How my grandmother’s cupboard taught me to cook smarter, not harder — and how you can too. There are two kinds of kitchens: the experimental, recipe-card kind, where everything looks neat and measured, and the lived-in, memory-laced kitchens where hacks and instincts run the show. I grew up in the second kind. My grandmother didn’t measure so much as “feel,” and when things went sideways, she had a dozen ways to rescue a dish. Over the years, I've collated a long list of those little shortcuts: 37 practical kitchen tips that have saved dinners, preserved staples, and kept families fed. I’ve grouped them here the way my grandmother used to: preservation, prep, rescue, frying & oil, beans & grains, and...
I still remember the way my mother’s kitchen smelled on Sunday afternoons. The rich aroma of locust beans mingling with black pepper, the warmth of dry fish powder, and the flavor of uziza seeds filled the air. It was the kind of scent that made your stomach grumble before you even saw the pot on the fire. Growing up, native soups were more than just meals—they were a celebration. A gathering of family, culture, and tradition, all simmering together in one bubbling pot. And the real magic? It wasn’t just in the fresh vegetables or the tender pieces of meat; it was in the blend of spices. My mother always said, “The right spices make the difference between an ordinary...
I still remember the first time I had a seafood dish that tasted so nice. It was in my grandmother’s kitchen, where the air was thick with the aroma of simmering broth. She had this way of blending spices and seafood so well that every bite felt like a warm hug. She never measured ingredients—just a pinch of this, a handful of that. But what made her dishes unforgettable was the rich, deep flavor of seafood. The crayfish, stockfish, and prawns worked magic in her pot, releasing a savory depth that no artificial seasoning could ever match. Years later, I found myself trying to recreate her recipes. But life got busy, and I didn’t always have time to source and...
I still remember the first time I encountered nkwobi at my friend Chioma's home in Lagos. The aromatic spices wafting through her kitchen told me I was in for something special, but I had no idea this traditional Igbo dish would become one of my most cherished culinary discoveries. Nkwobi, for the uninitiated, is a delicacy of spiced cow foot, slow-cooked until tender and served in a rich, palm oil-based sauce. The secret lies in the blend of seasonings - ground ehuru (calabash nutmeg), uziza seeds, utazi leaves, and potash, which create a complex harmony of flavors that arouse your taste buds. The Nutritional Benefits in Every Bite Beyond its incredible taste, Nkwobi is surprisingly nutritious. Here’s why: Protein...
Last month, my friend invited me over for dinner. While helping her prep in the kitchen, I reached into her fridge to grab some garlic and found something odd. There was a whole tub of palm oil sitting on the shelf, right next to some onions. I paused and asked, “Why is your palm oil in the fridge?” She laughed and said, “I thought it would stay fresh longer this way!” That moment stuck with me. Many of us don’t think twice about what we toss into the fridge. But here’s the truth: not everything belongs there. In fact, storing certain foods in the fridge can ruin their flavor, texture, or shelf life. If you’ve been wondering why your food...
