Ghana: Spinach & Beef Stew, Couscous Salad, Black-Eyed Peas & Rice, And Banana Peanut Bread

I'm still in the process of moving, unpacking, and organizing everything so please excuse my lack of pictures. We moved into a place with a smaller kitchen and less storage space, so my kitchen is kind of a mess right now, especially when cooking! Hopefully next time it will be more organized for better pictures haha. Enjoy!

Spinach & Beef Stew (Shoko)

Serves 8-10

3 Cans of Tomatoes, diced w/ juicee

1 Hot Chili

4 Medium Onions, whole

1 Green Bell Pepper

1 Lb Stewing Beef

Oil

1 Cup Water or Beef Broth

1/4 Tsp. Sugar

1/4 Tsp. Salt

-My FAV: Eden Foods Sea Salt -- 14 oz

2 Tsp. Cayenne Pepper (I put a little more in)

2 Tsp. Minced Fresh Ginger

1 Lb. Spinach

Combine chili, tomatoes, onions and green bell pepper in blender/food processor. Process until minced. 

Heat the oil in a large pot and saute vegetables and beef for 5-7 minutes on high heat. Then add the water, sugar, salt, ginger, and cayenne pepper and stir. Cover and lower heat to a simmer for 2 hours. Stirring occasionally. 

Rinse and soak the spinach for 10 minutes. Rinse and tear/shred. After the stew has simmered for 2 hours add the spinach and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes. 

Couscous Salad 

Serves 8-10

2 Cups Couscous

- TRY: Bob's Red Mill Couscous Golden, 24-Ounce (Pack of 4)

1 Can Black Beans

1 Can Whole Kernel Corn

2 Tomatoes, diced

1 Cup Cilantro, chopped

1 Lime, juice

Cook couscous as directed (usually for every 1 cup couscous cook with 1 1/4 cup water/broth - bring to a boil, cover and remove from heat - cook 15 minutes). Then add in the rest of the ingredients, stir and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Black-eyed Peas & Rice (Watchi)

Serves 8-10

2 Cups Dried Black-eyed Peas, rinsed & soaked overnight

2 Bay Leaves

1 Piece Kombu (kelp/seaweed)

- My FAV: Emerald Cove Silver Grade Pacific Kombu (Dried Seaweed), 1.76 Ounce Bag

3 Cups Cooked Rice, brown long grain

Salt 

-My FAV: Eden Foods Sea Salt -- 14 oz

Pepper

Sauce:

1 Tbl Oil

2 Tbl Whole Wheat Flour

1 Large Onion, sliced

1 Cup Tomato Paste

1/2 Tsp. Nutmeg

Rinse soaked peas. Add peas to a large pot and fill with water about 2 inches above peas. Add bay leaves and kombu. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour. Most of the water should be evaporated by the end of cooking. Discard bay leaves and kombu (kombu most likely won't be a solid anymore). 

For Sauce: Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add flour in and cook over low heat for a few minutes. Add in onions and cook until brown. Mix in tomato paste and nutmeg well. Add water to desire consistency (somewhat thick). 

Mix in the sauce with the rice and beans.

Banana Peanut Bread

Yields 12+ Slices

4 Cups of All-Purpose Flour

4 Tsp. Baking Powder

1 Tsp. Salt

- My FAV: Eden Foods Sea Salt -- 14 oz

1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda

10 Oz. Butter

2 1/2 Cups Sugar

4 Eggs

8 Ripe & Mashed Bananas

1/2 Cup Peanuts, chopped

1 tsp. Cinnamon

Stir the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together well in a bowl. In a separate bowl stir/cream the butter with 2 cups sugar then blend in the eggs. Mix the dry and wet ingredients together and then fold in the mashed bananas. Add the peanuts in and stir everything well. Pour in a baking dish (9 x 12) and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Once cake is done, take out of  the oven and sprinkle with remaining sugar and cinnamon. 

Madagascar: Chicken w/ Coconut Milk, Vegetable Salad, & Fruit Compote

Two weeks ago I cooked from Madagascar. I know I say this a lot, but it was Yummy and Healthy! Lots of vegetables and fruit... which I love. I loved that the dessert was all fruit... natures sweetest dessert! Plus the chicken was cooked with coconut milk... I'm obsessed with all things coconut. I use coconut milk in place of milk to make everything... cakes, ice cream, etc. I drink coconut water, I use coconut oil for moisturizer for me and my baby, and my babies first food was coconut pudding (coconut meat + coconut water). Anyways, you get the idea that I love all things coconut. Enjoy!!

Chicken with Coconut Milk

Serves: 6

Marinade:

3 Chicken Breasts

1 Lemon, juice

2 Tsp. Salt

- My FAV: Eden Foods Sea Salt -- 14 oz

1 Tbsp Pepper

1-2 Tbsp. Cayenne Pepper

Stew:

2 Tbsp Coconut Oil

- TRY: Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 15-Ounce Tubs (Pack of 2)

2 Onions, chopped

4 Garlic Cloves, minced

2 Large Tomatoes, chopped

2 Tsp. Fresh Ginger, minced

1 Cup Coconut Milk (regular)

Marinate the chicken in the mixture for a couple hours to a whole day, depending on how much time you have. Meanwhile, heat the coconut oil in a pan and saute the onions and garlic. Add the chicken and cook until it is almost done (est. 20 minutes). Reduce the heat and add the tomatoes, ginger, and coconut milk and simmer for 30 minutes and/or until chicken is done and sauce is thickened. Serve with rice. 

Vegetable Salad

Serves: 8-10

1 Qt. Water, sprinkled with salt

4 Carrots, julienne

1 Turnip, chopped

1 Head Cabbage, shredded

1/4 Lb. Green Beans, cut

1 Tbsp. Curry

1 Tbsp. Black Pepper

1 Onion, finely chopped

4 Tbsp. Vinegar

5 Tbsp. Oil

Tabasco Sauce

- Get it here: Tabasco Original Sauce, Pepper, 12 Ounce

Bring the water to a boil and add carrots, turnip, cabbage and green beans. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Drain and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle with curry and pepper. Let it cool. Add the vinegar, onions, oil, and Tabasco sauce and stir well. Chill before serving.

Fruit Compote

Serves: 8-10

Lychee Nut

1 Cantaloupe, chopped

2 Oranges, peeled

2 Cup Strawberries, sliced

8-10 Lychee Nuts, peeled and split apart

- Try this if can't find fresh: Dynasty Lychee with Syrup, 15-Ounce (Pack of 6)

1/2 Cup Raw Sugar

1/2 Cup Water

1/4 Tsp. Salt

- My FAV: Eden Foods Sea Salt -- 14 oz

2 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract

1 Lemon, juice

Mix all fruits together good. In a saucepan, combine sugar, water, salt, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add the vanilla. Stir. Pour the mixture over the fruit and then cover and place in the fridge to chill. 

Sorry for the delay!! I promise I have a good excuse!

Well, it has been a while since my last post (especially since I said I would post every week!), but I have a good excuse... we moved!! For those who have moved, you should understand! Packing, loading, driving, unloading, unpacking... ehh no fun. I missed cooking last weekend because of that, but I will be right back on schedule this weekend. I will post my recipes from my meal two weeks ago which was from Madagascar... very yummy and healthy!!! As for this weekend I will be cooking from the country of Ghana! So far I'm excited from my research on authentic recipes, but then again I'm always excited to learn new recipes each week! Come back tomorrow for my new post... I promise I will do it!