Why You Need to Cook

So I was on this website and yet again, the article spoke about a guy who told a girl that she was single because she couldn't cook.
On the contrary I think I'm single because I can cook and I cook. I have no time for fancy dinners or movie dates, because I need to go home. I live 40mins away from work on the tube and no one is going to give me their food for lunch.


That said, not that I think cooking or non-cooking equates to one's single or doubleness, it is important for people to know how to cook. At least at the basic level, no one is saying to become a Gordon or Nigella. 


1. You don't know when you will really need the skill. 


2. It is way healthier, plus you will be able to track things easily when you fall ill. You really don't want to know what happen behind the doors in restaurants. Keep eating out at the minimum.


3. It saves money. I could spend my whole months grocery cost on a week of eating out, even less than a week.


4. It could be loads of fun, yes, this said from someone who doesn't like cooking. But I managed to 'invent' a nice dish, that I'd never seen anyone do and it was great, even my co-workers were like, hmm that smells good and looks real healthy. It was.


5. Therapeutic? yes sometimes, or times its just a rush and mess, but then you can go into it with a mindset to relax after work or on the weekends and whip something up. I find that most of my cooking doesn't take more than an hour, and that's fine by me.


6. If you get to cook for people, even better! isn't it great seeing people happy? and satisfied? I think it does help to bind people together. Like I've said before cooking is one way to show love ^_^. If couples are fighting, it's hard for them to cook for each other, except there's poison in it. lol.


This is not exhaustive...but yes, cook!

Juin!

June is one of those rainy months I never forget and it also seems like a great month to get married in, no..I have no ideas. It's always unbelievable when the year rolls into June, it dawns on you that half the year is gone, your resolutions are long forgotten, many of your plans haven't quite played out the way you hoped, and you start to look forward to Christmas holidays. Anyways, it's been a good time I've had so far, the last couple of weeks and I'm going to be taking a trip this week, woohoo! I've attended about three parties/dinner so far, could have been four, but one didn't go as planned sadly, I also tried to make roast corn..lol. I am really looking forward to my trip and what I'm getting up to when I return! and also the rest of the year. I do hope, the rest of the year would be great for the lot of you too, enjoy!

Home-made Treacle Tart, absolutely lovely.

Carrot Cake, (mine was better though :P)

Dig In!

Something I love to do!

Make Smoothies!! ya. It is lovely I assure you! plus its super healthy! Remember to drink immediately. Don't try to 'save' it.lol

Berry Smoothie

• Two Fingers of Banana
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Milk
• A Blender!

YUMMY!!! ^_^

Bank Holiday Revel! : Toon Land

 Yep, So I was back in the Land close to me heart, I missed that Geordie Lilt so much! Anyways, this time around I stayed on the opposite side of the river.

Now can you tell me, What the heck this thing is, Was this really necessary? In the nightime I'm sure it would scare the jeebuzes out of anyone.

Royal Wedding weekend, yes it was, and unlike others who flew into the 'capital' I flew out. But ofcourse, the image was going to be with me where ever I go...even Tesco.

Anyways, I managed to have some fun baking a cake with a friend, it is incredibly easy to do, when you've got everything needed to put it together. My job actually in this was to grate the Carrots, yes it was a Carrot Cake. I grated the Carrot and then crushed the walnuts, which we mixed with the Cake batter. My friend did everything else, Plus the cheese icing, I then decorate the top with Cinnamon powder and walnuts. 

Yummy!

Yum..sat in the fridge, couldn't wait for a taste

Three nice layers!

Hmmmm Delicious!!!!!!

Who remembers this?

Black Rice........Yes we made Black rice, Thai chicken and Thai pepper sauce which didn't work, so I had to make traditional Nigerian tomato sauce.lol. SWEET!

Tried to have a barbecue the day before I left but the winds didn't allow it, I was practically freezing despite the sun.

This Looks like a bird...I'm sure it does! lol

Not once did I think of Osama!

Yesterday was such a day! Lots of things happened in usual style. Any time on the tube is bound to be dramatic. I've narrated the main story else where, it was so hectic, I didn't spare a thought for current events happening in the world. As the day slowed, I suddenly found I had a lot of time left! but I was quite worn out, plus I was wearing the wrong thing for the temperature of the day. 

So I decided to go attend the Real Food Festival, thanks to some 'connections' I got a free ticket. It was some fun, I wished i had lots of money, I would have carried sacks of food home. 

I saw Foreign Cows up close and Personal! LOL

*No Comment* hehe

Healthy Chocolate....visit 'em

I saw Foreign Sheep for the first time! boy are they smelly or what!! 

I got to have a taste of Vegetarian Cake, Some chocolate, Fast breakfast made of yogurt, oats and berries. There were lots of meat, cheese and wine. Great place for extreme foodies. It was nice.

Soon after, I couldn't hop on the train because....you guessed it, Peak Hours! na..I'm not rushing anywhere, I decided to wait. When it was over, I happily went on and made my way home :)Tired as anything but still filled with smilies, It was when I got online later that I realized Osama existed.

Come Dine With Me

The past few months have seen me spend a lot of time in the Kitchen, omg! I can't believe it you know..that I'm actually beginning to like cooking, and just the domestic way of life. Yesterday I even baked scones! Having people enjoy what I cook and appreciate it really spurs me on. Personally, ofcourse there's been a change inside deeper than just what people see. I still find it difficult to just up and go cook something for myself, but when other people's lives are at stake, I take it up with immediate effect! I used to yearn for the fast-paced life of an exec. But as I've begun to learn more about healthy feeding and live in general, it makes me want to become a housewife! I swear, me? yes me!. Sometimes I just picture myself in a farm house, homeschooling my children, cooking in a big kitchen, feeding my family and just living a content life (definitely not in the eyes of the world) filled with warmth and love.

It's no surprise that I also began to love the TV programme, Come Dine With Me. Cooking shows always used to bore me. But this one, is just plain brilliant. I spend hours watching re-runs, but its interesting to see how much many people can still cook and the pleasure many derive in putting out a good meal and for strangers too, its always heart warming when at the end of the programme the contestants still want to keep in touch..see what food can do! lol.

Jesus also calls us to Come dine with Him. He has filled the cup at the table with fresh wine, we can now partake in it as brothers and sisters. It's a simple call, Come to the table or stay were ever you are. We have the ability to respond as we see fit. But if I can go to dinner with abandon to enjoy foods which I enjoy and which replenish me temporarily, why not go to the dinner where I will enjoy foods which give life forever? Its a no brainer I've made my choice!

So, as you come dine with me, I hope you would also dine with Jesus at the table...........Enjoy!!!!

Sumptuous Saturday

I don't have this very often, but I'm glad I know people who try to host a get-together every now and then. I only have about one or two 'friends' in this life, and Its hard trying to hang out normally, because most people tend to bore me if the purpose of interaction is not clear. 


But not last Saturday! It was at a flat down in Wimbledon. I stopped over at Waterloo first, the sun was great, but I needed sunscreen badly! I wore my flowy neon skirt and I really felt summery. After the disappointment that was Saturday morning, I headed down to Wimbledon, not without picking up a few things to share, Almond Twists, Carrot Cake and Carrots (Yep, Healthy balance! lol). The shinding hadn't started, the host was just cutting the chicken fillets, 'I'm so hungry already' I thought!

After about an hour, others started coming in with some food to share and just their nice presence. After we got starters arranged on the table, it began! 

Got involved in a game called Catan, very complicated at first, but was great once we got into it, two hours passed and we didn't even know! We had to break up for supper atlast. We tried to save the game layout, so we could continue after eating but alas, an earthquake manifested and the land was broken!

 SUPPER!!

Lamb, Chicken, surprisingly no rice! lol

After the whole thing, we still had dessert! it was hard to go home, but I left at 10:30pm, the train from Wimbledon to Nottinghill must be the slowest train ever! I got home at 12am. Thankfully, someone came to pick me at the station. Just before I went to bed, I was filled with so much thanksgiving, and prayers, then I remembered that the moon was supposed to be a big deal that night. So I looked out of my window, and there it was, majestically shining on me, really beautiful. Nice way to end my day, it was. I look forward to more of this kind of days ^_^

Nice Start

So I decided to learn how to sew, this week..so far, I really haven't done any thing, but the week isn't over yet! hehe. I am also trying to get particular documents so I can apply for particular documents. Lots of phone calling, e-mails and what not, I'm kinda on the edge.lol. Anyways. the week started with a shine to it. I have started going to church, I really like the church my friend invited me to. I didn't take to it at first, but after a second try. It got me hooked, plus I also get to meet with some students in the afternoon and have a great bible study and food!! LOL. My uncle is even convinced I have ulterior motives involved in going, because its about fourty minutes by train to my house. Last Sunday was the last meeting for the year, so I made sure I was there. It emphasized the essence of Christianity.

After, there was a carol service at the main church. As usual, there was Handel's 'Unto us a child is born' ang  by the Choir, It does take me way back to my secondary school's music club at the carol night..More important though, was the message..which deserves a post on its own. It was preached by Rico Tice, he is an awesome, awesome preacher. He is instrumental in making me stay on at this church. When the service was over, while regretting why I left my ear-muff at home, we (I and some mates from the student fellowship) walked over to an Italian restaurant.

Food was great! Company was Great! I hadn't Laugh-Cried in ages!! I live for such nights. It was sad to leave, but mehn, I still had Fourty Minutes or more journey time to get home, and it was already 9pm. Said my bye-byes and went on. Just close to the station was a crowd and I wondered what was going on,

It was serious! took me way back to Estate days, Days spent playing chess in school. Some of all that happy go-lucky days *Sigh* With a large smile on my face, I went on my way home, Awesome Day! :)

It's even in my cooking!

It is no secret that I do not like cooking, on any normal day. The whole process annoys me. You spend nothing less than 30mins to make food that will be consumed in less than 15mins, and some portions ending up in the trash bin. I've always told myself that cooking, for me, must transcend cooking to just satisfy hunger. If it is to satisfy hunger, Fast food is the BEST option, only grugdingly would I cook if I am DYING of hunger, and I have no money to buy fastfood.

It was only recently I began to see the similarities between my relationship with cooking and my relationship with God./nature of man. People think that its inherent for man to do good, If so? what is making us do bad? People think that it should be inherent for a Woman to like cooking and babies and all that jazz, but I don't like cooking and I know some people who do not like babies.lol. Therefore, Just like I strive to cook, people strive to do good, It really doesn't come natural. People would default like me, as I default to buying fastfood, they default to do things which would bring instant rewards. Take for instance the armed robber, for him it is easier to steal other peoples things to get things for himself, in other words, Doing bad does seem to have plenty rewards Palsm 73.

WHY would I cook at all?

Cooking, just like doing good (whatever you define good to be, like cooking.lol) whether you like it or not, has rewards. Even though the reward is simply satisfing hunger or feeling good about yourself, there is something reasonable that comes out of it. It is likely not instant! and most times you only do it for other people (albeit grudgingly sometimes) but to a large extent, these other people become happy.

The Parallel: Why would we do good as Christians?

I love this man, I love and trust him very much with all my heart and soul, and I know he loves me back, not just because of what he says, but mostly because of what he has done, his actions. “A tiger does not proclaim its tigritude. It pounces.” - wole soyinka. I also know, through our interaction and relationship that he LOVES banga soup..As in, its not funny!.Anywhere He goes he must eat banga soup. Europe, Asia, Australasia, the Caribbean, America. He must find that soup and eat it! it is that bad!. And this Man now lives with me, we are committed (married), in love, its been great. This man LOVES this banga soup, and I don't like cooking. I will learn how to cook this soup for him, deliberately and with intent, because I know he LOVES it and it will make him happy. Obviously the first time I make it, It can't be perfect, and as I do it more often, because he Loves it, I would only get better. If someone else tells me to make the soup for them, I am 90% likely not to make it especially if there's nothing for me to gain. But given that its my Man's best soup, for him, it is 100% likely that I will make it. Ofcourse even if I don't cook this soup,, My man won't love me less, I guess it would just be disappointing to him..Imagine! lol.

Take a minute to think this through and see how this relates to the relationship with God, His love and how our response should be to him. You really can't claim to love or trust someone if you cannot do what they say or take actions towards the things they love, what an uncomfortable relationship that would be!
For now I'm off to cook some soup ;D

CNT

Woke up yesterday and just couldn't move, pretty important day at school and my legs gave out. I had a massive headache to boot, pretty shitty start to my day. Went back to sleep and finally made a way out by 12pm. I've had this numbness in my legs on and off, i just hope the blood test doesn't return anything scary. I really hate not being where i ought to be, even if it turns into a waste of time, my day was pretty much mapped out before i went to bed. And then things didn't go as planned, a real bummer.

Anyways *Sigh*

I went to get some dairy products, then tried to look for the Indian vermicelli (Kheer), no shop around had it and i had to settle for some over sweet 'thing', never again!

Blast from the past

Once upon a time not too distant in the past, was a guy i liked. He disappointed me a number of times, not intentional i reckon, still it wasn't a good look. He 'disappears', for well a long time and then he showed up yesterday. Said he was sorry and all. Good good, happy new year.

Also! i watched Splash!! Tom Hanks looked so cuuute.lol, I cant believe people thought Daryl Hannah was that beautiful, and then Eugene Levy...lololol. Good fun i tell ya.

Mid-Week Mix

Sunday RANT

ok, so i had some friction with my dad over this Church issue, i just put it to him that i wanted to attend one near my house with my friend who was over for the weekend..ehhhh no! i was disobeying him. Anyhoo we ended up going there.

Got a lot of stares because of my natural hair and cat eye glasses.lol!
One woman actually came to meet i and my friend as we waited for the service to start outside, she said she liked my face and wanted to take a pic, but she had no camera. she left and came back asking for my autograph..Im like, sorry lady (amidst plenty laff) i am not a star/celeb. shes like, well you are one in the making, she smiled and left. My friend was like, this woman is funny o.

Usher wahala.... The service hadnt started, a friend calls me and i pickup, next thing this huge lady is allover me, telling me to end the call or go out..huh?i continued talking, then she adds a terrible excuse "The Phone is affecting the Video camera" what the!?!

I enjoyed the message though, it was something "Christians" ought to hear everyday not "this town would not be complete until you drive a car!" and the audience choruses a thunderous AMEN!.
Christianity has nothing to do with the church you attend, its about how you live your life EVERYDAY, EVERY MOMENT. Has nothing to do with -Self, haven nailed that to the cross. I am not a perfect person but i do know that Understanding leads one on the right way. With all the Religious Confusions i have experienced in my life, i should be Atheist. But haven realised the very essence of Christianity, its why i remain "Christian" or whatever label it is now.

Hair

Yup yup, go nappy! when my friend came over for the weekend, she was still surprised i was natural, infact she said So this is how your hair looks "due" Due for what? i ask. She just smiles. I try to let my hair out as often as possible, but i have currently been wearing a wig to work :( . From next week! its gonna be me and my hair!

I saw this natural woman at the church, with really long twists, my friend started to argue that its dreads, must natural hair be lowcut or dreads! Anyway, im watchng my hair, moisturizing everyday..oooh the feel of water through the hair..so great! so wonderful, so..lol

One of my guy friends has made me his hair consultant lol..see wat nachi don cause.lol

Weight Gain

I got this bread recipe from http://naijacookbook.blogspot.com/ which says would make you gain weight..plus i really like eggs, it has been really delicious, it was what even led me to that zombie dream *shudders* a friend says its cos i like food too much :P

Friendships

If there is anything i know about this, is that it isnt by force.it surely cannot be one-sided. i admit that im really laid back when it comes to sustaining friendships..but i dont have a problem with sticking with people. Friendship is the very foundation for every other type of relationship..if you want it long lasting anyway. Depending on the person, it could be really tasking too. I like making my own friends, i dont do communities.
Dude meets me at work and is acting like i forced him to be "friends" with me. I dont waste time letting people know what obtains with me ( so i get called harsh, quite often)...so i tell him straight up, if he thinks i am "work" he should take a hike. i just dont know why they never get it.

Work

Life at the Ministry of Corruption hasnt been smooth, it was really terrible at first but things are getting better. The members are going on recession next week, i may just be taking my leave too.hehehe.
It is Children's Day, i should have been home! atleast my parents see me as a child, It was "bring your children to work" day at the complex..i tried playing aunty at a point and opened my Snes emulator for some kids to play Mariokart and they had no idea, i was flummoxed! my kids will know MARIO o!! What a world these children live in these days, saddening :( lol

Escape From Zombie Mansion

I have been having really graphic dreams lately, over the weekend, i had a vivid dream about my wedding and the dress in particular, now im totally sure on what my dress would look like :D
Anyhow to the dream with the title..i dreamt it on saturday.
What happened that night, i slept very early while waiting for electricity to get back, so i woke up around four, there was power and i was yoma-hungry. i got to the kitchen and prepared some food, someone just gave me directions on how-to the day before, it was a great meal, and i thought i wont be able to go back to sleep, but after eating, chatting a bit with a friend i began to feel sleepy and then i drifted away.

Scene begins in another country, England or France. in an old mansion where there was a show on the recipes the house produced, there was an older woman with dark hair who was like the director of the kitchen and the chefs in their white garments, im sure some of them where french because on the TV i saw a translation as the cooks describe the dishes and recipes. So i decided to go to the mansion. when i got there (and realised they had just prepared the food i had prepared before i slept!) i tried to have a talk with them, tell them how delicious the meals where and ask for any advise on particular dishes, they just kept nodding and being cold, there was one male chef with a roundish bald head, he just looked at me and went about his duties. When i concluded they had no time for me, i decided to go home.

First, i had to use the bathroom, next thing i go into the bathroom, really posh, i see this designer toilet bag and i have no idea why i take it, and as i leave the bathroom, i see a room to my left, its tastefully done, with dainty little chairs, i had to take a picture, but as i sat down on one georgian chair tucked in the corner of the room, i began to go through the designer bag nothing of interest was in it, save for something that looked like a mirror, as i was fiddling with that, i heard a start of activity in the house, i turned back and saw this black American actor/comedienne (cant remember his name), rush by to the bathroom, he wanted to take a shower. I turned back to the mirror thing and held it to the dainty chairs and pressed a button, a loud boom followed, and the shuffle of footsteps increased, i then realised it wasnt my camera, as i tried to bring that out to take the picture, the baldheaded cook appeared at my right side,
you have to leave now, he said, face turning white
why?? i asked
he repeated himself, he goes to bathroom to tell the actor to do the same i assumed, i got my things together and started to leave when i realised all the cooks and everyone in the house where out in the hallway, they had turned ashen, i began to run, i ran out of the mansion only to see that the whole street was filled with zombies, the sun was down too.

i began to run as fast as i could, even jumping over some of the creatures, after a while, the American Actor appeared by my side and we tried escaping together, somehow we got to the top of a fridge or something, with three zombies trying to climb up too, one of them was the bald chef. we used ceramic cups and a teapot to stun them, then we got down.

We had gone in circles and we were back at the mansion, actually the American Actor, forgot something, as we were leaving, the Actor realised that his car was gone, but we saw a car key on the console near the front door, we grabbed it and just then, the Master zombie and two of his bodyguards started to come out of the house. We dove into the car but one of the guard was already trying to open the door. i jumped out and started to run. The american actor managed to put the key in the ignition and zoomed off, with the zombie dude stumbling to the ground, the actor slowed for me and i jumped into the car and we zoomed away! the car was a Lincoln.

Then i woke up!
wheew, i was exhausted, and i couldnt believe how much i could remember. . .