zainab quadri

<h2>Papaya is an excellent nutrient dense fruit that contains specialised phyto-compounds and high antioxidant content. </h2>

Taking this smoothie is an easy way to up your intake of vitamins and minerals. Papaya is a great source of proteolytic enzymes that are very important in the digestion of food.

1 cup chopped papaya (frozen or fresh)

¼ tsp turmeric powder (or ½ tsp fresh, finely grated)

Add all the ingredients into the blender.

If you are unable to get these ingredients you can substitute them with these ones.

Papaya – paw paw, pineapple, mango

Coconut water – almond milk, coconut milk, hemp seed milk

Papaya is an excellent nutrient dense fruit that contains specialised phyto-compounds and high antioxidant content.

Pawpaw smoothie, the best powered drink you shouldn't ignore

Then you should totally try this rich&nbsp;soya milk drink.

1 De Rica cup soya beans (650g or 1.4 lbs)

1 vanilla pod or 1 cap vanilla flavour

Soya beans are sold in Nigerian markets by those who sell other staple food like rice, beans etc. Vanilla pod or vanilla flavour is sold in bakery ingredients shops.

The quantity of water listed above is what gives me the consistency of soya milk that I like. You can add more or less water if you wish.

Dates (known as dabino in Hausa, dátil in Spanish and datte in French) is a natural sweetener for the soy milk. If you do not have it, add sugar to your taste. You can buy dates from any supermarket in the world. In Nigeria, Mallams that see coconut and tiger nuts (aki awusa, ofio, aya) sell dates. Just ask them for dabino.

Vanilla give the soya milk its unique flavour. If you want your soya milk to taste like the one sold in 30cl glass bottles in Nigeria, vanilla flavour is essential. If you do not have natural vanilla pods like I used in the video below, use 1 cap of vanilla flavour for the quantity of soya beans stated above.

There are other flavours and ingredients you can add when making soya milk: milk flavour, powdered milk etc but I prefer mine basic and tasting like pure soya milk.

Rinse and soak the soya beans overnight or for at least 10 hours. Use a generous amount of water. Do not soak it for longer that this time because it will start having a fermented smell and taste.

After almost 10 hours, rinse and remove the seeds from the dates. Then cut into pieces.

Cut the vanilla along the pod and set aside. Cutting the pod exposes the vanilla beans where all the flavour is.

After 10 hours, you will notice that the soya beans are swollen, softer and the skin comes off easily.

Rub the soaked soybeans between your palms to separate the skin from the beans.

Pour more water and watch the skin come to the surface.

Decant the skin using the method of decanting the skin when peeling beans for Nigerian Moi Moi.

When there is no more skin, blend the soya beans and dates in a blender till smooth. To do this, put some beans in the blender, add some dates and pour water to cover the beans then blend.

Pour the resulting soya milk into a big pot and start cooking on medium heat. Stir it often so it does not stick to the bottom of the pot.

When it is about to boil, scoop out the foam so it does not over-flow.

Add the vanilla pods. Keep stirring and keep cooking for another 5 minutes, stirring all the time.

Turn off the heat and leave to cool down completely.

Then strain again using a chiffon cloth, cheese cloth or lady's stocking to remove the finest particles.

Pour into a bottle, cover and keep in your fridge. Drink within 2 or 3 days. If you want to keep it for much longer, keep it in the freezer.

Enjoy soya milk with cookies, Nigerian Puff Puff or any other pastry.

Are you in need of something fun to take after a stressful day at work?

How to make Soya milk like a pro

We all love some fresh fish, point and kill CatFish Peppersoup.

Since it is recession and Iya Sikira is charging us more, here is how to make yours from home.

4 Ehu or Ariwo or Calabash Nutmeg seeds

Habanero Pepper or chilli pepper (to taste)

To prepare Cat Fish Pepper Soup, wash and cut the cat fish into 1-inch thick slices. Boil some hot water and pour on the pieces of fish, stir and remove immediately. This toughens the skin of the fish so that it does not fall apart during cooking. roast ehu for pepper soup

Using an old frying pan, roast the Ehu seeds (stirring constantly) till you can smell it. Don't worry you will know when it is OK to take it off because it has a distinctive aroma.

Peel off the membrane from all the Ehu seeds and grind with a dry mill.

Wash and pick the scent leaves and tear them up with your fingers into small pieces.

Place the pieces of fish in a pot and pour water to just cover the fish, add the stock cubes and bring to the boil.

Once it starts to boil add the ground ehu, onions, habanero pepper and scent leaves and continue cooking.

Once the catfish is done, add salt to taste and leave to simmer for about 5 minutes and it's ready!

Catfish Pepper Soup should always be served hot. It can be eaten alone with a chilled drink. I love to eat it with Agidi, Boiled White Rice or Boiled Yam.

This recipe was culled from the awesome.

___5960719___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___5960719___2016___12___28___13___catfish-pepper-soup

Since it is recession and Iya Sikira is charging us more, here is how to make your own CatFish Pepper Soup from the scratch.

How to make your own catfish Peppersoup from home

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<h1>Zakatul Fitr (the alms after Ramadan fast) is compulsory on every Muslim who is free and is capable to pay it whether the person is small, big, male or female</h1>

The Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) ordered that Muslims give out zakat al-Fitr&nbsp;at the end of Ramadan – one&nbsp;saa’&nbsp;of staple food on behalf of yourself and each person you are responsible for.

In light of the beautiful and complete religion of Islam and the amazing benefits we reap when implementing it properly, we would like to remind ourselves of the benefit of giving out Zakatul Fitr.

1. We will&nbsp;build bridges with poor people and get to know them personally.

Poor people are virtuous.&nbsp;The Messenger (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said, what means,&nbsp;“I&nbsp;saw&nbsp;Paradise and most of its people were&nbsp;the poor (of this life).”

And&nbsp;another authentic hadith means,&nbsp;“The impoverished shall enter Paradise before the rich by 500 years.”

So by seeking them out and giving them your&nbsp;Zakat al-Fitr, you may gain the companionship of the righteous, even for a short time.&nbsp;

2. We will thus appreciate our own blessings a lot more.

The Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said, what means,&nbsp;“Look to those who have less than you, and do not look to those who have more.&nbsp;This is more appropriate so that you do not overlook (or undervalue)&nbsp;the blessings of Allah that you have.”

When you seek out poor people to give them your&nbsp;zakat al-Fitr, you get a chance to see their real situation and the difficulties they face.&nbsp;This reminds you about the blessings of Allah you have and makes you more grateful for them.

3. Sympathy toward the poor

The scholars mention that from the many benefits of fasting is that we will feel sympathetic towards the poor, by realizing that the hunger we feel is experienced by them all year round.&nbsp;An entire month of daily hunger pains opens our hearts to them more than ever and pushes us to do something about it. This culminates with the charitable act of giving zakat al-Fitr&nbsp;and putting food directly in their hands.&nbsp;Therefore, it is one way that the goals of fasting are actualized in the most complete and beneficial way.

4. It breaks down social and economic barriers between Muslims.

The legislation of&nbsp;zakat al-Fitr&nbsp;is one of the many ways that Islam breaks down the social and economic barriers that divide the people.&nbsp;By doing zakatul-fitr you get to interact with people of lower status thereby building a relationship with them.

5. It distances the Muslims from arrogance.

Since arrogance is so dangerous and counter-productive to the Muslims, our prefect Religion when practiced properly helps a Muslim overcome and/or remain distant from all manifestations of&nbsp;arrogance.

An arrogant man looks down on others, often those with less money.&nbsp;He does not want to see them, talk to them, or mix with them.

However, through Zakatul-fitr you get to interact and relate with poor people and sympathize with them

6. You will learn about their problems and be able to help them with things that are easy for you.

Delivering your own&nbsp;zakat al-Fitr&nbsp;to a poor family and taking a moment to learn about their lives&nbsp;may give you some insight into certain problems they are facing that might be very easy for you to solve!

They may be having difficulty registering their children in school, and you could solve that easily through your connections.&nbsp;Five minutes of your time could solve a problem a family has been&nbsp;struggling with&nbsp;for years!

You may discover that their electricity is scheduled to be shut off soon and you could easily pay the electricity bill for them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Real needs of real people can be met through establishing real relationships.

The Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said,&nbsp;what means, “Whoever helps his brother, Allah will help him.&nbsp;Whoever alleviates the burden of a Muslim, Allah will alleviate a burden of his on the Day of Judgment.”

6 reasons why you should give out Zakat al-Fitr

Here are the benefits of giving out Zakatul Fitr.

<h1>Announcement! Announcement!! Announcement!!!</h1>

For those who are slightly obsessed with the fruit, here is another way you can juice it beautifully.

1/2 cup of white, granulated sugar (to taste)

Seeds of 6 green cardamom pods, crushed

Pinch of saffron - 10 to 15 strands

Bring to the boil and then turn down to simmer for 12 - 15 minutes

Remove from heat and let cook down

You can include the flesh of the Agbalumo but the resulting drink will be cloudy

Vary the spices to suit your desires

Make mocktails and cocktails - I think combinations with orange juice would work really well.

This recipe was taken from awesome KitchenButterfly.com

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="http://pulse.ng/food_drinks_travel/nigerian-vegetarian-drinks-here-is-how-to-make-groundnut-milk-a-vegan-alternative-to-cow-milk-id5918115.html">Here is how to make Groundnut milk, a vegan alternative to cow milk</a>

For those who are slightly obsessed with Agbalumo, here is another way you can juice it beautifully.

This Agbalumo drink is the best thing on the Internet right now

<h1>After small chops, Chapman is the next best thing Nigerians want served at parties.</h1>

There is a twist, the addition of Ribena. For those trying to save money this recession, here is how to make your own chapman at home.

A few dashes of Angostura Aromatic Bitters™

Optional Ingredient:

Feel free to add any citrus and other fruits of your choice: cucumber, strawberry, orange, lemon, lime, even bananas. I used the following:

<h2>Notes on the Ingredients and alternatives</h2>

Grenadine Syrup gives the drink its classic red colour. You can buy this at your local supermarket or on Amazon websites as listed below. If you can't find Grenadine Syrup, you can use red currant (extract the juice) or pomegranate but these don't give the drink the same taste.

Ribena concentrated blackcurrant adds to the red colour and gives the drink a sweetened taste but it is optional.

You can make your ice cubes with a mixture of the Fanta and the Sprite. This is so that your drink does not go flat as is the case when the ice cubes are made with water.

Even though the Nigerian chapman contains a very small quantity of alcohol, I know there are those who will like to make a version that does not contain any trace of alcohol. If you want to make that, you can skip the Angostura Bitters but I warn you, the Nigerian Chapman will not be the same without Angostura Bitters. :)

Wondering other recipes you can use the remaining Angostura Bitters for? You can use it in cookies, cakes, ice cream, salads and other cocktail drinks. Or you can just keep it and use for Chapman, it does not expire in a hurry.

Make the ice cubes either with water or a mixture of the fanta and the sprite.

Make sure the Grenadine Syrup, Fanta and Sprite are chilling in the fridge.

Cut the orange and the lemon into two equal parts each then cut one half of each into thin quarters. Reserve the other halves for squeezing into the drink.

Add half a cup of the Grenadine Syrup, this should be about one third of the dimpled mug.

Add a few dashes of Angostura Bitters (to your taste).

Add a squeeze of orange and lemon each.

Share the Fanta equally between the two mugs, do the same for the Sprite. Remember to leave some space because the garnishings will take up their own volume.

Add your sliced garnishings: cucumber, orange and lemons. This list goes on and on, some people even add bananas to theirs :)

Top off with Ribena blackcurrant if you have it.

Stir with the straws and it is ready for drinking!

Enjoy it on a warm sunny day or on any special occassion with any Nigerian snack.

This recipe was culled from the awesome allnigerianrecipes.com

For those trying to save money this recession, here is how to make your own chapman at home.

Chapman: How to make Nigerian cocktail with Ribena

Not only did she weep, she devised an evil plan to get rid of her daughter's disease.

Watch the video to find out how it went down.

ALSO READ: <a href="" id="ee03bce1-d348-558b-9b25-4b08164f88a2">Kanye West is Jamming to Dammy Krane and Runtown</a>

___6087391___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___6087391___2017___1___20___15___wowo

See what happens when a girl finally revealed her sexual orientation to her African mother.

See what happens when you tell your African parents 'I am Gay'

We know so many Nigerian youths are planning to travel a lot this year and we have compiled a list (as provided by Instagram) for 10 most instagrammed places in the world. Because let's be honest what is travel without Instagramming and telling the world about it.

1. Disney Properties, USA

2. Universal Properties, USA

3. Central Park, NYC, USA

4. Times Square, NYC, USA

5. Eiffel Tower, Paris

6. The Louvre, Paris

7. Las Vegas Strip

8. Santa Pier, California, USA

9. Brooklyn Bridge, NYC, USA

10. VDNKh (Vystavka Dostizheniy Narodnogo Khozyaystva), Moscow

Just in case, small change enter your hand. Visit countries in Africa instead please.

ALSO READ: <a href="" id="051e21b0-bb39-5b7b-bc00-a1d9971701f1">Gambia is the country everybody will be visiting in 2017</a>

We know this places are for rich people, but we are still showing your regardless.

10 most Instagrammed locations in the world

President Barack Obama aka O'breezy is leaving the White house today and the whole world is sad that the orange faced man is taking over.

While we grief about his exit, here are some fiction books Obama really loved that are worth adding to your bookshelf.

Maybe this list compiled <a href="http://offtheshelf.com/2017/01/the-new-o-book-club-12-fiction-picks-from-president-obama/" id="4a657aaa-7e6b-57d6-9c55-8961358fb7a6">by Off The Shelf</a> will give us the peace we all desperately crave:

1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

A tale of the intertwining experiences of a blind French girl and orphaned German boy during the Nazi occupation, it is a mesmerizing story of how people can change each other’s lives without even realizing it.

2. Heart of Darkness and the Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad

Though his contemporary reading repertoire is impressive, President Obama also has made time for classics, including Joseph Conrad’s duo of literary voyages. Both are chilling yet relevant stories of self-discovery, corruptibility, and the ways of the mind.

3. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

The President called Fates and Furies his favorite book of 2015, and readers across the country agreed. The story of a marriage told from the perspectives of both husband and wife, it’s a raw, dark, and dazzling examination of how a relationship—and the people in it—can change over 24 years, for better or worse.

4. Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín

Set in a small Irish village, Colm Tóibín’s latest novel introduces us to widowed mother Nora Webster, who must navigate the complexities of grief and loss while continuing to live her life. The president picked this one up at the D.C. bookstore Politics &amp; Prose in 2014.

5. The Whites by Richard Price

Though the reasons for his literary picks are rarely explained, it’s safe to say that the unfortunate contemporary debate over police-civilian relationships might have motivated the president to pick up Richard Price’s novel about a South Bronx cop trying to find redemption after a new case brings back memories of an old mistake.

6. Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie

Every reader needs a little escapism, and the leader of the free world is likely no exception. Salman Rushdie’s fantastic (and fantastical) story centers on a storm in New York City that reawakens an ancient conflict between humans and the descendants of a mystical creature known as the Jinn.

7. The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri

In 2015, President Obama announced that Jhumpa Lahiri’s latest novel was one of 6 books on his summer reading list (we love an ambitious book packer!). The Lowland follows 2 brothers bound by tragedy, a fiercely brilliant woman haunted by her past, a country torn by revolution, and a love that lasts long past death.

8. The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan

POTUS showed off his cultural knowledge once again in 2015, when he picked up this Man Booker Prize-winning novel by Richard Flanagan. The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a sweeping story that moves from a Japanese POW camp to present-day Australia and explores the important themes of war and truth, love and death.

9. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

Set in a small rural village in Chechnya, Anthony Marra’s novel about love, compassion, and war centers around a young girl named Havaa and the neighbor who takes her in after Russian soldiers abduct her father and set fire to her home. The president likely picked it up in 2013 as an accompaniment to his briefings on the conflict still brewing overseas.

10. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

A National Book Award winner and favorite of many adults, Jacqueline Woodson’s young adult masterpiece is a collection of poems that reveal what it was like for her to grow up in South Carolina and New York in the 1960s and ‘70s, among the remnants of Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement.

11. Tinkers by Paul Harding

One of the first books publicly shared by the president after taking office in 2009, Paul Harding’s debut novel is a Pulitzer Prize winner and is a meditation on life, loss, illness, faith, and nature, told through the perspective of a dying old man. As the clock runs down, his memories intertwine with those of his father and grandfather.

12. Rodin’s Debutante by Ward Just

It’s not hard to imagine why the former Chicago resident picked Ward Just’s historical epic set in the Windy City. Following the life of Lee Goodell, a man whose life was once changed by a Gatsbyesque figure named Tommy Ogden, Rodin’s Debutante explores the ways in which we remember, and how we decide which moments shape us forever.

ALSO READ: <a href="" id="5a0353b9-a8ab-5aa0-83a3-939a8121ca17">You need to see the 5 beautiful books POTUS is reading right now</a>

Here are some fiction books Obama really loved that are worth adding to your bookshelf.

12 awesome fiction books President Obama think you should read

The beautiful ones have been born after all, meet 4-year-old Daliyah Marie Arana who has read more 1,000 books.

Her love for reading stunned everyone that she was made the “librarian for the day” at the Library of Congress, the world’s largest library.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden tweeted two photos of herself and Daliyah walking around the Library of Congress. In the tweet, Hayden, who is the first woman and first African-American to lead the library, wrote that the 4-year-old has already read more than 1,000 books. Huff Post reported.

Daliyah’s mother, Haleema Arana, said her daughter began reading when she was about 2 years old.

Arana said "Daliyah participated in Georgia’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, which encourages kids to read 1,000 books before their first day of kindergarten. She finished all 1,000 books before her first day of preschool."

Her mom told The Washington Post the library is her “most favorite, favorite, favorite library in the whole wide world.”

Deliyah, who has a library card of her own so she can check out books as often as she desires, wants to encourage other kids to read as well.

ALSO READ: <a href="" id="84b9d6bd-417f-56fb-a853-e67a96f394a8">This barbershop gives discount to children who read aloud during appointment</a>

The beautiful ones have been born after all, meet 4-year-old Daliyah Marie Arana who has read more 1,000 books.

Meet 4-year-old girl that has read more than 1,000 books

Finally, we now have our own Nigerian Superman! He is the superhero everyone is raving about on social media right now.

Superguy Aminu was seen riding and balling on a bike in Abuja and we can't help but smile.

And of course, we loved it:

ALSO READ: <a href="" id="7b4ef010-b0d9-5ccc-814a-c9229f0fd579">This video of beautiful people dancing to Wizkid is awesome sha</a>

While on an official assignment, a policeman met his end following an ambush organized by two men interested in boosting their robbery business.

Yaaay! We now have our own Nigerian Superman!

This Nigerian policeman dancing on a bike is our new superhero

Nigerian-American writer, photographer and art historian, Teju Cole becomes the first writer in PEN America Literary Awards award program’s 54-year history to be named a finalist in two categories for his collection of essays Known and Strange Things.

Teju Cole becomes first writer in PEN America Literary Awards award program’s 54-year history to be named a finalist in two categories for his collection of essays Known and Strange Things.

zainab quadri

Articles written by the author

Pawpaw smoothie, the best powered drink you shouldn't ignore

How to make Soya milk like a pro

How to make your own catfish Peppersoup from home

6 reasons why you should give out Zakat al-Fitr

This Agbalumo drink is the best thing on the Internet right now

Chapman: How to make Nigerian cocktail with Ribena

See what happens when you tell your African parents 'I am Gay'

10 most Instagrammed locations in the world

12 awesome fiction books President Obama think you should read

Meet 4-year-old girl that has read more than 1,000 books

This Nigerian policeman dancing on a bike is our new superhero

Teju Cole named finalist in 2 categories for his book 'Known and Strange Things'

Yaay! Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's new book is coming out soon

Lagos to host Rasheed Gbadamosi Eko Art Expo

'The Watch' by Fu'ad Lawal

"We are going to construct 'Writers Village' in Abuja"

President Buhari congratulates Nigerian author on his appointment at Oxford University

This video of people dancing in Lagos will make you smile

The weight watchers are here

Gambia is the country everybody will be visiting in 2017