Global Table Adventure

About the food of Norway

July 31, 2012 By Sasha Martin 13 Comments

A view of Lake Bondhus in Norway, and in the background of the Bondhus Glacier, part of the Folgefonna Glacier. Photo Alchemist-hp.

Oh Norway, land of the midnight sun. This is the place to go when the world's drudgery stifles you... when the world just... sticks to your skin. In Norway, the sky feels a million miles away. The air is crisper, cleaner. Sparkling. I spent a weekend in Stavanger, Norway in 1998, where I pitched our way to first place in our softball championship. I remember just breathing, breathing, breathing as deeply as possible. That air - I will always remember it. The fjords seemed to know … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Norway, Travel Tuesday

Monday Meal Review: Nigeria

July 30, 2012 By Sasha Martin 13 Comments

I press the glass to my lips. Millions of tiny bubbles burst at once; fireworks in my mouth. Zesty fireworks. If the name is any indication, this Chapman is a serious drink. A drink for gentlemen and poker, with a splash of intrigue. A drink suitable for 007 himself. But one sip in and I know - this is a silly, sing-in-the-shower, dance-with-your-towel-on-your-head kind of drink. This is a sit-in-the-shade-and-sing-to-the-birds kind of drink. What's in a name, anyway? The drink comes from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Monday Meal Review, Nigeria

Recipe: Grilled Plantain spears with crushed peanuts | Boli Bopa

July 29, 2012 By Sasha Martin Leave a Comment

This is so quick, it's silly. All you need are a few medium-ripe plantains (as pictured), some red palm oil, and a bit of salt & hot pepper. You can find the red palm oil at your natural grocer or, if you're lucky enough to have an African market, there. You brush on the red palm oil (back in the day I wrote a bit about this popular west African oil)... Sprinkle with salt and whatever spices you like (think hot, like cayenne... or mild, like paprika)... Grill until tender and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Gluten Free Adaptable, Grilling, International Recipes, Nigeria, Random Carbs & Grains, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Nigerian Chapman Cocktail

July 27, 2012 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

There are four things I love to do in the summer. 1. Flit around pools, lakes, and oceans until my fingers wrinkle and warp. 2. Make mud pies and bake them in the Oklahoma sun. 3. Kiss my husband at the drive-in movie theater. 4. Dance like no one is watching. When that's all done, I like a good, sweet sipper and a shady spot to drink it down. Thankfully, I just learned about Chapman - a bright, bubbly festival for your mouth. This is a Nigerian drink made for parties - supposedly … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Alcohol, Alcohol-Free, Cold, Fun Friday, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Nigeria, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: West African Peanut Kebabs | Suya

July 26, 2012 By Sasha Martin 16 Comments

My pantry's name is Patty.* She's actually just a shelf in the laundry room, above the vacuum cleaner and mop, but I love her all the same. Right now she could use a diet - she is packed with boxes upon boxes of noodles, rice, 8 kinds of oils, soup, 4 bags of coffee from around the world, 4 kinds of dried chili peppers, and fishy bouillon cubes I bought 2 years ago for one of our Global Table meals and promptly forgot to use (I'm going to go ahead and presume they aren't good any … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Grilling, Independence Day, International Recipes, Meat, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Nigeria, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday

Menu: Nigeria (& Giveaway)

July 25, 2012 By Sasha Martin 33 Comments

Today we're celebrating two things. Our Nigerian menu (we're almost done with the "N"'s can you believe it?) and our first weekly giveaway (scroll down to find out what it is). Yay! First, as always, the beautiful food. Our Nigerian menu is all about the grill - grilled plantains, savory peanut crusted kebabs, and a bubbly sparkly citrus drink, perfect to take the edge off summer. Either that or you can impulsively jump in your child's inflatable pool with your clothes on. That's what I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Menu Wednesday, Nigeria

About the food of Nigeria

July 24, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

Kids playing in the streets of Zaria, Nigeria. Photo by shirazc.

Let's fill a van with pineapples. Let's pack them so tightly they press against the windows. Let's load up a motorcycle with a mountain of empty plastic bottles, all strung together like a tangled string of lights. And while we're at it, let's make this mountain five times the size of the motorcycle. These are scenes from Nigeria, the most populated country in Africa. And I saw every single one on YouTube. Nigeria is nestled in the heart of Africa, where you'll find ocean, swamp, city, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Nigeria, Travel Tuesday

Monday Meal Review: Niger

July 23, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

THE SCENE We've now eaten a meal from 129 countries in the world. Surreal. Wonderful. Delicious. This means we are officially 2/3 done with the Adventure. In November there'll only be a year left. After cooking the world for this long, certain things come to be expected. Happy bellies, for example. Enriched minds. Stretching ourselves. Growing. All along the way, whether I'm frazzled or relaxed, hungry or full, I hear the same question again and again from curious … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Monday Meal Review, Niger