Hi guys! I know it has been awhile since my last post, but a lot of things was going on with my life, so I didn’t have a lot of time in hands to come up with new contents for my blog. In fact, I had to focus on work, on family and most importantly on my health. As a matter of fact, I underwent a jaw surgery just few months ago, so I wasn’t really in the best condition to write or do anything demanding energy or concentration.
As I have told you on numerous occasions, seasoning is important in African cuisine. That’s why I always make in advance onion purée and chili paste to add to my dishes or to marinade meats.
If I was asked what dessert was my favorite, ice cream would certainly be on top of that list. I mean, it’s sweet and cold; it melts in your mouth with delightfulness. It’s one of the best desserts perfect during summer time as far as I’m concerned.
Sorry for having been missing in action in August but I was extremely busy and I didn’t have enough time in my agenda to blog. However, in September, I will try to do my best to supply my blog with more recipes and reviews.
This will be a very short post but I really wanted to share my own homemade mango juice. During summer time, I love to make fruit juices from scratch because it’s healthy to have fresh fruits as much as possible in my diet.
Plantains are among the staple ingredients in African cuisine. In fact, in most parts of Africa, Plantains are as unavoidable as potatoes are in the West. Grilled, boiled, pounded or deep fried, Plantains can be prepared in different ways and make good side dishes and snacks.
Whenever you want to eat light, I will advise you to try to make poached chicken for lunch or dinner. Poached chicken can be used in various recipes from salads to sandwiches. And it’s easy to store until the moment you are ready to use them.
I have a confession to make. I hate bananas! In fact banana is probably one of my least favorite fruits. I just have a complex relationship with bananas; I hate eating them but I’m also aware of their positive benefits on people’s health. I think the only time I could find myself willingly eating bananas is when I’m working out because bananas are a great energy supplier. Most of the time, I hate bananas in fruit salads (too mushy to look appealing for me), drinks, smoothies, ice creams or yogurts. Without even trying to taste it, I was categorically opposed to the idea of eating banana bread. And it wasn’t as if my sister, who loves everything bananas, hadn’t tried to convert me.
Madesu is the Lingala word for beans. Beans are one of the staple ingredients in the African cuisine and they are cooked in every part of Africa in different ways. That’s why as part of my Vegan week, I decided to make a vegan version of the African red beans stew I used to have when I was growing up. Usually in Congo, Madesu or beans are served with beef, pork, salt cod or tripe sheep, however since I’m fully vegan this week; I decided to make this stew without adding any type of meat or fish.
African cuisine is a spicy cuisine therefore hot peppers are required to be added in almost every dish. That’s why you will find in almost every African household, whether it’s in Africa and abroad, a can of homemade hot pepper paste in the fridge. This is an unavoidable relish which can be used for multiple purposes; as base for any hot and spicy stew or soup, to marinade meat, fish or seafood, to season a vegetable sauté or as dipping sauce. It’s important to add that there are many variants of hot pepper paste because it’s up to taste. However, this is one of my mother’s versions of hot pepper paste.
Rita's Notebook 