Egusi Soup(Melon Soup)

Egusi soup is a soup most Nigerians loved and also one of the most popular soup right, lol.?  There are different ways people make Egusi soup : those who fry the egusi, those who boil the egusi...whatever method used, the most important thing is that it tastes yummy abi? What method do you use?

INGREDIENTS

Salt

Egusi

Onions

Ponmo

Palm Oil

Vegetables

Knorr Cube
Locust Beans (optional)

Ground Crayfish

Chopped Pepper

Chicken/Meat/Turkey/Fish

RECIPE

• Heat up a pot and add palm oil, enough to fry the egusi (not deep fry oh) 

• When the palm oil is hot add onion, stir a bit then add chopped pepper. If you use blended dty pepper you don't need to add it at this stage. I add Iru (locust beans) too  but that's optional.

• Add the blended melon  and stir continuously. Egusi quickly burns and when it does, the taste don comot. Add blended crayfish and blended dry pepper (if that's what you have) Stir for about 5 minutes.

• Add stock if you have or just use water, I'd rather use stock, makes it yummier!

• Add some water to the mixture, add your boiled beef/meat/chicken, cover and allow to boil, stir it frequently. I add my beef/chicken at this stage because I want the egusi juice to marinate the beef/ponmo,chicken. If I'm using fish or soft chicken/turkey I add it right befor I add my vegetables. 

• When it's cooked you will see the oil floating a bit on the top. Taste for salt...if the spice from the stock is not enough then add some more. It's better to wait to add stock before adding salt/knorr when cooking to avoid over salting the food. 

• Now you can add your vegetables. I love using spinach but I couldn't find any so I used Ugwu leaves. 

• Mix the vegetable with the Egusi and cover to allow it cook properly.

• Serve with Amala, Pounded Yam. Semo even Rice! By Sisi Yemmie's recipe

NEW STD DISCOVER BY SCIENTISTS AND IT’S DEADLIER THAN AIDS

A new sexually transmitted super-bug has emerged and according to experts, may be more deadly that AIDS and could cause an epidemic.
According to reports, an antibiotic-resistant strain of gonorrhea is more aggressive than the HIV virus, which means the potential to infect the public will be greater.
This strain of STD which is resistant to antibiotic, reportedly kills half of those exposed and infects one in 20 hospital patients thereby raising the threat of an outbreak to emergency levels.
Alan Christianson, a doctor of naturopathic medicine, thinks this new strain has the power to rack up more fatalities than AIDS.
He said, "Getting gonorrhea from this strain might put someone into septic shock and death in a matter of days," adding that it is very dangerous.
Also speaking, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, William Smith said, "It’s an emergency situation. As time moves on, it’s getting more hazardous."

Like most STDs, gonorrhea is usually transmitted through unprotected sexual contact and if left untreated, can cause severe medical complications, such as infertility in women, debilitating pain, sterility in men and life threatening heart infections. 
Source: Allvoices

 

Can God You Serve Save You?

Can the God you serve save you? Have you ever been threatened? We live in a world where people issue threats, many times we are threatened for what we know nothing about. There are times when you may not even know your life is being threatened. Many people harbor ill health for quite some time before it is discovered and at times, it may even be too late for medical intervention. I recently watched a film where a landlord met his tenant eating and he (the landlord) was flabbergasted! He couldn't fathom how a debtor, owing him rent could have the peace of mind to eat! When you are under any form of threat, you lose your peace, your heart is troubled, you try to find solution in the shortest possible time, but unfortunately , solutions are sometimes far from us, out of reach or not achievable.

2Kings 18:29 -30

29Thus saith the King, Let not Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
30neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Jehovah, saying, Jehovah will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the King of Assyria.
Pre-threat: vs 3, we have a Hezekiah who did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. Many times, we do that which is right in our own eyes. We explain away what we do, we have quick responses to our actions and give our own interpretation to biblical instructions and principles. It is not enough to join the 'born again' crowd. Are we obediently born again?

Do we rationalize instructions? How far are we willing to go to ruggedly obey God? It is an aberration not to be in Christ and expect certain laws to work for you. Be therefore wary of the popular gospel of 'God is not wicked and everybody is his child and he therefore treats each person equally'. No ma'm, I beg to differ, you may benefit from some general blessings, but some will not work for you except there is a firm covenant between you and Jesus. You must be born again to partake in the fullness of God. You then need to continue to do that which is right in the eye of God even after you are saved. It is a continuous daily action. There is nothing like once saved, saved forever, you need to 'keep' that salvation jealously. Too many things are contending with it.

When your relationship with God is intact, then, like the people of Judah, you can hold your peace in the face of threats and not answer a word (vs 36). People may term it cowardice, but you know who you are dealing with and you've heard his commandment concerning your situation. It doesn't matter the track record of destruction the enemy has, he can NEVER beat the track record of Victory our God has. Therefore do not panic, continually present your situation to God like King Hezekiah did, 'spread' it before God. He is the one you cannot hide anything from, tell him as it is, tell him your fears, hopes, aspirations. He will never use your information against you, so you have nothing to fear.

All your troubles will return the way they came. That sickness, problem, financial difficulties, household trouble and whatever else shall not come unto your city. For the captain of the host of heaven will defend your city to save it for His own sake (vs 34). He has a stake in you. That stake is what you are missing if you are not born again. He will send you a sure word (2 Kings 19: 20-34) and take action (2 Kings 19:35-37).  Oh dear God, who are we that you love us this much? We know assuredly that the God we serve can save us

Prayer: Lord help me to be obedient to your word so I will partake in all the good things you have prepared for your children this 2014. -By Dunni

Walking and Texting Can Lead You in Trouble

Well, this is what happens when you let your fingers do the walking. A new study shows that texting or reading email messages while walking throws off balance and posture, increasing the risk of injury.
Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia studied the movement patterns of 26 people as they walked normally and then as they walked with their eyes glued to the screen on their smart phones. When walkers were texting, they ambled more slowly. They moved their necks less, their heads more and hunched their shoulders forward. And big shocker (though not for people walking behind them) they also deviated from a straight path.

Lead researcher, Siobhan Schabrun said that the way texters walk reminded her of elderly robots.
"They lock their arms, trunk and head together all in aid of keeping the phone steady in front of their eyes," she explained. "Previous studies on older populations shows that this type of more rigid posture puts you at greater risk of falling."
Even those who simply scanned the screen with their eyes were more likely to wander off in the wrong direction compared with someone who strolled hands free, the study found.
Schabrun said there is little data on how many people are injured while texting. However, one 2013 Ohio State University study noted that more than 1,500 people were treated in emergency rooms for cell phone-related incidents in 2012, up from just 559 clumsy texting incidences in 2004.
Schabrun said it was also interesting to note that 35 percent of her study's subjects reported having an accident while texting including trips, falls, collisions with other people and walking into an obstacle.

The biggest potential danger, Schabrun observed, occurs when people text or read messages in heavily trafficked areas or near train tracks.
"People think they are going in a straight line but they aren't," she pointed out.
To avoid injury, Schabrun's advice is simple: Don't walk and text.
"But if you do need to text, move to one side, stop, then text," she advised. "When you are done you can continue walking."
You'll be safer, she said. And other pedestrians will thank you for it. 

Source:gma.yahoo.com

Ways to Help Your Teenager Grow in God

Our oldest son is in the 6th grade. He’s close to exiting his pre-teen season and fully embrace the realm of teen-hood. (This is a great opportunity for you to pray for me.)

Over the past year he’s grown into a young man that loves his hair, girls and his own opinion. In fact, he’s grown increasingly bold about sharing his opinion. A once relatively passive young boy that rolled with the punches, today he’s more apt to let us know when he disagrees and why. It’s a new world for us.

The most important opinion he will exercise over the next few years is what he believes regarding God, God’s word and God’s plan for Keegan’s life. You see, what his dad and I believe will increasingly take a backseat to what Keegan believes. And this is what should happen in order for Keegan to embrace his own faith and not simply assume ours.

But there is a way that we (as parents) can hinder this work that God is doing in his life…

• We can hinder by telling him what he should think. He’s got to be able to think for himself. That means he needs to wrestle through the problem, weigh it against God’s word and wade through his own thoughts regarding it.

• We can hinder by not allowing him to disagree. Though it’s so simple, the wrong move is to NOT allow him to have an opposing opinion. Forcing an agreement shuts down the conversation and closes the door on the next open conversation.

• We can hinder by not validating his thought process. Some of the theories our son conjures are comical. But the danger lies in our response. The temptation is to laugh, chide or simply ignore. Fighting to find a way to validate the thought process encourages him to continue to exercise that muscle.

In the end, I want my kids to learn how to think through an argument so they can further validate what they believe. We call it apologetics. The ability to defend our faith. Even if his conclusion is wrong, doesn’t make the effort wrong.

• We can hinder by not listening. The biggest culprit. I quickly communicate how much I value (or devalue) my son’s faith by how much I’m willing to shut my mouth and simply listen.

Or there are ways we can help this work that God is doing in his life…

1. We can help by creating opportunities for conversation. Spending time together you create opportunities for open dialog. Often our busy schedules can smother any chance we have to simply sit and chat.
2. We can help by showing them what Scripture says. Helping our kids navigate the Bible so they can learn what God’s word has to say is one of the best skills you can teach them. But show them… don’t just preach to them. 
3. We can help by listening, listening, listening. My ability to shut my mouth and open my ears will go a long way toward investing in my son’s relationship with Christ. Whether he is right, wrong or indifferent… I’ve got to simply listen to his opinion, his thoughts and his interpretations. From that I am better equipped to guide him and pray for him. 
4. We can help by praying over them and for them. I take my son to school every Friday morning. I enjoy that drive. Typically we listen to music of his choice and we talk. Often I pray over him as we get closer to the school. I want Keegan to hear my heart spoken to God about him. It’s an opportunity to sow words of confidence, encouragement and faith into his heart. Then when he’s out of the car I take more time to pray for him. For the challenges he will face throughout the day. For the decisions he’ll make. For the influence he will have. 
5. We can help by not freaking out! This should probably be in the number 1 slot. The last thing we should do is freak out. My son’s buddy at school is Buddhist. I can’t freak out about that. He can’t keep his mind off girls. I can’t freak out about that.

He thinks he’s going to strike it rich one day because of a magnetic, hover craft transportation system he’s conjured in his head will set him for life. I can’t freak out about that. At 12 years old, wise decisions are not his forte. But he’s learning. And I can’t freak out in the meantime. It’s critical that I remember Who is in control, Who is ordering Keegan’s steps, and Who cares more about Keegan’s relationship with Christ than I do.

As parents, we have a choice as to whether we will hinder or help our kids as they grown in their faith. We can all agree that deep down, we really just want to help. What ways have you found hinder or help your kids?

-By Gina McClain

Chocolate-cinnamon Coffee Cake You Can Eat for Breakfast and Dessert

It’s easy to slip into boring eating trends in the middle of the week, especially for the first and last meals of the day: breakfast and dessert. You’ve probably already resigned yourself to skipping both Pathetic. Two simple words will set you free: Coffee Cake. This particular one is bejeweled with chocolate chunks and crunchy hazelnuts. But don’t worry about getting caught: A cup of coffee will disguise this treat as breakfast, and a scoop of ice cream transforms it into dessert. Of course, you can just eat it exactly how it is, and start and end your day on a sweet note.

CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON COFFEE CAKE
serves 12

Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
1/2 cup blanched hazelnuts, chopped
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup sugar, divided
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup plain whole Greek yogurt

 
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°. Butter 8” square baking pan; set aside. Toss hazelnuts, chocolate, cinnamon, and ¼ cup sugar in a bowl.

Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and remaining ¾ cup sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. With mixer on low speed, add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with yogurt in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.

Pour half of batter into prepared pan and smooth top; top with half of hazelnut mixture. Spoon remaining batter over and smooth top; top with remaining hazelnut mixture. Bake cake until top is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 40–45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cake cool in pan before turning out.

-By Audrey Bruno

Be aware!

In your pursuit for wealth, riches, fame and all the good things in life, do not lose your soul. Don't get me wrong, the Lord wants you to be fully blessed and eat the fruit of this world, but be careful that your pursuit does not take you away from God. You don't get tangled in the deception of this world and fall away from Christ.

Some people have replaced the joy and peace of God for wealth and riches; you see, the kind of wealth that would give you sleepless night or make you lose your peace, beware! The kind of wealth and riches that will take you away from your family, your spouse, your children; the wealth that will take your devotion away from the most precious gift God has give you, please be aware.

What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but loses his soul. I heard a preacher said, 'what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but loses his soul-mate'. I agree with that statement, don't sell out your marriage and family all for the sake of money.

Remember the story of Joseph; when he was approached by Potiphar’s wife, he could have accepted the freedom and riches that came with it but he knew he would lose his soul to the devil. What are the advances that are coming your way; those things that you know will make you compromise your faith in God? The deception and wails of the devil to take you far away from God.

If you are single, please be aware of these advances from the devil. The short-cut to riches and fame, the ungodly relationships; the lies and deception from the enemy to lure you into their snare. Submit yourself therefore to the Lord; trust Him to give you the best in life. The best may not be that man who has millions of currencies in his bank account; it may not be the man who has the latest car or several houses in different countries. I have nothing absolutely against riches, but any wealth and riches that will take you away from God, make your compromise your faith and look the other way isn't from God. Be wise.

Don't be deceived with a kiss. Remember Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss. Don't negotiate with the enemy. They will offer all sorts of things to get your attention, especially those things you desperately need in life. Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. Don't negotiate your talents and gifts with the enemy; the Lord has blessed you with the most precious gifts and talents; don't use it to glorify the enemy, use it for God. Don't negotiate your spouse, your children with the enemy. Don't be deceived.

I pray that the Lord will open your spirit mind to understand his Will and stand on the truth. He will bless you and make a way for you in Jesus name. Anything that looks difficult for you now will have the anointing of ease on them. Wherever you knock for favour, it shall be open for you. Don't give up, God has not forgotten you, and He is working on the best for you.

-By Bimbo