How I make Egusi Soup with Spinach

Egusi soup is one of my favorite soups and I usually have it in the freezer after making a big pot. Sometimes I have to wait for a trip to the African store in order to make it, or I use what I have at home. Of course the basics have to be there, like the egusi itself, but most of the other ingredients can be improvised. This particular recipe is quite simple and traditional, as you'll see.

I cook two types of Egusi, one with bitterleaf and with the egusi boiled in the meat stock, and the other type with a more bland vegetable - ugu, kale, spinach, waterleaf - and I fry the egusi in the oil I'm using. This difference in preparation makes for a change in taste, flavor and texture and I love the versatility it gives me. Below is my recipe for the Spinach Egusi Soup.

Is Kissing Part of the African Culture of Love?

After watching a Nollywood movie recently, I was wondering about Nigerians and kissing. Is kissing part of Nigerian or African culture? I didn't have to think too far to know the partial answer to that. After writing "you may kiss the bride" into our wedding program - and getting the approval of the officiating priest - the Bishop who handled the vows refused to say it. He was using the booklet o, but when he got to that part, he said "not on his watch" and skipped the lines. I was so mad. Can you feel that I'm still beefing? LOL...

Anyway, no one needs to tell me that some Nigerians, and not just the older ones, are not cool with kissing. I  remember also when I had to meet Atala at the Lagos airport once and jumped into his arms for a kiss when he came out. Most people were like hey, stop, what is that, move on. And no, we were not blocking anyone. But there is the question, is it the kissing that they aren't used to, or the public nature of it?

I decided to make Google search my friend, thinking of a little debate after Kiru Taye's first historical romance was published and a Nigerian reviewer felt the love scenes were probably unrealistic. But the question remains, who really knows? These things were not documented as far as I know.

Hope Springs review and Blu-ray Giveaway

Hope Springs was billed as a comedy that tackles issues of marriage, and seeing that the main actors, Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones are favorites of ours, we decided to go see it. The movie, which is out on DVD and Blu-ray this week, turned out to be more serious, a mixture of comedy and drama and a very touching one at that.

Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) are a devoted couple, but decades of marriage have left Kay wanting to spice things up and reconnect with her husband. When she hears of a renowned couple's specialist (Steve Carell) in the small town of Great Hope Springs, ME, she attempts to persuade her skeptical husband, a steadfast man of routine, to get on a plane for a week of marriage therapy.

Just convincing the stubborn Arnold to go on the retreat is hard enough—the real challenge for both of them comes as they shed their bedroom hang-ups and try to rekindle the spark that caused them to fall for each other in the first place.

ASA - The Way I Feel | Music Video Romance

This is from the "BEAUTIFUL IMPERFECTION" album which I have and listen to quite often. I really don't think this is the best video for the song though it makes sense in a quirky way. Still, it's not bad. Tell me what you think.

Date Night Movie Review - Life of Pi

Atala - I had read the book of the same name by Yann Martell many years ago, and I remember enjoying the first half of the book, while feeling the second half lacked the same compelling narrative. Still, I remembered so little of the story that I felt that there was nothing to be lost by going again to see the movie. Perhaps Hollywood would work some magic to make the story more palatable.

As it turned out, the film follows the novel quite closely. It's primarily about a Piscine "Pi" Patel, young man who is shipwrecked while he and his family are sailing from India to Canada with a collection of animals from the zoo that they owned in India, with the events narrated by Pi (now grown up) to a writer.

It starts with a very tender and sometimes amusing description of his life in India, and goes on to describe how, when the ship is wrecked, he is the only human survivor, as every one else perishes in the sea. Well, yes - Pi is the only human survivor, but not the only survivor. Floating along with him in his lifeboat are a hyena, an orangutan - and arguably the deuteragonist of the story, a Bengal tiger with improbable name of Richard Parker.

Some Wedding Magazine Covers I'm Liking

The handsome and dapper actor/TV presenter, Chris Attoh is on the cover of WED Magazine's latest edition - The Dress Issue - along with Entrepreneur/TV personality/ex model, Isio Wanogho.

Donning a white ball gown with a sweet heart neckline accessorized with diamond earrings and a colorful bouquet, Isio Wanogho smiles on with Chris Attoh, dapper in a black suit with a fuchsia bow-tie on the cover of the new issue. Inside the pages of the magazine, the two personalities who are also entrepreneurs according to the mag, strike different poses in more outfits.

RWoWA Make a Christmas Wish Giveaway

Hello, friends of RWoWA. Running from December 7 to 13, we have a few goodies for you that we hope will fulfil your Christmas wishes. Here are what we have on offer and how to win them:

First Prize: A $10 AMAZON GIFT CARD offered by romance author, Kiru Taye. Check out her latest contemporary holiday romance, ISLAND BOUND out this December.

Omotola Jalade on Love, Marriage, and Parenting

Unquestionably, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is a superstar. She's an actress, mother, wife, businesswoman, activist and philanthropist. One of the first movies I saw her in was Mortal Inheritance where she made me cry, and she went in to steal the show in others like Abused and Scores to Settle.

I was not so impressed when I saw her as I started Beyonce and Rihanna, which I didn't finish, but then I saw how she had improved in Ties that Bind and I was a fan again. Now, I'm looking forward to seeing her in Ije and Last Flight to Abuja.

Recently, the press has been on about an up close and exclusive look at Omotola's personal life in a new reality series OMOTOLA: THE REAL ME! According to the PR; "Audiences will join the famous actress as she launches her latest movies, expands her business interests and takes on all the challenges of being a ground-breaking celebrity with fans across the continent. At the same time she remains devoted to her marriage and her family, working to maintain a balance between her professional and personal responsibilities."

Previously on 'Scandal' - #WhoShotFitz

Who else is following this show? Last week's episode of Scandal ended on a shocking scene of the president Fitz Grant being shot while attending his birthday dinner. Immediately, ABC launched a #WhoShotFitz campaign on Twitter exploring the theories and questions behind this storyline.

I have joined the hashtag #WhoShotFitz and have been following the tweets of the cast and other fans in anticipation of this week's episode, "Happy Birthday, Mr. President,"

According to the promos, in today's episode, Olivia returns to work at the White House to manage the catastrophic crisis, and we learn more about the first few days of Fitz's presidency through her flashbacks. Check out the videos below. I tell you, no one writes love and sex like Shonda Rhimes

Same-sex Marriage Licenses granted in Washington State

At the elections last month, Washington state where we live made history as one of three U.S. states where same-sex couples were by popular vote, granted the right to get married. The law that legalized same-sex marriage took effect by midnight today, and from the news, gay and lesbian couples eager to exchange vows have been lining up the marriage licensing offices since yesterday.

It was back in May this year that President Obama in an interview made comments supporting same-sex marriage. Some were outraged and others happy. I am all for equal rights for everyone though I admit that on the gay marriage issue, my thoughts are still evolving.