Anytime I start to talk about my kitchen adventures my
sister will say Zansi this your Alase (traditional Party Caterers) business is
booming oh!
When I got married to Bobo I stopped bragging about my
cooking. You see my husband has four sisters and all of them are certified caterers.
They like to cook and they make sure you know that they like and know how to
cook. They all have their specialties from moinmoin to jollof rice to Ikokore.
But you see this quiet akata wife knows how to cook but I don’t brag and I know
when to pick the battles I can win. In fact for years they assumed I don’t cook
but Bobo’s expanding waistline was becoming perplexing. I cook well not
extraordinary but pretty good. The other thing is I like to try new recipes
nothing crazy but just new ways of cooking regular stuff. And Plating ohh… I
love nice plates.
Now let me back track and tell you a little about my
kitchen… I have the tiniest kitchen in the entire Lagos area. I know I’m
exaggerating but my kitchen is tiny. My friend called it cute.. yeah right.
And my gas cooker has only one working burner not two or one
and a half. It has just one. I have my eyes on one cooker that I’m saving up
for. Nothing fancy but really sturdy. Will definitely upload the pictures so
you yes you reading and wondering what to buy for me.. winks
Recently one of the drivers in my office helped me to get a
transistor radio. It was for my French practice but I use it in the kitchen now.
I pray and sing worship songs when I cook. Somehow the food turns out good. It
must be the grace of God… *smiles.
So this weekend the kids were away at my mum’s and I decided
to do some serious cooking so on Saturday after some serious cleaning and
scrubbing of the house I headed off to the market. Saturday in Lagos was
hooooooottt… I was sweating chei! First check: my list
Here’s a list of the things I wanted to make:
Efo Riro
Healthy Efo
Spagetti Bolognese
Buka Stew
Ewedu
Beef Stew
Beans
Coconut Rice with Chopped Vegs
Vegetable Salad
The Efo Riro, Healthy Efo riro, Spagetti Bolognese, Buka Stew, Ewedu, Gloria's Beef stew, Zobo and beans recipies were all gotten from Dooney's Kitchen Here
The Salad and Coconut rice recipes are mine.
Here’s some of the things I bought
Pepper – N500 (N is Nigerian Naira)
Lemon – N100
Shrimps and Prawns –N500
Beef and Tripe - N500
Ponmo (cow skin) – N200
Ewedu- N50 ( I used just like 70% Threw the rest away. The
picking was becoming tedious)
Okro – N50
Dry pepper – N200
Cabbage, Carrots, Green Pepper,Lettuce - N750
Vegetable (Soko) - N300
Crayfish, Eja Sawa and Locust Beans (Iru) - N300
This totals to N3,450 ... I spent way more than this because I also bought staples for the house and kids.
I put up the costs to give you an idea of the quantities I bought.
L-R: Efo Riro, Dooney's Buka Stew, Dooney's Ewedu |
Mentions:
A lot of things are not on the list because I have them at
home and we only cook in small quantities in my house because of a combination
of freezer space, nepa things, bobo’s aversion to food from the freezer beyond
a week. Two weeks max.
I also used a lot of turkey and gizzard because I had them
at home too. For my Buka stew I added the turkey at the very end because turkey
cannot handle so much gragra.
Spagetti Bolognese is out because I forgot to buy the minced
beef. I also forgot to buy the orange for the Zobo. I still went ahead to make
it!
Heathy Efo is off the list well because the pepper finished.
The Efo Riro did not hit the spot so I remixed it adding a lot more atarodo and
then it did.
I left the beans because there was just too much food flying around and when I started cooking the Buka stew my kitchen started smelling like a buka.... really freaky and I don't like buka food (*covers face). I just don't like it at all... but by the next day the stew smelt great.
And Please please please wash up as you go along you end up with cooked food and a clean kitchen right about the same time. #Chef Fregz
Also recipes are guides.. so let them do just that ... guide you!
Here’s the list of what I will be cooking next so watch out
for Part 2 …..nollywood style
Spagetti Bolognese
Beans with seafood
Caramel
Grilled Fish
Pancakes/Crepes
Sandwich
Salad
Coconut Rice
Love Zansi
P.s
I started my garden in February. Can’t wait to start reaping
the harvest. This farming business is not a joke oh.. just making mistakes and
correcting and correcting … But I have God and my very own consultant.. mama
senami thats's my mum. * smiles.
I also started my recipe cards and can’t wait to show them
off.
Nice article. At some point, I started feeling hungry. Lol @ having the tiniest kitchen in Lagos...
ReplyDeleteThanks Kneeykay...Still more foodie things coming soon... afterall man or woman must wack. But off to do some Yoga things
ReplyDeleteWhy am I just discovering this blog Zanziiiii??? Now you make me feel inept, you have a 9-5 job like me, but then you still have husband and TWO kids to attend to and on top of that you have time to cook a storm in the kitchen, regularly exercise and keep a GARDEN??? I have to rethink my life, no more excuses. We NEED to see in church this sunday oo. Let me settle in and read more entries but you are doing a fantastic job Z!
ReplyDelete