THE YUMMY ROASTED PLANTAIN

HEALTH BENEFITS OF  PLANTAIN:

Plantains are rich sources of complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, and are easily digestible. As a staple food, plantains have been the main fare of millions of people for centuries. 

ABOUT ROASTED PLANTAIN:

Unlike dessert bananas, plantains are almost always cooked before eating. In fact, they taste pretty awful raw, so don’t be tricked by their banana-like features. There are days when even the most enthusiastic cook craves the simplest of foods. Foods that are utterly easy and incredibly fast to make and yet taste divinely delicious.

I came up with this dish because I found a huge bag of plantains at the supermarket and loving plantains as much as I do, I didn’t want to let go of what looked like a great bargain. But I didn’t have a ton of time to spend sautéing them as I usually do, so I decided instead to roast them and let the oven do all the work -- not really the oven though even a coal can..

Plantains are great for roasting because the natural sugars in them caramelize easily, giving them a beautiful, shiny, golden, crispy coating in almost no time at all. You can try mixing all kinds of spices in this depending on how easy or exotic you want your dish to be. All I did was sprinkle it with some seasoning, a pinch of salt and some garlic powder. I can’t think of the last time I made a dish that was so easy but so good-looking and ravishingly delicious. you can take it with stew, sauce etc. ENJOY.....

BY: UMMU KHULTHUM ABDULKADIR

How to prepare Nigerian egg roll

The Egg Roll has been a Nigerian snack for a long time . Each roll contains about 309 calories.
Nigerian egg roll, similar to Nigerian buns or scotch egg, is made by deepfrying dough wrapped around a
hard boiled egg.

INGREDIENTS
10 whole eggs room temperature

4½ cups all-purpose flour

½ cup white sugar

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon mixed ground spices nutmeg and cinnamon

Pinch of salt

4 tablespoons margarine or butter

1 cup warm water

Vegetable oil for deep frying

METHOD

1. Boil the eggs for some minutes until hard boiled.

2. Sift all the dry ingredients into a big dry bowl .

3. Add in the margarine to the dry ingredients and rub the butter into the flour with the tip of your fingers until crumbly.

4. In the centre of the flour mixture, add some water little by little. Mix the water with the flour until a dough is formed. Knead until a smooth, non-sticky elastic dough is gotten.

5. Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces and roll each into balls.

6. Dust a flat work surface with flour and roll out the dough pieces, one at a time. Wrap each piece
around an egg and roll into a ball. Repeat until each piece of dough is rolled and wrapped about an egg.

7. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat and fry egg rolls in batches (on low/medium heat) until golden brown and crunchy on the outside.

8. Remove egg rolls from the oil and drain on a paper towel before serving.

9.Your egg rolls are ready! Serve hot, or cold, with any drink of your choice.


BY: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO

PERFECT WAY TO MAKE TASTY SCOTCH EGGS

A Scotch egg consist of a hard - boiled egg wrapped in minced meat, coated in bread crumbs and baked or deep - fried. It makes a delicious snack that you can have anytime of the day .

INGREDIENTS:

*6 eggs

*5 sausages, sausages filling pushed out.

*1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

*All purpose flour for dusting

*1 egg, lightly beaten

*1/2 cup of bread crumbs

*Cooking oil, for frying


METHOD

1.Place the eggs with the shells still on into a pot of boiling water, reduce the heat and simmer untill hard boiled - about 12 minutes. Drain the eggs and allow to cool then peel the shells off under running water and set aside.

2.In a separate bowl, mix the sausage filling with parsley. Divide sausage mixture into six and shape it into flat patties that can fit around each egg.



3.Work the sausage meat around each egg as evenly as possible ensuring there are no cracks then place in fridge for about ten minutes to set.

4.Dust each egg lightly in flour, then dip into the beaten egg and then cover in breadcrumbs.

5.Heat oil in a pot and fry turning frequently until the eggs are golden brown all round. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towel.

6.Serve warm or cold.



By: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO.

LET YOUR SKIN GLOW DURING THIS COMING FESTIVAL PERIOD

In this festive period, do you care for acne-free, wholly lucid, silky smooth and healthy looking skin, despite the unkind weather.
How healthy one’s skin is, is the first step towards an excellent supple body. But how you maintain your skin will determine how healthy it can go all year round, especially in this unpleasant weather period.

It is very necessary that you take special care of your skin in order for it to look radiant and beautiful. So, you need to take extra measures to protect your skin against harsh weather because the dry and harmattan season brings about other problems for the skin.
To keep your skin healthy and protect it against the harsh weather, you must make sure it is supple and full of moisture to avoid cracking and dryness. Drink plenty of water as this will hydrate the skin

1.Velvety cleanser

Mix equal amounts of jojoba oil and coconut oil and then double the mixture with water. Shake
thoroughly before use. The cleanser will emulsify the dirt without stripping your face’s oils.

Egg yolk and honey mask

Mix one tablespoon of almond oil, one tablespoon yogurt and one egg yolk and apply on the face.

Banana facial mask for dry skin

Crush a quarter of a ripe banana and mix with half a cup of natural yogurt and one tablespoon of honey. Apply the mixture on the face and neck and leave for 20 minutes. Then wash with water.

2.Exfoliate

Simply mix finely ground oats and almonds or almond oil with enough extra virgin olive oil for the mixture to fuse without crumbling.

Rich toner

Simply add honey to tomato juice until it becomes sticky and then apply this to your face and neck for between 25 to 30 minutes. The result will be a cleaner complexion with improved skin tone.



BY: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO

HOW TO MAKE SWEET POTATOES PORRIDGE

These healthy sweet potatoes porridge served with fresh veggies are a delicious homemade dish made in less than an hour. Everyone loves white potatoes.


Potatoes are full of essentials and one of the healthiest form of carb we can give our bodies.
Sweet potatoes have so many benefits which includes : Vitamin C, Vitamin A, more fiber, fewer calories. 

Sweet potatoes have been found to lower blood pressure, aid digestion, protect against cancer, improve vision, aids effects of diabetes, increases immunity and even reduces chronic inflammation.


There are so many ways of enjoying sweet potatoes apart from making fries. One of such method is to make sweet potatoes porridge.

INGREDIENTS

*Sweet potatoes, peeled and cut

*Tomatoes, chopped

* Onions, chopped

* Spinach, cut

* Fried Fish

*Fresh pepper

* Palm oil

*Crayfish

* Salt, seasonings

METHOD

1. Put pot on fire and add palm oil.

2. Heat the palm oil in the pot add onions, chopped tomatoes, pepper, crayfish and seasoning.

3. Stir all together and check out the taste, stir and fry a little bit.

4.Add water and sweet potatoes.

5.Allow to cook. Sweet potatoes porridge is ready.
6. Serve with fried fish.


BY: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO.

HOW TO MAKE FRESH PINEAPPLE JUICE

Pineapple is rich in Vitamin C and high in fiber. It’s also a good source of tryptophan, which studies have shown that it helps with anxiety and depression. It also helps with cough.

INGREDIENTS

* Pineapple

*Ginger

*Lime, peeled (optional)

* Honey (optional)

*Sugar (optional)

METHOD

1. Cut pineapple and ginger.

2. Put in a blender and Blend for a few seconds Add lime juice and strain.

3. Add sweetener (sugar or honey)

4. Refrigerate and enjoy your fresh pineapple juice.


BY: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO

GROUNDNUT SOUP RECIPE

Groundnut is one of the most loved nuts and it can be made into a soup. Groundnut soup is a delicious delicacy you should try.


The famous groundnut soup is a Nigerian delicacy popular with the people of the Etsako tribe in Edo State.

Groundnut soup is a perfect blend of sweet and savory, the groundnut is always a winner and its difficult to find anyone who has tasted it and disliked it. The soup can be made with or without vegetable leaves.

INGREDIENTS
*500g raw peeled groundnuts (peanuts)

*Assorted meat and fish

*Beef

*Shaki (cow tripe)

* Dry fish

*Stockfish

* Palm Oil

* A small bunch of Nigerian Pumpkin leaves or 6 cubes Frozen

* Spinach or Bitterleaf

*2 tablespoons ground crayfish

* 2 big stock cubes

* Salt and ground dry cayenne pepper to taste.

METHOD
1.Start cooking the shaki first as it is the toughest meat in the bunch. Always keep water to the same level as the contents of the pot and top it up as you cook.

2.When the shaki starts to curl, add the dry fish and stock fish. When the shaki is almost done, add beef and stock cubes and cook till all the meat and fish are well done. Add the crayfish, salt, and pepper, cover and cook till it boils.


3. Transfer the meat and fish to another pot or container leaving the stock in the pot.
Add the ground groundnuts and stir very well till there are no lumps. Reduce the heat to a very low temperature and start cooking.

4. Stir every 5 minutes and top up the water if necessary. This mixture burns easily so, watch it closely and stir as often as necessary.

5. Cook till a thin film of clear oil appears on the surface. This should take about 15 minutes. Add palm oil and stir very well.

6. Add the beef and fish, stir and cook on low heat till it boils. For those who prefer their groundnut soup without vegetables, the soup is ready at this time. If you prefer it with vegetables then Add the vegetables, stir and leave to simmer. Stir again and it is done.

7. Enjoy with any of your swallow.


BY: FIRDAUSI MUSA DANTSOHO

10 BULLETS WERE REMOVED FROM MY HEAD, AND 2 BULLETS CLOSE TO MY EYES'' ANGELA OKORIE

Angela Okorie has got to be the luckiest woman on earth after surviving an alleged attack from suspected assassins.
Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie says ten bullets were removed from her head while two bullets were also removed somewhere close to her eyes during an alleged attack by assassins.

The actress made this known via her Instagram page on Sunday, December 15, 2019, while sharing an x-ray scan video after the alleged attack. According to her, surviving the attack was clearly God's plan.

"Undiluted grace will never stop to exist in my home, 10 bullets were removed from my head and 2 bullets close to my eyes, God alone deserves all the glory and honor. You are God all by your self, I am a child of Grace. Thank you, lord. Nothing in this world will ever make me ungrateful for all you’ve done in my life and family, The assassins kept on shooting for 30 minutes, No help from anywhere, No human came for our rescue Only God came for our Rescue.

BY SHAMSIYA BARAU AHMED

WEIRD THINGS PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY ARE IN LOVE

Love is beautiful thing. So they say. People are bound to do some weirdly stupid things when they are smitten.

Let’s admit it, we’ve all been there at one point at our lives. Somehow, when we fall in love, sense tends to leave our heads and we end up doing things we wouldn’t have imagined doing.

Here are some stupidly ridiculous things people do when they falling in love

Smiling stupidly at your phone

Yeah, this could be due to receiving a message from your lover or it could be as a result of going through your previous chats hence reminiscing on some memorable times you had. Sometimes it has nothing to do with the chats, you just remember something cute your better half does and you end up smiling. You stare at your phone to cover-up.

You become a snoop and a stalker

You will silently stalk them on all social media platforms. You want to know exactly they are online and whom they are chatting with. You literally want to know every detail of what they are up to.

Develop interest in things you didn’t have interest in

You find yourself ‘investing’ in your partner’s hobbies just to make them happy or just to spend more time with them doing things that they enjoy. Never mind you never at any given time in your life considered doing some of these things.

You have to consider your partner before making a decision

Your better half is literally always on your mind. They are somewhere lurking in the shadow of your brain. Any decision you make no matter how insignificant you have to consider them. Such is falling in love.

You go exceedingly out of your way

Even if you have to make crucial sacrifices, it does not matter so long as you get to please your partner. You can go to some extremes that when the love dies you look back and curse yourself for some of the things you did all in the name of love.

When the above are not all the weird things people do when they fall in love, they are some of the most common. Even though love is the warmest thing that could happen to you, it is advisable to be cautious and go slow on the ‘stupid things’.


BY STEPHANIE E. HEMEN

Tips to restore your skin's glow without using expensive cosmetics.

Who doesn't want a complexion that radiates good health? But what is the glow and how can you get it? That coveted glow women seek is the result of light reflecting from facial skin. When the skin surface is not smooth, the glow disappears. Here are four reasons why that glow may be eluding you: 

You don't have an even skin tone.

The texture of your skin is uneven, i.e. you have rough and dry skin, open pores, deep whiteheads, old acne scars, etc.

Your facial skin is losing structural support. As the fat under the skin moves and displaces with age, valleys and hills are created that keep your skin surface from looking smooth.

Also, make sure you eat and sleep on time and are not stressed. Your overall health and state of mind also contribute to a glowing skin. Once you've got that sorted, you can include the following steps in your skincare regimen. 

1. Exfoliate regularly with a gentle scrub. You could either choose from a foam-based face wash with fine exfoliating beads or make a scrub at home with sugar and honey or yogurt (make sure the sugar granules are fine in texture). Exfoliating sloughs away dead skin cells and helps with open pores and acne scars. Don't ignore your lips--they need exfoliation too! 

2. Moisturize well. You could use a heavier formula if you have fine lines and wrinkles.

3. Eat foods rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, daily.

4. Use a sunscreen every day, without fail. This will prevent any unevenness of skin tone from getting worse.

5. Use a skin brightening face pack if you have an uneven skin tone.

6. Get a facial done at your salon every 20 to 30 days.

BY STEPHANIE E. HEMEN