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...
If happiness had a flavor, it would probably taste like strawberries. Sweet, juicy, and bursting with goodness, strawberries are more than just a delicious fruit—they’re a symbol of love, warmth, and the simple joys of life. And guess what? February 27th is National Strawberry Day! A Strawberry Surprise Last year, my niece, Tolu, visited from boarding school. She had one request: "Aunty, can we make something fun and yummy?" I opened the fridge, and there they were—a fresh batch of bright red strawberries waiting to be turned into something magical. Tolu’s eyes lit up as we brainstormed ideas. "Strawberry milkshake?" she suggested. "Strawberry pancakes?" I countered. "Ooooh, strawberry-infused zobo?" That was it! We blended fresh strawberries with hibiscus petals, added a...
The new school year is upon us! Backpacks are prepped, notebooks are pristine, and excitement fills the air. But amidst the new schedules and early mornings, one question looms: what to pack in the lunchbox? Remember those days of sad, soggy sandwiches and wilted fruit? We've all been there. This year, ditch the lunchbox blues and opt for a world of flavors with a back-to-school African food fiesta! Imagine the look on your child's face when they open their lunchbox to find: Akarapancake Stacks:These fluffy Nigerian pancakes, made with beans, are packed with protein and taste incredible drizzled with honey or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. They're the perfect sweet and satisfying way to start the day. Drop Donut Delights: These...
If there's one thing moms are pros at, it's finding shortcuts and smart kitchen hacks to get delicious homemade meals on the table faster. Their mad multitasking skills and wisdom from years of meal-prepping, lunch packing, and putting out dinner fires (sometimes literally) make them the ultimate kitchen lifehackers. Here are some kitchen tips and tricks that stellar mom chefs and food bloggers swear by. Dedicate a couple of hours on the weekend to chopping vegetables, prepping ingredients, and even pre-cooking some staples like shredded chicken. Portion them into containers for easy grab-and-go meals throughout the week. Frozen vegetables are a lifesaver! Steam them in minutes for a healthy side dish or toss them into stir-fries and soups. You can add...
Remember those Saturday mornings as a kid? Cartoons blaring on TV, sunshine peeking through the curtains, and the most delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen. For many of us in Nigeria, that aroma meant one thing: breakfast was calling! Who can forget the fluffy moin moin, the steaming hot ogi, or the crispy akara dipped in pepper sauce? These meals were pure comfort, a taste of tradition passed down through generations. But let's be honest, the prep work? Not so fun. Washing mountains of beans, painstakingly milling them by hand – it was a labor of love, for sure, but also a time commitment not everyone has these days. We get it. You crave the taste of home, the memories...
