Foodie! https://www.foodieng.com/ Your favourite online grocery store Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:29:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://i0.wp.com/foodieng.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/cropped-FOODIE-1.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Foodie! https://www.foodieng.com/ 32 32 203501753 How To Preserve And Store Food https://foodieng.com/how-to-preserve-and-store-food/ Mon, 21 Nov 2022 14:13:40 +0000 https://foodieng.com/?p=2948 The post How To Preserve And Store Food appeared first on Foodie!.

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HOW TO PRESERVE AND STORE FOOD

The persistent rise in the prices of food items is something everyone grapples with on a daily. Gone are the days one can plan on weekly food spend or put together a feasible grocery budget before heading to the market. You either get more money to complete your shopping or you head home with whatever you could get with the money you have; and times are getting steepier by the day.

Today is literarily one of the hardest times to have many mouths to feed and it is surely not a time to waste food.

In my new blog series, join me to look at some cost effective food preservation and storage methods for specific kinds of food. Such knowledge will surely come in handy. You’ll either get richer or healthier.

In the first post of the series, let us look at some items you need to have in order to begin an effective food preservation journey. Our goal is keep excess food fresh and uncontaminated with the same taste, flavour and quality. This will enable us buy food cheaper in large quantities while they’re in season since we now know how to store them better. We will also look at some general tips for food preservation and storage.

THINGS YOU NEED AT HOME TO STORE FOOD

  • Open space for sun-drying
  • Ziploc / Freezer Bags
  • Covered bowls
  • Fridge
  • Freezer
  • Polythene bags
  • Old newspapers/ brown paper
  • Cane / plastic Baskets
  • Wooden slabs

GENERAL TIPS FOR FOOD STORAGE

Storing in Fridge
  • Ensure your fridge is always turned on and is cold (between 0 – 5 degrees).
  • Do not leave the fridge door open for long periods.
  • Allow foods that are hot to cool before refrigerating.
  • Ensure the fridge thermostat is set at an effective temperature.
Storing Meat
  • Seal fresh meat or store in non-leaking containers at the lower section of the fridge, to avoid dripping on to other stored foods (this is to avoid cross contamination).
  • When meat is cooked, transfer into the fridge / freezer as soon as it cools.
  • Raw meat and cooked meat should be stored in separate containers.
Storing n Freezer
  • Allow hot foods to cool before transferring to the fridge/freezer.
  • Try to label freezer meals/leftovers with details such as date stored.
  • To make sure the taste and texture of food is retained long enough in the freezer, try to keep freezer frozen all the time and minimize opening the lid in times of power failure.
  • Transfer leftover foods into freezer within 2 hours of cooking.
  • Always cover foods in the freezer to avoid freezer burn or loss of flavour.
  • Store food either fresh or well cooked.
Storing grain in containers/bags 
  • Ensure the containers/bags are covered to avoid rodents and insects.
  • Don’t store around chemicals.
  • Try not to store directly on the floor, place food on wooden slabs.
  • Try not to use containers that have been used for other purposes to store food or you may well wash properly.
  • Storage area should be dry, well ventilated and cool.
Storing canned foods
  • If you are unable to exhaust canned food at once, transfer what is left into a plastic container, cover and keep in the fridge.
  • Some cans are designed with resealable lids, those can be used to store the foods even after the can has been opened otherwise never leave food in an already opened can as the food can react with the can once exposed to air.
Kitchen foil
  • Aluminium foil affects the taste of acidic foods and so should not be used to store such foods like tomatoes and cabbage.

The post How To Preserve And Store Food appeared first on Foodie!.

]]> 2948 Bitter Leaf Soup Recipe https://foodieng.com/bitter-leaf-soup-recipe/ Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:07:31 +0000 https://foodieng.com/?p=2910 The post Bitter Leaf Soup Recipe appeared first on Foodie!.

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Bitter Leaf Soup Recipe

Photo Credit:  Dooney’s Kitchen/Low Carb Africa/Yummy Medley Pinterest

 Servings:

4

 Ready In:

1hr 40mins

 Calories:

Varies

 Good For:

Lunch

 Introduction

About this Recipe

By: Emmanuella

Although ‘Bitter’ appears in its name, bitter leaf soup is one of the sweetest local delicacies loved by Igbos. Traditionally called ofe Olugbo (or onugbo soup), bitter leaf soup is one of the few soups that is traditionally eaten during Igbo cultural festivals. You bet it is prepared in a special way that makes this bitter-leafed soup become relished on the dining table. Let us see how this special delicacy is prepared.

Ingredients

  • 1 lbs Bitter leaf
  • 5 lbs cocoyam
  • 2 lbs cut Goat meat
  • 1 lbs kpomo or shaki 
  • 1 lbs stock fish
  • 1 lbs dried fish
  • 2 lbs palm kernel
  • Scotch bonnet pepper
  • 4 tbsp Crayfish
  • 1 wrap of Ogiri Igbo
  • Seasoning cubes & salt to taste

Note:

– If you can’t get cocoyam corms, you can use cocoyam flour, achi or even yam/yam flour

– You can sun-dry your bitter leaf to make its bitter taste easier to remove

– Ogiri Igbo is the local seasoning that gives your soup the traditional taste. But it is optional if you don’t eat it.

 

Olugbo soup

Nutrition

Bitter leaf soup is rich in vitamins, protein and minerals including  iodine. Fats & oil and carbs are also present in good measure.

  • Vitamins 35% 35%
  • Roughage 76% 76%
  • Calories 12% 12%

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare your leaves

First wash your bitter leaf to remove dirt. Marsh it to remove its bitter taste and to break the leaves. You can further boil to eliminate the bitter taste completely if you like.

Step 2: Prepare your sweetener

Put your washed goatmeat in a pot. Add diced onion (the only time you add onion), salt and seasoning cubes. Steam dry for 3 to 5 minutes. Then add scotch bonnet pepper, your stock fish and water. Cook until meat & fish are tender. Add kpomo and boil for another 5 minutes so it doesn’t get too soft. Sweetener is ready.

Step 3: Prepare your palm kernel seeds and cocoyam

Put your washed palm kernel seeds and cocoyam together in a pot and boil until softened. Peel the hot cocoyam and blend into cocoyam paste. Extract oil from the palm kernel seeds using hot/warm water. Be mindful of the volume of water you use. Only add as much as how watery you want your soup to be and boil for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Mix your soup

Into the boiling oil solution, add your dried fish, crayfish and scotch bonnet pepper. Also add your ogiri igbo and seasoning cubes to taste and allow to boil for 10 minutes. Add the cocoyam paste and allow to boil to dissolve before adding your already cooked meat, kpomo and stock fish. Allow to steam for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Add bitter leaf

After a total of 20 to 25 minutes of cooking, the aroma of the soup must be strong. Add your prepared bitter leaf. Add it in small lumps so it can spread easily and stir very well. Add salt to taste and cook for 10 minutes. Your bitter leaf soup is ready to be served. 

Step 6: Get your swallow ready

Get your preferred swallow ready and serve in desired quantity. Do not forget to do the dishes ASAP.

People Who’ve Made This

“I really love Onugbo soup and I have followed your recipe. I think it is correct and will give the desired result and taste. I like it when ogiri igbo is used to prepare the soup. It brings out the real taste of the soup and not t0 mention the strong beautiful and rich aroma too

Thanks Emmanuella. Just started craving bitter leaf soup again.”

Oma

Amawbia-Awka

“Wow! This is the real traditional way of making bitter leaf soup. Just that you weren’t quite elaborate on how to process the palm kernel seeds. I use palm oil instead of the kernels. It’s easier for me that way and still gives the same satisfying taste.”

Chinelo Nwankwo

Amaenyi-Awka

The post Bitter Leaf Soup Recipe appeared first on Foodie!.

]]> 2910 Vegetable Soup Recipe https://foodieng.com/vegetable-soup-recipe/ Mon, 29 Aug 2022 08:44:51 +0000 https://foodieng.com/?p=1779 The post Vegetable Soup Recipe appeared first on Foodie!.

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Vegetable Soup Recipe

 Photo Credit:  Dream Africa Pinterest/Sisiyemmie Pinterest/Yummy Medley Pinterest

 Servings:

4

 Ready In:

1hr 30mins

 Calories:

Varies

 Good For:

Lunch

 Introduction

About this Recipe

 By: Emmanuella

Vegetable soup is one of the most popular delicacies in Naija kitchens. For different people, there are different ways it can be prepared. But something that unites all the recipes is the abundance of leafy vegetables and that is probably where the soup got its name from.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs  Water leaf
  • 2 lbs Ugu
  • 3 lbs cut Goat meat 
  • 8 pieces of Snails
  • 1 lbs Smoked Shrimp
  • ½ cup Palm oil
  • 2 Onions & 2 Peppers
  • 4 tbsp Crayfish
  • 2 Seasoning cubes
  • Salt to taste

It is one of the most health-friendly recipes since leafy vegetables promote the availability of blood in the body while its high roughage content aids bowel movement. Vegetable soup goes well with poundo, garri, fufu and all other kinds of swallow. It can also be eaten alone when one isn’t super-hungry.

Nutrition

Vegetable soup is rich in vitamins, protein and minerals including  iodine. Fats & oil and roughages are also present in good quantity

  • Vitamins 35% 35%
  • Roughage 76% 76%
  • Calories 12% 12%

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare your sweetner

Put washed goatmeat in pot. Add onion, salt and 2 seasoning cubes. Fire dry without water. Once dried, add dried fish, snails and water. Cook until meat is tender. Sweetner is ready

.Step 2: Prepare your leaves

Wash ugu leaves and waterleaf to remove sand and dirts. Slice your ugu leaves. Mash your waterleaf and boil dry in pot

Step 3: Prepare other ingredients

Slice your second onion. Grind your pepper and crayfish, get your seasoning cubes and palm oil ready

Step 4: Mix your soup

Pour palm oil in pot and put on fire until it fries. add onion and crayfish and pour the water from your sweetner. Add your ugu leaves and waterleaf and stir until both leaves mix. Put your pepper and seasoning cubes and add your meat, snail etc from your sweetner. Add salt, stir and allow to boil for 5 minutes

Step 5: Prepare to feed your tummy

After boiling for five minutes, your vegetable soup is ready. Get your swallow ready and don’t forget to wash up the dishes.

People Who’ve Made This

“This is a good vegetable soup recipe. Although there are other ways I prepare my waterleaf, I think mashing and drying works too. I learned here that drying your meat with seasoning cubes, onion, and salt before cooking makes it taste even sweeter. Thanks Emmanuella for making this recipe. It works.

Chisom

Udoka Housing Estate

“I think this is an even easier process than the way I prepare mine but you should know that waterleaf is key. It serves as the thickner. If you don’t get enough waterleaf, you may not like the way your soup turns out. Happened to me once. Cool recipe!”

Mira

Commissioners Quarters

The post Vegetable Soup Recipe appeared first on Foodie!.

]]> 1779 Naija Wife Kitchen Starter Pack https://foodieng.com/naija-wife-kitchen-starter-pack/ Sat, 27 Aug 2022 21:11:29 +0000 http://box5778/cgi/addon_GT.cgi?s=GT::WP::Install::EIG+%28foodieng%29+-+10.24.48.83+%5BWordpress%3b+/var/hp/common/lib/Wordpress.pm%3b+543%3b+Hosting::gap_call%5D/?p=1 The post Naija Wife Kitchen Starter Pack appeared first on Foodie!.

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Hello Foodie!

Welcome to our first blog on your favourite home support platform. You might think we will jump right into, “How to prepare Egusi Soup” or some gossip like, “The Secret why Naija big boys love Poundo”. But no, not so fast. As per Naija, we go first welcome you with kitchen tips on wetin you suppose get for kitchen before embarking on this foodie journey with us. Abi no be so?

As a new Naija wife, there’s one proven way to announce your presence in your new home; I mean, to show your mother-in-law you’re the real deal and this is the way you transform her son’s kitchen before she visits again. If you get this right, fifty percent of your smeh-smeh work don finish. Don’t sleep on it; this na expo.

Naija kitchen starter-pack is a mix of local utensils and, as per tush girl wey you be, some support equipment that has become indispensable in kitchens today.  Let’s quickly jump into seven most relevant starter pack necessary for a trendy Naija kitchen.

  1. Mortar and pestle: If this is your number 2, then you no be correct babe. Mortar and pestle is facing the biggest fight for relevance in modern Naija kitchens, but these two wooden items have vowed they’re going nowhere. And guess what, they are winning the fight. From banga soup to bitterleaf soup to oha soup, what do you want to cook without the support of these two kitchen landlords?
  2. Ten-litre pot: I mean, the pot that shows your place has graduated from a house to a home. How else do you want to cook the food that will feed your children, your husband as well as his father’s side when they visit? Your mother-in-law go provoke if she doesn’t see a pot that shows you carry her for mind as you de cook. Be warned.
  3. Big spoon: Your husband must already have one, but shhh, let me tell you a secret, if he has one, make it two. This tells him you have plans for his tummy. I mean, will the tummy continue to look forsaken with no improvement? Forget six pack joor, one rounded pack feels better.
  4. Bowls and bowls: I called you twice because there can never be too much of bowls in a Naija kitchen. Bowls are used for everything. From doing the dishes to storing food to scooping water. One bowl will contain meat, another bowl will cover it. Creativity in the use of bowls never ends in our kitchens.
  5. Sieve: your hardworking husband may not have one, but if he does, buy a bigger one. Show him you plan to have children and cook bigger meals. Or don’t you?
  6. Kitchen shelves: Guys, after buying her a new box, a kitchen shelf must follow if you want to sleep well at night. Otherwise, she will stop in the middle of something to remind you, “Baby, we need a shelf in our kitchen”. Bet me, you just don’t want that.
  7. Plastic buckets and small containers: Guys, if you don’t know, your kitchen is your wife’s lab. She will be mixing, burning, frying and marinating. She’ll need to store her lab items and that’s where containers come in. But don’t worry, those ones are not costly and sometimes you get it for free when you buy stuff from Foodie!

You might have been expecting blender, fridge, mixer and so on. Those ones are important shaa but, believe me, these seven are importanter. They are our Naija kitchen starter pack. The first of our kitchen tips for you.

The post Naija Wife Kitchen Starter Pack appeared first on Foodie!.

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