Maury's Blog

Beans Porridge Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 22:13:00 +0000

If you are wondering what to make for lunch or dinner then wonder no more because this beans porridge recipe that i am about to share with you is so easy to make and delicious to the taste buds. You can eat it just on it's own or pair it with rice, potatoes, yam, plantains or even pasta. The secret to the softness of this beans recipe is that the beans are soaked for over 6 hours before cooking. The best is even to soak it over night. But do the one that is convenient for you. I also added parsley, celery, ginger and garlic. The taste is so good and the flavour is out of this world.

Beans Porridge Recipe
Cuisine: African
Course: Lunch/ dinner
Duration: 45 mins- 1 hour

Ingredients

4 cups of black eyed peas, soaked and boiled till soft.
8 large fresh tomatoes, blended
2 Tablespoons of pepper paste
Crayfish to taste
I large onion
1 Tablespoon ginger paste
1/2 Tablespoon garlic paste
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 large green bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
3 seasoning cubes
Salt to taste
1 cup of water

Directions

Place a clean pot on the cooker over medium heat and add the oil.
Add the diced onions and cook till soft and transparent.
Add the blended spices ( ginger, garlic, celery and parsley).
Fry for about two minutes then add the tomatoes. Fry for about 10 minutes.
Add the water, crayfish , pepper, seasoning, curry powder.
Cover the pot and allow it to boil for about 10 minutes.
Add the boiled beans and salt to taste.
Cover the pot and allow it to cook over low heat for 15 minutes.
Add the diced green pepper and stir till it's incorporated.
Allow to cook for 2 more minutes before bringing it down.
Serve hot.

Vegetable Sauce(Spinach) Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Mon, 25 May 2020 17:21:00 +0000

Yes am in love with eating vegetables. So I make it in different ways. In this particular recipe i add raw melon seed or peanut paste, whichever one u have is ok but the taste is slightly different from each other. I used smoked fish but you can use fresh fish, dry fish, beef, cow skin, chicken or what have you? I also love the hint of cumin and white pepper. I prefer pairing it with boiled unripe plantain but u can eat it the way you like. Other suggestions are potatoes, rice, yam and ripe plantains or even corn meal (corn fufu). Use the one you have, it's ok...

Vegetable Sauce Recipe
Cuisine: African
Course: Lunch, dinner

Ingredients

- 6 to 8 medium tomatoes, diced
- Spices( ginger, garlic, celery, parsley), blended.
- Vegetable ( I used a mixture of green and melon), diced, blanched and drained.
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- Pepper to taste
- 1 large onion ,diced
- 3 seasoning cube of choice
- Salt to taste
- Vegetable oil
- Smoked fish, washed and cut into small bits
- Curry and white pepper powder
- 1 cup raw peanuts, peeled and blended to paste
- 3 tablespoons of grounded Crayfish
- About 10 unripe plantain fingers

(c) Mary's Blog

Directions

1. Peel, wash and boil the plantain. Put out the heat and add cold water. Set pot aside.

2. Place a clean dry pot on the cooker and add vegetable oil.

3. Allow to heat up then add the diced onions. Cook till soft.

4. Add the tomatoes and cook for about 10 mins.

5. Add the peanut paste and crayfish. Cook for about 10 mins stirring to avoid burning.

(c) Mary's Blog

6. Add seasoning cubes, pepper, cumin, curry powder, white pepper and salt.

7. Add in the drained blanched vegetable and stir with wooden spoon to combine all ingredients.

8. Cover pot and cook for 5 mins since the vegetable is already cooked during branching process.

9. Bring down from heat, drain the water from plantain and serve hot together. Yummy...

Cameroonian Bean Pudding (Koki) Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Sun, 24 May 2020 12:11:00 +0000

"Koki" is one of the Cameroonian dishes i loved so much when i was growing up . but this bean pudding is is different from the usual moin moin we know in Nigeria. It is made with palm oil which gives it this unique colour, flavour and taste. I like puddings that are tied with plantain leaves before steaming because the fresh leaves gives the food a very nice aroma. The only thing i do not like is that its quite tasky and has many procedures. You have to really make out time to prepare this dish and i asure you that the time you spend on making it is worth it.

Cameroonian Bean Pudding(koki)

Ingredients

- 3 cups of black eyed peas

- 35cl of palm oil

- About twelve plantain or moin moin leaves, washed and dried.

- Salt to taste

- 4 seasoning cube

- Pepper to taste

- Boiled ripe or unripe plantains to serve.

- Ropes for tying

- 2 cups of warm water

     Method Of Preparation

1. Pick the beans, wash and remove skin.
2. Soak the washed beans in water for about an hour
3. Blend the beans using a blender at home or a commercial grinding machine to a smooth consistency.

4. Place a clean dry sauce pan on the cooker and add the palm oil. heat over medium heat for 5 minutes. Allow to cool.
5. Add the palm oil and warm water to the bean paste and mix till incorporated.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste.

7. Take a small bowl, place clean leaves to form a well and spoon the bean paste into the leaves. tie and place in a clean pot lined with cut out a rice bag.
8. Repeat the process till all the paste is tied.
9. Cover the pot and place on the cooker over medium heat.

10. Add boiled water and steam for about an hour, adding the boiled water as it dries up,

   11. Serve hot with boiled ripe or unripe plantains, yam and potatoes, Bon Appetit !!

Vegetable Egg Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Sun, 17 May 2020 20:51:00 +0000

Eating vegetables is one of the things i do not joke with now. I remember when my mum use to force us to eat it. It was such a nightmare for me then. But now knowing how important and nutritious it is, I try as much as possible to eat it by incorporating it in almost everything I make. One of the dishes I like adding green leafy veggies to is egg sauce. You know egg sauce looks and tastes delicious on it's own but i asure you that after tasting the one with veggies added in it, you would never want to have egg sauce again just plain. I used melon leaves (ugu) but you can feel free to use any green leafy vegetable of your choice.

Vegetable Egg Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

- 6 large eggs
- 5 large ripe tomatoes, diced
- 1 large onion, diced
- pepper
- Salt to taste
- 2 Chicken seasoning cubes
- white pepper
- 2 Bell peppers( red and green)
- Curry powder
-Vegetable oil
- Melon leaves, washed and diced (about a hand full) (optional)

(c) Maury's Blog

Method

Place a clean, dry sauce pan on the cooker over medium heat and add the oil.
When it is heated add the onions and sauté till it becomes transparent.
Add the diced tomatoes, pepper and cook for about 10 - 15 minutes.
Beat the eggs while the tomatoes is cooking and add to the pot. Do not stir immediately.
After about 2 minutes stir well and add the spices, salt and seasoning to taste. Your sauce is ready.

6. But if you are using Vegetable, add the diced vegetables and stir till incorporated. Allow to cook for 2 minutes and your veggie egg sauce is ready.

Tips

Always wash your leafy greens before dicing in order to retain the nutrients and folate.
After adding the vegetable, do not over cook so it will be crunchy .
You can serve with potatoes and plantains (both ripe and unripe) as well.

Tasty Potato Nuggets

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Fri, 01 May 2020 14:47:00 +0000

The only ways I knew how to eat Irish potatoes is when it is made into French fries, boiled and eaten with egg sauce, vegetable sauce and also made as hot pot. When I stumbled upon this recipe online last week, I decided to give it a try. It's just like you are making akara but instead of grinding the potatoes, you grate it just the way you grate carrots that you use for salad. It will look coarse and not fine. Egg is also added after squeezzing out the water from the grated potatoes, followed by pepper , salt and seasoning of choice. I also added crushed garlic because I love the taste of garlic in fried snacks. Feel free to add the spice that you like but season well with salt to avoid a bland taste. Well enough of the explanation let me take you through the recipe itself.

Potato Nuggets (Hash Browns) Recipe
Cuisine: American
Course: Snack, Breakfast

(c)Maury's Blog

Ingredients

- 6 medium Irish potatoes
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 seasoning cube of choice
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large garlic clove, crushed(optional)

Method

1. Peel the potatoes and wash. Dry using a kitchen towel

2. Using a box grater, grate the potatoes. Use the side used for grating carrots for salad.

(c)Maury's Blog

3. After grating the potatoes, use a clean cheese cloth or chiffon cloth to squeeze out the water from the grated potatoes in two batches. Discard water.

4. Place the squeezed potatoes in a medium bowl. Add one egg, salt, seasoning, white pepper, black pepper, grounded pepper, crushed garlic and salt.

5. Mix well then place a clean sauce pan on the stove over medium heat. Add vegetable oil up to a 1/4 level.

6. Heat oil but it should not be too hot. Form the potatoes into balls and add to the hot oil. Flatten with a spoon.

(c)Maury's Blog

7. Fry on one side till golden brown then flip so the other side is fried as well.

8. Drain on a paper towel and repeat the process. Serve hot alone or with ketchup.

Delicious Banana Pancakes

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 07:10:00 +0000

Banana is one of the fruits that I love and I like it in snacks, ice cream, cakes and pancakes. The best type of banana to be used in this recipe is overripe bananas. The one with dots that the flavour is oozing out each time you pass by the kitchen counter. This give the pancakes it unique sweetness and aroma that is irresistible and you won't stop at one when you start eating. Even while frying the pancakes the whole kitchen "goes Bananas" with the sweet flavour combined with the vanilla. It's just so inviting. Nutmeg and cinnamon are a pair that I add to banana cake and banana pancakes as well, but you may ommit if you are not a fan. If you make this recipe quite often then you will decide which spice or flavour to add that suits your taste buds.

Banana pancakes

Cuisine: Continental
Course: Breakfast

Pixabay

Ingredients

- 2 large overripe bananas
- 2 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar ( optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Mix flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking powder, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Make a well in the centre and set aside.

2. In another bowl mix eggs, vanilla, milk and mashed bananas.

3.Make a well in the center of the flour mixture ,our the egg mixture into the flour mixture and mix. If too thick add 1/4 cup of water and mix.

4. Place a clean non stick frying pan over medium heat and add little oil. Bend the pan to distribute the oil on the surface of the pan.

5. Scoop 4 tablespoons of batter into the center of the hot frying pan and tilt the pan to allow the batter to spread to the entire surface. Allow to cook for about 3 minutes then flip to the other side and fry till golden brown.

6. Remove from pan and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Serve hot with syrup or honey.

Sweet Potato Buns

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 16:53:00 +0000

Sweet potato is a root vegetable that is mostly eaten in many homes either for porridge, boiled and eaten with egg sauce or used for French fries. But another way to eat sweet potatoes is when used to make buns. YES ! I mean buns. I got this recipe from a friend and decided to give it a try with some changes I made and I have became hooked. One thing I like about this recipe is that it does not require any sugar. I added 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder. Instead of fresh pepper ,I decided to use dry chilli powder but used red bell pepper and onion to garnish it before frying. I also added nutmeg to enhance the flavour. The taste is just like you are eating sweet potato fries but in a different way. It's so yummy that you won't want to stop until you finish all. Come on let's get to the recipe right away.

Sweet Potato Buns Recipe
Cuisine: African
Course: Breakfast/Snack
Duration: 45 mins - 1 hour

(c)Maury's Blog

Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled boiled with salt and mashed
1 cup flour
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 small nutmeg, grated
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion chopped
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon chilli powder
1 liter of vegetable oil for frying

(c)Maury's Blog

(c)Maury's Blog

Directions

1.Put the mashed potatoes in a bowl and add the eggs. Mix until smooth.
2. Add the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, chilli powder and mix
3. Lastly add the chopped bell pepper and onions and mix to form a pasty dough.
4. Put a clean pot on the cooker over medium heat and allow to dry and add the oil
5. When oil has heated, form round small balls with dough and put in the hot oil
6. Fry until golden brown. Remove and drain. Repeat the process.
7. Serve on its own or with pap, custard, tea or fruit juice of choice. Bon appétit 🍽.

Fish Roll Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 15:39:00 +0000

This is one of my favourite snack when I was growing up in Cameroon. Then you find it in the street, at school or mum buys them when she goes to the market. I used to wonder how it was made until I became an adult. Several attempts to make it failed. But I never gave up until I came across this recipe which was a huge success. I used fresh Fish, tomatoes, onions, celery, spring onions, carrots and green pepper. You can add any veggie of choice but the fish is the main ingredient for the filling.

Fish Roll Recipe
Cuisine: African
Course: Snack

Ingredients

For The dough

- 2 cups of flour
- 4 Tbspoons soft butter
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 3/4 teaspoon yeast
- 1 1/4 Tbspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 Liter of vegetable oil

For The Filling

- 1 Fresh fish( I used makerel) of choice, boiled and flesh removed from bones
- 1 onion or spring onions cut into bits
- 2 fresh tomatoes, cut into bits
- 1 cup of shredded celery
- 1 cup of shredded carrots
- 2 Tbspoons oil
- 1 teaspoon Pepper powder
-1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 cube of seasoning of choice.

(c)Maury's Blog

Directions

For The Fish Filling

Put a sauce pan on the cooker on medium heat
Add the oil and salt, then put in the onions, green pepper, and stir for 1 minute.
Add the tomatoes and stir fry for 2 minutes before adding the shredded carrots. If too dry add a little water.

Cover and allow to cook for 5 minutes and turn off the heat. Set aside and allow to cool down.

(c)Maury's Blog

For The Dough

Put the yeast in the warm water, stir and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
In a medium bowl mix flour, butter, sugar and salt.
Pour the yeast into the flour mixture and mix till it forms a dough.
Cover with kitchen towel and allow to proof for 45 minutes.
Punch the dough down with hand and knead with a little flour till smooth.
Divide the dough into smaller dough balls of about 2 ounce each.
Roll out each 2 ounce dough flat to about 1/2 inch in diameter.
Add one Tablespoon of filling at one end of the flat dough.
Using your two hands, roll the dough around the filling till u reach the other end. Repeat the process.
If you want to bake, place on a greased and lined baking tray and bake for about 30 to 45 minutes. Then cool
If frying, put a clean frying pan which should be a bit deep on the cooker and add oil. When hot fry the fish rolls in batches. And drain. Serve as desired.

Jollof Macaroni Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:21:00 +0000

Pasta is one of the dish that I do not like eating very often because it contains a lot of carbs but whenever I make it I like adding vegetables. Pasta can be made in many different ways. The way I like mine may not be the way you like yours. A very dear friend of mine once told me that he boils pasta and add milk to it and take it like cereal. Each to their own right? This particular recipe i want to share with you has been a family favorite. My mum used to make it for us when we were growing up. But I used smoked chicken sausages as protein but you can feel free to use any protein of your choice such as chicken, beef or fish. Spiral shaped macaroni was used but you can use any shape that you like. Spaghetti can also be used in the place of macaroni. I also added white pepper powder and green bell pepper which gives the dish a distinct aroma. Trust me you are going to to be hooked after tasting this pasta. Come on let's get to the recipe right away.

Jollof Macaroni Recipe
Cuisine: African
Course: Lunch/Dinner
Duration: 45 mins - 1 hour

1 pack of any shape of macaroni of choice (250g)
1 pack of smoked chicken sausages
Tomato paste
1 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 cup of water
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion chopped
Salt to taste
3 Tablespoons pepper paste
2 seasoning cubes
4 Tablespoons of vegetable oil for cooking

Directions

1. Cook pasta accord to package instructions and set aside.
2. Place a clean pot on the cooker over medium heat and when it's heated add the oil.
3. Fry the sausages until no longer pink inside then set aside.
4. Add the opinions to the oil still on the heat. Fry till soft.
5. Add the tomato and pepper paste and fry for about 10 minutes.
6. Then add the water, other spices and seasoning cube as well as the sausages.
7. Cover the pot and allow to cook for about 10 minutes then add the cooked pasta and stir well to combine.
8. Check the salt and allow the pasta to heat up over low heat for about 10 minutes.
9. Pasta is ready. Remove from heat and serve hot. Bon appétit 🍽.

Sandwich Toast Bread Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 17:57:00 +0000

If you are tired of eating regular bread slices like me then this post is for you. I like my bread toasted with some filling. Well I don't like butter but I prefer other fillings like stir fried fish and veggies, peanut butter, grounded beef, nuttela, baked beans, boiled egg mixed with mayonnaise and what have you?, and toasting it makes it look different and tastes special too. But be reminded that you need a sandwich toaster for this. For this recipe I used fresh fish sauteed with veggies such as spring onions, green bell pepper, onions, shredded carrots, fresh tomatoes, chilli pepper, salt and seasoning to taste. You have to make this filling a day ahead in order to save time when you want to make your sandwich toast. Let's check out the recipe now.

Sandwich Toast Bread Recipe

Course: Breakfast/Snack
Cuisine: Continental

(c) Maury's Blog

Ingredients / Requirements

Eight bread slices
Fish filling or any other filling of choice
A toaster

For The Filling

Fish boiled, deboned and scattered to bits with a fork
Two shredded carrots
Two medium tomatoes diced
Onions, spring onions, bell pepper, diced
Seasoning, salt and pepper
2 Tbspoons veggie oil

Directions

Put a sauce pan on the cooker on medium heat
Add the oil and salt, then put in the onions, green pepper, and stir for 1 minute.
Add the tomatoes and stir fry for 2 minutes before adding the shredded carrots. If too dry add a little water.
Cover and allow to cook for 5 minutes and turn off the heat. Set aside and allow to cool down.

(c) Maury's Blog

Making The Toast

1. Connect the toaster to the power switch.

2. Place the lower part of the toaster with two bread slices and add the filling.

3. Place the top slices and close the toaster. Switch on the toaster.

4. Allow the sandwiches to to cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the sandwiches from the toaster and put in a clean plate.

5. Repeat the process with the remaining bread slices.

6. Serve with coffee, tea or juice of choice.

Zobo Drink

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 12:18:00 +0000

In hot days there is nothing as refreshing as a chilled bottle of zobo drink. You can easily buy it but can make your own in order to reduce the sugar and other additives used in making it that are unhealthy. Personally I like mine with lots of ginger and flavoured with cloves and pineapple. But when I don't want to mix with the real pineapple I use instant pineapple drink powder. But I came to realize it contains aspartame which is also not good for our health, so I use just sugar or honey or pineapple juice from fresh pineapples. The thing is you can sweeten and flavour zobo drink to your own preferred taste. Below are a few steps on how to prepare your own delicious African zobo drink by yourself in the comfort of your own home.

Zobo Drink Recipe

Cuisine: African

Category: Drink

(c) Unsplash

Ingredients

4 cups of dry zobo hibiscus flower
6 cups of water
1 medium fresh pineapple
2 Tbspoons grounded ginger
1 Tbspoon grounded cloves
Any sweetener of your choice

Other Requirements

A clean pot
A clean big bowl
A small clean bowl
A wooden spoon
A strainer
Sterilized bottles

Directions

Measure out the zobo flower and put in a clean bowl.
Pour water and quickly rinse into the pot you want to use for boiling.
Pour the 6 cups of water and place on a cooker.
Put heat on and the prepare your ginger and cloves.
When it is about to start boiling, put the grinded ginger and cloves, stir with a wooden spoon then cover the pot and allow it to boil for about 10 to 15 minutes.
If you are adding Pineapple, first wash the whole pineapple then cut the back and mash a bit.
Put in the mashed pineapple back into the pot of zobo and and turn off the heat.
Then cut the pineapple flesh into bits and blend with some water till very smooth, then use a strainer to remove any fibre.
Allow the zobo to cool down, strain before adding the pineapple juice. Mix well then put in containers and chill in the refrigerator.
But if you are not using Pineapple, after point 5, allow the pot of zobo to become cold.
Strain and add the sweetener of your choice.
Put in sterilized containers and chill in the fridge.

Your delicious Zobo drink is ready for consumption. Enjoy 😊

Corrections are welcome.

How To Make Popcorn At Home Without A Machine

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 23:27:00 +0000

Some things are really not as impossible as we think, and one of them is making popcorn at home. Yes you can make popcorn at home in a pot and by so doing you reduce the salt and sugar that is present the one we buy from the road sides, shops and even the cimema. Below is a simple procedure of how to make popcorn at home. This recipe does make use of salt and not sugar. I also omitted butter, but sometimes I mix both margarine and oil because the butter gives it a nice aroma that I love. Just feel free to make it to your own taste.

Home Made Popcorn Recipe
Cuisine:
Course: Snack

(c) pixabay

Ingredients

1/2 cup popcorn
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil or margarine
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons granulated or powdered sugar( optional)

Other Things You Need

A clean pot with a lid
A spoon
A tray or large bowl

Procedure

1. Place a clean pot on the stove and add the oil and salt or, a mixture of butter and oil.

2. Add the popcorn when the oil gets hot.

3. Stir with a spoon and cover the pot with the lid.

4. The heat should be medium so that the corn should not get burnt.

5. When the corn starts popping, give it a shake from time to time.

6. When you stop hearing the popping sound it means all the corn has popped.

7. Put out the heat and open the pot and turn out the popcorn in a tray or large bowl to cool it.

8. If you have a sweet tooth and want to add some sugar, immediately you put out the heat open the pot and quickly sprinkle the sugar and stirring for the sugar to circulate around the popcorn.

9. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container. Enjoy.

Note:

Do not add sugar when the heat is still on. If you do the popcorn will get burnt.

If you want your popcorn to pop well , Sun dry the corn for about 30 minutes before frying.

African Chin Chin Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 17:16:00 +0000

Chin Chin is one of my favourite snacks. If I make a batch it lasts only for few days because I don't stop eating it until the container is empty. It is so delicious and while making it you can flavour it to your taste and you can reduce the sugar to suit your taste buds. The flavour I prefer most is nutmeg paired with vanilla. Other flavours which I have also tried include lemon rind, orange rind, ginger, clove and cinnamon. It is also great when washed down with a cold glass of juice, zobo drink, milk or yogurt drink.

You just can't go wrong even with a chilled glass of water. Below is an easy recipe which you can try at home.

African Chin Chin Recipe
Cuisine: African
Course: Snack

Ingredients:

-2kg All Purpose flour
-5 large eggs

-1 sachet simas butter(250g)

-1 3/4 cups sugar

-1 large nutmeg(grated)

-3 teaspoons baking powder

-1 teaspoon salt

-1 cup milk

-2 teaspoons vanilla flavour

Instruction:

1. Sieve flour into a large bowl.

2. Add baking powder, nutmeg and salt.mix well and set aside.

3. In another small bowl beat eggs, sugar, vanilla, milk and mix well. Set aside

4. Cut the butter into the flour and rub in between your palms until it becomes crumbly.

5. Then add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and mix well. If its too soft add little flour and knead with hands . Mixture should be firm but not strong.

Cut bit by bit and use a rolling pin to roll on a flat floured surface.

6. Cut into desired shapes.

7. Use vegetable oil to fry until golden brown. Repeat process till u finish frying.

8. Drain in a colander and allow to cool completely before storing in an air tight container.

Try and let me know how it turned out.

Notes:

If you want to reduce the recipe just divide the ingredients into two and vice versa.
Butter must be in room temperature as well as the eggs.
If you are using salted butter reduce the salt by half.
Sieving the flour first will help you get a soft and crunchy result but if you like hard chin chin do not seive the flour.
Too much baking powder will make the chin chin to break in the oil while frying.
Avoid stirring the chin chin too much to also avoid breaking in oil.
Milk should be a tin or 3/4 tin of evaporated milk OR use Two sachets of peak or loya or any other powderd milk dissolved in a cup of water.
Do not add water after mixing the wet and dry ingredients together, the water should be added to the wet ingredients if necessary.
Use a measuring cup which is 250ml.
If you like your chin chin very sweet use 2 cups of sugar instead.
Use up to one litre of oil to fry. Enjoy.

Smooth and Flawless Face Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Thu, 24 May 2018 22:06:00 +0000

The face is the first thing a person sees when they look at you and if the face is laced with pimples, blackhead, acne, white heads,it becomes rough and looks unattractive . As a young lady the smoothness of my face is very important to me and the many compliments I receive keep me doing the things I do to maintain the smoothness, and even without makeup I feel confident going makeup free when i am lazy to apply makeup.

Two months ago, in one Facebook group that I belong to, one of the members asked how to clear her face cos she has tried all the remedies she knew but none worked. I made a suggestion. Then another member couldn't believe that such a simple thing could clear ones face. She contacted me after adding me on messenger and she asked me questions on how to do the trick that she had gone through my pictures and found out that I have very smooth skin, in my mind I was feeling like miss universe * wink*.

I explained to her. Two weeks later, she told me that her breakouts had become worse than they were. I smiled and told her the remedy was working that she should continue and then told her to do one more thing. My dear readers she contacted me again about a month later thanking me. I have not met her before and I don't even know her. She said her break outs had all disappeared and that her face looks radiant and smoother than it was. I felt so happy to have helped someone smile and forget her rough face days and I decided I will share the tips with my readers.

1. Washing : After wearing your makeup all day, wash your face with soap and warm water before you go to bed. This will get rid of oil and makeup that clogs your pores and cause break outs. Also make sure you wash your hands first before washing your face so as not to transfer germs from your dirty hands to your face.

2. Cleansing and Toning: After washing, use a facial cleanser that is suitable for your skin type and cleanse your face. It depends on how it works for you. I cleanse before I wash my face, it helps to prevent it from becoming too dry after washing cos I don't like applying any moisturizer before bed so my face can breathe while I sleep. I only apply cucumber extract as a facial toner.

3. Scrubbing: In the morning, cleanse face with cleanser before you scrub, scrub gently with a facial scrub in circular movements all over face avoiding eye area. Also cleanse and scrub your neck area. Do the scrubbing for about 2 minutes before you go to take your bath. Leave the face as the last part to wash before you dry your body. After washing off the sub, still use soap to wash the face and neck, then pat dry with a clean face towel.

4. Moisturizing: Most people say they don't apply moisturizer to their face arguing that it makes the face darker when makeup is applied. Well, the reverse is the case for me. When I apply moisturizer, it makes my face smooth and silky and a good base for applying my foundation. Just don't over do it, a little is just enough.

5. Hydrating: This is very important when it comes to achieving smooth and acne free face and skin. Dehydration can cause face to become oily and make it break out. Drink lots and lots of water. If possible drink 2 glasses of water when you wake up first thing in the morning. It flushes out waste and toxins from the body. And drink more about 8 litres in all in a day to keep you hydrated. Also you may drink warm lemon water. This is very effective in giving you clear and flawless skin.

6. Nutrition: I grew up knowing that fruits and veggies are good for me. I have always had smooth skin and get lots of compliment for it. Eat fruits and veggies and less greasy food. Also eat less carbs. Fruits like oranges, apples, banana, grapes, Pineapples, water melon, pawpaw are good examples. Veggies like carrots, cucumber, cabbage, beets, letus, green leafy veggies are full of vitamins and antioxidants that nourish the skin and make it look smooth and glowing.

7: Natural Remedies: Applying natural juices such as lemon juice, Papaya juice, tomato juice, honey, aloe vera gel, cucumber juice is also effective in smoothening the face. Make sure you wash your face before applying any of these. They can be applied individually or a combination of two or three of them. Leave on face for about one hour then wash off with lukewarm warm water. Dry face and apply moisturizer immediately to avoid over dryness.

8. Urine Cleansing : This method is very effective. I used it when I had so much breakouts last year after changing my body cream. I tried everything and they didn't seem to give me any positive results. I used it and in a month my face was so clear, smooth and bright. I will write about this method in my next post so I can explain it better.

Most of the tips that i have shared with you are simple and are a combination of both natural and cosmeticmethods. One thing about these remedies is that you need to give it time and be very patient before you start seeing positive results. Secondly, you have to understand that each person has a different skin type, so what worked for me and my facebook friend may not work for you. I wish you good luck as you work towards a smooth and flawless face and skin. Thank you for reading.

Human Hair Extension/Wigs Maintainance and Care Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 22:09:00 +0000

In our country today and the world at large, human hair extensions are cherished by most ladies as an important beauty Accesory. They make you look chic, confident and less worried if you do not feel like looking natural or wearing braids. They come in different styles, lengths and variations such as Indian, Cambodian, Peruvian, Chinese and what have you? After many uses, the extensions become exposed to dust, hair serums, smoke and other environmental factors which make them look dull, greasy and worn out. But these shouldn't make you to throw them away or abandon them somewhere in your room because come to think of it, these hairs are expensive, and trust me you do not want to throw away what you bought so pricey. I have heard some ladies say they do not wash human hair because if they are washed it will become bad. I came to discover that human hairs can be washed when i couldnt stand the smell even after sunning them. Most ladies take their hairs to hair salons who charge them a huge sum to treat and curl the hairs, but this you can do effortlessly at home with just a few products that you already have in your bathroom and save your money.

(c) pic jumbo

Products you need for washing include the following;

- A good hair brush

- lukewarm warm water in a bucket

- A conditioning shampoo

- A deep hair conditioner

-A large tooth comb

Directions

1. Comb hair first with large tooth comb and remove any tangles.

2. Now use brush to comb hair again.

3. Pour about 1 litre of lukewarm water (not hot) in a bucket and pour some shampoo.

4. Use hands to mix till it is foamy.

5. Deep the hair in the water and wash but do not scrub it hard. Concentrate more on the weft area that comes in contact with the scalp when worn.

6. When hair is clean, remove frome the dirty shampoo water and rinse in clean cold water.

7. In another bucket, pour 3/4 litre of water and add some hair conditioner to it, till it looks creamy and dissolved.

8. Deep the rinsed hair into the conditioner water making sure hair is completely covered.

9. Allow the hair to sit in the conditioner for about 45 minutes to one hour.

10. Take hair out and shake till most of the water leaves hairs. Then hang out in the sun to dry.

11. When hair is almost dry, but feels cold to touch, comb and brush hair, then use a rubber band to hold it in the weft area together.

12. Brush the hair once more and make a big braid then keep somewhere to allow it dry completely. OR

13. Just brush hair after it is completely dry and enjoy the fresh smelling, soft velvety to the touch hair.

Try this at home and let me know what you think. Don't say I didn't warn you because I can already see you hooked :), thanks for stopping by.

Mouth Watering Baked Banana Oatmeal Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 10:08:00 +0000

© Maury's Blog

Hello my esteemed readers, do you like eating oatmeal? I love oatmeal, I can eat it for breakfast every day and never be tired of it, because I make it in many different ways. I make it as porridge, with raisins, overnight oats, with peanut butter added, as veggie oats or baked. This special recipe of baked oatmeal that I want to share with you has mashed very ripe banana added to it, yummy. I personally love banana in my baked things, it tastes so good, no wonder monkeys love eating it too, lol. I promise you that after tasting this, you will never want to eat oatmeal ordinarily again. I also added a bit of nutmeg and the flavour was divine when it was still baking, I felt like grabbing it right from the oven and start eating immediately. Well, I baked it in a cast iron pot,and pls don't tell anyone I told u so, :). I managed to take some pictures, though they were not very good. Try to follow the instructions carefully in order to have a good result.

© Maury's Blog

Ingredients:

-1 Cup Rolled Oats

-2 Medium Ripe Bananas

-3/4 Cups Liquid Milk

-1 Medium or Large Egg

- Honey To Taste

-1 Tablespoon Margarine or Veggie Oil

-1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

- Pinch of Salt

-1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla

-1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg

Directions:

1. Place the covered cast iron pot over low heat to heat up as you get the oatmeal ready.or preheat oven to 180 degrees.

2. Prepare an 8 inch round baking pan by grazing and dusting with flour, or place a baking paper in it and set aside.

3. Beat egg in a medium size bowl,add milk,mashed banana,honey, vanilla melted butter or vegetable oil and wisk to combine well.

4. In anther bowl mix oatmeal,baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and add to the bowl with liquid.

5. Combine well and pour the mixture in the Prepare pan and place in the heated pot or oven.

6. Bake for about 35-40 minutes until, it tests dry and there is no more liquid.

7. After 2 minutes in pan, remove and pace on a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

8. Serve with fruits such as Papaya, tea, fruit juice, coffee or a glass of water. It's soooo delicious, Enjoy!!!.

© Maury's World

Please let me know if you tried it out and how it turned out for you., or u can share your own favourite recipe with me, cheers.

10 Remarkable Things To Do On Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 00:51:00 +0000

Valentine's Day also known as The Feast Of Saint Valentine is a day celebrated mostly by many christians around the world to honour one of the early saints called "Valentinus" who was killed by a Roman Emperor Claudius II on February 14th, 270 A.D for standing for the preaching of Christ and for teaching people about the love of God .

It is a time to show love by sharing heart warming messages, gifts, flowers, confectionery and so much more. But there are lots of misconception by people about the things to do. A lot of immoral behaviours have been associated with this day especially by the youths. Instead of engaging in something you won't be proud of in the long run, there are many fun and remarkable things you can indulge with your lover, friends and family members on that special day.

1. Meditate And Pray:

©Pexels

Since it is a day for celebrating love, I personally think the one person that has so much love for humanity is God Almighty as the book of John 3:16 says it all. So you should set out some time to Meditate on His word, pray and thank HIM for his unending love for you and for sustaining your life even in the midst of all the troubles in this world.

2. Cinema:

©Pic Jumbo

Before that day visit your local cinema websites to find out the movies that will be showing. Decide together with your friends or alone on which one you would like to view and you can book your tickets online or physically before time, this way you may evenue get a discount. Grab yourselves some pop corn, go in, sit down and enjoy your movie and you will be glad you did.

3. Picnic:

©Pexels

You and your friends can organise a great picnic together. Either to to the beach or any other place you decide to go. This is another fun way to spend your Valentine's day. Organise some good food, drinks, Wine, Fruits and music, don't forget to go with some speakers to play your favourite songs. Each person can volunteer to bring different food varieties so the burden will not be on one person, and you remember the saying "There Is Love In Sharing".

4.Go To The Beach:

©Pexels

Pack your bag with sunscreen, a hat, a pair of sunglasses and your swimming suite and head straight to the beach. You can arrange and go with your friends and you can have lots of fun. Don't forget to go with a ball so you can have a great game of beach volley ball. That will also be a great way to work out.

5. Visit A Park / Zoo:

©Pixabay

When was the last time you saw a lion or an elephant? As or me it has been very long. This is an opprtunity for you to visit the zoo and go with some bananas to feed the monkeys. Am sure you will like to take selfies too for memories that will last for a life time.

6. Visit Family And Friends:

This day may also be a good time to visit and catch up with some family members and friends you have not seen for a while. You can organise a home made dinner or go for a night out. This will make them know that they are important people in your lives and that you love them Call them if you wI'll not be abe to meet them physically. Make sure you buy them gifts as well.

7. Go For A Road Trip:

©Pixabay

Yes you head me just right! This is a journey with a car to an exotic destination. It may take several days , a day or hours. You and your friend or friends can plan one on Valentine's day and go somewhere you have always wanted to go. Whether it lasts for the whole day or several hours will depend on you what you want and how you want it.

8. Volunteer To Look After Orphans:

©Pixabay

Show some love to children who have no parents or family members to love them. You can arrange with the orphanage people that you want to take care of the children that day. Bath them, change their diapers, play with them, feed them, teach them to draw, write... This is even more love than buying them things.

9. Visit The Sick In The Hospital:

©Pixabay

This is another remarkable way of spending your Vals day. Some people in the hospital can not pay their bills. You can go there and settle the hospital bills of just one patient, you can even do that without letting the patient see u. Let he/she just receive the news from the doctor that someone did that for him/her as a gift for that special day. Believe me the prayer of such a person will work wonders in your life.

10. Organise A Fund Raising Event To Help The Needy:

©Pixabay

You and your friends can even organise an event on that day with the aim to raise funds which you will donate to the poor and the needy. You can do a bake sale or a walk, a run, just something remarkable to help bring these set of people out of their miseries and nightmares and make a huge difference in their lives.

Believe me when I say that you will be happy at the end of the day, if you engage in one of these things as a way to spend your Valentine's day because by doing them you will be indirectly showing love to your self rather than the other way round.
My Dear Readers, are there other fun things you can do on Valentine's Day that you will like to share with me? Feel free to leave your comments, questions and observations in the comment box, I love you all, xo xo xo xo, wink.

How To Make Soya Beans Milk At Home

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 14:51:00 +0000

As the weather is getting hotter, we all need a refreshing as well nutritious drink to keep us hydrated. Soy bean milk is a very nourishing drink which contains high levels of protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants such as isoflavones and little amount of saturated fats which are benefitial for over all health and growth. Also it is a good alternative for dairy milk, therefore making it a good choice for people who are lactose intolerant.

It is rich in vitamin B-complex, vitamins B-2 and B-12 which are responsible for healthy nerve, energy and aids in red blood cells production.

It is a good source of minerals such as calcium and iron for strong bones, teeth, and iron ensures proper functioning of the red blood vessels and the supply of oxygen to all tissues in the body.

Soya beans milk provides high levels of all the essential amino acids needed by the body. These are transformed into antibodies that aid in proper immune system function, hold body tissues together and enzymes that aid in energy production.

Due to the high sugar content of many store bought soya beans milk, it is advisable to make your own at home. It is very simple and in no time, you will have your own home made delicious milk in your fridge.

Soya Beans Milk Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup of Soya Beans

4 cups of Water

1 liter of Water

2 teaspoons Vanilla Flavour

Sugar or Honey to taste

Other Requirements

A seive

A Clean big pot

Two Medium Bowls

Plastic bottles or a glass jug

Directions

1. Wash soy beans, place in a medium bowl and pour the 1 liter of water in it. Allow the beans to soak over night.

2. Drain water from beans and wash in a different water to remove any bad smell.

3. Put the beans in a blender and add the 4 cups of water. Blend until soft.

4. Sieve the liquid and repeat the blending of the pulp, then repeat again. This means you have to repeat the blending process two more times.

5. Pour the sieved milk in a clean pot and boil the milk for 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely.

6. Transfer the milk to a clean bowl, add vanilla flavour, sugar or honey to taste.

7. Stir well and pour into a clean glass Jug or washed individual plastic bottles.

8. Refrigerate and enjoy with snack or alone.

Simple Ways To Send Cockroaches Away From Your House

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:24:00 +0000

As adults who have once been kids, we all know that the sight of a cockroach anywhere around the house makes us feel bad. I personally do not like it when it comes on me while I sleep or when I mistakenly step on it. Those sharp things on its legs gives me goose pimples.Asthma They live in kitchens where they can easily feed on food spills and water, also they can be found in wall cracks, cabinets, behind fridges, below the kitchen sink, undisturbed furniture and gardens.

They eat a variety of food spills in the kitchen, faecal matter as well as rotten waste such as cabbage, etc. Cockroaches spread bacteria and diseases to humans such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus,harbour amoebae, fungi and can also harbourfungi viruses such as the polio virus. Recent research reveal that cockroaches my also be involved with human indoor allergies such as Asthma.

How To Make Your House Cockroach Free

There are many easy ways to keep roaches out of the house and here are a few that I will mension

1. Empty the Kitchen Trash Daily:

Since cockroaches feed on food particles and kitchen waste, it is advisable to empty it weekly. Clean any water that collects underneath after taking away the trash bag. Always cover the trash can with its lid to prevent them from getting inside.

2. Seal All Cracks:

Cracks and crevices serve as nesting places for cockroaches. Make sure you seal cracks both inside the house and those outside. Such cracks can be found in places love window frames, window moldings, around doors, under sinks, around soak away pits and openings in the kitchen and bathroom.

3. Keep The House Clean:

If a house is clean and smell fresh, cockroaches will stay away. After cooking, clean stove and cooker tops and get rid od food particles. Wash all dirty dishes and do not leave dirty plates in the sink over night. Cover left over food properly in the kitchen or dinning, or put them in ziploc bags and store in the fridge. Clean any sticky spills on the floor immediately and don't leave out cut or over ripe fruits on the table or counter.

4. Remove Yard/Compound Waste:

Get rid of yard waste such as decaying leaves and wood, straw, plant clippings. Keep wood piles far away from the house. Clean the compound periodically roaches from breeding outside the building thereby stopping them from getting in when the weather gets cold cos they migrate in search of warm places.

5. Use Insecticide:

Use Insecticide spray in places where roaches breed their nests such as near drainage pipes, damp and dark spots under the kitchen and bathroom sink, behind fridges, cupboards , where you have cardboard items, newspapers and books.

6. Use Water Bowl Traps and Listerine:

Place a Bowl or basin of water close to a wall. They fall in and can not escape afterwards. This targets only the adult cockroaches and not the nest. Also, the popular mouthwash Listerine has antiseptic properties and can be utilised to pursue cockroaches in the house. Simply mix some with water and spray around cracks, sinks and bathroom to send them away.

7. Keep Everywhere Dry:

Starve cockroaches of water since they can not survive for more than one week without water, but can live for up to a month without food. Cut of all their sources of water in the house by making sure there is no leaking pipes and dropping taps. When this is done, they run outside in search of water.

Irish Potato Salad The Way I Like It

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 22:45:00 +0000

There are times when you just do not feel like cooking any thing too heavy or rather you do not want to spend much time in the kitchen, but at the same time you want to fix something colourful, flavourful and so oh... delicious. If you go for potato salad believe me you will not be disappointed and will also be happy. And one last thing, your mouth starts to water when you are still putting the salad together, yes it looks that attractive, lol. When I made this recipe for the first time, my mum said" you have started with all this your "make make", I have not heard of this one before", well I told her to relax and watch me, when it was ready and I gave her her portion, she really liked it and said she will start making it too. I also wished i made more because i wanted more...Yea that's how palatable my potato salad tasted, and I have decided to share the recipe with you all my dear readers.

Irish Potato Salad Recipe

Cuisine: Continental

Course: Lunch

Ingredients:

- 5 or 6 Medium Irish Potatoes, peeled and washed

- 4 Large Carrots, lightly peeled and diced in cubes

- 1 Small Onion, sliced

- 1 Medium Celery Stalk, diced

- 2 Large Eggs, Hard Boiled, diced

- 4 or 5 Tablepoons Mayonnaise

- 3 Cups Water

- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt

Instructions

1. Put washed peeled potatoes in a medium sized pot and add the water. Add salt, cover and boil till potatoes is done, but not too soft.

2. Drain water and pour refrigerated cold water on it. Allow to cool in water then remove from the water.

3. Cut potatoes into cubes. You have to do this carefully as you do not want it to look mushy.

4. In a medium bowl, add the diced potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, eggs, mayonnaise and mix carefully with a spatula. Do not over mix to avoid crushing the potatoes.

5. Refrigerate salad for about 30-45 minutes. Serve alone or as you desire. Enjoy and bon apetit! !!

Helpful Tips

1. Do not over cook the potatoes in order to avoid making a mushy salad.

2. Salt the potatoes while cooking,this makes the salad to taste better.

3. Make sure to cool potatoes in cold water and allow to cook completely before cutting.

6 Ways To Prevent Mosquito Bites

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 19:33:00 +0000

My dear readers, i have been away for over a month and i know you have missed reading my posts. Well, i went on a vacation, and i rested well. I have a refreshed head now and ready to bring you more interesting posts. This is the season when mosquitoes strive and are looking for human blood to feed on. When mosquitoes bite they inject sporozoites into th blood stream thereby transmitting Malaria.

The female Anopheles mosquitoes pick up parasite from humans who are infected when they suck blood to feed their eggs. Out of over 430 Anopheles species that exist only about 30-40 transmits malaria. Mosquitoes have those that hide indoors (endophilic) and those that stay outside (exophilic). Malaria is very harmful to pregnant women and children. According to the W.H.O. 2014 report on malaria, there was an estimated 198 million cases of Malaria worldwide in 2013, 584,000 deaths are caused by Malaria, 90 percent of which occur in Africa.

Ways To Prevent Mosquito Bites

In order to stay free from Malaria you should first prevent mosquitoe bites by taking some precautionary measures which includes the following

1. Wear Protective And Bright Coloured Clothing:

When going outdoors wear Loose Long-sleeved shirts and trousers in order to completely cover the skin. Clothing may also be sprayed with permit rin. Wear shoes and socks that cover the feet well. Do not wear tight clothing with thin fabric as mosquitoes can bite through them. Wear bright coloured clothes because mosquitoes are naturally attracted to tight dark coloured clothes,especially black and blue so wear bright colours which will not attract them.

2. Keep Your Surroundings Clean:

Make sure your compound is clean and get rid of any standing water where mosquitoes can breed in. If you have a pool, always cover it when it is not in use and treat it with chemicals such as chlorine. Cut all grasses and do not allow dead tree leaves to linger around or heaped around the compound, get rid of old tires and used containers, natural low points on a piece of property because they form breeding ground for mosquitoes.

3. Use Mosquito Repellents:

Apply repellents specially formulated such as DEET (NN-diethyl-m-toluamide) 30%-50% which are recommended for adults and children over 2 months. Apply to uncovered skin when going outdoors or to the bush and it is effective for several hours.

4. Sleep Under Treated Mosquito Nets:

According to UNICEF, about one billion insecticide treated nets have been distributed in Africa between the year 2000 and 2015. It is advised to sleep under Permethrin treated net because it has fine holes that are big enough to allow breeze to easily pass through but can not allow biting mosquitoes to get in. Make sure to sleep without touching the sides. Also put nets on the windows so that mosquitoes can not come in.

5. Use Insecticide Spray and Coils:

TO drive away mosquitoes from inside the house. Make sure to not stay in when you do because they are harmful to health, as some people complain to find it difficult to breath, and cough after inhaling the smoke from coils.

6. Put On The Fan & Wear Thick Socks Before Going To Bed:

Also, if you have a lot of mosquitoes around the house, sleep with the fan on because strong breeze drive them away, you can also wear thick socks on your hands and feet to cover them since clothing can not cover them properly. And don't forget to rub mentholated petroleum jelly on your ankles, wrists, and shoulder if you can not cover them maybe due to hot weather and absence of electricity.

If you follow the above measures you will surely be free from mosquito bites as well as Malaria.

How To Make Coconut Oil At Home

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 15:11:00 +0000

One of the things I love in my beauty regimen is coconut oil. It is one of my favourite body oils. I use it for my hair, skin and face.It is one of the best body oils you can use for your skin. I have also come to realise that the one I make myself works best and that way am sure it's not mixed with other things as the ones I buy. The coconut oil I make is natural, not heated because I learned that the heat destroys the vital nutrients.

Coconut oil is made by extracting oil through different processes from the coconut meat of mature fresh coconuts which are harvested from the coconut palm Cocos Nucifera. Coconut oil is has about 6 different saturated fatty acids which include Lauric Acid (48%), Myristic acid (16%), Palmitic acid(9.5%), Caprylic acid (7%), one monosaturated fatty acid which is Oleic (6.5%), others (5%).
Due to its high saturated fatty acid content, health authorities including the World Health Organisation (WHO) have warned that it should not be consumed regularly because studies have revealed that it increases total blood cholesterol levels, both HDL and LDL, which in turn leads to high risk of Cardio Vascular disease.

Uses Of Coconut Oil

Despite its high saturated fat content (similar to that of animal fat), virgin coconut oil has become widely used in recent years due to its sweet nutty flavour.

1. It is used in cooking especially in frying. I personally like to use it to fry eggs. It is commonly used to make baked goods, pastries, pop corn and sautés. It adds calories and saturated fat to snacks leading to increased energy balance and weight gain.

2. In some parts of the world, such as the Philipines, it is used as diesel engine fuel, to power generators and transport engines. In the islands of the Pacific, it is used as engine lubricants and transformer oil.

3. For beauty and personal uses as mineral oil, moisturizer for mild to dry skin. Studies have proved that, it reduces loss of protein when used for hair.

4. It is a base ingredient in soap making. Soaps made with coconut oil though hard, retain moisture than those made with other oils.

Other Uses

It was used in India before the advent of electricity for lighting or illumination.

Used to make repellents for preventing bug bites.

Acids derived from coconut oil are used as herbicides.

Coconut oil and it's fatty acids are used as raw materials in the manufacture of surfectants such as Cocamide DEA and MEA.

Well these are just a few uses, as coconut oil has many uses, according to Wellness Mama, it has 101 uses and you can read them on this link http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/

Making cold pressed coconut oil at home is very easy when you do it carefully.

Requirements

10 coconuts, separated from shell, grated

5 cups of warm water

A box grater or blender

A large bowl

A seive

2 clean transparent jars with lid

A Scooping spoon

Clean dry bottle for storing oil

Procedure

1. Grate all shelled coconuts in a large bowl.

2. Add warm water and mix with hands for a few minutes.

3. Sieve to separate the coconut milk from chaff.

4. Pour the coconut milk in the jars and place lids.

5. Keep jars in a warm place or on shelf undisturbed for about 24 hours.

6. Bring jars down carefully in order not to mix the separated water with the upper layer which contains the oil.

7. Open jars and carefully shift the thick whitish substance to the side, you will see the pure coconut oil!

8. Scoop the oil out carefully in order not to mix it with the water beneath.

9. Pour oil in desired dry storing container of choice.

10. Store in a cool dry place or in the refrigerator.

Tips:

With this method, not all the oil will be scooped out but majority of it. If you do not want to waste it, after scooping out the pure oil, pour the whitish substance in a pot and heat for the remaining oil to come out. Store heated oil separately and use as pre shampoo or pre hair wash oil. Oil lasts for up to 8 months if there is no water in it.

Enjoy the sweet nutty flavour of this natural oil. Let me know how it turned out for you, catch you next time, cheers!!!

Reasons To Take A Holiday/Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 16:47:00 +0000

Holiday is the period I always looked forward to when I was a kid, especially the longest one which was end of the last term of a particular class, I felt so much excitement due the fun, long sleeps, holiday TV programs, long hours of play with friends that laid ahead...

What is Holidays/Vacation?

A holiday or vacation is a leave of absence from a regular occupation,or break from studies (period between terms), or a pleasure trip/ journey abroad usually for the purpose of recreation or tourism. They are often spent with family, friends or alone. It can mean either going somewhere or staying in at home, otherwise known as a "Staycation".

The custom of summer break is said to have been introduced by King William the Conqueror from Normandy where it facilitated the grape harvest. In those days, in the summer rich families(Upper-Class) moved to a summer home, leaving their usual home vacant.

A lot of workers all over the world do not utilise their vacation days according to research reasons being that they do not want to loose their jobs, they are afraid not to fall behind in their work, lack of funds, some do not want to loose chances of being promoted, while some is due to what researchers call the "Martyr Complex"- they believe they are the only ones who can do their job and are do not want work to pile up on their desk when they return.

Vacation in its real sense suppose to mean absence from office and work altogether but recent developments in Communication Technology such as the Internet, Mobile Phones, Instant Messaging, Presence Tracking, etc have begun to change the nature of vacation such that it means absence from the work place rather than temporary absence from work.

In most parts of the world such as Great Britain, North America and even Nigeria, workers telecommunicate while on vacation by making business calls rather than completely cutting off from work. According to research, in order to get the full benefits of taking a vacation, one has to be completely disconnected from both time out of the office as well as time off work.

People who were more involved with work while on vacation, were highly exhausted and disengaged from work when they returned, while those who were completely disconnected from work were happier, more active and satisfied even when they face heavy work loads.

To completely disengage from work while away, try not to think about the things that annoy you at work, do not check emails unless it's very important, and limit the use of electronic gadgets. Remaining connected to work during the holidays is said to generate short-term business benefits but has long-term psychological consequences.

Benefits Of Taking A Holiday/Vacation

Embarking on a holiday alone or with family far or near, or at home (Staycation) has a good number of benefits to you and your work performance or studies and they include the following.

1. It Makes You Happier:

According to research, going on vacations increases Serotonin the hormone responsible for being happy. It regulates sleep cycles, Circadian rhythms and melatonin, decreases the production of cortisol, reduces tension and stress and leads to high energy levels. People who go on vacation are more satisfied with their lives because it improves mood.

2. It Makes You Healthier:

Vacations relieves stress and worries due to absence from work and regular daily life activities which were replaced with having fun. This repairs your body and refreshes your brain cells leading to less physical complains , reduced cholesterol levels and a healthier you.

3. Increases Work Productivity:

Employees who go on vacation have lower levels of burnout. According to research, lower levels of absenteeism was recorded except for ill health in companies after employees have taken a holiday compared to before they did.

For students, it offers them time to be free from school work load, leading to more sanity, refreshed brain, success and effectiveness.

4. Increases Clarity & Vision:

Relaxation and renewal can bring natural benefits such as new ideas, answers, or major insights which may become noticeable during or after your vacation.

5. Improves Relationships:

Being away with family members creates joy, better and stronger connections, as well as build lasting memories. It can also strengthen marriages wether you travel alone or with your spouse leading to healthy relationships, travelling together can lead to increased intimacy and commitment, as well as the opportunity to be alone and take a break from the normal role of spouse or parent routine. Some people even make new friends and find love when they go away.

A vacation does not need to be long or costly to be benefitial. The idea is to have fun and be disconnected from normal daily routine. So what are you waiting for? Take a break and go somewhere and do not forget to send me your photos, sourvenirs and even a post card. Happy Vacay!!!!!!

References

1. https:// thepip.com/en-eu/2015/07/the-importance-and-benefits-of-going-on-vacation/

2. healingthebody.ca/the-importance-of-taking-a-vacation/

3. traveltips.usatoday.com/benefits-taking-vacation-1755.html

4. advantagebehavioral.org/wellness.Php?nld=27

5. national.desertnews.com/article/2169/7-benefits-of-taking-vacation-time.html

My Favorite Banana Cake Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 13:37:00 +0000

Even though I know cake is not good for the waist line, I still love my banana cake. It is my favourite any day any time. The flavour it give when baking gives me so much joy, lol, YES I mean the one made with fresh ripe bananas not the artificial flavour. I suppose you understand what I mean, and I have a favourite recipe I want to share with you all, I remember my NYC days when I usually made this cake in the weekends and my Copper Colleagues will will shout MAUREEN!!! what are you making? This smells like Mr. BIGG'S in Corper's lodge!!!, lol. Ok before you start salivating I will give you some tips on how to get the best cake out of this recipe, just follow the instructions carefully.

Banana Cake Recipe

Prep Time: 15 mins

Baking Time: 35 mins

Ready In : 50 mins

Ingredients

2 cups of flour (240g), sifted
1 cup margarine (227g)
1 cup caster sugar (201g)
2 large eggs, separated
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup liquid milk (125ml)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla flavour
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

(c) Maury's Blog

Other Requirements

Two medium baking pans, round or loaf types

A medium mixing bowl, wooden spoon or mixer for mixing

Two small bowls for eggs

A grater for nutmeg

Measuring cups and spoons

A small plate for nutmeg

A small bowl and fork for mashing banana

A balloon whisk for eggs

(c )Maury's Blog

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees/325F

2. Mix sifted flour, grated nutmeg, cinnamon(if being used) used and baking powder in a bowl and set aside.

3. Grease baking pans with margarine and dust with flour, remove any excess flour.

4. In a medium mixing bowl place margarine and sugar and cream until light and fluffy

5. Add in egg yolks and continue mixing until well combined, if mixture starts to cuddle, add a little flour

6. Add vanilla and milk and mix to combine well

7. Add the flour in three different batches, making sure you do not over mix.

8. Beat egg whites until still and foamy, then quickly fold into the cake batter. Do not over mix to prevent cake from becoming hard.

9. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake in preheated oven for about 30 to 35 minutes, or until it tests done with a tooth pick.

10. Remove cakes from the oven and allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and cool on a wire rack until completely cool.

Enjoy cake with tea, juice or just plain with cold glass of water, but be careful not to eat all the cake in one day, sooo tempting.

Store cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Helpful Tips

Make sure eggs and margarine are in room temperature, if you have them in the fridge bring them out about 30 minutes before you start your preparation.

If you are using salted butter, omit the salt in the recipe.

Use over ripe bananas to get the best flavour for your cake.

Separate the egg yolks from the white to have a fluffy cake.

Caster sugar is powdered white sugar.

Use freshly grated nutmeg for the best flavour.

If you do not have cinnamon, your cake will still come out great.

If you do not have a balloon whisk, use a fork.

Make sure all ingredients are set before you start mixing cake.

Is there a different way you make your banana cake? I will like to hear from you my dear readers or just let me know how your cake turned out, i'll see you soon **

Golden Milk Drink Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Maury's Blog) — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 15:50:00 +0000

Well I have heard so much about a special drink and I have decided to share it today with you readers after giving it a try. It is no other than the "Golden Milk" drink. Ironically, this drink is not made from gold, but from a combination of of any milk of choice, say coconut, soy, cow, or goat milk, etc and the wonder spice "Turmeric". Well I want to believe that not all of you know what it is. It is a spice that looks very much like ginger, but has an orange-yellow coloured flesh and a brown skin. It comes from the root of the Curcuma Longa plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae.

It is native to southern Asia especially India and Indonesia where it has been cultivated and harvested for over 5, 000 years. It is traditionally called " "Indian Saffron" due to its unique deep-yellow orange colour and has been widely used as spice in curries, for healing ailments and as dye for textile. In nigeria it is known as "red ginger".

Turmeric is well known for its therapeutic properties because it contains a polyphenol known as Curcumin which destroys a wide range of diseases. It is said that, curcumin's healing power can be compared to well known drugs for arthritis such as Cortisone which has huge side effects, but curcumin produces none of these at all.

Health Benefits

Turmeric when incorporated in your diet, according to Step To Health has over 150 therapeutic functions. Besides rheumatoid arthritis, it has antioxidant, anti-cancer as well as antiseptic properties.

Prevents hair loss, dandruff and calms scalp irritation.

It promotes weight loss by regulating the metabolism.

Fights flu, cold and bronchitis.

It increases the the production of enzymes that digest fats and sugars and deprives cholesterol from developing gall stones.

It relieves rheumatoid arthritis by reducing swelling.

Enables the correct functionality of the liver.

Promotes fast healing of wounds.

Reduces menstrual cramps.

Improves digestion.

Reduces blood sugar level in diabetics.

Fights Cancer and leukemia in children.

Clears up skin conditionsor and beautifies the skin and prevents premature aging.

It fights joint and muscle pains, headaches, and other stress related illnesses.

This drink has a lot of benefits to overall health and can be consumed at any time of the day and at night before going to bed to aid you to sleep soundly. Black pepper is added to the recipe because it's active compound called Piperine facilitates the absorbtion of curcumin in turmeric by 1000 times.

How to prepare Golden Milk

Two main steps are required in the making of Golden Milk

First Step: Turmeric paste

Ingredients:

- 30g of grounded Turmeric powder (1/4 Cup)

- 2.5g of grounded black pepper (1/2 teaspoon)teaspoon

-125ml of water (1/2 cup)

Directions

1. Place a small sauce pan over low heat and add all the ingredients.

2. Gently heat on medium heat stirring well to ensure ingredients are well mixed and it forms a thick paste.

3. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then pour the paste into a clean jar and refrigerate.

Second Step: Golden Milk

Ingredients:

- 2 Cups of Milk( either coconut, soy, cow)

- 1 teaspoon of Coconut Oil (5 ml)

- 1/2 teaspoon of Turmeric Paste made in first step (1.25g)

- Honey or any sweetener of choice to taste

Directions

1. In a sauce pan over medium heat, add all the ingredients except honey.

2.Heat while stirring constantly till all the ingredients are incorporated, do not allow to boil.

3.Remove from heat and allow to slightly cool before adding honey or sweetener to taste. Enjoy

You see due to the ability of this drink to fight flu, cold and bronchitis, I encourage you to give it a try because the season that we are presently comes with these health challenges. You can also make it to your taste, some add ginger and cinnamon to give it an additional kick.

Please let me know when you try it out, waiting for your comments.

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