This week's contest got me going through memory lane. I must admit that I had sweet childhood memories.
My favorite foods as a child were foods that weren't so common in our menu.
Top on the list is Ikoko.
This is prepared using water yam.
It is quite tedious to prepare and hence doesn't appear on the menu frequently and when it does, how delicious and exciting!
What makes it tedious is the fact that we'd grate the yam, then wrap it in fluted pumpkin leaves, aside the other "routine" parts of the preparation. It's best served in a tray with everyone eating from it. It's a food of togetherness, I must say.
Food prepared by me. Photo credit, me.
It takes hours.. and isn't an emergency or go to meal. Water yam isn't always and readily available in shops, too.
Do I still love it as an adult? Hell yes!
The tediousness is still a barrier to enjoying it everyday.
On the list of favorite foods as a child is Noodles.
We were 5 kids growing up in a home of parents who were teachers and didn't earn such a great income.
Noodles was the in- thing for kids. The ADs didn't even make it any better as it played at least x10 daily on the TV, radio and everywhere you turn to.
When we make noodles, it isn't always enough to grant satisfaction. My parents wouldn't even partake in it so we can have as much as possible.
As an adult, I've had lots of noodles that I wouldn't qualify it as my favorite food anymore. It's more of an emergency, go-to food when I'm running out of time, what to cook or lazy to prepare an exquisite meal.
On that list is Fried Rice, salad and Chicken
Reason for it being a favorite is same as the others, it wasn't always available. In fact, my mom has never made fried rice in our house up till date. Or maybe she did after I left the house.
It was more of a ceremonious meal during Christmas holidays when we reconnect with other members of our extended family.
As an adult, fried rice is like a regular meal. Wouldn't consider it as a favorite as it's pretty much a regular meal which can be cooked or bought.
I wouldn't forget to mention Pastries
We made pastries on some weekends. It used to be so exciting, still is. We make pancakes, chinchin, doughnuts, eggrolls etc.
All hands are usually on deck.
And how we love them!
I still love them pastries as an adult but work time and unavailability of the kitchen equipments at my housing as an intern do not afford me the luxury of making them and when I buy them from vendors, it's usually in a small quantity and for immediate gratification, usually in response to hunger when I'm not close to my kitchen.
These are a couple of foods that got me really excited as a child and were my favorites.
