Meat Pie - it's all about what's on the inside

An Agnes creation - pre-baked | Aunty Grace recipe

Saturday we made meat pies from scratch!

We = some women from the African Christian Fellowship Young Adults Chicago chapter (Agnes, Vida, Precious and I) and Aunty Grace. Aunty Grace used to cater in Jos, Nigeria before she and her family relocated to Chicago, Illinois. She will be instructing the women as we make various Nigerian delicacies, as well as other homemaking skills, in the upcoming weeks. We don't have a clever name yet but I'll call it 'Tea Time with Aunty Grace' in the meantime.

Honestly, I've never made meat pie before. It's not as easy as the final product looks.

the good stuff: potatoes, carrots, onions, there's more but you'll have to get the recipe for that. :-)

Aunty Grace blessed us with her recipe, consisting of a special formula, bonus ingredients and tricks of the trade which came from several trials over the years. We broke into a discussion regarding meat pie generally and our disapproval of some meat pies as of recent. They don't make them like they used to; with the good filling. Now most meat pies just have meat, but what happened to the potatoes?! Furthermore, I'm turned off from eating some meat pies when the crust is so dry, too thick, or meat pies where the filling resembles something from white castle *cough* Mr. Biggs.

So we started with a lovely prayer, which included praying over the process and the hands used to make the meat pie, the time we would spend together, as well as the final product, and the mouths that will eat it! ;-)

Come to the ACFYA meeting this Sunday at 4pm if you would like to sample what we spent hours making on Saturday morning (into the afternoon). Let us know what you think; tasted good to us! If you missed this tea time, there will be more in the near future.

As we commenced the first step, mixing and kneading the dough, Aunty Grace told us some stories about her mother and how she would pray about everything, throughout the day, and trained Aunty Grace to pray all the time as well. For example, while you're bathing, pray that as your cleansing your exterior, God will enable you to clean your interior, and that it be purified, pleasing and acceptable to Him. This opened my perspective to praying while performing certain routine and seemingly trivial tasks. Regarding, the shower prayer, I never thought about doing that, but it's a very wise prayer for anyone, and most feasible too.

Are you starting to see the symbolism - it all clicked after I left.

Lately, Hillsong's "From the Inside Out" song reccurently plays in my head. As I consider what it means to truly love Him from the inside out, I just imagine how I would look if my (spiritual) body was flipped inside out, or opened up for display. How dirty would it be and what needs cleaning? To get a better understanding of what I mean please read this post. ---> Give me a new heart - Tolu Akande

I bring this post full circle with a metaphor by Dr. Tony Evans, which consisted of  women and turkeys. In short, on Thanksgiving, most of the turkeys look alike, but Dr. Evans prefers the stuffing. In his metaphor, the stuffing is the important part and it will distinguish the well-done turkeys; the Godly women, from the turkeys that merely look good outwardly.

Similarly, each meat pie has a general look to it. Some people are attracted to the meat pie by the dough, whether it's golden and tender enough (or firmly toasted enough - whichever your preference). However, whether you will continue to enjoy the meatpie, once it's passed your first test of approval, will be determined by what's on the inside of the meat pie, which I might add took a longer time to prepare and perfect to our desired taste. Moreover, His approval will only be based on what's on the inside.

“Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Here are some pictures from the day courtesy of Agnes.

Precious cuts to shape, Aunty Grace is filling, Christina is sealing, Vida is flattening

Agnes flatens the dough - to create the shape that Vida has, before the filling

the second to last step: brush with egg yoke

After all that, 50+ meat pies later, good fellowship and learning,

I leave you with this very important principle:

"Never let someone come to your home, and leave hungry." - Aunty Grace

Nigerian Celebrations - The Money Spraying

I went to a 50th birthday party on Saturday of a family friend. The entire ceremony was very well executed; from the venue, staff and decorations, to the food service, live music and dancing after. I just loved the speeches on behalf of the celebrant! A lovely Christ-centered family indeed.

Now in the West African culture, Nigerian specifically, at celebrations, you will see people "spraying" the celebrants. Meaning, they will place several dollar bills on the celebrant, and their family, while they are dancing, usually to the tunes of a live band.

Taken by Sade O. | Tayo's wedding

The younger relatives or friends help collect the money that has fallen to the floor. Meanwhile, a close friend or relative sits near the dance floor to count and change money received from those gathering the money that has been sprayed. Party attendees will bring their larger bills ($20, $50, $100) to change them for 1$ bills so that they can spray the celebrant for a longer duration, as they dance with them. Some prepared party attendees have previously changed their money to one dollar bills in anticipation of this portion of the program.

Taken by Sade O. | Tayo's wedding

At wedding celebrations, the band leader will also call the surnames of families that are also in attendance to celebrate with the couple, one at a time, to the front-center of the dance floor. The family gets sprayed and they also spray money. Moreover, the band also gets sprayed. Anyone in their twenties or younger, has the potential to leave the party in a better financial state than they were in when they arrived just by dancing.

Chuckstr Photography | Nigerian (Yoruba-Igbo) wedding - Amarachi & Segun

The more you dance the more you get sprayed, by your aunty's and uncles. (refer to a previous post -- almost everyone is an aunty, uncle, or big mommy, and so forth)


However, at this party in particular, the emcee was told to announce at the end of the program, yet prior to dancing, that "the celebrants have asked that we do not spray them."

My grandmother gave a Nigerian fist pump followed by an "enh-hehn." She was very pleased with this announcement, as she is not an advocate of this practice of the culture. My mother is also not a fan of the money spraying based on some of our conversations. My grandmother noted the next day that soon after the announcement was made, the pastors then proceeded to dance with the celebrants. I gather this is generally not the case in the event that money is being sprayed.

So, I want to know your thoughts: 

how do you feel about "the money spraying" at celebrations?

Chuckstr Photography | Nigerian (Rivers State - Ikwerre) graduation party - Judith & Jessica

 

 

Chuckstr Photography | Nigerian (Rivers State - Ikwerre) graduation party - Judith & Jessica

Chuckstr Photography | Nigerian (Yoruba-Igbo) wedding - Amarachi & Segun

Chuckstr Photography | Nigerian (Yoruba-Igbo) wedding - Amarachi & Segun

Catch my drift

This train of thought started on March 6, and began to paint a picture this past Wednesday. Alex and Auntie Tade are leading our group in the study of Galatians during Digging Deep.

Pastor Isoken is in our group and everything she said was hitting points. She gave a real example and concluded by saying:

"may we all make Heaven."

*thinking* {wow, and I'm not even a Pastor or Deaconess etc., don't be so sure that everything you're doing will guarantee your name in that Book - The Lamb's book of eternal life. I would like to think so, but I know I could be a better Kingdom steward.}

Later that night I see Daniel's facebook status: 

"They told me Christ was comin back and I was scared of that, but ever since I got saved I'm prepared for that."

So I commented: 

is that right? go 'head DaCypha! wooot wooot!

#lowkey not sure if we're all prepared for that just yet. #letsgotowork!

The next morning Henry sends his devotion text: 

Our prayers have stains in them, our faith is mixed with unbelief, our repentance is not so tender as it should be, our communion is distant and interrupted. We cannot pray without sinning, and there is filth even in our tears. And yet He still loves us and wants us to live with Him forever. What an awesome God! Devotion folks!

That morning, on my way to the city, I heard Dietrick Haddon's 'Well Done' on the radio. I heard it first when Jonathan posted it on Buzz.

"I just want to make it to Heaven, I just want to make it in. I want to cross that river, I want to be free from sin. I want my name written in the Lamb's book of Life"

{Okay message. Not fully, He is still painting.}


The next day: Japan.

 Japan "hundred times worse than Haiti" - @cnn - via Tolu

Later that day, I see a tweet from Jerry:  

These pics from Japan I'm seeing look like something out of some end times movie.

Meanwhile, at our leadership conference, Pastor Omolehin was explaining  how many Christians are focused on the Kingdom aspect of the phrase "Kingdom Stewardship." Yet, there is a lack of the stewardship message amongst end-times-pastors.

{it's officially official}
  
Then . . .


Catch my drift? Painted.

Let Your Kingdom come, Let Your will be done.

Celebrating the Life of a Gem

My tribute excerpt from the Service of Songs program:

My grandfather-

I remember the first time I met my grandfather about 20 years ago in Lagos in 1991. Later that year he came to Chicago. I was in first grade, living on the north side of Chicago at the time and my school was on the other side of the city so I rode the school bus. My school bus stop was at Lawrence and Sheridan. And every morning he would walk me to my bus stop rain, shine, or snow. And I never missed my bus or a day of class that year. Every evening he would be waiting there, with his newspaper, to pick me up, every single day, even when my bus came late.

He also helped me to learn Yoruba. He drew several different pictures and put the Yoruba word next to it to help me remember. He was also my personal tailor whenever I needed a quick wardrobe hem or mending.

He eventually went back to Lagos and came back to Chicago 10 years later. One important thing is that he was very dependable. I remember calling my mom over the weekend to tell her about an issue at school and Monday morning my mom and grandparents drove down to Champaign on my behalf.

I never saw him get angry. He was a peaceful man that loved my grandma dearly. He even switched churches for her. Back home he was a Deeper Life attendee, however here he decided to become a Redeemed member because he knew how much my grandma loved Jesus House.

I’m thankful that he is no longer in pain. I’m thankful that God gave me a chance to say good bye. I’m thankful that he had a relationship with the Lord and for that I am thankful because I know we will meet again.

Happy home going grandfather. We love you.

Sunreo! 

Pa May Mofolurunsho Oladipo Ogunnaike

(Pa Gospel)

May 19, 1931  - January 30, 2011

I’ve never used Shuffle.

I have different playlists for different purposes. My M.O. is as follows: when I’m going into the zone, I’ll select a few songs, anywhere from 5 to 15 and create my playlist. Then I’ll let the songs play according to my specifications, and if I so desire, I’ll just keep a song that I’m really feeling on repeat indefinitely and when I’m ready to switch to another tune I do.

I introduced some friends to this music site that allows users to create and share playlists comprised of any song from their extensive database. Yesterday, I was studying (all I’m doing these days – one month to go!) and a friend made a playlist with over 150 great inspirational songs; classics, recent and some I’ve never heard and let it play on shuffle.

The playlist was on shuffle. I’ve never used shuffle.

Although, at times, I can appear to be spontaneous or go with the flow, in some respects, I’m a pretty calculated planner and accustomed to knowing what is next in the foreseeable future, music included. I just realized that the lack of a plan or deviating too far off a set course was a pet peeve. But I’m adapting.

In a sense, I also attempt to create a playlist for seasons in life, with the limited songs I can recall, in an order I think is most suitable for me.

In the playlist of life, God is the DJ, but sometimes we request the songs we want to hear, or we become an unqualified acting DJ, playing the songs we think are best. Meanwhile, I’ll hear a song that I wasn’t even thinking of at all and it just ministers to me perfectly. That was the exact song I needed to hear but I never would have known that, letting my life play with the songs I chose.

It’s good to have plans but I need to just let the songs of life play on “shuffle.” What seems to our limited understanding as a shuffle is actually a precise, unique and creative order created by our Creator. And of course it turns out to be a better playlist than any list we could have created.

Life is a musical, life is a melody. I need to sing along after God’s lead or I’ll constantly be off key.

Day 4: Constitutional Law

*singing* "Our God is the Awesome God. There is none like You. With Him we win, He’s our Champion oooooh-oooooh! Our God is the awesome God, He is the greatest in all the earth, with Him we come in first, He’s our Champion!!!!"

My theme song during bar prep is ‘Champion’ by Tye Tribbett featuring Israel Houghton. I initially heard the song when my cousin posted it on google buzz a while back. Recently, a friend played it, and sent it to me through BBM = perfectly timed! It was on repeat during my commute this morning. Five miles in 10 minutes – the purple line is nice like that – Belmont to Howard.

Day 4: Constitutional Law - First Amendment, Equal Protection and host of other topics; it’s all coming back. Apparently we’ve learned thousands of rules during law school and we will review/learn many of them these next two months. The exam will be complete in exactly two months! Amen! Efficiency is the key. There is a lot to learn but the key is study efficiently and effectively. “The bar is all about testmanship and confidence. Confidence Cayenne in the house. Also “it’s not enough to just know the rule, you must know the exceptions.”

Technically, we have a break tomorrow for the holidays. The break just means we don’t have a live session in downtown, but there is still work to be done. Multiple choice questions every day. Tomorrow, I’ll scope out my study spots for the next 9 intense weeks. I also decided to incorporate exercising into my schedule after a reoccurring theme in the advice from recent bar takers. I've also been advised that blogging is not part of my schedule either so after this week, it's foreseeable that I will not post as frequently.

My foundation course professor is the eldest of seven children – none of them are twins, I asked (seven separate births, one couple - wow - Naija style). She was also a whiz kid – finished undergrad at 19 and law school at 22! Her parents were very active in invalidating the bill of attainder. The legislative punishment of a named group or individual without judicial trial is unconstitutional = bill of attainder.

I signed up for the live class for the rest of the course as opposed to my initial decision to take the remaining weeks of the class on demand. I think having other students around will add more to the structure. I don’t know any of them though, most of them are graduates from the city law schools, but I’ll meet them soon enough. Although, the group seated near me today, spoke so negative and pessimistic. I had to tune them out, because that’s not my portion.

Also, I do appreciate my friends checking up on me and helping! I tend to turn off my phone since it proves more effective than keeping my phone on silent. Although, sometimes it delivers texts late, or not at all – it is a crackblackberry *shrug* I might not be able to respond as timely, in the coming weeks. Nonetheless, I appreciate ya!

Day 3: Evidence

It feels like it’s been a week already. I’m still working on my schedule and where I'll study when class ends at 1. Since it only took about 40 minutes to commute downtown the last two days, I tried leaving a little later today. But those 10-15 minutes makes a huge difference because now I’m competing with all the people that begin work at 9am and apparently a majority of them work around Clark and Lake.

This one girl always dresses up to class (it’s only been 3 days, but still). I don’t know how she does it but fist pump to her. Maybe it adds to your psyche. There is only one state that still requires you to dress up to sit for the bar exam, I think it’s Maryland or Virginia. They also make you dress up to class everyday in Nigerian law schools. Law school over there is one year though.

As for me, I’m layered up in boots, tights, cami’s and sweaters and I’m still cold. I would seriously send someone to the store that doesn’t mind going to get me appropriate winter stuff. This Chicago winter is something else. I haven’t really been in it in years. When I come home it’s my house to my car and my car to my destination. My destination for the next 10 weeks is downtown, I’m not driving downtown. Although, each time someone on the train coughs I really wish I had an anthrax or surgeon’s mask. I cannot get sick. Spring semester I got sick about 3 times, this past semester I don’t recall being sick at all – thank God. I want to keep it that way – which is why I also need appropriate winter stuff because this is not cutting it.

I’m thinking of which social networks I’ll keep on and off during this prep. I’ve already taken facebook off my phone as an initial step. But I like the interactive-ness of it but then again that might be a problem in and of itself so that might have to go. I might keep tweeting. I probably won’t BBM as much but I don’t have too many contacts on there anyway, so that’s okay.

Today’s diagnostic test was better as far as time and percentage correct combined. Each day has gotten progressively better with time and I feel good knowing I’m where I should be at this point. I’m trying to see if there is a correlation between the grade I got in the class and how I do on the diagnostic years later. I guess it also depends on subsequent courses which built upon the initial core class.

Our professor is a public defender. She used to tell her clients to dress like they were going to church until one guy came in a bright suit, alligator shoes and a fedora. Now she tells them to dress like a nerdy white guy. End quote.

Favorite quote: “Child custody is a case where your character is at issue ex. A case called Spears v. Federline (ba-dum-bum) that was cute. "Also in negligent hiring and firing – chester the molester cannot be the new school monitor and crossing guard.”

Also, I have the greatest friends ever, very supportive and their neighbors too!!! THANK YOU!!!