The view before me is green. Lush,thick and wet with Lagos rain. The grey skies, light with mist hold beauty in the clouds. I see it all from the departure lounge. I am staring through glass while listening to Alicia Keys sing about New York in ‘Empire State of Mind’. I sing along and dream of the concrete jungle, hotdogs, blueberry muffins and steaming cups of cappuccino. Central Park, Lady Liberty, Times Square and lots of inspiration. Plus meeting up with some of my favourite people, like norma of platanos, mangoes and me. But first there is a week in...
Technique: How to Cold-Coal Smoke Food
Moving on……with hope! Great techniques are a gift…that don’t stop giving, whether it is tea-smoking or cold-brewing. Today’s nifty ‘smoking’ tip comes from Indian Chef Reza Muhammad who created a delicious Spiced Smoked Salmon recipe – but not the smoked salmon you are used to! He uses heated coals, ghee and spices to create intense, refined smoky flavours without sweating near a barbeque stand – coal, wood-fired or gas!
Life
Life is funny. All of the last two weeks, I’ve moaned about my poor internet connection – I haven’t been able to browse, blog or do all the stuff I would normally do. And then yesterday, there was a plane crash in my country, Nigeria. So many people gone – and now my poor internet connection seems trivial, inconsequential. How vulnerable we are. But the most surprising thing is….life goes on. People walk about, cry, live and its not as if they don’t grieve but they have to go on still. I’m trying to grieve but its hard. I feel this deep stillness, a...
Teacup Muffins: Back to the Future
These were the very first things I baked. And by that I mean the very first thing I baked as an adult. Adulthood haven being attained with marriage and childbirth. Sure I’d baked the odd cake, cookie even as a child, but none of those count in the newness of being that is adulthood. Something to do with little divide called ‘the teenage years’.
Le Beurre Fait Maison, Homemade Butter
I’ve got my arms around something. Its butter! But not just any kind of butter. And no, not sticks. Its real butter. Homemade butter. Le beurre fait maison.
May 2012: In My Kitchen
In my kitchen are some of my most treasured possessions: Glass jars with metal gingham covers, in a variety of colours and sizes.
Nigerian Street Food: Bole & Fish
I haven’t met a fish tail I didn’t like. Or couldn’t eat. Don’t get me wrong though, it hasn’t been all fun and games. Not especially on that Monday afternoon, decked in a white top and sky blue dress, ready to wow my audience at the afternoon meeting. All this without properly consulting my fish tail. And then, ‘bam’, a piece of smoke-cooked fish, blanketed in bright orange palm oil sauce proceeds to land on my top. My white top. ‘Ha, gotcha’, it thought but it was I…who had gotten it!
Kitchen Butterfly featured on Gourmet Live
Back in January…. (gosh where has time gone???), Gourmet.com featured me in their ‘Foodblogger of the week’ and thrilled was I… [wpurp-searchable-recipe]Kitchen Butterfly featured on Gourmet Live – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]
Me and My Mangoes
I am three times a lady. I want you to remember that. No matter what you read in the coming minutes, just think ‘Three times a lady’. Time one – I have ‘trained’ myself to wear 6-inch heels, with little fear of tragedy a la sprained ankles and I can actually walk in them. Time two – I had a pedicure today, and my toe nails will soon sport a fresh coat of red nail polish. Time three – I know what the word ‘decorum’ means. decorum |diˈkôrəm| noun behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety : you exhibit...