Chana Dal with Spinach & Tomato

Found this recipe while searching for vegetarian recipes and it tuned out very very very GOOD!!!! Easy to make too and even better the day after!!! The initial recipe had no potatoes but i put potatoes in mine to make it a complete meal, and it worked!

Ingredient

• chana dal
• turmeric
• potatoes
• spinach
• ghee or olive oil
• brown mustard seed
• asafoetida
• cumin seeds
• curry leaves 
• onions
• ginger
• garlic
• tomatoes
• salt
• chilli powder
• dried red chillies
• black pepper

Lets Make It
1. Wash the dal properly in several changes of water and drain. Turn on the heat, put the dal in a pot with enough water. It will begin to form, skim them off as it rises tot he top, do not allow to boil over and pour out of the pot. Add half a tsb of turmeric, cover partially and allow to cook for 1 hour. Make sure you constantly check incase it needs more water. When it is done, add the salt and mix well.
2. Put a another pan on heat. Pour in the ghee or olive oil. When hot add the asafoetida, mustard seeds. When they pop, add the cumin seeds. Add the red chillies, Stir until they get dark. Stir for a few seconds and add the chopped curry leaves (i didn't find curry leaves i used basil leaves), stir in the diced onions. Stir for about 7 minutes until the onions start to brown.
3. Stir in the ginger and garlic. Add the peeled and chopped tomatoes and stir until they get soft, mashing them down with your wooden spoon. Add the chopped spinach and about 150ml of water. Stir and bring to a simmer. Add the chopped potatoes. Cover and cook gently or until the spinach is very soft.
4. Check your dal it should be ready by now. Pour in the spinach mixture and stir very well. Check the seasoning. Add the chilli power and the black pepper. If the dal is too thick add more water and stir.
5. Taste and adjust seasoning to you taste.

Chana Dal with Spinach & Tomatoes

Chickpeas Pottage with Yam and Potatoes

As you may have noticed Chickpeas is a major ingredient in my kitchen these days so i had to think of better ways to make them because my husband is now a vegetarian and this is one ingredient that is almost always present. So what we did is that we always have already soaked chickpeas in the freezer, makes it easy to make whatever you want to make faster.
I felt like eating a pottage and made this delicious Chickpeas with Yam and Potatoes Pottage. I enjoyed this meal very much!!!

Ingredient

• chickpeas
• yam
• potatoes
• onions
• salt
• minced garlic
• cumin
• turmeric
• pepper
• seasoning
• basil or parsley 
• palm oil
• groundnut oil

Lets Make It
1. Put your already soaked chickpeas in a pot. Put in enough water, (the longer you allow them soak the shorter time they will spend on heat). Dice your onions and pour it in, save some onions, add salt, minced garlic and cover. Allow it get cooked.
2. When the chickpeas is soft, very soft. Add the already diced and washed yam and potatoes (cute them into bite sizes).
3. Add the seasoning, pepper and cover allow to get cooked.
4. Put a pan large enough to hold the pottage on heat. Pour in little palm oil and groundnut oil (you can use either one of them alone), when hot add the remaining onions, add the turmeric and cumin. Stir very well.
5. Pour in the chickpeas, yam and potatoes. Taste and adjust seasoning to your taste. Stir very well. Add the chopped basil or parsley.
6. It is ready to be enjoyed.

Chickpeas Pottage with yam and potatoes

Plantain Pepper Soup with Goat Meat

And the other day i was craving for Plantain pepper soup and so i made it and boy was i glad i did!!! I finished it almost immediately! Lol

Ingredient

• unripe plantain
• goat meat
• pepper soup spices
• seasoning
• salt
• grounded pepper
• fresh yellow pepper blended (optional)
• onion
• efinrin leave (scent leave)/mint leave
• little palm oil

Lets Make It

1. Wash your goat meat properly. Put in a pot, add the onions, salt, grounded pepper and seasoning. Cover and allow get cooked.

2. Peel your unripe plantain and cut into any shape your want. Wash and set aside.

3. When the meat is cooked add the plantain in. Pour in the fresh blended yellow pepper, the little palm oil, and the pepper soup spices. Cover and allow get cooked. 

4. When the plantain is cooked, taste and adjust seasoning. 

5. Pour in the efinrin leave. Stir very well.

6. It is ready to be enjoyed.

Plantain Pepper soup with Goat Meat 

Homemade Hummus

Happy New Year, been a while, how have you been enjoying playing with recipes with your family! Today i will be sharing with you something that has been a regular in my home.
Hummus is a Middle Eastern recipe, made with a blend of Chickpeas, tahini, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice!!!
Hummus means Chickpeas in Arabic...Its a very healthy dip sauce! Chickpeas are among the best legumes and one of the highest source of protein. Hummus is used as a dip or spread. It is super easy and fast to make, so you can make it fresh when you want.  You can enjoy it with bread but we got stuck munching it with carrots...hehehe

Ingredient

• chickpeas
• tahini
• garlic
• salt
• black pepper
• cumin
• paprika
• olive oil
• water
• lemon juice
• cumin

Lets Make our Hummus
1. Drain your chickpeas, if you are using fresh chickpeas make sure it has soacked for atleast 24
hours
2. Blend the chickpeas and garlic, in a food processor or a mixer. When smooth add the tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, about 2 TBS of water, olive oil, salt, grounded black pepper, cumin and paprika. Blend until smooth.
3. Your fresh homemade Hummus is ready to be enjoyed with either bread, cucumber, carrots, e.t.c

Hummus

Chickpeas

Chili Con Carne

Chili Con Carne is fast becoming one of those popular delicacy at gatherings with friends and while we were on vacation recently i had it at a restaurant and my hubby said how come we have never made it at home...and i said oh! that so true! we have never made it at home and i bet its super easy...So i said why not! and made it for dinner today...It was yummmmmmmmmmmmmy!!!

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp oil
• 500g minced beef
• chopped tomatoes (400g can)
• red kidney beans  (400g can)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• half tsp dried marjoram
• 1 tbs sugar
• beef stock
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp chili power (depending on how hot you want it)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 red pepper
• 1 large onion
• salt 
• pepper

Lets Cook
1. Chop the onions, garlic and red pepper (cut it open and wash out the seeds).
2. Put a pan on heat. Add the oil. When its hot, pour in the onions. Cook for about 3 minutes or until they are soft and translucent.
3. Pour in the chopped red pepper and garlic. Add the chili powder, if you love hot food, you can add a lot of Chili (Its called Chili Con Carne afterall). Add the paprika and cumin. Stir very well and leave to cook for another 5 minutes. Watch it so it doesn't burn.
4. Add the minced meat. Separate the minced meat, break it up with a spatular and spoon. Increase the heat so the meat fry up and not become stew. When it is brown and no longer pink. Pour in the beef stock (if you don't have beef stock, add beef cube in hot water, mix properly)
5. Pour it into the mixture. Add the can of tomatoes in, the marjoram, sugar, salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes paste. Stir it very well. Lower the heat a little bit and allow it to simmer for another 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid it from sticking to the pan, add water if it gets dried up.
6. Drain the beans and stir it into the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if need be. Cover the pot and allow to cook for another 20 minutes, stir from time to time so it doesn't burn. Turn off the heat and leave it for 10 minutes.
7. Serve with your rice, bread, couscous, potatoes or pasta. I ate mine with Rice
N.B: It is usually served with Soured Cream to help tone down the spice but i didn't need one as the chili i used wasn't over powering for me.
Enjoy your meal.

Chili Con Carne and Rice

Chili Con Carne

Chick Peas and Potatoes Pottage

Hola! Am still trying out different things with Chick Peas. So i decided to make a pottage with Chick Peas and Potatoes with Prawns... It tasted more delicious than i thought...YUMMYLICIOUS...

Ingredients 

• chick peas
• potatoes
• prawns
• palm oil
• chilli
• salt
• seasoning 

Lets Cook

1. Soak the Chick Peas. It is better if you soak the Chick Peas hours before you start cooking it.

2. Put the Chick Peas in a pot, add onions and salt. Boil until soft. 

3. Peel the potatoes and cut into little bite sizes. Add it to the Chick Peas.

4. Pour in the Palm Oil. Add the seasoning, chilli and prawns. Allow to simmer.

5. Stir, taste and adjust the seasoning. 

6. Serve and Enjoy. 

Chick Peas and Potatoes Potage 

Chick Peas

Fried Rice and Shredded Beef Stir-Fry

I have come to realize that Stir-Fries are among the fastest and easies meals to prepare and so it is one of my main meals at home as i love fast, easy, delicious dishes... Don't you? hehehehe
So make sure you always have beef and chicken breast in the freezer.

Ingredients

• Beef Sirloin
• Carrots 
• green pepper
• red pepper
• green peas
• mixed vegetables 
• rice
• hoisin sauce
• soy sauce 
• ginger cornstarch 
• beef stock
• sesame oil

Lets Cook
1. Boil the rice. Add some chicken or beef stock in it. Not too much water.
2. Cut the beef, carrots, green pepper and red pepper horizontally.
3. Put a pan on heat, add sesame oil, add onions, pour in the shredded beef and stir.
4. Mix the beef stock, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger and cornstarch. Mix well until smooth. Add the mixture to the chicken on heat and bring to a boil.
5. Put another pan on heat, add butter, when hot stir in onion, vegetable mix, add salt, seasoning, stir. Pour in the rice and stir.
6. Serve the rice and shredded beef stock. Enjoy.

Fried Rice and Shredded Beef Stir-Fry

Boiled Potatoes and Turkey Stew

I had left overs from the Turkey Stew i made for the Chick Peas and Decided to have boiled potatoes with it and i washed it down with fresh Orange Juice...It was cmmmmmmm...Delicious.

Ingredients

• Potatoes
• salt
• garlic gloves

Lets make them
1. Put a put on heat with water.
2. Peel the potatoes, wash them and put them in the put n heat.
3. Add salt and throw in the garlic gloves.
4. When it is soft. Serve with the already warmed Turkey Stew.
5. Enjoy

Boiled Potatoes and Turkey Stew

Chick Peas and Oven Roasted Potatoes with Turkey Stew.

How are you doing? have you played with any recipes recently? Tell me about it... My hubby bought Chick Peas the other day because he read somewhere that it is one of the best source of protein, good for weight loss, it stabilizes the blood sugar, great for the heart and awesome for women, lowers the risk of breast cancer, e.t.c
I wanted to make a meal out of it and not salad or hummus and i made this yumyumyum dinner, Fried Chick Peas, Oven Roasted Potatoes and Turkey Stew.

Ingredients

• Chick Peas
• onions
• chili
• seasoning
• parsley
• olive oil
• salt
• potatoes
• black pepper
• melted butter
• turkey
• tomatoes
• tomatoes paste
• pepper
• garlic
• ginger

Lets Cook:
1. Soak the Chick Peas in cold water and allow to soak for a very long time, the longer the better (It will spend less time on heat and get soft fast).
2. Pre Heat your oven. Half your potatoes, put in a bowl, sprinkle salt, black pepper and the melted butter. After about 10 Minutes, turn the potatoes to the other side. When the potatoes is soft and eatable, turn off the heat.
3. Boil the Turkey with enough seasoning, salt and onions. Blend the tomatoes, pepper, ginger, garlic and some onions.
4. When the turkey is cook. Put a pan on fire. Add little olive oil, when it is hot, Pour in some diced onions, pour the blended tomatoes, add the tomatoes paste. Add a little stock from the turkey. Add salt and seasoning. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add the turkey. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer. Turn off the heat.
5. Put a pot with water on heat. Sifter the soaked chick peas and pour it in the pot when the water starts boiling. Pour in some chopped onions, salt, and seasoning.  When the water has is almost dried, turn off the heat.
6. Spread foil paper on an oven rack and line the potatoes. But it back in the oven.
7. Check the stew, Stir and adjust seasoning. Allow to get as soft as you would like it.
8. Put a pan on heat. Add olive oil. When hot pour in chopped onions. Stir and pour in the Chick Peas. Add chill and the chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning.
9. Serve Chick Peas, with the Roasted Potatoes and Stew. Enjoy.

Chick Peas and Oven Baked Potatoes with Turkey Stew

Happy Mother's Day

Here is wishing all the Mother's Out There a very Happy Mother's Day...Cheers

Happy Valentines Day

Been a while we shared recipes but heres assuring you that more cool recipes will be posted soon. Happy Valentines Day...Celebrate this day by putting a smile on somebody's face and showing them what it means to be loved...Have a Fun filled memorable Valentines Celebration...Cheers

Merrrrrrrry Christmas

Here is wishing you and your entire household a very very merry Christmas and an Amazing New Year in Advance.
Have fun today with your family and put a smile on somebody's face...Cheers

Groundnut Soup and Pounded Yam

I have been craving Groundnut Soup for a very long time now and it is very funny because i have only had it once when i was very little over 18 years ago so i was surprise at how much i felt like just having it. I decided to put the crave to rest and made it for dinner today and i have been asking myself how come it is not a regular in my kitchen because it taste unbelievable GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!! I licked all my fingers like it was my last meal...Found a new soup i love bet you would too...If you love Egusi, you would love it. It is made exactly same way you make Egusi, i bet you know there are several ways to make Egusi, you can either fry or not fry, i try avoiding frying so the process i will be sharing is exactly how i made mine tonight...Let me know when you make yours...Wink

Ingredients 

• fresh groundnut (peanut) 
• tomatoes (fresh)
• meat (assorted)
• onions - chopped
• garlic (minced)
• ginger (minced)
• salt
• seasoning 
• stock fish
• prawns (optional)
• periwinkle
• cow skin (Kpomo) - clean very well and cut into cubes
• bitter leaf - washed
• pumpkin leaf (Ugu) - chopped
• crayfish
• curry
• thyme
• palm oil

Lets Cook:
1. Wash the meat very well, Put in a pot. Add onions, garlic, ginger, curry, thyme, salt, pepper and seasoning. Boil your meat according to toughness, i.e. boil the intestines (shaki, abodi, fuku,e.t.c) first, when it cooks for a while add the beef, allow cook for some time and then add the chicken or turkey.
2. Soak the stock fish in hot water and set aside. It will not only soften the fish but also help clean it and rid it of insects if there is any in it.
3. Check the meat. Add the Cow Skin (Kpomo), periwinkle. If the meat is cooked to your desired preference. Pour in palm oil. Pour in the prawns. Add the crayfish. Stir and cover.
4. Blend the fresh groundnut, fresh tomatoes and onions, add a little water and blend till smooth.
5. Check and make sure the palm oil is cooked (remember that this process can be done differently, you can heat the palm oil in a pan and pour the blended groundnut mixture in it, stir and when smooth pour into the meat) . Pour the groundnut mixture into the boiling meat on heat. Stir and cover. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes. Constantly stir to avoid it burning.
6. Taste ad adjust seasoning if need be. Add the pumpkin leaf (Ugu) you can use any leaf you prefer, you can use just the bitter leaf or you can make the soup leafless.
7. Stir and turn off the heat when the oil starts settling on top it is ready.
8. By now your pounded yam, eba, fufu, semolina, e.t.c should be ready.
9. Serve and enjoy your delicious meal...Cheers

Groundnut Soup and Pounded Yam

Groundnut Soup

Fresh Raw Groundnut (Peatnut)

Spaghetti, Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes Sauce and Mozzarella

I was searching the web for a lovely healthy recipe and found one i loved on http://www.2sistersrecipes.com/2013/09/spaghetti-with-roasted-eggplant-fresh.html made some changes as you know i love to play with recipes. I really did enjoy this recipe, the beauty of it is the freshness in the vegetables so don't over cook yours. I bet it will be a regular in my home, simple, fast, easy and DELICIOUS!!!

Ingredients:

• spaghetti
• eggplant - chopped
• tomatoes - chopped
• green bell pepper - chopped (optional)
• orange bell pepper - chopped (optional)
• yellow bell pepper - chopped (optional)
• prawns (optional)
• onions - chopped
• garlic - minced
• basil - chopped
• mozzarella - chopped 
• olive oil
• salt
• pepper

Lets Cook:
1. Turn your oven to 175F/450C. Pour the chopped Eggplant on an oven proof dish. Drizzle olive oil and salt. Mix well and toss in the oven. Allow roast for about 20 minutes. Take out and set aside.
2. Put a pan on heat. Add olive oil. Stir in the onions and garlic. Let them sweat out. Pour in the tomatoes. Stir for some minutes. Add the green, yellow and orange pepper.
3. Put another pan on heat. Add a little butter, add garlic. Stir in the prawns. Add salt and pepper. When the color has changed. Add it to the tomatoes sauce.
4. Pour in the roasted eggplant. Add salt and pepper. Stir. Taste to adjust seasoning. Add the chopped basil.
5. Boil the spaghetti a la dent. Drain.
6. Pour the spaghetti into the tomatoes sauce. Toss well and allow sit for about a minute.
7. Dish out on a plate and add the mozzarella on it. Enjoy your meal...Cheers

Spaghetti with Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes Sauce and Mozzarella 

The Delicious Sauce!!!

Eggplant, chopped and mixed with olive oil and salt

Roasted Eggplant, fresh out of the oven

All the chopped Ingredients

Chopped Green, Yellow and Orange Bell Pepper

Chopped Onions and Minced Garlic

Chopped Basil 

Chopped Fresh Tomatoes

Cleaned Prawns 

Chopped Mozzarella Cheese

Salmon and Pasta in Cream Sauce

We have been doing a lot of fish lately and salmon tops the list, so i always look out for new recipes with salmon especially wild caught salmon.
Made this lovely wild caught salmon and pasta in cream sauce. I bet you would love it...Wink

Salmon and Pasta in Cream Sauce 

Ingredients:

• wild caught salmon
• salt pepper
• olive oil

Tiramisu

I have always wanted to make this fantastic Italian dessert but for some reason i just have never been able to get all the ingredients complete!
Yesterday i went shopping and i found everything!!! I was so excited and couldn't wait to get home to try on this world famous Italian dessert!
So this was my first attempt at making Homemade Virgin Tiramisu (without the alcohol) i must admit the masala gives it a unique kick but i don't drink alcohol so had to do without it but shockingly it tasted so well that my hubby's friend didn't believe it was my first time making it! I felt really proud and happy at the outcome...Ok enough talking...Lets get to it...Wink

Ingredients:

• lady finger biscuits
• mascopona cheese

MOI-MOI

Moi-Moi is one of the Nigerians favorite side dish aside Plantain. It is made out of beans like the bean cake (Akara).
But most people find it stressful to wash the beans very clean and grind, most people including me! lol. So i decided to try the lazy way out to know if it will still give me the desired result and am telling you the truth and nothing but the truth...It WORKS!!! I used bean flour and it tasted no different!!! Really enjoyed it and have been making Moi-Moi like no mans business because of course its so fast and easy plus i don't have to wash any beans again! ever! hehehe... Wink.

Moi-Moi

Ingredients:

• bean Flour
• red ball pepper (tatashe)

Healthy Vegetable Sauce

My hubby made this sauce some time ago and i immediately fell in love with it, it is so rich and loaded with healthy vegetables, perfect for both vegetarians and non vegetarians. It is a very nice comfort mean that can be eaten with rice, pasta or potatoes. A good way to make the children eat vegetables too. Wink

Ingredients:

• egg plant (chopped)
• squash (chopped)
• fresh tomatoes (chopped)
• potatoes (chopped)
• garlic (minced)
• onions (diced)
• tomatoes paste
• canned tomatoes with juice
• carrots (chopped)
• green pepper (chopped)
• olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• basil
• thyme

Lets Cook:
1. Put a pan on heat. Add olive oil. When hot enough, stir in the onions and garlic. Let it sweat out but don't burn.
2. Pour in the fresh tomatoes, add the canned tomatoes and juice. Stir for a while. Give it about 5 minutes. Add salt, pepper, basil and thyme.
3. Pour in all the remaining ingredients, egg plant, squash, potatoes, and carrots. Cover and allow to steam on low heat.
4. Keep stirring from time to time so it doesn't get burn. The longer it stays on heat the better as all the ingredients will marry well and taste perfect.
5. Use the potatoes as your timer, when the potatoes become really soft then it is ready. Taste and adjust seasoning.
6. It is ready to be served and enjoyed with your rice, pasta or potatoes or you can eat it alone with bread. ENJOY...Wink

Served mine with rice and moi-moi

Beans and Fried Plantain

This is one of my favorite meals! I love beans and plantain so very much, i can make the pottage or have my cooked beans in palm-oil and fried or boiled plantain or fried beans and fried plantain with vegetable or stew...I can go on and on!!! So many ways to enjoy this protein filled meal!!!
For now we will be making beans in palm-oil and fried plantain...when we were young they always said if you wanted to be tall always eat beans! maybe that is why i got stuck loving beans and vegetable with plantain!!! lol...Wink

Beans and Fried Plantain 

Ingredients:

• beans (picked with no stones and dirts)
• crayfish (blended)

Pork Ribs

Pork Ribs has fast become one of my favorite, i always have them in my freezer ready to throw in the oven and it is a winner overtime as everyone loves it!!!

PORK RIBS

It is so simple to make and can be eaten alone, with rice, potatoes, pasta, e.t.c. Its one of those recipes you can never get wrong as it will always taste really good. I have my own twist to make sure it is soft and melt in your mouth as i love it and will be sharing that with you today...Wink

Ingredients:

• pork ribs
• honey