After a month of fasting, meditating, contemplating and spritual struggle we celebrated the special day of Eid from sunday the 20th and still the festivity mood is present to-date. People exchaged greetings with utmost joy. After the Eid prayer families visited friends and relatives. Every house you go you will be offered goodies and non-alcoholic drinks. Everyone dressed at  their best. The atmosphere is wonderful. Children were happy receiving gifts and money.  Some people do like to go to the beach. In Accra they had motorcycle procession and horse riding show.
I prefered to be at home with family and friends. Made Biryan and salad and it turned out great. Below is the  recipe, you must try , you would love it.

YOU WILL NEED
1. Long grain rice preferable basmati rice  500 grms
2. Chicken   750grms
3. Onions     3 medium size
4. Garlic/Ginger paste  1 tablespoon
5. Yoghurt   1 cup
6. Biryan spices or mixed spices  2 tablespoon
7. Green chillies  2
8. Mint leaveas 1/2 cup
9. Tomato paste 1 tablespoon
10. Juice of  one lime
11. Salt   1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon
12. Orange color  powder a pinch
13. Ghee (clariefied butter)  5 tablespoon
14 Water 11/2 water


HOW TO MAKE IT.
1. Cut Chicken into medium pcs and marinate with yoghurt with Biryan or mixed spices, chopped chillies, one teaspoon of salt and chopped herbs for atleast half an hour.
2.  Fry slices onions in 5 tablespoon of clarified butter till golden brown.
3.  Add marinated chicken fry till oil separates.
4.  Add the tomato paste and juice of one lime and continue to fry for about 30 seconds.
5. Pour half cup of water and cook on low heat for 25 minutes.
6.  Boil rice till 3/4 done with a tablespoon of salt and 11/2 litres of water and strain
    take a 1/2 cup of the cooked rice and add the color
7.  Take a caserolle dish arrange cooked chicken gravy at the bottom and place uncolored rice on it evenly then on top put the colored rice.
8.  Place  the dish in the oven at 150C for 20 minutes.
9.  Remove from oven and serve on a platter.

SERVE WITH SALAD VEGETABLE SALAD
EID MUBARAK

 Growing up as an African child you  must have heard from adults "dont do this ~  it is a taboo. From mothers to grandmothers, aunts, immediate relatives even neighbours warned us.. I  agree some of them do have wisdom behind it.
Another issues common in Africa is superstition and DONT ASK syndrome.
When I was 4 years old, I asked my mother how I came to life, she hesitated (now I know why, it  must be a taboo). When I became persistent she told me, "I went to the ocean and I ask God for a baby and big wave came and brought you",she even went and told I did the same to your sibllings. Ofcourse I believed. When my daughter asked me the same question I didnt know what to say as it is a delicate matter. She was 7 years old and in grade 4. I decided to tell the same story. She said " No mummy",  I know how  I came to existence. She started to explain, an egg and sperm which had joined together grew in mothers body. It takes nine months from a single cell to a baby. When the baby is ready to be born mothers push the baby out into the world.  I was embarrased!!
I ask her how did u know??  She told , I read in my Childcraft book. I went and I took 'Your Body section series'  and found  full description before conception to delivery. Mothers beware!! this is the time to tell the truth and leave those taboos behind, it is outdated. When I was approaching puberty my grandaunt told "soon a big snake will come and squueze your tummy and you may see blood on your pantie, immediately inform me" I was terrified!! When the real time arrived I was looking around scared, Oh my God!! where is the snake??
These superstitions vary from one part of Africa to the other  and how superstitionb viewed. I want you to have glimpse to some of the common ones while I was growing up.

1. Dont look at naked women you will become blind, if it is true half of the world population would be blind(laughs) with pornography everywhere easily available on internet,TVs, DVDs, CDs and Cassetes
2. If you have a sty in your eye it means you have laughed at your mother-in-law.
3. A pregnant woman shouldnt eat eggs, baby will be born bald, how they deprieved expectant mothers protein for their growing babies!!
4. Dont keep shoes soles facing up, You are insulting God.
5. Dont try one shoe your breast will swell.
6. Dont eat direct from pot or saucepan, it will rain heavily on your wedding day. I loved to lick frying pan when my mother made omelet, and it didnt rain on my wedding day.
7. A boy shouldnt weave the wild grass(ukili) into a strip which mat is made , he will become impotent.
8. Dont look on the mirror you will find yourself on the seashore. (where is the magic carpet to take some one there.)
I am happy now knowledge is replacing all these fictional believes. African children are growing  learning latest technology though still in some parts  taboos, superstition,myth and witchcraft still do exist. 


TELL ME WHAT ARE THE SUPERSTITIONS IN YOUR CULTURE, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW.

 

Did you know woman is the best creation in the whole universe?? But see what has happen to this species? Should we blame ourselves for being taken for a ride? We accept to be used and  discarded like bag of rotten potatoes. We are treated as commodities, when we are not on demand  later in our life , men take the fresh ones. Yes I am talking about how women are subjected to violence, extortion, exploitation, stigmatised and sometimes being murdered. How many women who are in a better position come forward to help?? Our first ladies once they are at presidential palace , they care less. Look around the world from child marriage as young as 10years old to kidnapping of our young girls and use them as sex objects. Anytime I switch on the TV or read online news I see women and our girls subjected to inhuman treatment.
Husbands get drunk and use their wives as punching bags. Single mothers are on the rise!! unfaithful husbands sleep around with sexual workers and bring diseases to their wives. Sadly those wives are blamed and some cases beaten. Once they are widowed, they are called all sorts of names , from witches, killers and greedy to inherit their husbands money. In some parts of the world they are chased out of their houses, get killed or burned alive. I am proud to be born as a woman and I thank my Creator I am fortunate enough to enjoy my womanhood, but what about the majority of other women??
We women dont help  ourselves, one sister is ready to step on another sister to achieve her goals, instead it is better to stand together and support one another and crush mens chauvinism.  I get pissed off when I see two women fighting for a man, tearing their clothes, disgrace!!  There is many fish in the ocean, find your own damn it. Dont spoil your friends or somebody elses marriage.
I call all women to join hands and help one another, supporting and encouraging
each other. If you see a single woman be kind ,spread your hands and help. Take her children along with yours when you go out for icecream or funfare. Invite her when you have parties, so she can  too have the goodies which you enjoy. Adopt  or sponsor a poor child and give him/her a  better life. If there is amore equal distribution of weatlh, our world will be a better place.
WOMEN, now is the TIME, what will do to make a difference???