Rice and Beans...

Rice and beans have been eaten if Africa for a long time.  It is a very economical meal.  You cook both in the same pot.... so less dishes to wash.  We use black-eyed peas when we make rice and beans and serve it with my African sauce .  Although this recipe takes a while to cook it is very easy...  Here goes...

                                                            Rice and Beans


1 cup black-eyed peas
1.5 cup rice
salt to taste
water.

   First I rinse the black- eyed peas and take out discoloured ones.  Place the beans in a pot and cover with water... I usually pour about 3 -4 cups of water as I always forget to check and the water boils down and I burn the peas.  Add salt to taste and boil until peas are soft.  This usually takes about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours.  If you notice that the water is evaporating before peas are done, just add more water.  And no I do not soak the black-eyed peas first like the bag says.
     Once the beans are quite soft add the rice and more water... Once again I just guestimate how much water I need.. The water should cover both the beans and rice.  I usually taste the water to see if it is salty enough.  You may have to add more salt.  Cook until all the water is gone and the rice is soft.

          My husband likes crunchy rice so I cook this on a medium heat for about 1/2 hour and then turn the heat down slightly and cook for another half hour.  The rice will be brown and stuck to the side.  Once you turn off the heat and let rest for about 5 minutes you will be able to get the rice from the side.  Good crunchy rice.

rinsed peas

cooked peas

added more water and the rice

rice and beans cooked

rice and beans with sauce

As you can see in this picture, the rice is brown and looks crunchy
Enjoy

   When I made the African sauce this time, I added some green beans to the sauce... YUM!

                                   Til next time <3 <3 <3  Marlys

LINKS:

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party

                                                          Foodie Friends Friday

YES, you heard right, we are going to have another linky party.  Last week we had great  success and hope to even have a better time this week.  I know that I did get alot more traffic to my blog from this, so here is hoping that it continues...
Last week the top three links that had the most clicks were
#1 Lois from Walking on Sunshine with her recipe for Peanut Butter Cup Cookies.  Peanut butter and cookies, who wouldn't like them... Lois is a wonderful addition to this group and an inspiration to us all.

Don't they look so delicious.

#2 Dawn's divine delight came in second and she says on her blog that she loves to bake and that there is always time to bake.  I think I need to spend more time on her blog as if her link for Key limed filled lemon cupcakes is anything to go by she looks like a wonderful baker.  Thanks for sharing Dawn and I hope you join us again with one of your masterpieces.

They look so yummy! picture from
Dawn's divine delight

# 3 was a tie between Cindy from Cindy recipes and writings with her link for dutch potato salad and Angie from A'lil Country Sugar with her link for mini s'more cookies.  Both of these girls belong to our group and have been alot of help to me.

dutch potato salad  from Cindy recipe
and writing 

mini s'more cookies from
A'lil Country Sugar

Don't all of these look so yummy.... and you can find more if you join us for the linky party this weekend - hosted by the wonderful group Foodie Friend Friday.  Link up some of your great recipes, the link up will be at the bottom of this post or just come and browse for some great recipes that will be linked up.  If you link up a recipe the links will be on each of the member's post ~~ so good exposure!  Come join the fun! Also if you would like to join Foodie Friend Friday, ask for an invitation, we would love to have you!  Here are links for each of our member's blog for you to jump over and check them out.  If you do, please let them know that I sent you.

Robyn at Robyn's View  http://www.robynsviewathome.blogspot.com/ 

Angie at A lil Country Sugar  http://alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com/  

Wayne at Passione Per Cucina http://www.passionepercucina.blogspot.co.uk/p/welcome.html 

Sarah at Everything in the Kitchen Sink  http://everythingkitchensink.blogspot.com/  

Tracy at Busy Vegetarian Mom  http://www.busyvegetarianmom.com

Michelle at From Calculus to Cupcakes  http://www.fromcalculustocupcakes.blogspot.com

Marlys at This and That  http://marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com/

Brianne at Cupcakes and Kale Chips  http://cupcakesandkalechips.com

Lois at  Walking on Sunshine http://wifeofthecolonel.blogspot.com/

Donna at Cafe Blue Ridge  http://www.CafeBlueRidge.blogspot.com

Erika at Chef Picky Kid and Me  http://chefpickykid.com

Lindsey at Family Food Finds  http://www.familyfoodfinds.com

Cindy at Cindys Recipes and Writings  http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com

Dawn at DJ's Sugar Shack  http://www.djssugarshack.com

Skye at http://www.avirtualessence.blogspot.com

Vicky at http://www.avocadopesto.com

 I also want to mention a new member of our group.  I have been following her for awhile now and she has some great recipes.............. Skye at Virtual Essence.  I am hoping that it was my influence that gave her the courage to join our group.   Here is the link to the recipe she linked with the linky party last week: pomegranate feta salad.  Please go over to her blog and check it out... It is fantastic.

picture courtesy of vitual essence

This is a wonderful group with many talented members and I have learnt many things about blogging from them.  If you a new blogger like me this group is wonderful and I am sure that if you are an older blogger there is always something to learn.  If you want to join... Check out the website for Foodie Friends Friday and check out that tab... how to be a member.

Make sure that anything you link up is:

• Made by you
• Not part of a sponsership/sales/giveaway
• Linked to a specific page of your recipe, not your homepage

Other nice things you can do:

• Show some love and link back to my blog and Foodie Friends Friday (http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com )
• Grab our button and put it on your page and share Foodie Friends Friday!
• Take some time and check out other submitted links and the blogs of all of our gracious hosts

***Please note that by linking up you are giving permission to use photos/links to post on Foodie Friends Friday Hosts Blogs and/or Foodie Friends Friday.  If phots are used, proper linkbacks will be posted with them.  We just want to share your amazing recipes and spread some foodie <3 !

• Have Fun and Thank You for Visiting!!

                             Remember to link up your recipe... Link is below.
                                          til next time <3 <3 <3   Marlys

Children

  I have decided to do something a little different. Along with writing about my journey in cooking African foods, I thought that I would also use this blog to show parts of Africa through my eyes.  One of the things that always brings joy to my heart is little children and the African children that I saw and meet brought lots of joy to my heart.  They always seemed to be happy, smiling and playing even thought they seemed to have so little, at least in my eyes.
  As we traveled through the streets of different cities in Togo, often was heard shouts of "Yevu, yevu" and small children stopping what they were doing and pointing at me.  Yevu means white and many of them have never seen a white person or at least not very many of them.  They were as fascinated with me as I was of them, we had lots to learn from each other.  I had children wanting to touch my hair ~ I am sure they had never seen so much gray in their life, they wanted to hold my hand and I had some children scared of me, running behind there mother's skirts.  Shortly after we were married we were shopping at a market in Kpalime when this girl probably around 8 or 9 took my hand and pointed at my wedding rings, I thought at first that she was liking my rings but no she was scolding me for wearing 3 rings instead of one and telling me that I need to take two of them off :).
  On my first trip to Togo, we toured many schools.  The children were always happy to see us and were very gracious of the gifts we gave, even though I felt we gave them so little.. I had pencils, erasers and notepads to give them.  The graciously accepted which ever one that I gave them with a "Merci".  I always wonder what would happen if I went to a school here and handed out pencils, erasers or notebooks ~~ I am thinking they would be thrown back at me.  These children have so little, yet are so happy with what they have, I think a lot of us could and should take lessons from them.
   I am going to leave you with some pictures that I took at a primary school.

this was when we first got there... they had to check over the wall to see us.

these children are around 4 years old and they were singing us a song.

one of my favorite pictures.  I love the determination she is showing.

they weren't sure if they should watch their teacher or us.

    I hope you like this small glimpse into the school and you see the hardship that they have attending school. Not all children have school books, so they need to share and they also share their desk with at least one other student but there may be up to four students at one desk.

                            Til next time <3 <3 <3  Marlys

Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake

     Nanaimo Bars are pure Canadian... and probably one of my favorite Canadian treats, after butter tarts that is...but Butter Tarts will have to be done for another post...
     Per wikipedia Nanaimo Bars is a Canadian origin dessert popular throughout North America.   It is a bar cookie that needs no baking and is named after a west coast city, Nanaimo, British Colombia.  The nanaimo bar is a wafer crumb layer, topped with a vanilla or custard flavoured butter icing, covered with a chocolate layer.  Now-a-days you can find many different flavors of Nanaimo Bars - mint, peanut butter and mocha being the most common... Also the flavoured butter icing filling can be coloured any colour for any occasion.
      Saying all that I decided that I wanted to make them into cheesecake.  I love cheesecake and the combination would be wonderful and also because I didn't have Bird's custard powder and had no idea where I would find it here in upper Michigan.... I did some research.  I did find a recipe for the Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake on allrecipes.com ~ (you can go here to find the original recipe), but this recipe didn't have the right base that I wanted, so I started through my recipe books and found what I wanted.... So, once again my recipe is a mismatch of multiple recipes from multiple sites.  Now, what do I use for the bird's custard powder... there wasn't alot out there for a substitute ~~ corn starch and vanilla, vanilla pudding and other places and cooks said there was no replacement.  So I decided to try vanilla pudding ~~ it was ok but not the best and I know now what will be on my Canadian shopping list - Bird's Custard Pudding... or if anyone wants to send me some... hint! hint! hint!  I did find it on Amazon but am thinking that this may be a good excuse for me to make a trip home.  So, now that you are total bored here is my recipe....
                                                 
                                                   Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake                                                                    

Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake

Ingredients:


1/2 c butter
1/4 c sugar
5 tbsp cocoa powder ( I used Fry's cocoa so it was more Canadian)
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 c graham cracker crumbs
1 c shredded coconut
1/2 c walnuts ( I didn't use this time)

4 pkg cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1/4 c custard powder ( I used vanilla pudding ~ not instant)
4 eggs

6 squares semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 c heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Melt butter in saucepan, stir in sugar and cocoa powder until smooth.  Once smooth, whisk in egg and vanilla extract.  Make sure the butter mixture isn't too hot when you put in the egg or you will get pieces of scrambled egg in you mixture.  Take off heat and add graham cracker crumbs, coconut and walnuts.  Place mixture on bottom of pan.  Put in fridge while you make the rest of the middle layer.  I used a 11 inch spring-form pan for mine. 
Beat cream cheese, sugar and custard powder until light and fluffy.  Then beat in eggs, one egg at a time.  Make sure each egg is thoroughly mixed in before adding the next.  Pour over crumb base mixture.  Bake for 40 minutes (until center is almost set).  Refrigerate until fully chilled about 3 hours ( I did mine overnight).
Place chocolate squares and heavy cream in sauce pan and mix on low heat until smooth and chocolate melted.  Pour over cheesecake layer.... Place bake in fridge until chocolate layer is set, about 20 -30 minutes.

mixing butter,sugar and cocoa

crumb layer in pan

mixing cream cheese, sugar and vanilla pudding

ready to go in the oven

out of the oven

chocolate layer on

a piece for you

        This cake turned out wonderfully and I got lots of compliments on it.  I think it would even turn out better if I would have had Bird's Custard Powder to put in it... One lady told me that this is the best thing that I have ever made..So come and get some, I will have it ready and the coffee pot is always on...

too late... I already took a bite.

                                                 til next time <3 <3 <3 Marlys

Recipe linked Foodie Friends Friday,  GoodRecipesOnline.com, Manic Monday Party, Iron chef Mom

, 

Oh! Canada

      July 1st is Canada Day and this will be my last Canada Day that I will be able to celebrate as a full Canadian citizen.  On June 11th I had my interview for my American citizenship and on July 18th I will go for the Oath Ceremony where I will become an American citizen.
    I have mixed feelings about doing this and although I have lived here in the States for 12 years, Canada is my home and will always be my home.  I was born Canadian and will die Canadian, but now I will also be American.  Making my decision to become American had many pros and cons and probably if I stated single, I wouldn't get my American Citizenship.... I pay taxes here and many people I meet think me as American until I say the word about, buried, semi and possibly a few more words that we say different.  But I can tell you it is not because I say "Eh".  I am not an "eh" girl and it is not part of my vocabulary.  I does make me laugh that people think that "eh" is a Canadian word as when I lived in central Wisconsin, I heard it more often there then I did when I was in Saskatchewan.
      As I sit wondering what I should do for my final All Canadian - Canada Day, I think about what food is Canadian.  The first thing that comes to mind at least to me is butter tarts.  Butter tarts are probably one of my favorite foods and is something we always made Christmas Eve for our evening get together.  YUM! my  mouth is watering.

Butter tarts  Link to recipe Here -- not my recipe but close

     Another food that I think of being truly Canadian is Nanaimo bars.  This bar has a wafer crumb based layer topped with a custard flavored butter icing and covered with melted chocolate squares.  So decadent and rich and delicious.

Nanaimo bar - picture taken from Wikepedia
link for recipe here

      Also when I think of Canada and food... I think of their chocolate.  In Canada we eat chocolate bars at least in the western provinces, not candy bars and even if they don't contain any chocolate bars they are still called chocolate bars.  My personal feeling is that the chocolate is better in Canada... even the kitkat tastes better with Canadian chocolate.  Here are some of my favorite chocolate bars:

Along with the chocolate bars, there are the potato chips.... ketchup chips, dill pickled chips, and salt and vinegar chips. Although they are found here in the states, they still taste better when I am at home...

             Home... Canada... The Maple Leaf forever.  I will be making something that is truly Canadian for Canada Day and I hope to post it on Canada Day.

                                       Til next time <3 <3 <3  Marlys

Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

My strawberry patch has been wonderful this year and we have been able to eat fresh strawberries just about every day... at least the ones that the chipmunks don't get! I am not sure why they just have to take one bite out of many... It would be so much nicer if they just ate the whole strawberry and left some for me :). But the ones that they have gotten their chompers in go to the bird feeders so then either the chippies, squirrels or birds can have a feast on my strawberries.... But, anyways here is my recipe:
                           Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

spinach strawberry salad with poppy seed dressing

Ingredients:

1/3 cup white sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 tsp dry mustard

1 tbsp poppy seed

1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used sunflower oil)

1/4 tsp paprika

spinach

arugula

strawberries

dried cranberries

red onions

glazed walnuts

For the dressing mix first 6 ingredients in a bowl until sugar is dissolved.  Let sit for a short bit so the flavors mix.  I let it sit on the counter top for approximately 1/2 hour.  Long enough for me to get some pictures and make the chicken that I had with it.

Combine the last 6 ingredients. I just add until I think there is enough of everything (do for your own taste)  Pour dressing onto spinach strawberry mixture or serve separately and let your guest use as much dressing as they would like.

I served this with grill chicken.. I sprinkled thyme, basil and greek seasoning on chicken breasts and grilled on my George Foreman Grill until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

with dressing

dressing on the side

      This is a great summer salad.  Enjoy!

                                      Until next time <3 <3 <3 Marlys

Links:  foodie friends friday, Anyonita Nibbles

Foodie Friends Friday! Linky Party

Foodie Friend Fridays ~~ great friends and great recipes

Friday again and this time I am on holidays.... or vacation as it is said here in the States.  This Friday our group is trying something new and exciting.  It is also new to me and I am hoping that I will be able to figure out what to do.  We are having a linky party and going to share our recipes through this way.  All our members will be host to our party and if you link on one you will link on them all.  I hope you will have fun with this and join our link party.  It is a great way for bloggers to get there blogs out there and notice.  Also with the link going to all the members pages... that is a lot of exposure. 
    This week I am going to feature my own recipe for this linky party:  Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Poppy seed dressing  My strawberry patch has been wonderful this year and we have been able to eat fresh strawberries just about every day... at least the ones that the chipmunks don't get!  I am not sure why they just have to take one bite out of many... It would be so much nicer if they just ate the whole strawberry and left some for me :).  But the ones that they have gotten their chompers in go to the bird feeders so then either the chippies, squirrels or birds can have a feast on my strawberries.... But, anyways here is my recipe:

                               Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Ingredients:

1/3 cup white sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 tsp dry mustard

1 tbsp poppy seed

1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used sunflower oil)

1/4 tsp paprika

spinach

arugula

strawberries

dried cranberries

red onions

glazed walnuts

For the dressing mix first 6 ingredients in a bowl until sugar is dissolved.  Let sit for a short bit so the flavors mix.  I let it sit on the counter top for approximately 1/2 hour.  Long enough for me to get some pictures and make the chicken that I had with it.

Combine the last 6 ingredients. These ingredients I just add until I think it is the right amount - use it as a guideline and to your own taste.  Pour dressing onto spinach strawberry mixture or serve separately and let your guest use as much dressing as they would like.

I served this with grill chicken.. I sprinkled thyme, basil and greek seasoning on chicken breasts and grilled on my George Foreman Grill until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

salad with poppy seed dressing on side

strawberry-spinach salad with poppyseed dressing.

 Here is a list of the Foodie Friends Friday members that are involved with the linky party... Please feel free to stop by all and enjoy their pages and their great recipes:


Robin's View
A 'lil Country Sugar
Saucy Girls Kitchen
Passione Per Cucina
Everything In ThevKitchen Sink
What's Cooking in the Burbs
Busy Vegetarian Mom
Cookies Cakes and Bakes
From Calculus to Cupcakes
Cupcakes and Kale Chips
Walking on Sunshine
Cafe Blue Ridge
Chef PickyKid and Me
Family Food Finds
Bringing Pleasure to the Kitchen
Cindy's Recipes and Writings
DJ's Sugar Shack

Also please link up your recipe to this party.  It will give you good exposure as remember if you link up with my blog your recipe will automatically link up with all the member's blogs above.  Here are some of the suggestions we ask you to do when linking up your recipe:

Make sure that anything you link up is:

• Made by you
• Not part of a sponsership/sales/giveaway
• Linked to a specific page of your recipe, not your homepage

Other nice things you can do:

• Show some love and link back to my blog and Foodie Friend Friday
• Grab our button and put it on your page and share Foodie Friends Friday!
• Take some time and check out other submitted links and the blogs of all of our gracious hosts

***Please note that by linking up you are giving permission to use photos/links to post on Foodie Friends Friday Hosts Blogs and/or Foodie Friends Friday.  If phots are used, proper linkbacks will be posted with them.