still IN THE KITCHEN WITH ABIMBOLA OMOLADE VI

PALM-NUT SOUP




Ofe Akwu which simply means Palm nut soup in igbo language is
a native Nigerian soup, popular in the eastern part of Nigeria. It's
quite similar to Banga soup(Delta style palm nut soup) & Abak
atama (Efik style palm nut soup) with the only difference being
the type of spices and herbs used in preparation.  For Ofe akwu,
you could either use just Nchuawun as i did in this post or a
combination of Nchuawun (Scent leaves) and Ugu "Pumpkin"
leaves . When you go to buy Palm nuts "Akwu" it's always best to
pick the right types to get the best result. There are usually two
types of Akwu sold by the traders: The "Agric''(which is fleshy
and therefore would give you more oil extract) and the
"Native"(looks smaller but is known to be sweeter). It's always
advisable to combine both to get the maximum benefits. Ofe
Akwu is mostly used as a stew for white rice in the east but in
some other parts, it's used as a soup and taken with "Swallow" i.e
Garri/eba, Semolina, Fufu, wheat meal, corn meal e.t.c.

Ingredients:::
• Fresh Palm Nuts (Aku) (2 Derica cups)
• Beef (Red meat), Cut in chunks
•Assorted meat ,Cow Intestines, Tripe a.k.a Sharki
• Crayfish, Ground
• sized Dry fish / Smoked Fish
• Stock fish "Panla" a.k.a.Okporoko
• Seasoning cubes. Crushed
• Red scotch bonnet pepper (Ata rodo), Ground
• Ogiri Okpei (Substitute: Dawadawa)
• Salt to taste
• A handful Scent leaves "Nchuawun"
• A handful Pumpkin Leaves-(I skipped this) (View full list and
pics of Nigerian leafy vegetables)
Preparation of ofe akwu

Step 1: Rinse the palm nuts 2-3 times with water then place in a
medium sized pot. Add clean water just enough to cover the palm
nuts in the pot and cook on the burner for 15-20 mins till the
nuts get soft. you can check this by biting into one of the nuts. if
it's soft, then its ready. Strain the liquid used in boiling out and
place the palmnuts in a mortar and pound with a pestle till the
skin separates from the kernel. Scoop the pounded nuts into a
clean bowl and add water into it. Squeeze and strain the palm oil
into a bowl
View the full palm kernel oil extraction with pictures HERE

Step 2: Wash and place the Beef and assorted meat in a different
pot. Add the Crushed seasoning, Pepper, Salt and water just
enough to cover the meat in the pot. Cook till the meat gets tender
leaving the concentrated meat stock within

Step 3: Prepare the ogiri okpei by placing it in a small bowl of
water. Mash it up to dissolve -Set aside.

Step 4: Prepare the stock fish (if using any) by soaking it in hot
water to soften for 10 minutes then rinse with clean water. For
the smoked fish or dry fish, all you need to do is open it up from
the middle, then remove the bone and gut. Rinse and set aside

Step 5: Pour the extracted palm nut liquid in a medium sized pot
and cook for about 10 minutes. Gently add the Beef and assorted
meat (Including the stock "Meat water").

Step 6: Pour in the Ogiri okpei liquid, Add the Smoked fish and
stock fish (if you are using any), Add the ground crayfish. Stir
and leave to cook with the pot covered for 25-30mins.

Step 7: Place the Scent leaves together and thinly slice with a
knife. Repeat the same for the pumpkin leaves "Ugwu" if you are
using any. Add the chopped leaves into the pot of soup and leave
to simmer for 5 mins.

Turn off the burner and serve with Boiled rice or your
favorite swallow.

ABIMBOLA OMOLADE
+2348188866735
abimbolaomolade9@gmail.com
www.ladesimi.blogspot.com.ng

STELLA DAMASUS AND HUBBY REVEALS PLAN TO LAUNCH ONLINE TV

Stella Damasus and hubby Daniel Ademinokan have revealed that they would
be launching their online TV station, Mon Afrik TV anytime soon. They
explained that the station would be a blend of BET, MTV, E-ONLINE, NBC and
CW Network rolled into one station but with 100% per cent African content.
The couple stated that they want to create a medium of expression and not
just another TV station. A platform that will showcase the beauty of African
culture to the rest of the world.
“That is what we have created and we want Africans all over the world
to see this as their own medium of expression, not just another TV
station. We see no reason why a struggling producer who could barely
afford to raise the capital to make his or her TV show should also look
for money to pay the TV stations for airtime,” he said. After that, they
have to convince brands to place adverts on the show before they can
start making any money. That is extremely discouraging for independent
producers.
Mon Afrik TV is creating a platform where producers can showcase
their works to the world and make good money for themselves without
having to deal with the run-around from TV stations. This is not a Video-
on-Demand platform for movies and is not trying to pry into an already
saturated market,” Ademinokan said. Africa has often been represented
as a dark, isolated continent.
Yes, Africa has issues, just like every other continent but there is more
to us than starving children, gun wielding terrorists, arid lands and
dilapidated buildings in remote villages. We have beautiful cultures, a
vibrant entertainment industry and entertainers who have conquered the
world on many levels and we want to showcase that to the world.”

STRAIGHT FROM THE INK OF A POET II - MUBARAK OLADOSU

TEMPTATIONS







Paradise tosses back and forth
On the layers of my heart
As the day goes to bed
And pitch-darkness
Brightens my slumber thoughts.



I slip between  the clouds
And the cuddle of my dreams
Yet, I have the ground to smile
Watching my guilt embrace triumph
In unity
On the altar of ascetic grace
Where I defy terrestrial angels
Who populate these ivory gardens.

.....an excerpt from the book 'MIND MANTRA' by OLADOSU MUBARAK...
Oladosu Mubarak writes for and broadcasts at the UNILORIN BULLETIN
and UNILORIN FM respectively

call: 07034426998, tweet @mubarakng