established Nigerian designer...woooooow!
After unveiling her debut collection 'Athena', Isi unveiled yet another breathtaking designs at her first New York Fashion show during the Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) 'Music on the Catwalk' on August 31 2012. She called the collection 'Hera' they were inspired by strong vivacious women, Isi said the designs are for that Lady that commands power in a subtly and lively way, she is slightly flirty and beautiful.
She had a mini fashion show on her last birthday tagged 'High Street Fashion' at N-Tyce club in Victoria Island, where she kept her esteemed guests spell bound with her breathtaking and wonderful designs. She was also one of the Top 12 Finalists at the recently concluded MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2012, young designers awards.
I had the opportunity to met this lovely, intelligent and friendly lady yesterday and we spoke at length and i said i would have to write about her and share her designs so my wonderful readers can locate and patronize her. One thing i loved most about her designs are the fact that they are cloths you can actually wear unlike the others we see on the runway and wonder if they are for a costume party...lol...Isi's cloths are what you would go to a boutique to buy, very classy, chic looking, trendy and beautiful designs you can wear anywhere...least i forget did i mention that these awesome designs are also very very very affordable? yes indeed Isi's designs are extremely affordable for everyone so do not hesitate to contact her and be rest assured heads must turn when you wear her designs...wink
You can contact Isi Atagamen Fashion Label (IAFL) on 08083263338 and 08060022099 or email isi@iaflabel.com

ISI ATAGAMEN of ISI ATAGAMEN FASHION LABEL (IAFL)

Model wearing IAFL collection

Model wearing IAFL collection

Models wearing IAFL at the High Street Fashion Show


Model wearing IAFL at High Street Fashion Show

Model wearing IAFL at the High Street Fashion Show

IAFL designs at the New York NEA

IAFL designs at the New York NEA

Isi at the MTN LFDW training 

Model wearing IAFL design

Model wearing IAFL design

Model wearing IAFL design on the MTN LFDW runway

Model wearing IAFL design

IAFL Design

Isi taking a bow at the MTN LFDW show

Saturday 27 October 2012

Playing with recipes (Pizza)

I have always wanted to make Pizza myself because i love eating it but every time i read about recipes for it, they always talk about this 'stone' that is required to make it so i had an idea in absent of the stone i wouldn't be able to make it at home. The other day i was at the supermarket shopping and i saw Pizza base and i  said to myself it wouldn't hurt to try it out it wasn't expensive at all, at that point i thought of making it on top the oven rack so if it comes out good oh well great! if it doesn't then at least i would know i gave it a try...first time i tried it the oven was too hot and the base got burnt but it tasted good all the same but the second time i made it tasted AWESOME!!!...almost finished eating it before i remembered i haven't taken a picture with one out...lol...So even though i cheated with buying the dough i have an idea it would be much better if i make the dough myself, will try that some other time. Fell free to play with the toppings and add whatever you feel like,experiment and play different stuff.
Note that all these ingredients apart from the tomatoes sauce are all optional you can use whatever you like for you topping.

Ingredients
  • pizza base
  • tomatoes cut round to form circle
  • tomatoes paste
  • canned tomatoes
  • basil chopped
  • cheese: mozzarella grated
  •             parmesan grated
  •             cheddar grated
  • garlic minced
  • bacon cut in big chunks
  • mushroom cut in chunks
  • sausage cut horizontally
  • onions diced for the sauce and cut in circles for the topping
  • beef stock
  • green pepper cut in long strands
  • carrots cut in long strands
  • Italian spices
  • olive oil
  • bay leaf
  • salt
  • black pepper

Method

1. Heat a pan and add the bacon stir until bacon is crisp,remove from pan. Do same for the mushroom stir until the liquid is out. Transfer to a paper towel and set aside.
2. To make the tomatoes sauce. Heat olive oil in a pan. Stir in onions and garlic. Add the canned tomatoes, tomatoes paste, Italian spices, beef stock, bay leaf, basil, salt and black pepper. Simmer until it is a thick spreadable sauce. Remove from heat and take out the bayleaf.
3. Preheat the oven 220c
4. Spread a generous amount of the tomatoes paste on the pizza base. Start adding your toppings as desired. Tomatoes, susages, bacon, mushroom, onions, green pepper, carrots, finish off with the cheese and sprinkle olive oil on top of it.
5. Place in the oven if you don't have a pizza stone place on top your oven rack. Bake for 10 -15 minutes or until the base is crisp.

Delicious Pizza

After the dressing before it went into the oven

On top of my oven rack

I took a bite and the rest is history...





Friday 26 October 2012

Playing with recipes (Potato Salad)

Today we would be making Potato Salad , its a very simple and comforting food that i have no doubt everyone would love and it completes a table with salads and intercontinental dishes.

Ingredients:
  • potatoes cut into bite size
  • mayonnaise
  • parsley chopped
  • eggs
  • onions
  • mustard
  • black pepper
  • paprika
  • salt

Method

1. Boil the potatoes. When it is cooked drain and set aside. 
2. Boil the eggs hard and cut into bite size.
3. Mix in a bowl, the mayonnaise, eggs, onions, mustard, black pepper, parsley, paprika and salt.
4. Add the potatoes into the mixture and mix with a spatula.
5. Put in the fridge and serve chilled.

Potato Salad


Wednesday 24 October 2012

Playing with recipes (Macaroni and Cheese)

I always thought macaroni was specially and only for salad (covers face)...Didn't really imagine it as a meal all by itself but apparently i was wrong. I came across this recipe which happens to be a classic American dish and decided to try it out made my own modifications here and there, tried to make it look colorful and tasty. I kid you not it was a blast...It would make a great family dish, kids would love it too so you have no excuse you should try it out too...

Ingredients
  • macaroni (elbow type)
  • butter
  • cheese - cheddar (grated)
  •               Parmesan (grated)
  • milk
  • cream (optional)
  • flour
  • mustard
  • 1 egg
  • red pepper (diced) (optional)
  • green pepper (diced) (optional)
  • yellow pepper (diced) (optional)
  • carrot (diced) (optional)
  • mushroom (chopped) (optional)
  • bread crumbs
  • salt
  • nut meg
  • black pepper
  • cayenne pepper
  • Worcestershire sauce

Method

1. Cook the macaroni in boiling water with salt. don't allow it get totally cooked because it will cook more in the oven so under cook it a bit. When it is ready take it out drain and set aside.
2. Put a pan on fire and melt butter on it, don't allow it burn. Stir in flour little by little or you may destroy the gravy. Use a whisker to stir it until it has a good consistency but be careful not to put too much.
3. Pour in milk and keep whisking, add a little cream. Add the mustard and taste to know if it is ok or if feel like adding more.
4. Whisk the 1 egg in a plate, take a little from the sauce and add gradually to the egg while whisking to avoid the egg cooking. When you are done, pour the egg mixture into the pan on fire and stir. Add the carrot, green pepper, red pepper, yellow pepper and mushroom.
5. Stir in the half of the cheese and stir. Add black pepper, nut meg, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add salt if need be.
6. Pour the macaroni into the sauce and stir.
7. Butter an oven proof dish. Pour the mixture into the oven proof dish, sprinkle the remaining cheese on  top and add a bread crumbs on top.
8. Put in the oven and bake until the cheese has melted and the top is golden, it may take between 20 to 25 minutes.
9. And it is ready to be served. Hope you enjoy it.

Macaroni and Cheese

Fresh from the oven



   

Monday 22 October 2012

Playing with recipes (Togolese Okro)

My friend Amina had her friend Smallie over and she made her a delicious okra soup and she said it is how they make it in Togo although she call it a Togolese Okra soup with a twist and i bet you would all enjoy that twist...Wink...I really didn't find it totally different from the okra soup am used to but guess we all do have different variations of how we make our food and there is always similarities here and there the only thing i guess i do differently is i usually use Ugu leaves/Pumpkin leaves and not Efinrin/scent leaves would love to try it out next time.

Ingredients

  • assorted meats
  • okro
  • crabs
  • shrimps
  • pomo
  • stock fish
  • grounded crayfish
  • meat stock
  • palm oil
  • salt
  • ginger
  • chili pepper
  • sumbo
  • smoked fish/eja kika
  • efinrin leaf/scent leaf
  • maggi/seasoning

Method

1.Cook the meat with enough seasoning to your taste.
2.Blend the ginger, chili pepper and sumbo together, don't allow it get smooth.
3. Take out the meat and drink, keep the stock. Put a pot on fire. Pour in the meat stock, the blended mixture and a little water.
4. Stir in the meat, shrimps, crabs, pomo, smoked fish, stock fish and grounded crayfish.
5. Add maggi and salt. Adjust seasoning. Add the Efinrin/scent leaf.
6. Pour in the Okro and stir if you feel its too thick add more water. Add the Efinrin/scent leaf.
7. Add palm oil not too much about 2 Tbls. Stir for about 5mins and it is ready to be served with Pounded yam, Fufu, Eba, Amala, Semovita or Wheat.
Enjoy...










Friday 19 October 2012

The Nile's Diaspora International Film Festival Uganda

The Nile's Diaspora International Film Festival is a not-for-profit cultural organization that seek to change the way people see the world through FILM. The film festival promises to promote cultural and artistic significant films and arts through education and exhibition to enlighten and entertain people.
Ths event will be held in Kampala and different towns in Uganda and it will run from the 8th to the 15th of December 2012.
Nadia Buari of Ghana and Jim Iyke of Nigeria shall be given awards in different capacities. Omar Oyin Bala of the African Film Consortium who is also the film festival representative in west Africa has confirmed the attendence of Tonya Lee Williams of the young and restless and the CEO of reelworld film festival in Canada.
For further details on participation, partnership, support and movie submission, log on to NDIFF website www.ndiffest.org.
Don't wait to be told, send your movies and get ready to hit Uganda for the festival in December because it would be a film festival like you have never seen it.



Thursday 18 October 2012

Ufuoma Ejenobor's new cute bundle of joy

It is no longer news that the screen diva has recently given birth to a cute and adorable baby boy in a private hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.
We thank God for safe delivery and say a big congratulations to the entire McDermott and Ejenobor family.
Congratulations once again.

Cute Adorable King

Sexy mama and her cute charming new arrival

Congrats once again Ufuoma

Urs sincerely and the newborn King


Playing with recipes (Coconut rice and Chicken)

This recipe is very easy to prepare and comes out very tasty and delicioussssssssssssssssss. This is a very simple and straight forward way of making chicken in the oven.

Ingredients

  • rice
  • chicken
  • carrots
  • green pepper
  • peas
  • butter
  • paprika
  • pepper
  • white pepper
  • salt
  • red ball pepper
  • yellow ball pepper
  • onion
  • runner beans
  • chicken stock
  • coconut milk
  • garlic
  • rosemary
  • thyme
  • seasoning 
  • curry


Method

1. Defrost the chicken you intend using, any part can serve. Melt butter in a pan and add garlic, then keep aside.
2. Massage the chicken well with thyme, rosemary, pepper, paprika, salt, seasoning and pour the butter and garlic mixture on it but leave a little in the pan.
3. Spread foil paper on a baking pan and oil it so the chicken doesn't stick on the pan. Put the chicken on and pour the remaining butter and garlic mixture on top. Bake at 180oC, the slower it bakes the better. The baking time depends on the thickness of the chicken. Start checking from 45 minutes until chicken is tender.
4. While the chicken is still in the oven baking start preparing the rice. Boil the rice in coconut milk and
chicken stock. Add butter, white pepper, seasoning and curry.
5. In a separate pan. Melt a little butter. Add onion, green pepper, carrot, runner beans, yellow and red ball pepper, a little salt and peas. Stir for like 3 minute. Remove and set aside.
6. When the rice is few minutes from being cooked. Pour the vegetables in and use a wooden spatula to mix.
7. Your meal is ready to be served.

Coconut rice and oven baked chicken


Wednesday 17 October 2012

Moky Makura now South Africa's Rep for AFDF

The iron lady Folake Abayomi in M-NET award wining Pan-African drama series Jacob's cross, Moky Makura (Nee Akinsemoyin) a Nigerian born South African actress.
She has done incredibly well for herself and has a fulfilled career as an Entrepreneur/business woman: she formed her own agency  RED PR in july1999 she sold the company to FCB and remained an independent consultant to various companies, as an Actress she played the lead role in the award wining drama series Jacob's Cross, as a Writer in November 2008 completed her book 'Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs' which has since been featured as South African's top 10 best selling business books on Executive books, she is also an Editorial contributor to African's Magazines such as Tribute on African issues, Business Day, Maverick and the O Magazine, and as a presenter where she started off from before becoming as actress, she was the African anchor presenter and field reported for South African's actuality show Carte Blanche from 2001 -2006, in 2004 she presented a show called African Pioneers, in 2005 she produced and hosted a marketing show on the South African Business channel called Summit TV.
Her success story goes on and on as she keeps breaking new grounds and taking charge, who else to represent The African Film Development Foundation in South Africa than this powerful woman that has vast knowledge in both business and entertainment world.
If you still haven't joined hands with the AFDF, i would advise you get down from the fence and join hands with this innovative foundation to make film production in Africa bigger and better.
Log on to www.theafricanfilmconsortium.org to read more or like their page on facebook The African Film Consortium to get updates on the recent activities of the foundation.

Moky Makura


Monday 15 October 2012

Meet the new star named KIKI OMEILI...

Kiki is fast becoming an actress to reckon with in Nollywood. You may say she is a new face but she sure knows her onion and whatever she brings to the table proves to be quality and pure talent...You may know her from her first main feature film Married but living single where she stared along side Funke Akindele, Joseph Benjamin, Joke Silva, Femi Brainard and a host of others so far the film has been nominated for several awards and have also won a lot of awards, Kiki wasn't left out in the nomination galore as she also got nominated for Best Actress (supporting role in an English film) from the 17th African Film Awards 2012 aka Afro-Hollywood Awards and she was announced the winner at a ceremony held for the nominees in Akure, Ondo State Nigeria on the 10th of October 2012. The award ceremony will hold on the 3rd of November 2012 at the Stratford town hall, 29 Broadway, Stratford. London, so if you happen to be in London at that time, try and  grace the ceremony and cheer this outstanding actress as she receives her first award in grand style.
This effortless pretty Actress had her first chance to announce her arrival in our televisions and lives by being a presenter on a TV reality dance show called Dance 234 in 2011, after that she got a role in a TV series Behind the smile and then her first feature film Married but living single, since then she has featured on several movies and series. Kiki has proven to be a face and a name you would have to get used to fast because she sure has taken over center stage...You should watch out for her in Behind the smile already on air and then Lekki wives and Gidi Culture coming soon...

Kiki Omeili

Kiki in Dance 234

Kiki and her co-star Joseph Benjamin

If you haven't seen this movie...Then you haven't seen any movie this year...


Sunday 14 October 2012

Playing with recipes (Pork with peas and carrot gravy)

We would be trying out a Danish recipe called Karbonader med stuvede ærter og gulerødder. It is basically a dish made using minced pork and a gravy made out of canned carrot and peas, you would be using the liquid from the can so there is no alternative, it must be in a can. This recipe is sooooooooooo fast and easy to prepare.You would need to make something like this one of those days when you come back so tired from work and need a fast meal or just want a comfort food this is your best bet. Super fast and not much ingredients needed plus it is fun eating it bet children would love them too.

Ingredients

pork minced
potato 
carrot and peas in can
flour
butter
bread crumbs 
eggs
salt
black pepper
chips (optional)

Method

1. Melt butter in a pan and gradually stir in flour make sure you don't allow burn and don't pour too much flour or you may end up with a pot full of gravy. Keep stirring continuously until the consistency is smooth.
2. Pour in the fluids from the carrot and peas can and allow to boil.
3. The gravy will become thick. Pour in milk gradually until it has a nice consistency. Add salt and pepper. Pour in the carrot and peas.
4. Taste and adjust seasoning to your taste.
5. Mix the bread crumbs, salt, black pepper and eggs to the minced pork and make mold into burger size. Heat butter in a pan. Add the meat, and keep tossing until its well cooked.
6. Your meal its ready. We ate ours with potato chips by the side but its optional, it makes the meal fun to eat.
I bet you there would be no leftovers...

Karbonader med stuvede ærter og gulerødder

With Potato Chips...Yum



Saturday 13 October 2012

E-Sidaz Boys Storming the Music Industry...

Bet you are cracking you head thinking who are these boys am talking about!!! Heard one of their track and felt like sharing and letting you know they are coming out with all they got and you better be ready...hehehe.
E-sidaz is a talented musical group made up of 3 handsome young boys from the East of Nigeria hence the name E-sidaz meaning from the East.
The group comprises of Tipsy, Da meek and Kenny pee. all graduates from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, they have been doing music since their school days. They have even worked with renowned producer like K-sole, Wizboy, Gmat to mention but a few...
These bunch of talents already have some mind blowing hit singles out to wow their expectant audience which includes: Nutty, Follow you go and Asacha.
Watch out for their debut album, they promised it would be dropping soon and i bet it is going to be a hit!!!
Click on the link below to listen to one of their singles and please share with us with you think about it.
 http://hu.lk/jj2m9h34z5s0Eastsiders(Tipsy

E-SIDAZ

Watch out!!!


Their manager can be reached on 08060930511. Feel free to contact him for more information about the E-sidaz. Cheers.

Friday 12 October 2012

Mike Ezuronye and a host of others joins the AFDF train

Mike Ezuronye has been appointed vice president education for African Film Development Foundation (AFDF) and top Cameroonian film maker Neba Lawrence is now Secretary General, Ebrahim Sanyang Chairman Invest Gambia on Advisory Board, Omar Oyin Bala is now PRO, Mike Nliam is Country Representative Nigeria, Top Ethiopian female film maker Yetnayet Bahru is Country Representative Ethiopia, Samuel Ruffy Quansah is the Representative in Ghana, Wala Akinlabi of Goodmorning Africa is Media Representative, Ihuoma Nwigwe and Chirs Iheanacho are both Coordinators, Reaction media handles branding and Yadel Nimley you should remember her from BBA 7 is now Country representative for Liberia and Treasurer for African Film Development Foundation (AFDF). Top Nollywood stars Uche Jombo, Ali Nuhu and a host of others are already on-board.
The Foundation is going to have a workshop in Liberia on the 12 to 16 of November and would be having her very 1st African Film Conference in Gambia Febuary 2013.
Go to www.theafricanfilmconsortium.org to read more. 

Mike Ezuronye, Vice President

Yadel Nimley, Treasurer and Country Representative Liberia

Omar Oyin Bala, PRO


Wednesday 10 October 2012

Playing with recipes (Ofe Nsala)

My friend Sarah, sent me a message that she was preparing Ofe Nsala, a delicacy from the East in Nigeria and also one of my favorite soup from that part. I begged her to share her recipe so we can all learn how to make it.

Ingredients
  • cocoyam paste
  • onions
  • dried fish
  • stock fish
  • assorted meat/ any meat of your choice
  • crayfish
  • pepper
  • ogiri
  • utazi leave or uziza leave
  • uziza seeds
  • palm oil
  • seasoning
  • salt

Method

1. Cook the cocoyam until soft. Pound or blend it to form paste and set aside.
2. Blend the oziza seeds and also set aside.
3. Boil the meat with enough seasoning. When the meat is tender, add stock fish, crayfish, blended oziza seed, and pepper. Stir together.
4. Add cocoyam paste and dried fish. Allow to cook for about 5 minutes.
5. Add palm oil, ogiri and shredded utazi leave. Cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir at intervals to avoid burning.
6. Ofe Nsala is ready. You can enjoy this delicious delicacy with Pounded yam, Fufu, Eba, Semovita, or Wheat.
Feel free to please share with us how you prepare your own Ofe Nsala. Thank you.

Ofe Nsala

Thank you for this Sarah. Big hug.

NOTE: Adaora and few others brought to my notice that Nsala soup is not done with cocoyam as thickner and ogiri. She said the recipe is for ofe ede,not ofe nsala but Sarah claims it is Ofe nsala her own way...lol. The typical nsala according to Adaora is thickened with pounded yam paste and seasoned with native spices namely: uziza seeds,udah seeds,ehu and ehuru seeds all grinded then with sliced utazi and uziza leaves for extra flavour,and there is no addition of palmoil, which is why it is also referred to as white soup by the ikwerre people. Choice of meat for nsala differs but you get the best of it with either goatmeat, local chicken or catfish,jazz it up with smoked fish (asa or mangala) and some stockfish,in place of normal chili try the fresh yellow nsukka pepper and no onions please,serve with pounded yam and have a well deserve sleep afterwards. Lol. Thank you so much for sharing this with us Adaora. So you have heard from the orginal owners of the soup how it is been made. 
Hope to hear more from you. Thank you very much.

Sunday 7 October 2012

On Set for 'SEEKERS'

I have been away for the past two weeks, been on set far away from home shooting a brand new Sope opera that i have no doubts would fast become one of every family's favorite because everything about it, the cast, the storyline, suspense and the wonderful crew were all on point!.
The director Yemi Remi, is the first person i have ever seen that could remain calm no matter what was happening around him and also knew how to make his artists relax and bring out the best in them, was a privilege to be on his set. I was also lucky to have several of my friends on set too, made working fun for me.
Watch out for this Sope opera and be rest assured that yours sincerely will keep you posted whenever it is set to hit our airwaves, the station and time would be made known to you in good time...wink
I hope most of you didn't starve while i was away...wink...I promise to share more delicious and easy recipes with you tomorrow. If you have prepared any of the recipes we have shared, please let us know how it turned out and if you made any modification. If u have any recipe you would love to share with us please email it to judithaudu@gmail.com and don't forget to include pictures. Thank you and have a great day.

Able D.O.P. Gani

The Beauties on Set, Lina, Hannah Ojo, Folake and Moi

Wonderful Director Yemi Remi

On set with Hannah Ojo

On set with Hannah Ojo

On set with Adedayo Davies