Monday 24 February 2014

Three Ways to Prepare Chicken: Sautéed Chicken Breast

Chicken can be prepared in several ways. I will be discussing three ways Chicken can be prepared beginning with Sautéed Chicken Breast. 

Sautéing is a cooking technique similar to stir-frying. While stir-frying is of Chinese origin, sautéing can be traced to the French. Like stir frying it involves cooking over high heat. However stir-frying is usually done in a wok and the sauce is made in the wok with the ingredients still in the pan, whereas in sautéing, the ingredients are taken out before the sauce is made.

So let us go into the 'koko'.

Ingredients

0.73g Chicken Breast

For Marinade:
Seasoning Cube
Salt
Garlic
1 1/2 cups of water
Soy Sauce

For Sautéing:
3 Tablespoon Sherry Wine
1/2 Cup Chicken Broth
2 Tablespoon Cornflour
2 Teaspoon Butter
1 Tablespoon Oil

Instruction
1. Combine all ingredients for marinade in a bowl. Cover with cling film and marinade overnight.

2. Separate marinade liquid and pat chicken breast dry with paper towel.

Tip: To reduce the size of chicken breast you can hit with a meat mallet or rolling pin.

3. Turn on the gas to low heat. In a pan add butter and oil. Increase heat and when hot add chicken breast. 

4. Cook on both sides for 5 minutes each (this will depend on how thick the chicken breast is).

Tip: To check if the meat is cooked poke with a knife and if juice runs clear then it is cooked.

5. In a bowl, mix chicken broth and cornflour to make slurry. Set aside.

6. When cooked remove chicken breast and set aside. Reduce the heat to medium then introduce the Sherry wine. Allow to cook for about a minute or two then add slurry. 

Tip: When mixture is ready it should have darkened to a mid-brown tone. 

7. When the mixture is ready, re-introduce chicken breast. Ensure it is coated in the mixture. Reduce heat to low. Allow to simmer for two (2) more minutes and voila your chicken is ready to be munched! 


Sautéed Chicken Breast can be served with rice, pasta or even fries! I prepared this for a friend's birthday partaaaay and it got a 'thumbs up'.


Monday 17 February 2014

My Style: Green-Blue Combo

Wearing multiple solid colours in an outfit, popularly called colour blocking, has been the order of the day. While some ladies have learnt the art of colour blocking, sadly other are still yet to, constantly blinding my eyes with their mismatched rainbow hues. The art of colour blocking does not involve only mixing and matching colours but goes beyond that. Providing tips on how to rock the colour block trend is not the focus of this post, however, numerous online resources are available to that effect. Here, I show how one can rock a blue and green combination without 'rioting'. 




1. Newlook Gold Triple Row Chunky Chaun Necklace
2. Dorothy Perkins Green Bardot Dress
3. River Island Faceted Stone Loop Stud
4. Ray Ban Aviator Sunglasses
5. Zara Cluth with Metal Corners
5. Zara Sandals with Metallic Ankle strap
7. Newlook Gold and Green Aztec Print Bangles

This combination will be perfect for any occasion preferably a wedding. The colour combination is eye-catching and will surely be a show stopper. All the accessories are either fully gold or have a touch of gold adding an extra pop to the outfit. The metal corners on the clutch and the metallic ankle of the shoes work well together. Also, the  height of the heel goes well with the length of the dress; the dress is a short length and if combined with higher heels may send distasteful messages. More, the height of the heel is comfortable enough to party all-day-long ensuring that the wearing can get her boogie down. To crown it up, the Ray Ban glasses gives the outfit the vivavoom!* It adds that 'baddest guy ever liveth' touch while the Aztec bracelet gives the look a feel of Africa. I will surely rock this look anytime and any day. What about you? 

* Please do not wear the sunglasses indoors (like some bush Nigerians) in the name of 'guy' and claim I mentioned it gives your outfit the vivavoom. From the name 'sunglasses' it is apparent it is meant to shade the sun.

Friday 14 February 2014

Valentine Came Early

The last few days have been very hectic for me and unfortunately I have not been able to say hello to you all. I am sorry dearies. I really missed you all!

My sister is getting hitched in a few months and I have been tagging along side her from one end of town to the other as she does her wedding shopping. Despite all the 'waka', what has added shine to my week is the fact that I got an early 'valentine gift' from my sister and my dear cousin. I am sure you cannot wait to see what they got me. Well, errrm, these items may be of no consequence to you however they mean the world to me!!!

So, I got some long awaited spices from my sister and some ankara accessories from my cousin (Accessories by Jenny). 



I am really excited about my species because right now my fingers are itching. I really feel like delving into preparing loads of dishes. My first stop will surely be Peri-Peri Chicken (Nando Style). 





As for my accessories (aka Olele-disco...lol) I have already begun to rock them real time. This is just to say a very big thank you to my sister, Charee and to my cousin 'Accessories by Jenny'. I appreciate you ladies big time!!!!! 

Wednesday 5 February 2014

Family and Sibling Wahala

For the benefit of our non-Nigerian readers, 'Wahala' is a common Nigerian slang which was adopted from Hausa language meaning 'problem' or 'trouble'. Now to the gist.

I am a product of Rev./Dr./Engr. (You can pick one or all. That's totally up to you!) M. D and Evang. M.E. Oisamoje's Union. Also in this with me are nine others. I know what you must be thinking after doing the maths. "Ten children from a single mother, what?!!!" In our defense we have a set of twins...lol. Growing up was eventful; sometimes fun and at other times frustrating. Each of my siblings had/have their own wahala but the focus of this write-up is directed at my most eldest sister and how her fashion sense and stunning beauty has been a source of wahala  for yours sincerely. I am certain you are wondering how. Let me explain.

My sister is downright fashionable! As a kid I used to look up to her and she was my number one critic when it came to dressing and as such had to step up my game. I can attribute my not so bad fashion sense to her. My sister is a doctor (medical doctor not native doctor...hehehe)(that is her day job) and a businesswoman who deals in the sales of clothes, shoes and accessories at night (see free advertisement). A direct product of being engaged in the latter is the fact that she has to sell her product by being a live mannequin. Hence she selects a few of her products and when she puts them on people immediately reserve their take. In addition, it forces the young men at her place of work to wish she was theirs but of course since they know she is very much married, they pester her for a hook-up with any of her younger sisters. That is where I come in (sadly). I am the only unmarried/un-hooked sister she has within reach and inevitably I become the victim.

I know my sister very well. She does not like being pestered and is quick to give my number to these guys with or without my consent. In addition, I think she is very keen on marrying me off just so she can plan a wedding. With the excessive hype my she so willing offers them (the pests...lmao) they almost always sound excited when they call. Unfortunately, I am almost always not excited but forced to act it.

Please what can I do? 

Option A: Run far away
Option B: Forbid her from making such introductions(like that will work)
Option C: Get my legal counsel to write her (who will be certainly glad to in order to improve her CV) to refrain from such infringement on my human rights.  
Option D: Dis-sister her (This seems like the only lasting solution to the problem).

Advise please!!!!