Laila's Blog 'Best Cook' of the week is BACK! Egusi soup: Ij bby VS Nwanze Martha

Guys, which of these palatable meals should be crowned our 'Dish of the week' and its proud cook crowned our 'Best Cook of the week'?

I am not going to tell you who exactly cooked each meal till Monday when the winner will be announced.

First up, we have Dish ONE:

Greetings Laila, Hey guys, its your one and only *******!!

I prepared the traditional (delta-igbo) egusi soup.. I decided to use this traditional method because I want to take our memories back to the good ol' days, when frying was not in vogue..

Our DISH TWO is next:

Hello Laila, I am yours truly ********* Please find below my salivacious Egusi soup.

I cooked Egusi soup. I used bitterleaf as the veg in place of "ugu". I cooked it this waybecause we like egusi soup with bitter leaf. It always tastes fresh unlike when u use ugu. this is d only way I know how to cook Egusi soup.

I cooked it for hubby and I. Hubby can attest to how delicious d soup was. Lol ask him!

I also had a help in the kitchen. My 15 month old son was kept me company. Lol

Cook with the highest votes from YOU gets celebrated as the BEST COOK of the week plus wins our prize. So, who are you voting for today, guys? See more of their pictures below.

DISH ONE:

Hey guys, I prepared the traditional(delta-igbo) egusi soup.. I decided to use this traditional method because I want to take our memories back to the good ol' days, when frying was not in vogue..
HOW I PREPARED THIS TRADITIONAL EGUSI SOUP

- First, I went to fetch firewood.
-Secondly, I smeared the pot I intend using with klin and palm oil so as to make the pot easy to wash.
-Thirdly, I set out the ingredients so as not to get confused and run about unnecessarily.
-Then I washed my meat and spiced it with onions, maggi and salt.. Then I set the pot on the fire.
-I poured little water into the grinded egusi and diced onions into it to give it nice flavour.. And I sliced the Ugwu(pumpkin)leaves..
-I pounded my pepper and ogiri-okpi(dawa-dawa) with Odo-nta(small mortal)
- The kettle was set beside my firewood so that the water in it will be hot to wash my dried fish.
-My meat is soft enough so I added the washed dried fish and crayfish, I added my maggi to taste, my pepper&dawadawa, oil and little onions to taste. I covered the pot and waited for 15mins.
- I added my egusi into the pot and stirred together.
-I waited for another 10mins before adding my leaf.. I covered the pot and waited for 10mins before bringing down the pot.
-I bought akpu(Santana) to dilute it!!!!! Cause as we all know, food cooked on firewood has none to contend with!! *winks* sorry y'll couldn't have a taste.. I hope I get to cook for some of us some time. Thank you.

My family devouring my meal

DISH TWO:

I cooked Egusi soup. I used bitterleaf as the veg in place of "ugu".

The ingredients I used
• Meat
• kpomo
• Dry fish
• Stock fish
• Crayfish
• Red oil
• pepper
• Bitter leaf
•Onions
•Maggi
• Egusi(Melon)
And salt to taste.
First, I cooked the meat together with the kpomo, dryfish and stock fish, onions and salt. I allowed it to cook for abt 15-20mins. Then I added Red oil, after few minutes, I added pepper and crayfish and allowed it to simmer for some minutes. Afterwards I added d Egusi/melon, and kept stirring for some minutes. I added 3 cubes of knorr and salt to taste. Lastly I added the bitterleaf and allowed to simmer for a few more minutes.