Relive the Magic of Timeless Food Pairings

This month, we're inviting you to embark again on a vibrant journey that perfectly pairs with your next captivating read! Picture yourself enjoying the bold and savory flavors of Jollof Rice with Chicken, a beloved West African dish, while sipping on a refreshing Chapman cocktail. To complement this culinary delight, dive into "The Sweetest Remedy" by Jane Igharo—a heartwarming tale that blends romance, family, and self-discovery. So, prepare your taste buds and cozy up with this exquisite combination that promises an unforgettable throwback experience!

Pairings: Get ready to elevate your month with this delightful trio that promises to tantalize your taste buds and captivate your imagination:

"The Sweetest Remedy" by Jane Igharo

When a woman travels to Nigeria to attend the funeral of the father she never knew, she meets her extravagant family for the first time, a new and inspiring love interest, and discovers parts of herself she didn't know were missing, from Jane Igharo, the acclaimed author of Ties That Tether.

Hannah Bailey has never known her father, the Nigerian entrepreneur who had a brief relationship with her white mother. Because of this, Hannah has always felt uncertain about part of her identity. When her father dies, she's invited to Nigeria for the funeral. Though she wants to hate the man who abandoned her, she’s curious about who he was and where he was from. Searching for answers, Hannah boards a plane to Lagos, Nigeria.  

In Banana Island, one of Nigeria's most affluent areas, Hannah meets the Jolades, her late father's prestigious family—some who accept her and some who think she doesn't belong. The days leading up to the funeral are chaotic, but Hannah is soon shaped by secrets that unfold, a culture she never thought she would understand or appreciate, and a man who steals her heart and helps her to see herself in a new light.

Jollof Rice with Chicken

Ingredients

For the sauce

3 red bell pepper

3 Plum tomatoes

1 medium onion

2 scotch bonnet/habanero use less if you don't like it spicy 

1/4 cup water

For the Jollof

1/2 cup oil

1 medium onion sliced

4 tablespoons tomato paste

4 cloves garlic finely minced

1 tablespoon ginger grated

2 bay leaves

1 tablespoon thyme

1 tablespoon curry Powder

1 teaspoons salt or add to taste

white Pepper or black pepper to taste

1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder or 3 cubes

4 cups long grain rice rinsed and drained

3-4 cups chicken stock

1 large tomato sliced

1 medium onion sliced

2 tablespoons butter at room temperature – optional Instructions

Instructions

• First, make the tomato-based sauce by blending together the red bell peppers (pimento), tomatoes, onion, and scotch bonnet.

• Heat the cooking oil in a large pan over medium heat, then add the diced onions and let them cook for about 3 minutes or until they are soft.

• Next, add the tomato paste and fry for about 5 minutes. Then stir in garlic, ginger, and bay leaves—leave to cook for 2 more minutes.

• Add the blended sauce and allow the pepper to cook until the water is reduced and the sauce become thick —about 10 to 15 minutes.

• Season with thyme, curry powder, bouillon cubes, salt, and pepper to taste. Cook for another 2 to 5 minutes.

• Add the rinsed rice to the sauce and stir until it is well coated with the sauce. Then add the chicken stock, stir briefly, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and bring to a quick boil over high heat.

• Once it begins to boil—after about 3 to 5 minutes, reduce the heat immediately to low and steam until the rice is done—about 30 minutes.

• Add the butter, sliced tomato, and onions, stir together briefly and turn off the heat. Cover it immediately so that the heat remaining in the rice can steam up the vegetables a little.

• Serve with sweet fried plantains, roasted chicken, or salad.

Chapman Cocktail

Ingredients:

4 cups Fanta, chilled

4 cups Sprite, chilled

1/2 cup grenadine syrup

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp Angostura bitters

2 slices of cucumber

2 slices of lime

Mint leaves, optional for garnish

1 tray of ice cubes made with Sprite and Fanta. Instructions:

Instructions

STEP 1: Pour Sprite and Fanta into the ice tray and place in the freezer to set.

STEP 2: For the Nigerian Champman cocktail, add the Fanta and Sprite into a pitcher.

STEP 3: Pour in the grenadine syrup, lemon juice, and Angostura bitters. Stir to combine.

STEP 4: Add the cucumber and lime slices. Mix.

STEP 5: Serve over the soda ice cubes and garnish with mint leaves.

Cheers to discovering new favorites and relishing in the sweet remedies of life!