The Butterfly

Who? | A brief history | Why KB? | Yet another blog? |22 Things

Who?

Ozoz. Nigerian-born, Liverpool-schooled (in part) and now living and working in The Netherlands Nigeria. Also a Child of God, Wife to One (critic extraordinaire) and full-time working Mama of Three.  Did I mention food-struck?

For the first 9 years of my life, I hated food and really loved sugar. I redefined the concept of food storage and preservation as a child- often going to bed with my dinner in my mouth (which always seemed to miraculously reappear behind the deep freezer!). Ask my mum who can’t believe it when she sees me these days, a little bit round.

Me, colour accents

A brief history

‘Thank you Wimpy, you saved my life’. That’s what the headlines should have said in the summer of ’85 when my dad took my older sis and I to Edinburgh. We went to the festival which rocked. We saw the marches, walked in the gardens and caught a glimpse of the floral clock, all on the fateful day when…… hunger struck!I was 9 years old and had never experienced a day’s hunger in my entire life. This girl suddenly found herself ravenous and starving so that when we arrived at Wimpy, I literally fell on my kid’s meal – something or the other with fries, can’t remember exactly what it was but I ate it and washed it down with Mirinda. My dad, in shock watched me for the first time in his entire life, eat my way through a meal with neither threat nor tears! In delight, bless his soul, he asked if I wanted a second meal and having savoured the flavour of junk food, I said yes! yes!! yes!!! and I ate it ALL up. And then I cried. Full and over-fed to the point of pain. Never before had that happened. My little stomach had been stretched beyond its bounds….and it hasn’t looked back since. Poor thing, ….. sometimes.

Why KB?

I’ve evolved in distinct phases – like the butterfly. I am flighty. I am constantly seeking…. content with my life but still in search of more. I am big on combinations – cross-pollinating and cross-fertilization. I’m big on flavours and textures. I love pretty. And colour.

Eggs CaterpillarChrysalis Flighty

Yet another blog?

Yes, to add to the millions in the blogosphere! Well, I have too many notebooks. Too many recipes in my head. Uncooked, unloved, unshared. I can’t go on like this. When I discovered that there were other food fiends out there like me, who oohed and ahhed and poohed (over their goof s and gaffes), I realized I didn’t have to stay pen-glued-to-paper. Actually, even though I’d been reading blogs for a couple of years, it never occurred to me I could start my own. Late last year though, I finally stepped off the edge when P (my Mexican amiga) started a blog.

I love food. Talking, feasting, seeing, photographing, writing, dreaming, scheming, shopping, reading. I love all action words to do with food. And as my man says, since the inevitable is unavoidable – here I am.

21 Things

  1. I’m a born foodie… well, forget the 9-year post-birth period. They don’t count.
  2. I’m always up to and in the middle of something.
  3. When he was 2 years old, I thought my son was a natural cook because he was addicted to spoons, till I read Talent is overrated.
  4. My girls love to cook with me, sometimes they don’t eat, can’t eat the things we’ve made like my granary pizza…. sorry no pictures yet. I’ll try and repeat the miserable feat and tell.
  5. I dispel the myth that all black men can dance.
  6. I’m constantly craving something.
  7. I hate to throw things away. I’m a proud collector of many a thing – buttons, cookbooks and other ‘stuff’.
  8. I love to shop.
  9. I’d rather shop for veg than shoes.
  10. And yes, I’m female.
  11. You’ll find me headed to the ‘sales aisles’ when I go into a home shop.
  12. There are designer bags in our home, they don’t belong to me or the kids.
  13. I almost always have a pen(cil) and notebook with me.
  14. I vacillate between absolutely organized chaos (my kids are my excuse) and compulsive cleaning.
  15. I love combinations – food, talk and photos, what more could a girl wish for? Don’t ask me or I’ll tell.
  16. I love to take bite-sized slices of life and grow in leaps and bounds.
  17. Sometimes I eat a whole dinner standing up, before dinnertime.
  18. I am a little good at improvising.
  19. I make a recipe as is…. on very rare occasion.
  20. I feel really blessed to be who I am and have all I have.
  21. I want more, but I’m thankful to God for today.

24 Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing a bit of “you” with us! 🙂 You are delightful and I’m so glad I found your blog today. 🙂

  2. What a wonderful website! I finally had the time to have a good look around and there is too much to read! Thank you for visiting my site too.

    I am also determined to convert figjamandlimecordial to silicone!

  3. Aloha my mad little butterfly!!!…I hope you continue to flap your lady like wings around the world until to have taste tested every last drop of food!

    Im sure we will meet again

    Cx

  4. My lovely kitchen OZ! It was so lovely to meet you- such a brilliant personality, loads of fun and super genuine! I absolutely love your blog and really looking forward to all the reading! Thanks for my coaster- I LOVE IT! It suits perfectly with my kitchen and all the other retro bits I’ve picked up along the way. You’re a true diva!

    Much love and huge hugs,
    Bethxx

  5. Hi Ozoz, your blog is wickedly awesome, I look forward to reading all of your post. We have a huge population of Nigerians here in Houston,great ppl, hard working entrepenuers to say the least. Take care!!

  6. I’m completely blown away…not only do I read your thoughts and go…”yeah, um huh, understand that, yep, feel that way too..um huh”…. but I see your pics and love the beauty. I feel a crazy food kinship to you and thank you for this blog…I’m so very happy to have found this!

  7. Ozoz,

    A nicely hidden talent you have! Combining comms with your favourite hobby! I will be keeping my eye on your blog. Cheers, Irene

  8. Wow, I knew you liked food but I really had no idea!!!!! Amazing, inspiring, truly a work of art. I’ve found my new favorite blog! Thank you.

  9. Hi Ozoz,
    You never seize to amaze me. You have such beautiful site filled up with lots of mouth-watering recipes. I tried a fish meal the other day and it came out so nice. Keep at what you’re doing. I love it and will see you again soon.
    Lots of love

  10. Hi KB,

    So sorry I missed you while you were in London and when I was in Amsterdam! Hope our paths will cross again sometime soon and we can talk about food while eating something amazingly delicious…

    –Mei from Family Styles

  11. I just discovered your blog and I love it!I love your pictures and the way your write!I know I’ll learn a lot from you and now that Ive started reading your blog, I just seem to cant get enough!

  12. Hello, nice to meet you. Thanks for visiting my blog, I am a new blogger too. I started my blog with my cooking children, (2 girl , 1 boy) but they have yet to contribute more than taste testing! See you soon.
    Mimi

  13. Hello! Thank you for dropping by at my blog. Great to hear from another foodie who is really passionate about ingredients, photography and life!

    Great to see all your bakings and I can improve on mine too 🙂 Have a good day.

  14. This is really beautiful and eye-catching. Your pictures are crisp,clear and speak in volumes.
    I am not a foodie but who knows what’s going to happen after my visit to your blog.
    Keep it going…You got something here!!!

  15. Ozoz, finally visited your blog and it’s awesome 🙂 thanks for stoppin by The Sugar Bar. glad to have met another foodie friend. xx

  16. It was great that I got to know your blog this morning — really beautiful photos, recipes and yourself!

    I will definitely visit your blog again and again.

  17. little wonder you are doing this. its true to your type, and i can attest to a loooot of these comments ,lol.
    this is a beautiful blog.
    love, love, love it.

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