I still believe Nigerians do not associate specific foods with the Easter celebration. Oh yes, we neither have a ham, chocolate egg, Easter bread food tradition nor the easter bunnies egg delivery oral tradition to inspire good behaviour in our children. So, we treat the holiday like we would special days like birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas. Our approach is quite simple. Once we cook and serve rice and chicken and offer aerated drinks and alcohol to friends and family, we consider the day well spent.
This year, I’ll like us to consider doing something creative with one of the traditional easter foods. My food of choice is carrots; they are cheap and readily available. So, if you want to go on this festive adventure with me, here are six foods that you can make with carrots:
1. Carrot Jollof Rice: Easter would be incomplete for the average Nigerian without a Jollof special. Since carrots are a tradition at Easter, carrot Jollof rice is a fitting addition to the easter menu. When making this great meal, carrot juice is used in place of tomatoes. This helps it to retain that classic Jollofcolour.
2. Carrot Cake: Cakes are a celebratory tradition. One dessert that should grace your dinner table at Easter is carrot cake. It’s my humble opinion that an ideal carrot cake should have a great spice flavour and a moistness that is just irresistible. It should also be easy to make. If the carrot cake you make this Easter meets these three simple criteria, it’ll be gone in minutes. Try and see.
3. Carrot Juice: Homemade carrot juice is healthy, affordable and delicious. It can either be consumed alone or used as part of a mixed juice. For the season, I’d make mine with fruit like pineapple. The beautiful union of both ingredients would give me a refreshingly tasty juice, one that would not overwhelm the sensitive palate of some members of my household.
4. Nigerian Salad: There’s something decadent about this food. This incredible salad is a beautiful marriage of raw and cooked vegetables, eggs, minced meat and more. It’s colourful, nutritious, hearty and filling. This meal is a classic, especially at this time.
5. Carrot Smoothie: This perfect shot of goodness will make the ideal Easter breakfast. Four or five ingredients will make you a carrot smoothie that will set you up for the day. It’ll be fresh, sweet and nutrient-dense.
6. Oatmeal Carrot Cookie: This cookie will remind you of carrot cake. You’ll love the moistness and the delicious taste. The fact that they take a minute to prepare is an added advantage. You can have this oatmeal carrot cookie with a chilled drink or your morning tea. Your kids will enjoy snacking on it too.
Finally, cooking is an expression of love. So, take your time and create unforgettable mealtimes experiences for your family this Easter.
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