Mama’s Delight monkey bread

A story on its own
I was browsing through my Facebook news feed when I came across a strange looking bread,or so it was called. Someone wanted to know why the bread was named thus, it did have a picture but I had never seen any thing like it. I kept looking at this thing called bread,for one the colour was too pale,and then no one seem to know why it was called monkey bread. The lady who posted the picture wanted to know if anyone had a tried recipe,aside wanting to know why it was called monkey bread.
Now this is a challenge for me,I liked the look of the bread(though I had no intention making mine as pale as the picture showed). Since I have a business whose purpose is to create delicious but also unique meals and snacks,I was about to go on a quest of why monkey and how tasty!
Well,as for the name,it sure had no monkey brain in the recipe(seriously though,l was half afraid I was going to see something bizarre!). I saw the usuals in bread, however a unique quantity and richeness in the ingredient.
I never like following norm so I decided I was making my own recipe. Abracadabra,I came out with the best,sweet buttery and rich tasting bread ever! It tasted even much better the next day(and we all know bread is infamous for tasting less nice the following day!)
I did discover on my own why it is called monkey bread,but shhhhhh I am not letting on. So who will be guessing why its called monkey bread by gazing at that picture up there of the very tempting,tasty buttery discovery up there:D ?
Let see whose guess will hit my home,no cheating in professor Google please ? .
With love,Shariifah.

THE MOI-MOI TALE

  • Moi-Moi or Ole-le is a south west dish majorly. It can be taken with almost anything…with garri,pap,eko tu-tu,rice meals or on its own. Moi-Moi is made from peeled beans,pureed to a smooth paste with added peppers,and onion before being pureed.
  • Different things like fish,minced meat,eggs,shrimps,crayfish etc is added to it after being grounded. Not forgetting to add red palm oil or vegetable oil,stock water and salt to taste. It is steamed in coco palm leaves for most healthy cooking with the added bonus of the nice aroma that mingles with the moi moi while cooking! However,some cook their moi moi in nylon bags,rubber bowls(most dangerous and unhealthy),or stainless steal bowls.
  • Moi-Moi being majorly a South/ West,Nigerian meal has its fable. It is said that when it is cooked by a woman during menstruation,it will be undercooked! People also make a knot and add to the boiling water to cook the moi moi,it is believed that it is the only way to make it come out perfect and cooked! Of course these are only superstitions and old wives tales that has no basis! 
  • Moi Moi can turn horribly wrong(hence the several tales)! The trick to perfect cooked moi moi is getting the consistency right,lining the base of the cooking pot with the sticks cut off from the leaves and lining with some leaves,before arranging carefully the moi moi(this is to prevent the cooking water to get into the wrapped moi moi.
  • The moi moi is perfect when it is properly steamed for the correct cooking time. It should be well covered,not allowing the steam to escape,and cooked for NOT less than 45minutes!
  • Moi Moi is a very tasty,healthy meal,that may be used as a side dish,main meal or even snacked on. For people who react to the gas in beans,moi moi is a better alternative,as the gas disturbing element in beans is rid off when made into moi moi.(By peeling the skin off and soaking!).
  • Do you enjoy eating moi moi? What are the tricks and tips you have learnt while cooking this party favourite? 
  • Do share your moi moi stories and recipe with us here.
  • ~Shariifah~♥

The beauty in nature,indeed there are signs for those who reflect!

The recipe I’ll be sharing has a story behind it. What’s a recipe without a story anyway? Makes the meal more delicious if you ask me,*winks*!
Here goes the gist.
I had a lovely afternoon with my kiddies,visiting a family friend’s fish farm. My girls picked wild flowers,I found a snail in a fish pond,& they tried catching fish while trying to feed them! If you don’t know,I have a morbid fear for water,still or running,I don’t care! As much as I enjoyed the lovely scene with the sounds of the fish splashing with mixed smell of trees,water, wild plants,fish and everything,I refused to move any where close to the water. The kids where braver walking on the ponds,feeding the fish and having wild nature fun! Guess what,my back was turned to them all through their daring adventure,with my heart playing wild music!
In all it was fun,and I got to take these lovely nature pictures,with one of my kids, holding the yellow lovely flower!
I saw beauty in the best forms,no pretence,no artificial ornaments,no dazzle of technology,just the beauty of wild nature with joy of kids laughter,and heart full of wonder,mingled with some fear of what this wild holds.
As we leave this beauty behind,I ponder on the greatness of the One who sketched this beauty,without a pen or eraser!
The starkness of nature made me realize more,indeed there are signs for those who reflect!
Now what better way to end a farm visit? Of course,we got some cat fish gift from our adventure!
You should expect something tasty from this trip,abi? But emmm,wait a second!
You are thinking I’ll be sharing the recipe to the very delightful,appertising and delicious:
FRIED RICE WITH PAN FRIEDCAT FISH? Haaaa ? I will,but that will be for another post,and we will call it :
“Dinning With Nature( 11)” ! So you just have to visit again to get theatyummy recipes ? .
Till then,be good and fear Allah where ever you are…
With love,Shariifah.