TIPS TO DESIGN YOUR FOOD FOR THAT MOUTHWATERING EFFECT...... MAKING EACH MEAL SPECIAL

With just a little effort, you can make every meal a delicacy for you, your family or friends. Many a times, i have finished cooking and dished food only to gain reluctance to eat because am caught up admiring the way the food looks on a plate.

Whether or not you're an avid food blogger, we understand that it's pretty tricky making food look beautiful. It just never quite measures up to the picture in the recipe. Like the fashion images we see every day, equally when it comes to food, the key to the final look is an artful bit of styling.

So for the one who needs to make food look appetizing both to the eyes and palate, these things i want you to learn...

LIGHTING;
Now, i speak for the food you cook for family or friends to consume. Remember that the color of light in your food as well as the existing lightening in the room matters.

 Take overall view in mind,when you arrange your table. Whether candle lite dinners, outdoor catering, wedding hall arrangements, whatever it is. Take time to set things so the light hits served dishes to bring out the shine.

COLOR;
Like i said earlier, the color combination of cooked dishes also influence the overall effect and beauty in every dish. Green makes it fresh, red makes it hot and spicy. Brown is well cooked and ready to eat. Blue or purple might indicate something new and possibly exciting..... 

A trial to new things for your palate. The better it looks, The more appealing the general effect becomes.

FRAMING;
Do not let your plate look too full or too little when you set food in the plate. Except if it suits your design, arrange the food to best utilize the plate. Endeavor to arrange it as it best frames your plate.

TRICKS;
For super fresh-looking salad leaves, plunge them into ice-cold water for about 15 minutes before serving them. This will perk them up no end, and then dry them on kitchen paper.

 You can also make food that's been sitting around look hot and fresh again by brushing on a little oil or hot water. Although truth be told, too much oil, especially on salad, veg and herbs will make them look dark, limp and unappealing.

Meanwhile, thinking outside of the box when plating up casual food: “Slip a piece of parchment paper or a rumpled paper bag under your sandwich for something different.”

PRESENTATION;
Always present food in very sensible and sexy manners. Plates that are attractive and cutleries that best serve the occasion.Polished silverware for special occasions.

Like the old saying goes, the best things come in small packages, and that also applies to pimping up your dish. Keep plates and portions on the smaller side, large amounts of food can lose proportion and won’t look as yummy.

A little mess is okay too. It must not be all perfect. If in making a pie, some sauce seeps out, let it be. It is part natural beauty too.

I think i need to finalize by saying this. Beautiful food is in the styling and patterning. Pick up interest in voluntary art and find the artist in you. 

Arrange your food to best highlight its colors and specialties. You will be surprised how far little practicing will take you far.

With just a little effort, you can make every meal a delicacy for you, your family or friends. Many a times, i have finished cooking and dis...

AUDU OGBEH: NIGERIA TO DIE IN 2050

Nigerians will starve to death by 2050 if nothing is done to ensure an all year round farming, the Nigerian presidency has revealed.

According to Vanguard, the presidency made this known on Thursday, February 4, 2016 because with the rate at which the country is growing, population is expected to rise to about 509 million by 2050 and the present mode of farming will not sustain the increase.

Nigeria’s minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who spoke during his defence of the 2016 budget on Thursday, noted that there is urgent need for all major stakeholders to work towards improving mechanized farming and irrigation, to ensure an all year farming to avert the problem.

He further averred that the country has the capacity to grow the grass required by the cattle to consume.

The current question to consider now is having said this minister, what will you do about it.The duty of government is to lead. Lead us with enabling policies and provide grants then. As against speculation, build the bridge over the problem to get us over to the other side.

Get a plan now and carry us along. The one fact we have realised a long time ago is that oil has failed and agriculture is viable. We earnestly await your direction

Nigerians will starve to death by 2050 if nothing is done to ensure an all year round farming, the Nigerian presidency has revealed. Accor...

SOME FUN THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH BUTTER

                                           

The love story behind bread and butter started centuries ago. Therefore, no one can say they have not heard how this duo changed the world with their story. Of course, bread and butter now stand as synonyms..... Similes too. 

But let it be known that butter is not a product of bread, rather butter helped to make the bread and can be used for a lot more. What can i do with butter then? You ask me that?

START WITH HAVING FOOD FUN

Butter won all her first accolades for her contribution to the palate. To use butter, think first how you can tweak it up to further enjoy your food. You can use butter to deep-fry food. It  has a very distinct taste.

When you fry with it, it brings in a different flavour that makes your eyes pop as you bite into the well fried snack.

You can also use it to grease  your pot while boiling pasta and rice. To avoid that boiling over effect, add a little to the boiling water to keep it from going all over. It helps the pasta stay loose and look good. For rice, it makes the grains shine.

Butter can also be used to grease pans when you put them in the oven. Use butter to make sauce, for ulcer-sick individuals who love the spicy Mexican delicacies, butter will coat your intestine walls and protect some damages.

Eliminate the smell of fish in your dishes by using butter to cook and fry it. It’s very effective

SOME HOUSEHOLD BUTTER CHEATS

Do you know you can use butter to make your house more habitable and user friendly? I know it can be used to restore the health of leather. Rub it in on leather as a way to cure and preserve your leather chairs, shoes and furniture, baseball gloves, leather belts and purses too.

You can rub it in on shiny surfaces as polish and see how your house reflects from the shine of your inventive touch.

Use butter also to grease stiff door, cabinet and shelf-hinges. When they all get squeaky and rusty, you can use butter to take the squeak away.

Do you know butter can also be used for preservative purposes? For instance, after using cheese, wrap it back with a foil and smear the edges with butter before putting it back in the fridge. It will prevent mold.

 Butter can come in handy when you have a burn that accidentally happens to you while cooking in the kitchen. Rub it over the affected areas and let it settle in. Those good vitamins will be like the hand of a Thai masseur that tames your pain.

SOME INVENTIVE BUTTERING

 Get innovative and creative, think freely and play with butter. I once saw a friend use it for a stiff situation. I actually mean to pull a stiff ring from his finger. I don’t know what you were thinking a stiff wedding ring it is.

Something funny you need to also know, i heard you can smear butter on cat’s paws when you take it to a new place. Cats usually panic in new environment, so to calm its nerves, you rub butter on its paws to give it something familiar it likes.That way the cat gets less nervous and relaxes into licking its paws..... But what happens when it is through with licking paws?

Butter can be used to take pills too. I do not mean eating butter then taking pills on it. That will be counterproductive. U rub is on pills to make it easier to swallow. Children find it difficult to swallow pills. Rubbing butter will help them swallow easily.

When your son or daughter gets gum in their hair and mummy is called to help out. Avoid her cursing and plea bargains by first rubbing butter into her hair. You will find that the gum will come off so easy that you might want to just put gum again just to believe your eyes.

You will have thought it, well yes! It can be done. When you realize you have run out of shaving cream and are in dire need to shave, you can use butter to shave your legs and arms for that fine look.rub gently on the choice skin to moisturize, then pick up the razor.

STAIN REMOVAL

                                       

I am of the opinion that this is about the best use of butter besides eating it. Greasy stains can easily be removed by rubbing in butter in them and then wash off with soap and water.

 The natural oils in butter are perfect for combating everything sticky and greasy.

Tree sap and gummy sap from herbs fall under this group that butter can remove. Inky stains too.

     Finally, butter can come in when you do your facials. Mix butter and pear, water melon, cucumber and banana. Make a paste with it and rub into your face. Leave it for 15 – 60 minutes as time will let you.

 The vitamins in butter will soften and moisturise your skin. Don’t be shy, it’s easy to wash off

                                            The love story behind bread and butter started centuries ago. Therefore, no one can say they...

TIPS ON TABLE ETIQUETTE

In the infamous words of W. S. Gilbert, the man who bites his bread, or eats peas with his knife, I look upon as a lost soul. We need to remind ourselves that though the Victorian epoch has come and gone, good behavior while eating still remains proper. Just to remind you of some still relevant rules for the elegant set dinners.

1)      LATENESS ON TABLE

. Don’t, when an invited guest, be late for dinner. It is both insulting to your host and other guest and seen as a sign of rudeness. Can also mean uncultured behavior.

2)      NAPKIN USAGE.

 Remember not to tuck your napkin under chin. You, my dear, are neither toddler nor child. For this reason u do not need a bib or tucker. When confused about what to do with your napkin, drop it loosely besides your plate. Also you are expected not to mop your face with your napkin. When in use, draw it neatly across your lips.

3)      ON THE LADIES;

 Ladies must be served first before the men and this includes even the ladies of the same household. Only after then can the men be served. No wonder we say ladies first upon gentlemanly behavior.

It is rude to ignore the lady besides u. she has first claim to your attention whether or not you are introduced to her. To give attention to her is most proper of a gentleman. And if a lady, courtesy says u listen ladylike.

Do not fail to rise when ladies leave the table after eating. Remain standing until they have left the room, then u can re-seat and smoke if u have to.

No matter what, you do not offer your left hand to lead a lady to sit on dinner. It signifies betrayal and can be perceived ill. Offer your right hand when leading her to the table and remember to seat her on your right hand side too.

I need to remind the ladies to never come to the table in your curlers, undies, or in improper raiment.  And please for the men reading this……. Do not seat on the table in your dressing gowns and pyjamas.

4)      USE OF CUTLERY; 

Do not eat soup from the side of your spoon. To sip from spoon, use the side. Don’t gurgle either or make sound while eating from your spoon. It’s annoying on its own and inappropriate. Don’t bend over your plate or drop your head when you chew. Please please please, never put your knife in your mouth.

We are not on a suicide mission lest u impale yourself. Don’t carry too much from your fork into your mouth. It never looks pleasant.

 Not only does it imply gluttony but it also smacks of untidiness.  Handle your cutleries effortlessly. Trying too hard makes it more awkward and unwieldy. Carry your cutleries with ease and be relaxed. Your knife is for cutting so do not put it in a dish, the butter or the salt shaker.

5)      HANDLING YOUR FOOD;

 It’s more appropriate to break your bread than to bite from it directly. And u should bear in mind not to dip it in soup or cup. Another reminder is to eat slowly. I mean it is not really a relay or eating competition. The key word here is culture. Eat slowly and do not be in haste. Eat quietly without chewing loudly. Enough food in mouth is appropriate.

Too much at once reminds everyone of bloated, dead cows………. Yea! Am reminded. Don’t eat anything with spoon that you can do with a fork….hehehehe…I bet you didn’t know that.

 I think I learnt this from my dad, it’s also advised to not finish off your plate. Remember to desist scrapping the plate entirely lest you come of worse than Oliver twist.

6)      YOU AND THE BONES;

 don’t reject bits of bones, or other substances by spitting them back in the plate. Kindly remove them from your mouth with your spoon or fork, holding it to your lips, then place them back in the plate. Fruit-stones should be passed quietly from lips to plate with your cutlery.

7)      GENERAL TABLE MANNERS;

 Do not stretch hands or other body parts over someone’s plate.

Do not turn your back on one person to talk to another on the table. Neither should you talk across the person seated next to you.

Never talk with mouth full. Do not even have your mouth full. It’s in better taste to eat in little morsels. Not only does it look sexy but u end up looking on top your game.

Don’t lean on the table or put your elbows on the table.

Do not also chew garlic and onions. Not when you are with guests. Basically for the bad breath when u speak but remember that a glass of milk can take away the small of onions and garlic. Hence if the food is loaded on either, do well to take a glass of milk afterward.

If you can avoid it, do not press your guests to eat, not if they decline persistently.While on the dinner table, avoid vulgar expressions that can irritate guests on the table. It is bad to remember disgusting things that can ruin a meal.

Most definitely, leave of excessive drinking.

If you are the dinner host, be the last to leave the table. Its best to wait for your guests to finish their meal and announce the end of dinner.

Even with food, never take a second helping till your guests all have or have been asked and decline. It is so that you take care of your guests and ensure they are satisfied. You only rise at the end of the meal.

I can never cover all the primary rules of table manners but for a start, these are first steps towards been the umbrella gentleman needed for the modern man.

In the infamous words of W. S. Gilbert, the man who bites his bread, or eats peas with his knife, I look upon as a lost soul. We need to rem...