4 female kids changing the world with their ideas

1. The Dentist’s Best Friend

Image credit: Zollipops

Alina Morse
Age: 10
Founder: Zollipops
Twitter: @Zollipops

Alina Morse is one lucky girl. She has visited the White House not once but twice, and never as a tourist. Each time, she was an official guest, personally invited by none other than First Lady Michelle Obama

The enterprising Wolverine Lake, Mich., native presented the one and only candy at this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll -- a special treat she invented when she was just seven, with help from her dad, Tom (the co-creator of 5-Hour Energy).

Her sweets are fruit-flavored lollipops that her little sister, Lola, named Zollipops. There’s something unusual about them: They’re sweetened with a blend of xylitol, maltitol syrup, beetroot juice and stevia -- not with sugar.

“I love candy,” Alina tells Entrepreneur, “but I always knew it was bad for my teeth so that's why I created Zollipops. So I asked, ‘Why can’t we make a lollipop that’s delicious and good for your teeth?’”   

She did just that in 2014, when she started up her company using $7,500 of savings from her grandparents. Soon, she took to the road to promote her candy creation, available in-store at Whole Foods and SuperValu and online on Amazon. She’s even pitched Shark Tank celeb investor Daymond John on Good Morning America and appeared on NBC News.

Zolli Drops sugar-free peppermints, earlier this year. On top of providing a teeth-friendly alternative to sugary suckers, Alina donates more than 10 percent of her profits to organizations dedicated to reducing the impact of childhood tooth decay. Now that’s something sweet to smile about.

Alina’s favorite part of being a kidpreneur: 
“The most fun thing about being a kidpreneur and working on Zollipops is that I get to travel, meet lots of people and see lots of places. All around the world, we share Zollipops with many people and brighten their smiles!”

Alina’s advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: 
“Always keep asking questions. You can do anything if you work hard, try and believe in yourself and never give up!”

2. The Sartorial Scholar

Image credit: David Heisler

Isabella Rose Taylor
Age: 15
Founder: Isabella Rose Taylor
Twitter: @isabellartaylor

By the age of 12, Isabella Rose Taylor had already sewn up an impressive accomplishment. It was one that even some of the most seasoned fashion designers would covet -- selling her own collection at Nordstrom.

The Austin, Texas, native’s pieces range from crop tops to graphic tees, mostly in black, white and grey. Those that feature patterns are inspired by her love of art. Many depict sketches of hands or splashes of paint, all in an abstract style. Soon after Isabella Rose became theyoungest designer ever to market a clothing line at the Seattle-based upscale retailer, the artistic young fashionista checked off another incredible accomplishment: showing off her hippie-chic designs atNew York Fashion Week.

Homeschooled and encouraged by her parents, Isabella Rose was bitten by the fashion bug when she was only eight. “From a young age, my parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams,” Isabella Rose tells Entrepreneur. “They told me I didn’t have to wait until I was older to be my own boss and do what I love.”

It wasn’t long before she stitched her entrepreneurial dreams into reality. As an early college student, accomplished painter and poet, Mensa member and Davidson Young Scholar, we’re not at all surprised by the prodigy’s speedy ascent.

Isabella Rose’s favorite part of being a kidpreneur: 
“Like most entrepreneurs, I get to build a company around something I am passionate about, and then I get to watch it grow. I have also enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life. As an entrepreneur, networking is very important, and I’ve met people who’ve inspired me and I think I may have inspired others."

Isabella Rose’s advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: 
"Starting a business is a lot of hard work. Don’t start a business unless you love what you do. Do a lot of research and planning to make sure there is a market for your product."

3. The Motivational Speaker Who Wears His Positivity

Image credit: JYoungin Education

Jeremiah Jones 
Age: 15  
Founder: JYoungin Education
Twitter: @Jyoungin4kids

When he was 8 years old, Jeremiah “JYoungin” Jones had a vision to start his own fashion brand, JYoungin Education. “I saw my dad printing up promotional T-shirts and giving them away to get his own business going and I thought, ‘Why not me?’” he tells Entrepreneur. “Why not let me inspire my own peers and kids of all ages to be great?”

The teen motivational speaker, currently the youth commissioner of his home city of Long Beach, Calif., launched his clothing line in 2009. But it almost never happened. He said in his TEDx Talk that his dad didn’t want to help him make his business idea a reality. For two years, he tried to sell him on the concept. “He didn’t believe in me as much as I believed in myself,” he said in his talk. “Just because we’re so young, and I know we don’t run things around here, but, hey, we still have big dreams as well as you guys do.”

His father eventually came around to supporting his entrepreneurial dream, even making the “ultimate sacrifice” and moving his family out of their house and into an apartment. The brand has taken off ever since. First came the online store, then the brick-and-mortar location, and the sales have kept them both going and growing.

Today, Jeremiah also runs his own nonprofit organization to encourage area kids to excel in academics, sports, business and character development. “This way I can gain larger partnerships and donations to help me expand the overall goal of going global with the plan of motivating others everywhere.”

Jeremiah’s favorite part of being a kidpreneur: 
“I like inspiring my own peers and seeing them actually take what I say and put it into action. I also get the chance to be boss, and my parents work for me.”

Jeremiah’s advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: 
“Never let anyone discourage you or try to talk down on you and never give up. Follow your passion and you'll love what you do!”

4. The Varsity Athlete Who Needed Tougher Equipment

Image credit: Rachel Zeitz

Rachel Zietz
Age: 15
Founder: Gladiator Lacrosse
Twitter: @GladiatorLaX

If you can’t find the product you need, invent it. That’s what Rachel Zietz did. The result: Gladiator Lacrosse, the ambitious Boca Raton, Fla., teen’s premium line of durable lacrosse equipment.

“It’s never too young to start,” she tells Entrepreneur. “I started when I was 13, and it was successful. Most people are afraid, but if you’re passionate about it, you’re never too young.”

The varsity athlete and high school sophomore honors student launched her sporty startup in 2013, largely out of frustration. Despite searching in stores and online, she was unable to get her hands on lacrosse gear that was sturdy enough to withstand rigorous practice on repeat.

“For me, if there's a problem, there's also an opportunity," she told the Sun Sentinel.  

Rachel’s parents and younger brother are also entrepreneurs, so she scored in business right out of the gate. In her first year, she racked up$200,000 in revenue. A year later, she was on track to bank $1 millionin earnings.

Look out for the talented Young Entrepreneurs Academy graduate when she faces the “Sharks” on ABC’s Shark Tank, May 13 at 9 p.m. ET. You bet we’ll be watching -- and pulling for her.

Rachel’s favorite part of being a kidpreneur:
“I believe the best part is that I am able to pursue something that I love [business] and can inspire others that you are never too young to accomplish your dream. Also, it is amazing to run the day-to-day operations of the company and it is great to see the looks on people’s faces when they realize who is running the company!”

Rachel’s advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: 
“My advice to any aspiring young entrepreneurs is to make sure whatever you do, you are passionate about it. Passion is the key to success and it is what drives you to work through obstacles and challenges in your way.”

Share to inspire girls

Culled from entrepreneurs. Com

Read More

2. kids changing the world with bussines ideas

1 The Driven-to-Drive Designer

Image credit: Origami Owl

Bella Weems
Age: 19
Founder: Origami Owl
Twitter: @OrigamiOwl

When Bella Weems was 14, she turned her passion for handcrafting locket necklaces and bracelets into a moneymaker. She started the business as a way to save up for a car after her parents said they wouldn’t buy her one and told her to “earn it.” She sure did, and then some. By the time she turned 16, the driven teen’s Chandler, Ariz.-based custom jewelry startup had exploded into a multi-million-dollar direct-sales machine.

Origami Owl’s flagship product, the “Living Locket,” allows customers to build their own jewelry by mixing and matching the chains, charms and lockets themselves, some of which come adorned with Swarovski crystals. The lockets are transparent and showcase tiny metal charms that represent the wearer’s personality and hobbies. The company also sells earrings, bracelets and other accessories.

Alongside her mom, company president Chrissy Weems, the teen millionaire leads a team of hundreds of employees and thousands of independent jewelry designers the world over.

She’s incredibly busy these days, but not too busy to give back. Through her inspiring Owlettes initiative, Bella personally mentors aspiring entrepreneurs ages 12 through 17. She shares with them the practical business and leadership skills she picked up on her fast track to success.

Bella’s favorite part of being a kidpreneur: 
“The best part about being a kidpreneur is being able to encourage kids of all ages to not be afraid to reach for their dreams and never let anyone tell them they’re not good enough or their idea isn’t good enough.”  

Bella’s advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: 
“Take a leap of faith, surround yourself with people who believe in you, follow your heart and always remember you are never too young to achieve a big dream. Also, a positive attitude is a must. Remember things don’t always go as planned, and that’s okay, but, no matter what, keep on smiling and enjoy the journey.”

2. The Branson-Inspired Merchant and Mentor

Image credit: Ollie Forsyth

Ollie Forsyth
Age: 18
Founder: Ollie’s Shop and The Budding Entrepreneur Magazine
Twitter: @ollieforsyth

Richard Branson inspired Ollie Forsyth to take the entrepreneurial leap at the age of 13. That’s three years younger than the billionaire Virgin Group founder was when he braved his first venture.

Much like Branson, Ollie struggled in school. He was often bullied and cast off as lazy. The Northamptonshire, U.K. native later learned that he is dyslexic, also like Branson.

One day, while watching YouTube, he had a breakthrough. There was Branson in an inspirational clip, discussing how he turned his dyslexia, something often misinterpreted as a weakness, into his biggest strength.

“Right then I was determined to become like him,” Ollie tellsEntrepreneur. His first step: embracing his learning difference. His second: proving the people who said he’d never amount to anything wrong with the launch of Ollie’s Shop. The online gift boutique sells trendy fashion accessories, including bracelets, cufflinks and belts. Ollie handcrafts some of his wares himself at home. Others are sourced from China.

Ollie is motivated to become a millionaire before age 20, and ecommerce isn’t the only enterprise he has his hands in. He also has his own subscription-based online magazine, fittingly called The Budding Entrepreneur, and he’s spearheading a networking group for fellow British entrepreneurs.

Succeeding in spite of the naysayers feels incredibly good, Ollie says. But nothing quite compares to the thrill he felt when he finally met his hero, Sir Richard Branson.

“I met him at a Virgin Unite conference last year,” he says. “I was not going to leave the building until I met him. He’s the nicest person I’ve ever met.” He even has the pic to prove that he did.  

Ollie’s favorite part of being a kidpreneur: 
“You get to meet some fascinating people, but, most importantly, you get some incredible opportunities from those connections made.”

Ollie’s advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: 
“You have to do what you love and, if you have a business idea in mind, just try it and see what happens. I see too many people with great ideas, but they do not pursue them as they are afraid to. Just get on and do it!”

Share to inspire

Culled from entrepreneurs. Com

Read More

2 Kids that are changing the world with their ideas

1 Erik Finman
   Age: 17
   Founder: Botangle
   Twitter: @erikfinman

As a child, Erik Finman bounced from school to school and was often bullied, both emotionally and physically. A particularly mean teacher reportedly joined in, advising the Idaho native to “drop out and work at McDonald’s because [he’d] never amount to anything.”

Erik eventually did drop out of school, but not his education. He built his own learning environment from home, using a computer and an Internet connection, and called it Botangle (a combination of “robotics” and “angle”). “I created this side project to kind of save myself,” he said before a crowd at a WIRED event for young innovators last year. “Its mission is to replace the public education system because of my really terrible experiences in it.”

When the robotics prodigy was 15, he took his “side project” to the next level, launching it at as fee-based online video tutoring service. He bootstrapped the startup on his own, using $100,000 he’d cashed-out from a very lucky early Bitcoin investment. Today, he oversees a team of programmers, not only for Botangle, but for several other promising projects.

Keep your eyes open for Erik’s next exciting venture, a virtual reality-based personal computer. “It’s a way for people to learn through the web, your phone, in virtual reality and in person,” he tellsEntrepreneur.

Erik’s favorite part of being a kidpreneur: 
“The most fun thing is to not have to go to school. I get the freedom to travel, hang out with the most important people in every industry and work on what I love.”

Erik’s advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: 
“Be selfish. I think [the word] 'selfish' is just a tainted word for self-leadership. Lead yourself through life, do what you love, build what youwant to build, go where you want to go.”

2  Mikaila Ulmer
  Age: 11
  Founder: Me & the Bees Lemonade
  Twitter: @MikailasBees

For Mikaila Ulmer, it all started with a bee sting. Make that two. Encouraged by her parents and teachers, the Austin, Texas, native signed up for two entrepreneurship contests when she was just four and a half years old. “At that same time, I got stung by two bees in one week,” she tells Entrepreneur. “What are the chances?!”

To help ease Mikaila’s resulting fear of bees, her great-granny Helen sent her a 1940s cookbook that contained her favorite recipe for flaxseed lemonade. “Then I did some research on bees and found out how important they are to our ecosystem and that they’re dying, so I created a product that would help save them.”  

That product is Me & the Bees Lemonade, a flaxseed- and mint-infused beverage that is sweetened mainly with honey from local honeybees. For each bottle sold, Mikaila, who prefers the title “queen bee” over CEO, donates a percentage of the profits to organizations working to ease the plight of the bees, including her home state’s beekeepers association.

Mikaila originally sold her lemonade at a local pizzeria when she first started in 2009. She later showcased her naturally sweet wares at a local Whole Foods store, where she held workshops on saving bees. Eventually, she was asked to sell her lemonade at the high-end grocery store. Now, thanks in part to Mikaila’s charming but “nerve-citing” appearance on Shark Tank, she says, Whole Foods carries Me & the Bees Lemonade throughout its southeast region.

Mikaila’s favorite part of being a kidpreneur:
“Being able to meet awesome people is the most fun part. I love being able to go to different events and presentations to share my story, and to teach people about bees and how we can help them.”

Mikaila’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: 
“Be a social entrepreneur. Do something to help solve problems in the world. Don’t go into business to make a lot of money. Create a business that you see the that world is missing, solve a problem with it and do something you have a passion for. Because the more passionate you are about what you do, the more fun you have while doing it!”

Read More

New tecno phone w4

Tecno W4 Mitchelle Okuku Yesterday 57193 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Whatsapp Leading mobile tech company in Africa, TECNO, has released it first smartphone running the Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS. The new TECNO W4 smartphone has flagged off TECNO’s fresh line of trendy, low budget photo-centric smart phones with wide-angle cameras and signature touchscreen gestures that will give phone users another reason to stay in love with their camera phones. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Whatsapp “The android 6.0 Marshmallow OS gives the TECNO W4 5.0” IPS touchscreen a breathtaking image enhancement capability and a user interface of second nature intuitiveness,” says Attai Oguche, Public relations and Marketing lead, TECNO. In terms of specifications rating, the TECNO W4 promises a particularly enticing experience for a budget smartphone, showing off a bold 5.0” IPS touchscreen nestled on a premium metal body and a pair of phase contrast Dual 8.0MP AF f2.0 Back/ 2.0MP Front cameras with LED flash that brings every flicker of the shutter to vivid life. “It will take only a high-end smart phone to beat the kind of wide angle shoots the new TECNO W4 will give you. The F2.0 large aperture of TECNO W4 back camera and a super optimized Marshmallow OS makes the TECNO W4 a reliable tag-along for picture storytelling. So, if you love storing up good memories in your smart phone, then it will do you a whole lot of good to get the TECNO W4,” says Jesse Oguntimehin, Tecno’s Deputy Digital Manager. Smart gestures are back and a lot better Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Whatsapp “TECNO W4 has some of the best on-screen gestures you will find on any smart phone, the smartphone is simply loveable” says Jesse. The TECNO W4 is now available on retail shelves nationwide and selling at a recommended retail price of NGN 22,500, one of the most competitive price for budget smartphones in its category.

Read More

How to cook Coconut Rice

This Nigerian food is called the Jollof Rice with a twist! It feels good to see the looks on your guests' or friends' faces when they think you are serving them the good old Jollof Rice but bam, the moment the first spoon enters the mouth, you are sure to get the looks of pleasure! It makes you feel good, doesn't it?

How to Cook Coconut Rice [Video]

Yes, it looks the same as the Jollof Rice you know but the aroma and taste is different. Why don't you surprise your guests tonight by preparing this easy dinner recipe?

Ingredients

• 3 cigar cups | 750g long grain parboiled rice
• 500mls Tomato Stew
• 600 mls Coconut Milk
• Chicken (whole chicken or drumsticks)
• Chilli pepper (to taste)
• Salt (to taste)
• 1 medium onions
• 3 stock cubes
• 1 tablespoon thyme

Before you cook Coconut Rice

1. Prepare the tomato stew if you don't have some in the freezer. Visit the Tomato Stew page for details on how to do that. It is advisable to prepare tomato stew before hand and keep in the freezer. This is so that whenever you want to cook any jollof rice related dish, it is just a matter of adding it to your cooking.
2. If you will use whole chicken, wash and cut the whole chicken into pieces. Place the pieces in a pot; add water till it just covers the pieces of chicken, add the chopped onions, stock cubes and thyme and start cooking. The cooking time depends on the type of chicken. The rooster or cockerel cooks much faster than the hen but the hen is tastier.
   
   Cooking till done and add salt to taste. Put the pieces of chicken in a sieve to drain, then fry with vegetable oil. You can also grill it in an oven. This is to give it a golden look which is more presentable especially if you have guests for dinner. Read how to season and grill chicken for more one this.
3. Now is the time to extract the coconut milk. This is quite an easy task if you follow the procedure detailed in How to Extract Coconut Milk. Set the coconut milk aside.
4. Parboil the rice using the method detailed in parboiling rice for cooking coconut rice. Wash the parboiled rice and put in a sieve to drain.

Cooking Directions

1. Now we need a pot big enough to accommodate the rice till it is done. Bear in mind that the rice will normally rise by at least one quarter of its quantity from the parboiled state to the done state.
2. Pour the chicken stock, coconut milk and the tomato stew into the selected pot. Set on the stove to boil. Add the drained parboiled rice, salt and pepper to taste. If necessary, top up with water to bring the water level to the same level as the rice. This is to ensure that all the water dries up by the time the rice is cooked.
3. Cover the pot and leave to cook on medium heat. This way the rice does not burn before the water dries up.

If you parboiled the rice as described at parboiling rice for cooking coconut rice, the rice should be done by the time the water is dry. Confirm that the rice is done by tasting it. That's the way coconut rice is cooked.

Serve with Fried Plantain, Nigerian Moi Moi, Nigerian Salad or Coleslaw.

- sources:all Nigeria recipe 

Read More

How to cook Nigerian Boiled White Rice and Stew Recipe

The Nigerian White Rice and Stew is a popular Nigerian rice recipe because it lets you eat rice with any stew or sauce of your choice. This rice recipe is usually eaten with Beef and/or Chicken Stew which we almost always have in the freezer so it is just a matter of boiling white rice. So if you already have Beef/Chicken Stew in your freezer, the Boiled White Rice and Stew will be one easy dinner recipe to make if you are tired after a long busy day.

Cooking white rice is as easy as boiling eggs for breakfast. It is usually cooked plain with no added ingredients. Some people add salt but this is optional.

This procedure applies to the long grain white rice.

Ingredients

• Long grain parboiled white rice
• Salt (Optional)

Cooking Directions

1. Parboil the rice using the method detailed in How to Parboil Rice for Cooking White Rice. You may want to parboil it for much longer depending on personal preference.
2. Pour the rice in a sieve to drain out the hot water.
3. Dip in cold water, then wash and drain.
4. Meanwhile set some water to boil in a pot big enough to accommodate the rice bearing in mind that the rice will rise some more. The extent of rising depends on the type of rice and for how long it was parboiled.
5. Add the parboiled rice and salt (optional). Check to see that the water level is just about the same as the rice.
6. Cook till the water is just about drying up. Check that the rice is done. If not, add more water and keep cooking.
7. Keep checking till the rice is done. Leave to dry completely. This is usually confirmed by a ticking sound coming from the pot.

Eat with Meatball Stew, Beef and Chicken Stew, Banga Stew (Ofe Akwu), Vegetable Sauce, Pepper Soup, Mixed Vegetables Curry Sauce or even Egusi Soup.

Boiled White Rice and Stew accessories include: Fried Plantain, Nigerian Moi Moi and other Nigerian Rice Accessories.

- See more at: http://www.allnigerianrecipes.com/rice/white-rice.html#sthash.NF7S2IEe.dpuf
Source :all Nigeria recipe 

Read More

How to cook Nigerian Pepper Soup

The Nigerian Pepper soup is a popular Nigerian soup recipe. It is such a versatile recipe as it can be prepared with different types of meat and fish. Thus there is the Chicken Pepper Soup, the Catfish Pepper Soup (popularly known as Point & Kill), the Goat Meat Pepper Soup, the Cow Foot Pepper Soup and the Assorted Beef Pepper Soup.

Nigerian Pepper Soup [Video]

People usually go to exclusive bars or restaurants to eat the Pepper Soup. This is because this Nigerian soup recipe is believed to be prepared with 'secret' ingredients that only the restaurant Madams know about. Yes, the Pepper Soup ingredient which gives this recipe its unique aroma and taste, is truly the best kept secret. But our job here at All Nigerian Food Recipes is to expose all Nigerian food recipes and cooking secrets so that you can prepare them right inside your own kitchen whenever you want to.

Ingredients for Pepper Soup

• 1kg Chicken or Cow Foot or Assorted Beef
• 4 seeds Ehu or Ariwo or Calabash Nutmeg
• Chilli Pepper (to taste)
• 2 teaspoons crushed Dry Uziza (optional)
• 2 medium onions
• Salt (to taste)
• 3 stock cubes
• 1 teaspoon of Thyme (for chicken pepper soup)

For grinding the ehu seeds, you will need:

• A spice/coffer grinder: Buy it in USA | in UK

Before you cook the Nigerian Pepper Soup

1. If preparing Chicken pepper Soup, it is preferable to use whole chicken instead of drumsticks. The different parts of the chicken will bring variety to the pepper soup. So wash and cut up the whole chicken and set aside.
2. If you want to prepare Assorted Beef Pepper Soup then you should buy different parts of beef - best cut, offal (shaki, round-about, liver and kidney). Wash the offal thoroughly especially the round-about which should be turned inside out during the washing. Cut these into medium pieces, just big enough to be chewed in one go.
3. For Cow Foot Pepper Soup, just wash and cut the cow foot into medium pieces. In this case also, make the pieces just big enough that it can be chewed in one go.image: http://www.allnigerianrecipes.com/images/roast-ehu.jpg
   
4. Now it is time to prepare the 'secret' ingredient. 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. Another way to know that it is OK is to take one of the seeds and try to remove the outer membrane. If the membrane comes off easily, then the Ehu is done.image: http://www.allnigerianrecipes.com/images/grind-ehu.jpg
   
5. Peel off the membrane from all the Ehu seeds and grind with a dry mill.
6. Cut the onions into tiny pieces.
7. Rub the dry uziza with your fingers to break them into tiny pieces.

Cooking Directions

1. This cooking direction describes Chicken Pepper Soup. To prepare Goat Meat Pepper Soup, Cow Foot Pepper Soup or Assorted Beef Pepper Soup just substitute chicken with cow foot or beef and offal respectively.
2. Place the pieces of chicken in a pot and pour enough water to cover the contents of the pot. Add the stock cubes, thyme and onions and cook till done.

   Note: When cooking Assorted Beef Pepper Soup, you should cook the shaki for sometime before adding the other beef parts. Shaki is tough and will take longer to cook than the other beef parts.
   Cow foot is a tough part of meat so when cooking Cow Foot Pepper Soup, you should use a pressure cooker if you have one. This will save you some gas or electricity.

3. By now, you will notice that some of the water has dried. Add more water to bring it to the level of the contents of the pot.
4. Add the ground Ehu, dry uziza, chilli pepper and salt to taste. Ehu has some spicy taste so you should add chilli pepper with care. Even though it is called pepper soup, you still want to be able to taste and enjoy the recipe itself. Too much chilli pepper will ruin it for you.
5. Cover the pot and leave to boil for 5 minutes and the pepper soup is ready.

Pepper Soup should always be served hot. It can be eaten alone with a chilled drink by the side. You can also eat it with Agidi, White Riceor Boiled Yam.

Source :all Nigerian recipe 

Read More

How to cook Nigerian Egusi Soup (Fried Method)

---

image

The Egusi Soup recipe described on this page is the Fried Method of preparing Nigerian Egusi Soup (Ofe Egusi / Efo Elegusi / Miyan Gushi). This is the oil before egusi method.

Fried Egusi Soup [Video]

Nigerian Egusi Soup (Caking Method) [Video]

Ofe Achara with Akpuruakpu Egusi [Video]

Other ways of cooking Egusi Soup:

• Egusi Soup (Caking Method): I also call this one the Egusi Before Oil method. No frying is involved, making is a healthier way to prepare Egusi Soup.
• Akpuruakpu Egusi: where the ground egusi is molded into balls and cooked in the soup such that you will be eating the egusi balls like meat while enjoying the meal. The surrounding egusi in the soup is prepared using the caking method. Go check it out.

If you have been with All Nigerian Recipes for some time, you will know that the fried egusi method is not my favourite way to prepare Egusi Soup. It is not my favourite because it involves frying the ground egusi (melon) seeds. This gives me heart burn. The soup also needs more palm oil than the caking method.

But since I have been receiving requests for how to prepare it, here we go!

Ingredients

• 500g Egusi (Melon) seeds
• 3 cooking spoons red palm oil
• Beef: best cut and Shaki (cow tripe)
• Fish: dry fish and stockfish
• 2 tablespoons ground crayfish
• Pepper and Salt (to taste)
• Vegetable: Nigerian pumpkin leaves, spinach or bitter leaf
• 3 small stock cubes
• 1 small ogiri okpei (optional)

Important tool

• Spice grinder for grinding egusi (melon) seeds:
  Buy it in USA | in UK (Krups Twin Blade Grinder)

Notes about the ingredients

1. To be honest, I may have put 3 cooking spoons of palm oil up there but you will need more. You want the quantity of palm oil that will turn every grain of the ground egusi yellow. See video below. If the ground egusi is not well coated, it will burn during frying and the resulting Egusi Soup will be dry and have a burnt taste. If you are concerned about the quantity of palm oil you will used for this soup, it is best to prepare your egusi soups using the Caking Method.
2. The best meat for Nigerian soups for swallows is red meat with beef being the most common. You can also use goat meat. I have seen some people cook Egusi Soup with chicken, that's fine but the elders will not like it. :D
3. If you use chicken, please do not use dry fish and stockfish because those two cannot co-exist with chicken in the same Nigerian pot. ;)
4. If using bitter leaves, add it a bit earlier because it is a tough vegetable (see the cooking directions below). Remember that they need to be washed to remove all the bitterness unless your family prefers it with the bitter taste.
5. Ogiri okpei is made with locust beans. It is known as iru in Yoruba. It adds a traditional taste to Egusi Soup.

Before you cook Egusi Soup

1. Before preparing the soup, soak the dry fish and stock fish till soft. If you are using the very tough stockfish, boil it for 20 minutes and leave in the pot with the hot water to soak for about an hour. If using the softer stockfish, you can just soak them in cool water till you can break them apart with your hands.
2. When the fish and stockfish are soft, de-bone and break them into sizeable chunks.
3. Much closer to your cooking time, grind the egusi with a dry mill. Grind the crayfish and the dry pepper separately and set aside.
4. Rinse the vegetables to be used and cut into tiny pieces.
5. Cook the beef and fish with the stock cubes till they are well done. You should start cooking the toughest meat and fish first and add the others as they get done. If using a normal pot, I will start with stockfish and shaki, add beef after about 1 hour and cook till done. I can add the dry fish when all the other meat and fish are cooked because it is already cooked, you just need to cook it long enough till it is soft and integrated with the rest of the ingredients. With a pressure pot, I do it differently but that is a process for another post.
6. Set all these aside.

Cooking Directions

1. Pour the red palm oil into a dry pot and set on the stove to heat. As soon as the oil melts, add the ground egusi and start frying. If the oil is not congealed, add the egusi as soon as the oil is translucent. Mix the ground egusi with oil till every grain of egusi turns yellow.
2. Start stirring the egusi on low to medium heat. Keep stir-frying for about 10 minutes.
3. Add the meat/fish stock (water from cooking the fish and meat) little by little while still stirring the egusi. So you add a bit of the stock, stir-fry for some time, add another, stir-fry and so on. When the stock is exhausted and you feel that the soup is still too thick, you can start adding hot water in the same way till you get the consistency you want. If your choice of vegetable is bitter leaf, add it at this time.
4. Cover the pot and cook for 20 minutes, stirring at intervals. Also, top up the water when necessary. If you don't stir it, it will burn. It takes 30 minutes to cook egusi properly else the soup will not taste nice to someone with authentic Nigerian taste buds. Also, egusi that is not cooked long enough may cause upset stomach. The egusi is done when you notice that the oil has separated from the mix.
5. Once you are happy that it is done, add the ground crayfish and pepper. Stir and add the Nigerian pumpkin leaves or spinach (alternative).
6. Stir very well and add the cooked stockfish, shaki and meat.
7. Add salt if necessary. If it is too thick, add some water to bring it to a consistency you like.
8. Cover and leave to simmer and it is done!

The perfect swallow for Egusi Soup is Pounded Yam. You can also serve it with Eba (Garri), Agidi, Amala, Semolina Fufu, Tuwo Shinkafa orCassava Fufu.

Source : all Nigerian recipe

Read More

Marriage success story

A MUST READ...

A Guy who has no job got married to a banker, despite his fears and several advices that it's not good to marry without a job.
Every month the girl would give the guy her full salary of #80,000 after removing her tithe. The guy would give the wife #20.000 for
personal upkeep and the guy determined what happened to the remaining money.
This happened for 3 good years.
There was happiness in the family and the wife never refused to
do her primary home duties for that 3 years, despite wrong advice from friends that 'you can't be paying the bills and still be doing all the work'.
There was a particular month the guy used about #50.000 to travel from region to region for different interviews.
He finally got a job with a good firm. His salary was #380,000 monthly for a start. He bought his first car (a brand new) for 2.2million naira he gave the wife the car key,& continued to take
public transport to work for about 3 years. Then he bought
the 2nd car for 4million took the keys of the first car & gave his wife the keys of the 2nd new car.
They eventually moved into their own house after few years. One day, the wife was looking for some documents. She stumbled on a file neatly hidden, when she opened it, she saw her wedding picture when she was very slim in the first page of the file. She then saw that the document the purchase of the land and every
other thing in the house were all written in her name!
At the last page was the husband's wedding picture and a note
written by him:
''MY WIFE IS ALL I HAVE GOT. NOT
EVEN THIS HOUSE WORTH 100 million AT THE TIME I BUILT IS MINE’’.
Tears started to roll down her eyes. This couple got married in 1998. Yesterday Sunday was their wedding anniversary, blessed with 3 children. True LOVE still exists till this day. Are you sure
the love you have for your partner can be compared to this one you just read?
No matter what remember you chose each other. It doesn't matter who puts food on the table or who pays the bills. Always know, NO
CONDITION IS PERMANENT.
Now I pray for all singles that reads this
that God will surely lead you to your destined life partner and u will never regret ur marriage IJN

Read More

Interview with the guy who made 100 million in 8 Months from bloging

made you want to start ViralNova in the first place? Did you think that a site like yours could be so lucrative at the time?

“I didn’t realize it would be this lucrative. Having just come off of selling another large site, I knew the power of Facebook and social traffic, but I didn’t think ViralNova would explode to this size. I had no idea it would spark so many imitators and ultimately change the way people are looking at headlines and virality. The reason I started it was simply to try to make some supplemental income while I traveled through Europe. I was bored not having a business, so I wanted to start something… and ViralNova is what I came up with.”

Did you have any mentors during your entrepreneurial journey? Do you feel like you need mentors in order to succeed?

“I didn’t have any direct mentors holding my hand along the way. I don’t think that’s as important as just always keeping an open mind, talking to as many people in the industry as possible, and striving to be the best. You definitely need to learn from others to succeed but an actual mentor? No, not really. Some of the best ideas you’ll ever have, however, will be sparked by a random conversation. So always keep your mind open and talk to other successful people every chance you get.”

You’ve been in the press a lot lately because you’ve been promoting ViralNova out to prospective buyers. You mentioned that you’d rather sell it and start something new. Is it safe to say that your main passion is to just be a serial entrepreneur?

“Definitely. My normal business lifespan is about 2 years. I like to work hard on a project and make it the best it can be, but after about 2 years, I get burnt out and want to exit. This time around, I’m feeling that so much quicker because this has grown so much faster than I ever expected and I have an overwhelming feeling that this just isn’t what I want to do with my life. I do love to start something new.”

Suppose you do manage to sell ViralNova, what would be your next steps after?

“Short term, I would be taking a couple of months off. No business, no computers. Long-term, I want to focus my productivity on personal things. I want to get back into amateur filmmaking, learn to play the piano, and enjoy my life away from the computer. I’m sure over time I will be drawn back to starting something new. What that is, though, I’m not sure.”

What are the biggest things you believe young aspiring entrepreneurs are doing that are holding them back from success?

“I think a lot of them are trying to re-invent the wheel. They’re trying to do too much too soon. All of my successes thus far have come from web properties I can run myself or with just a couple of freelancers to help out. You don’t need to make the next Facebook or Amazon… pick something you have a passion and talent for and own it.”

Your site reportedly generates six-figures in revenue per month and with only two other freelancers on your team, you pocket most of it. How has your life changed since you’ve become more financially successful? Do people treat you differently?

“I’m at risk of sounding very arrogant, but it’s been a few years since I’ve had to worry about money. That’s not the driving force behind ViralNova, so this has changed nothing for me in that regard. Until recently, no one knew who I was or what I’ve done. Since November when so much of my web “career” became public, no one seems to be treating me differently. I mean, I do get approached often from strangers looking for advice. But I don’t have high tastes and I live a very simple life. I have no interest in flaunting money, buying yachts, or living in mansions. I just want security for myself and those closest to me.”

Lastly, what is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your entrepreneurial experience so far?

“By far, the most important lesson I’ve learned is that money doesn’t make you happier. I know that the first response to that is, “Easy for you to say. You have money.” But that wasn’t always the case. I come from a hard-working, middle-class family and my first job out of college paid $17,000/year. I was equally happy then as I am now. The entrepreneurial drive isn’t about money; it’s about succeeding and creating something that people love. Those who go into it with money on their minds will likely be looking for the easiest route to riches and ultimately fail.”

Check out Scott’s site ViralNova.com

Source : nextshark.com 

Read More