The image is not always what it seems!

 A lot of times we are blinded by what we see and make a lot of assumptions from what we see but the truth is; what we see is only the surface and like an ice berg,that is just 1%. The remaining 9% is immersed in water.
 People like to carry on facades of personas. I've come to learn that.
 Never be blinded by "perfect images" trust me, a lot of it are photo shopped.

 Your marriage,job,home,academics,business or whatever it is that concerns you is fine the way it is. If it's not,that's okay too.
 Have you ever had to say 'I'm  okay'even when your heart is hurting? Then think about it. How many people tell you they're more than fabulous which is just a mask behind their crumbling world.
 Comparison is a thief of joy I must say. Sometimes it's okay to have the trials because it can only make the testimony pronounced and celebrated. After the storm comes the testimony.
  Weeping may last the night but joy comes in the morning. Its a new year people. Let's enjoy the life we've been blessed with while we cook the one we dream about into reality. Have a lovely day. Cheers!

cupcakes

I decided to make some fluffy delicious cakes to share on my daughter's birthday to her friends. This is what I used and came up with. Bear in mind I'm no confectionary guru/expert or cake boss. Still 1 in the making though. Lol. But I do applaud my effort though.

Ingredients 

1)2 cups of flour

2)2teaspoon of vanilla flavor

3)4 eggs

5) a stick of butter

6)11/2 cups of sugar

7)3 teaspoons of baking powder

8)1 cup of milk

9)queens rainbow sprinkles

10)icing sugar

Process

Using my inherited mixer

(ps- this mixer existed before I was born. I was lucky to get it from my mom) I think the brand name is moulinex, I creamed my sugar and butter together for 15 minutes. 

 Then I added the eggs. And mixed some more.

 I added the vanilla flavor and mixed for 3 minutes. 

I served together the flour and baking powder. I gradually added it with the milk intermittently. I removed,placed my cupcake paper into the cupcake tin and baked for 20min. I removed and allowed to cool.

BUTTER ICING

For the icing I beat together my icing sugar and soft butter(half a stick) till smooth. Then I added 2 tablespoons of milk and a tablespoon of food coloring and mixed.

 That's what I used to ice with the help of my pipe and nozzle. 

 After icing I sprinkled my rainbow sprinkles to beautify and also to partially hide my flawed icing. 

maids and babies!!!

Being a mom is one of the most challenging roles one will ever take on and it poses more of challenge for working mom's. Leaving these innocent 

 kids in the trust and care of another is mandatory as taking them to work is not an option. 

 As a mom your patience is stretched to the limits by your babies constant demands, tantrums, mood swings etc.

 Not everyone has the patience to endure. Especially for maids and baby sitters  who have never being parents. 

 I was inspired to write this as this is a really touchy subject and when I came across this video my heart bled for that pour child that had to endure this cruelty from her care taker. 

 While we take care of kids, it is ultimately God that protects them and we should pray our kids never fall into hands like this. https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/video.ak/hvideo-ak-xaf1/v/t42.1790-2/10801112_10152933088817845_1746402784_n.mp4?rl=300&vabr=134&oh=6ead718246702a28b18f4fa50a887527&oe=54725225&__gda__=1416702700_baca9329009f865729abc7ac0a5442cd

 This happened in Uganda and obviously using a hidden camera. 

chocolate chip cookie with a surprise peanut butter center

1. 11/2cup of all purpose flour

2. 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

3. 1/2 cup of white sugar

4. 1/2 cup of soft margarine 

5. 1 pack of unsweetened chocolate bar broken into pieces.

6. 1 teaspoon of vanilla flavor 

7. 1egg
8. 1/4 cup of peanut butter
9. 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar

For the peanut butter surprise;
Combine 3/4 cup of confectioners sugar with 3/4 cup of peanut butter till well blended and mold into small balls.

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl mix together flour and baking powder. Mix until well blended.

In a large bowl blend beat white and brown sugar, butter or margarine and peanut butter until well blended. Stir in flour mixture until well blended. Use a spatula to gently stir in the broken chocolate chips.
With floured hands shape about 1 table spoon of dough around 1peanut butter ball. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Flatten with glass dipped in white sugar.

banga soup

INGREDIENTS

Banga soup

Palm kernels

Stock fish

Dried fish

Rosemary leaves

Beef

Kpomo

Pepper soup spice mix( it consists of different spices mixed together and has a strong scent)

Corn starch (this thickener is only necessary if your soup is too watery)

Salt

Knor chicken seasoning cubes

Crayfish pounded

Fresh pepper

Onions

PROCESS

Spice and Cook your meat, kpomo and stockfish together till tender.

 Cook the palm kernel fruit for 30minutes.

Remove and pound till the flesh comes off of the fruit.

Place the pounded palm kernel into a colander with tiny perforation and add water bit by bit to rinse off the juice from the body of the fruit and the flesh into a bowl placed underneath the colander.

Pour the liquid gotten from the rinse into the meat and place on the fire. Cook for 10min and add your dried fish,onions,pepper,crayfish,salt,knor cubes,peppersoup spice,rosemary leave and cover to cook till u begin to see oil atop the soup.

If the consistency is too watery at this time, dissolve a bit of corn starch(2tablespoons) and pour into it to thicken it.

Serve with semovita,pounded yam eba or even rice.

Bon apetit!

fried cat fish with fried rice

I begin this post by expressing my in depth gratitude to God for giving my brothers jobs. I'm so happy.
Tonight I'm in the mood for fish. Lots of it.
 I've told my friend Joy  that I will never fry cat fish because it's the easiest fish to scatter during frying and I didn't want to get into that. But today I decided to go against that. To prevent the frying some flour was needed. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients

Cat fish
Ginger
Garlic
Salt
Seasoning cubes
Onions(sliced)
Fresh pepper (blended)
Thyme
Soy sauce
1/4 cup of Canola oil
Flour

Direction

Mix all ingredients except the oil and flour into the fish and rub in very well. Allow to marinate for 3hours.
 Make sure all the parts of the fish gets the ingredients.
 And also Make sure the fish is not cut into thick slices so it can cook through .
Dip into the flour the fish.
Fry in preheated oil.
I served it with rice.

FRENCH TOAST.

6 thick slices bread

2 eggs

2/3 cup milk

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp vanilla extract

salt to taste

I

DIRECTIONS 

Beat eggs together with milk, salt, spices and vanilla. Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium heat. Dunk each slice of bread in egg mixture, soaking both sides. Place in pan and cook on both sides till golden brown.‎