Posts

Showing posts from 2018

How To Cook The Nigerian Egusi Soup

Image
Anyone could teach you how to cook Egusi soup but can they teach you how to cook Egusi the Velvety way? But I’ll teach you! Cos I’m the Velvety chef. Welcome to my blog. New and old visitors, I greet you all. I wouldn’t like to bore you with a long introduction so, my friends let’s learn how to cook the Nigerian  Egusi soup like a pro. I can cook Egusi in the stir fry method and still slay it but the method we will be learning today is the boiling method. Boiled Egusi ??? Yea! I’ll advice that you use beef for your Egusi. Beef or goat meat adds a unique taste to the soup . So, * Boil the meat first and set aside. * Cleanse your okporoko (stock fish)in water. *Throughly cleanse your kpomo (cow Hyde) with a knife or sponge in water and salt. *Place these two ingredients in a pot and boil with seasoning. *When the okoproko becomes tender, mix your blended Egusi with water to form a paste. *When grinding your Egusi, don’t forget to add a littl

Fidelis Paul: Guilt

So, I am sitting in my room and I’m staring at the ceiling. It’s been five solid days since there hasn’t been light. I love my privacy so I refrain from going to my neighbors room when they put on their generators. Despite the disturbance I get from the rattling noises their generators make, I endure. I love my neighbor just as my self ; just  because I hope to make it to heaven . It will be unfair to have suffered on earth and also deny myself the joys of heaven. Suddenly,I hear the flickering sound of my bulb, they restore the light! Ah! Ope oh! Up Nepa! The bulb buzzed for a while and burns out. Even if it means that I’ll have to sleep in darkness again this night, at least, I’ll get to charge my phone.  My cable subscription has expired. Therefore I am restricted to watching NTA and one other boring station. I choose NTA. It was their usual monotonous shows that was airing. I watch on. At least, I get to learn a new word from the presenter. “Burgeon”. I’ll check that out immed

The Day I Almost Died Because Of Food

Image
I get a lot of Dieko, Dieko, you like food. Lol. I want to tell you story. It’s about the day I almost died because of food. I can’t say I remember vividly because it was my mom that narrated the story to me.  I was one year old. I could walk but sometimes I still crawled. My mum had gone to pay a visit to my maternal grandmother. My grandmother lived in a rented apartment and shared compound with lots of other families who lived in the house. It happened in the afternoon when my mom was taking a nap. I crawled outside to the compound. Because it was in the afternoon, most people had gone out to work so there was nobody in the compound. The house had recently disposed their faeces so the “Shalanga” had been broken and was yet to be remolded.  In the yard, there was a woman who usually roasts groundnuts for sale. Earlier that day, she had roasted some groundnuts. Unfortunately for me, some of them fell on the “Shalanga”. Immediately I saw the groundnuts, I crawled to pick

Poetry: Grenade

Image
I could catch a grenade for you but, as I shred into pieces With each parts shattered into trillions I'll dance on the boulevards of regret With a dress I borrowed from dismay And tell sorrow to tell anguish that I'll reminisce or rather, miss all the forever lost stolen kisses I'll dedicate my bones and tissues to your memory For this is my salvation, for my salvation is this

Ride Or Die Episode 3

Image
“A gun! Ah! Please don’t kill me. I will refund your money please...” She begged while already dripping with sweats all over her body despite the air conditioned room. “Ssssh. Keep quiet! “Sam said, evolving into a firmer character than the lost stranger she had met earlier in the day. “So, I’m sure you know that your brother belongs to a cult ?” “Yes,I do.” “What Frat?” “Alora” “Alora?” “Good. I was paid to drop him today. “Please, don’t kill my only brother. I beg you. Kill me instead.” She pleaded amidst her tears. “I won’t ... kill him . Anymore. Because of you.”  "Because of me? How?" “You helped me . But you have to call your brother and tell him to leave the school premises for at least a week.” “Thank you. I’ll do that. God bless you.” “You have to be on your way now. It’s getting dark.” With that, Sam sprung to his feet, packed his bag, and was about to leave the room with his accomplice. “Please can I have your number? Nancy asked.

Ride Or Die Episode 2

Image
  The stranger felt fulfilled as he walked beside her. The day had gone perfectly just as planned. Although, he was running out of time to perform ‘the task’ but he considered the time invested absolutely needful. He seemed to like this strange girl he had just met. She was so jovial and almost everyone greeted her as they walked.  “You seem to be quite popular here.” He said ,jolting out of his reverie.  “Why do you say so?”  “Well because more than a million people have greeted you since we began our tour.”   “I’m just a normal girl here.” She replied. Taking a quick glance at the second guy who had barely said a word since the journey begun. In fact, he seemed not to be interested in any  discussion at all. All he did was carry a black bag pack and a poker face. A young guy approached them and Nancy ran to meet him. Almost immediately the mute guy started to unload his backpack but was quickly stopped by the stranger. After a while, she came back to meet the guys. “Who

Ride Or Die

Image
         Nancy sat at the cafeteria fixated to her phone like the world was going to come to an abrupt end if she did as much as took a glance away from the device. In front of her was a forlorn plate of rice and moi moi which was now being devoured by hungry flies. She seemed to have found a way to contain her whole life and self into the miniature gadget. It was her sole way of shutting off herself from the world that according to her, was filled   with backstabbers, liars and deceitful people.

Music: Upcoming act

Image
Olawale Ajayi ( born 21 December 1994), better known by his stage name ROCKYWALEZ*, is a Nigerian recording artist, singer, songwriter, and performer. He finished from the department of Political science and conflict resolution in Al-hikmah University in Ilorin, Western part of Nigeria in 2016, proceed to doing the compulsory NYSC in 2017.  He is an Afropop singer who draws his inspiration from chris brown, 2-face and other notable musicians.  He has been recording music as far back as 2009 and very versatile with his choice of songs, comfortable with most genres of music. And he is yet to be signed to a notable record label.

Style Inspiration: Rhonkefella

Image
Okay. So, I’ve been viewing her IG posts for a while now and I think she’s awe inspiring. The way she combines colours and outfits are so delectable. What I really like about her style is that she’s natural and doesn’t look all over the place. She slays effortlessly. 😋 Look 1 Red! Who doesn’t love the way red pops up and stands out. What I love about this look is the colour of the dress and that breathtaking slit. Look 2 Mama de mama:  That's what I'll like to call this one. Reminds me of a Hip woman in her late thirties that hasn't come to play at all. The Lycra material is really beautiful. Plus the net hand? Talk about icing on a cake. Look 3 This jumpsuit is to die for. Starting from its length to its play on colours. I like the way the bodice looks it's beautiful. Look 4 Yellow. Who doesn't like yellow? I think the colour is actually very beautiful and shines elegantly on coloured people. Then the animal print inner! I also l

How to Make Edikaikong Soup

Image
Hello Gourmets, So, it's been a while since I did a food post on this blog. Yesterday, I felt like, ok, let me think of some soup that you might want to learn how to make and Edikaikong pops up in my head. This soup is a calabar soup. Highly nutritious and very delicious. So, real quick, let's move on to the necessary ingredients that you need to achieve that picture up there. Water leaves Ugwu(Pumpkin leaves) Yellow pepper Scotch bonnet pepper (rodo) Beef( I had to use chicken for this one because I'm just recovering from a very nagging tooth ache) Crayfish Prawn Dry fish Seasoning Salt Cow Hyde (pomo) Onions Stock fish Periwinkle Before you start cooking, it is advisable to first squeeze out the water in your pumpkin leaves. You rinse it first and rub the leaves on both palm to get liquid out of it. Keep in a drain so it doesn't hold water. Rinse out your water leaves as well. Add all your proteins in a pot and boil together till all

Crush 3 (A Short Story)

Image
Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Love doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others. Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies.  Natty's wedding was a success. Grand style aristocratic setting. I even got to see Tim's parents. Not as anything though but as a photographer, covering their daughter's wedding. And , yea! I agreed to be Tim's friend. Like, what were you expecting though? I'm on to another client's job. I'm editing the pictures that would make it to the album when I receive a text from Tim. "Hi babes." "Hello dude." "Stop!"  "

Woman

Image
Oh Woman! What is it that you are made of? What do you bear, what elements constitutes your being? What is it about your voice that they desperately try to silence? Oh woman, what are the components of your heart? Why do you love so fearlessly Daintily Sunshine upon the sea spread so carelessly You are more than a decoration You are not the appetizer or dessert, you are the main course Oh woman, why do you allow yourself to be beguiled, enchanted, and bewitched that you think you are not capable of leadership Who, did this to you? Who told you your colony was the kitchen And your armory was your breast, buttom and luscious eyes Woman! Unpretzel your mind! Your weapon is your informed mind Woman you are human first Before you are a mother or wife Awake from your inertia Woman you are strength Viva la mujer! Have a Wonderful week. Xoxo. Dieko.

Crush 2 (A Short Story)

Image
Ah, Love! Could Thou and I with Fate Conspire To grasp this Sorry Scheme of Things entire, Would we not shatter it to bits - and then Re-mould it nearer to the Heart's Desire! _ The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam I'm Very well. Thank you. OK. I called at your studio but the boys said you had gone home. Yesss... I did. Mr Eyisi, I'm very glad you decided to choose us for your work. No. You can call me Tim. I smile before I text back and in my mind, I'm like, Excuse you, stop trying to patronize me. Alright. Mr Tim. No. Just Tim is fine. OK. Tim. So, what's your budget like? Yea. Well, young lady, Tbh, I prefer face-to-face negotiations. Why don't we meet at La Zeroy tomorrow afternoon, say, 2pm? That would be fine. Except I have several people coming for studio sessions tomorrow and it's me they will like to work with not the boys. How about the day after tomorrow, same time. Okay then. See you . I have to run now. Alright. Ttyl. I won&

Crush (Short Story)

Image
Have you ever felt bored and lonely that you just feel like vanishing off the surface of the earth? However that feeling is, the opposite is what I feel right now. Because, I am slowly sipping a glass of champagne in a nice cozy restaurant, sitting opposite a guy, I have always had a huge crush on. I don't know how the universe does these things but, isn't it just amazing? Plus, no there are no butterflies in my belly. Stallions! those are the things galloping in my belly. Happiness is therapeutic. Based on this premise, I think I should be able to lift a mountain now. He's currently on a call. So, I have ample time to think of our wedding venue, dress, shoe, heavy makeup or go Meghan Markle. All these and the number of guests to expect for our wedding. I still have to drop from this cloud I'm on because, the Prince in front of me , I don't even think he remembers my name. So, he's off the call and I have already prepared the baddest business pitch on

******WHY?*****

Image
My name is Ejiro. Let me be like James Bond. My name is Ejiro. Ejiro Fernandez. I am woman now. I have elvoved. Life changed gradually from reading Cinderella and all the happily ever after hog wash. To reading books like Woman at point Zero, Beyond the horizon and Second Citizen where the plights of women are aptly potrayed.  Okay. So, it happened last week. I went to see my fiance at his house. We were getting married in less than six month's time. I wanted him to help me pick out the colour for my wedding shoe. He says, 'Hey babe. I need to take a shower. Will be back in a Jiff. He goes away blowing me a kiss. I smiled. I needed to calculate something quite urgently so,I took out my phone. And oops! My phone goes off. His phone was lying on the bed so I picked it. Opened it. I know the passcode. Its my birthdate. A message comes in from Frank. I don't know any friend called Frank. So,curiosity made me check it. And Frank says, "Hello baby, You were am