BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO NAMAN SALLAH || HOW I HANDLE A WHOLE RAM FOR EID

One of the things I dreaded the most about being a married woman in my culture was how on earth I was going to handle the stress of 'sallah meat' alone.

'Don't be ridiculous, of course I'll help you,' says the then fiancé. But like the wise woman I pretend to be, I knew all promises made before 'I do' should be taken with a grain of salt.

See I come from a relatively populous family, so aikin naman sallah was quite the task! When we return from eid prayer, everyone changes into their 'work clothes' (old t shirts, torn pyjama pants etc. anything you wont mind getting bloodied).

Then the work begins! Axe wielding, meat slicing, manning the fire etc. And before you know it, everyone is in a shitty mood because isn't this supposed to be a day of celebration?

If this aikin nama was so difficult when we were plenty, imagine how hard it'll be when its just me in my home!

For the first few years I got a cheat pass; we'd slaughter our Ram in Kano and take it to the professionals who in turn will do all the dirty work for us and deliver our Dambu. Fried meat and kayan ciki (offals).

While that is the most convenient option, we often felt like we were missing out on all the Sallah memories; the smell of fried meat filling the house etc.

So like the idiot that I am, I decided in 2014, just 5 months after giving birth to Baby R that this year, I'll do it myself.

'Are you sure?' he asks, partly worried about my stress levels and partly about the quality of his sallah meat.

'I can.'

And so I did. With no nanny. Just a local butcher and my cousin (the husband was glued on discovery channel).

BEFORE YOU BEGIN        

1. Why are you doing this? Have you gone nuts! Abeg just pay someone and chill on Sallah day......... ......... .........(I'm kidding! I'm just trying to chase away the faint hearted ones. If you've survived my lame scare tactic then carry on, you trooper!)
2. Clear out your freezer. You need space. Lots of it.
3. Prepare your mind that this is going to be a Physically and Mentally tasking activity that may leave you tired and exhausted halfway through. If this is the case, you can always split your work into two and continue the day after.

NOW THE FUN BEGINS

Say hello to your Ram

photo credit

We start by mapping out what I'm going to do with the lamb.        

Original photo from Mortons. I annotated it to show you what I do with what. The basic portions I want are for Frying Peppersoup Rack of Ribs Roast Steak Dambi BBQ. Only Frying and Dambu happen on sallah day. The rest of the meat is saved got later in the freezer

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

I usually have 4 stations

THE BUTCHERY STATION: Outside

THE PREP STATION: Sink

THE COOKING STATION: Stove

THE STORAGE STATION: Counter Tops and Freezer

THE MESSY BUSINESS (OUTDOORS)

The husband slaughters the Ram as per tradition.

The Ram is allowed to bleed out for a while as the butcher and his assistant (usually my gateman) sharpen their knives and prepare the area for butchering.

We have a drain in the back yard so we spread some zinc roofing sheets on the floor and cover them with empty rice sacks. That's the "chopping board."

The water hose from the garden is moved to the back. I make sure the tanks are full because we need lots and lots of water.

Most of the cutting takes place downstairs in the backyard.

As soon as meat is ready, its brought upstairs in batches to the Prep station.

BATCH A. The Offals. (Kayan ciki, soye)

This is usually the first body part to be cleaned and washed (minus intestines). 

We wash them again thoroughly with salt and water.

I separate my offals into three. I give away anything icky (heart, genitalia, intestines etc), I keep these:

Liver

Kidneys

Tripe

Lungs

I split them into two. We fry one batch and freeze the other half in serving sized bags for making pepper soup or assorted meat stew later.

 

Then transfer into a kasko (local frying pan thats like a giant wok)

I add chopped garlic, ginger, scotch bonnet peppers and sliced onions. To cook them tender, I add some fat from the ram (visceral fat from the abdomen). It will also help the meat to fry with little or no oil. I'm very generous with the spices I add to my kayan ciki.

Meat Tenderizer speeds up the cooking time. Alternatively you can use kanwa (potash)

 

Maggi stock cubes. Because, Nigerian.

 

Herbage is important. Hello Rosemary (optional)

 

 

Thyme, compulsory! Removes the gamey odour from offals 

 

 Add a cup of water to start up the cooking process. The offals themselves will start to release water from within.

 I also add curry powder

 

Here the offals are releasing their own liquid. Make sure you keep an eye on the wok. We want to make sure the water doesn't dry out until the offals are cooked and tender. If your heat is too high, the water will start to dry out. Here you can add a cupful at a time if necessary.

 Taste and adjust the seasoning as cooking progresses. You can see I added more peppers here.

The tripe (shaki, tumbi) is usually the toughest to cook, so if you notice that the tripe is stringy and tender, it means your offals are cooked. This will take up to 2 hours Allow the water to start drying off.

       

When the water is dry, the offals will start releasing their own oils. This, together with the fat you added earlier will fry the offals. 

If your offals are sticking to your pan, add some vegetable oil (a ladle at a time)

You have to stir fry at this point until the oil is fully released and you can let it fry.

 

Be careful because offals burn easily.

After you've strained the offals from the oil, place the offals on a paper towel or newspaper to absorb all the excess fat. 

Thats it! The Offals are the first meat served on Sallah day.         BATCH B: FRIED MEAT Things get easier from here.

I wash the meat thoroughly as it it arrives in the prep area.

I separate it into fleshy flesh and boney meat.

The boney meat gets divided into two. Half will be fried on sallah day

The other half will be put in serving sized portion freezer bags and stored in the freezer for pepper soup, and other soups. LET THE FRYING BEGIN! The oil remains in the pan.

 

Then your meat on the bone goes into the oil, along with the other spices (thyme, rosemary, maggi, cloves, curry powder etc).

The meat will cook and then fry and get strained first with a colander, then paper towels and newspapers. It'll absorb all the fat out leaving you with delicious sallah meat.

 PRO TIP. You can always boil your meat with all its spices in a separate stockpot before proceeding to fry it in the kasko. This will make the meat fry quicker, but requires more work. That's the method I'm using this year. So you'll fry the meat with all the spices first then transfer to your frying oil. This gives a crispier meat that doesn't need to be stored in the fridge. 

   

Repeat with as many batches of meat you want to fry. The oil will be reused over and over again until you're done.

At the end of the day you'll be left with fat in the pan which solidifies at room temperature. This is referred to as kakidi. Traditionally used as butter on bread and thanks to all the chilli and spices you added, its quite tasty too. I give it away to my helpers to use, because merely looking at it makes me a little queasy. Hello cholesterol.

To clean pout your pan heat it a little then transfer to another container.

SIDE DISHES I usually make an easy rice dish to go with all the meatiness. Last year it was a large pot of Jollof Rice.

 

I make enough rice because after spending at least 8 hours in the kitchen on the first day, I'm in no mood to cook.

 

I also make a salad and I package food for my family and neighbours in baskets for delivery. 

I also make dessert on day two. Maybe Apple pie or a nice tart.

WATCH OUT FOR 

PART II: DAMBUN NAMA 

PART III: LAMB CHOPS

This post is way too long and I still haven't spoken about dambu

Useful Tips

Book your helpers in advance. If you have a suya man in your neighbourhood ask him to send you one of his boys. Labour is quite cheap with them. 2k to 5k naira for a days work plus any extras (head, legs, intestines etc).

Have lots of basins and plastic tubs on hand for washing and transporting from station to station. 

 

Catching Up || Features, Blog Shop, 5k views on Anisa Haque || Personal Update

Hello Lovelies!


Why does it feel like a decade since I've posted?

Ever had those days where it seems there aren't enough hours in one day? Thats me in the month of May! It has been a super productive yet, busy month and as it comes to an end, I'm so happy with all I have achieved or planned to achieve this month. Here's the Down low....


Blog Update

Ramadan is upon us (YAY!!!). The Ultimate month for Foodies is here! I should have a few Ramadan friendly posts coming up, so stay tuned!

I am working on a Blog Shop where you lovely readers who are interested in purchasing selected items or services can browse through and do so. This has been inspired by the most popular post on this blog (Get perfect skin with turmeric!)

I haven't finalised all the details yet, but I know for starters, its going to be some traditional beauty supplies in bulk. So keep in touch if you're interested in DIY beauty products.


BIG Project!

I am launching a line of food products!

Now in the past, I have sold my food at fairs and while I always have fun cooking for people, I find it extremely stressful in the week leading up to it. I cook by myself with very little assistance, so you can imagine how cooking 150 plates of food for a fair is. I also had a very unpleasant experience during one of the fairs so I'm phasing them out.

But food is my passion, right? And I would never have made it as far as I have in the food business if it weren't for the encouragement of my viewers on Instagram and this blog. So I'm reaching out to you all by starting a line of food products that can be purchased fresh or frozen or cooked and I'm calling it....*drum roll please*

Like the Logo? I made it myself... *pats back* I've made a few logos in my day, but this is by far my favourite.

So give yourself a few days off and let Ummi do the cooking for you. This line will include meal prep items as well as ready meals.... stay tuned!

I'll be posting details in a few days regarding the dishes and how to order so stay tuned!


BIGGER Project

This one I CANNOT talk about! Not until it is set in stone. It is a dream I have had for a really long time and to see it coming to fruition would mean I have fulfilled one of my major life goals. Please keep me in your prayers. Your girl needs it. I'll gush all about it when the time is right.



Features!

So I'm going to be featured on a few websites and I is fery happy abourrit!

The first is Northern Life, which is launching next week or so (Yay!)

The second is HijabiGlobeTrotter which is an awesome blog you all should follow.

I'll let you know when I'm up.



Driving School

I don't know to drive.

I don't have a licence.

I am scared of the road and all the chaos that comes with it *covers face*

Would you blame me though? Nigerian roads are crazy!

I miss living in a country with awesome public transport system. Where I can catch a train and a bus and get to where I'm going without needing a tetanus shot!

So after 4 years of hitching rides, begging my brothers, inconveniencing the husband (it's not an inconvenience if he loves you, right?) and non stop ridicule from my family....I have finally joined a driving school!

No one seems to have the patience to teach me, I may as well go to a professional who has probably seen students way worse than I am.

its been 8 days already and according to my instructor, I'm doing quite well! So in your face, mean family! *sticks out tongue*

I just didn't expect driving school to have homework... I mean I've been out of uni for ages! *sigh* I actually have to go and buy cardboard paper, paint and a metre rule. Oy Vey!



Who is Anisa Haque

You guys! I have hit 5,000 viewers, 500 likes and nearly 300 comments on my debut ChickLit/Adventure/Mystery book;

WHO IS ANISA HAQUE.



*spraying glitter and confetti*

It is also ranked at number 842 Worldwide out of over 100,000 chick lit books on Wattpad.

*buying everyone a drink

I have been receiving a lot of love and support over at Wattpad and I have met several young Nigerian writers with passion and creativity, we've sort of formed a little community.

See how kind they've been to me;

If you haven't read it yet (why are you carrying last?) Click Here to start from the Beginning!

If you're a reader that hasn't caught up in a while, Click here to continue reading! The story is getting Juicier, I promise you.

If you're on Wattpad and aren't following me, Click here to fix that problem.


MotherHood & Mrs.Hood

We put Baby R in school! In third term, no less. She's been so bored at home lately, surrounded by adults that I feel she doesn't socialise well with kids. So I thought I'd put her in daycare, but they insisted she start school proper, so here's my little reception princess.

Drop waist, on trend!

Sports wear chic?

Mr.H and I had our Fourth Wedding Anniversary last month. Yay! To celebrate, we went to 355 for a romantic dinner and we had a great time. It's a bit of a splurge, I know but hey, we deserve it for not tearing each other apart after being together for over 11 years! Here's to 50 more Habibi!


So that's it my darlings! You're now all caught up with what I've been up to.

I hope you're convinced that I haven't abandoned this space.

Things should ease out in the next few weeks, so I should be blogging more often.

Hope you've all been great and things are flowing smoothly for you all.

Do you have any gist for me?

Have you forgiven my long absence?

Am I to a query from you?

Leave a comment below and let me know.

Thanks for reading this far! You deserve a medal



Lot's of Awesome Love,


Ummi

Taking Care of My Toddler's Kinky Afro

'I've always wanted a girl as a first child,' I said to myself severally.

'I'll have all the time in the world to dress her up and play with her hair.'

 'She'll be like a mini me!' 

 And she kind of is.   

 The flaw in my wish was that I forgot how much of a tyrant I was to my mum when it came to making my hair!  

Current hairstyle. 26 months

  I can even remember some of my antics!  

Avoiding her every Saturday and Sunday so I don't have to do my hair

Faking the flu so my hair won't get shampooed

Hiding the combs to delay plaiting my hair

Crying so much that the neighbors have to check in

Wearing caps and scarves so she won't see the messy hair

This was when I was in primary school.

Don't blame me! My hair in its natural state is tougher than an iron sponge! Even when wet! She threatened to cut it off so many times, but I'm glad she didn't because after the pain and tears and threats, I brandish my new hair do like a proud peacock, whipping my hair back and forth like nothing happened.

First Hair do ever! 5 months 

My daughter is the same... I keep her hair tools in a basket so whenever she sees me approaching with that basket, I'm in for a tough time!

She starts rolling on the floor and wriggling out of my grip. If I tug too hard, she'd turn around and seize the comb. Sometimes she'll even hide the comb where I can't find it.

By the time we're done I feel like I've just run a marathon!

So I came up with some products and techniques that makes the process tolerable for both of us.

Here, I share how I detangle, wash and style her curly hair. These tips can also apply to adults, so feel free to try them out yourself. 

1.     Detangling

The first thing I do is to detangle the hair in preparation for washing. 

I start by

Loosening the current style

Using my finger to undo any knots

Lightly combing with a loose tooth comb.

Before I start detangling, I generously spray the hair with my DIY detangling spray shown in the photo below

Yes, my secret ingredient is lotta body! The same lotta body that we used in the past to roller set hair  but sometimes, makes you end up with crispy hair! Turns out it's an excellent detangler. I dilute it 1:3 with water and add a tablespoon of glycerin. I put it in a spray bottle for ease and voila!

A few generous sprays and her hair gets good slip and most knots can be undone with just fingers. Yay! It saves time too      

Her hair is a 3c/4a type. 23 months

 

2.    Washing

Fact: I do NOT shampoo her hair! I tried it once and ended up with a dry, tangled mess! The poor thing cried so much in the process that I figured it simply isn't worth it. 

I wash her hair every week (10 days in cold weather or allergy season) and I simply use a conditioner to wash her hair. 

Conditioner washing or co-washing is all I need to get her hair clean. It is a proven mild cleanser, so there is no product build up and hence no need for harsh shampoo (even baby shampoo is harsh on her hair!). 

Though every 1-2 months, I use her body wash (Aveeno baby) to gently massage her scalp. I find it much milder than shampoo.

I apply conditioner from roots to the tips

Then massage the scalp gently from her forehead to her neck. 

I wash it off then apply a second time. 

If the hair still feels dirty, I wash it off and apply a third time. 

If the hair is clean, I run a wide tooth comb through it, 

Wash it off then blot with a hooded towel.

Party hair. 20 months

 
3.    Styling

No matter how I style her hair, it'll get messy in three days! So I've decided to stop stressing myself!  

I always style the hair when wet. It is impossible to comb her hair when it's dry. Simply impossible

I divide the hair into four, six or eight 

Spray each section with an argan oil spray (Hawaiian silky is my fave)

I comb through the section with the help of that DIY detangler up there.

Use an elastic hair band to secure the root firmly 

Braid or twist each lock and secure with a hair band

There was a time my mum insisted on plaiting her hair 'because it is long enough."

I agreed at first because, you know, Grandma knows best! 

SO when she went to her grandparents for a sleepover, she was returned to me with beautifully plaited hair that made her look so cute and grown up. it also meant that I had two weeks before the next wash day. Yay!   

First corn row ever. 11 months

But when it was time to loosen it! Oh em gee! It was horrible! Her hair was unbelievably tangled! She cried, I cried! she had a headache, i had a headache. 

"Big Girl" Hair. 18 months

Then I made a mistake of being there when her hair was being plaited and when I saw how much she cried, I figured nothing was worth putting my child through this pain! She's happier when I do it my way.  

I used to style her hair in the tub. The water distracts her. 9 months.

 

Current go to style. This style lasts a little over a week, so I do it whenever we need to travel. 23 months          

   

Brighter

So that's all folks!

Hope this has helped at least one or two people out there with baby girls. Dealing with girls and their hair is the ultimate test of patience. 

 Do you have natural hair?

 Do you have any tips for me and Baby R? 

Are there any styles that are easier than the ones above?

 Let me know in the comments below!  

 Lots of Tangled love,

 Ummi.