a cooking pot and twisted tales
Thoughts and Tales…A Lifestyle Blog with a Zing.
There are things that I do often and quite enjoy doing. A lot of these things are physical and some are not.![1448552289124[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/14485522891241.jpg)
I cook every day to keep myself and my family well nourished. One of the dishes that features in most West African homes is Jollof Rice. Maybe, some day, I will share the secrets of Jollof with you 🙂
I dance a lot too. Not the gymnastic, acrobatic tumbling all over the place, but I dance virtually everyday to the tunes of my music of the moment. However, I guess except I turn to you-tubing, I may not be able to teach you much about my dancing.
I write ever so often. I don’t bother tallying the amount of time that I spend penning something because writing to me is akin to breathing, laughing, reflecting and crying through my fingers.
I have been known to write on serviettes or tiny bits of receipts to catch that fleeting thought – and you need to see me on the days that I am scrambling through my bag trying to find that little piece of tissue on which I wrote something 😉
I actively search out ways to maintain a balance of my inner peace of mind in a chaotic life.
I am not a religious fanatic, but I am unapologetically a Christian.
At most times, I am a peaceful, humorous, friendly, loving and hopefully a kind human.
Let me share with you the little things that I do to create peace within and around. Maybe, we share somethings in common:
These things translate to my inner peace which leads to external peace. What one does not have they cannot give.
So what will you teach me today? I am listening 🙂
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The Daily Post prompt Teach your bloggers well.
We all know how to do something well — write a post that teaches readers how to do something you know and/or love to do.
![1448535529332[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/14485355293321.jpg)
Bending over to stoke the firewood, blowing at it with gusto and fanning the crackling flames till they lit; putting kerosene into the stove and lighting it’s wicks with an ignited single broomstick; manipulating the gas cooker to lower the heat from burning the beans or rice while I snatched a quick five minutes read in the bathroom, were my early forays in the kitchen. I was caught young!
Naturally this has gravitated towards keeping my brood and my dear Himself nourished over the years and I believe that in most homes this is usually the case – the mother automatically assumes the kitchen chef position.
I certainly know the way to his heart by keeping his tummy nicely sated with good tasting yumminess 🙂
It has been my primary responsibility over the years and I dare say that I can whip up a decent meal and efficiently too.
Since that is the case, it goes without debate that I am the best cook in my domain.
However, there are have been days that Himself develops a desire to become a culinary artist and Myself simply puts up her feet and watch’s my kitchen transform into an operation desert storm 😉
I don’t mutter a word of discouragement so that the waves of culinary want-to-do will hit more often.
I simply go ahead and enjoy eating every bite whipped up by Himself, with a deep hum of appreciation and a sink load of dirty pots and pans.
Do you enjoy whipping up some yummy stuff or is there a Himself in your life, who is a culinary artist turning your kitchen into an area hit by a thunder storm?
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
NaBloPoMo – Thursday, November 26
If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving today (or even if you’re not!), tell us about the best cook in your family.
In these season of glad tidings, may we find it in the generosity of our hearts to extend our kindness to others who least expect it from us.
A lot of times, we may have far more than we really need to eat and drink, while so many people are suffering and hungry.
If we share the little that we have with someone who doesn’t have, it might even be better than we think.
It may not be our duty to give to these people, but we should also remember that no one wants to be in a beggaring position and that an act of kindness no matter how small, is never a wasted effort.
I will crave your indulgence in sharing a personal story. I hesitate, because in my frame of mind, good deeds done towards others are between me, the recipient and God.
These gestures are not things that I wish to publicize, but I just want to share one of the times when I have reaped unprecedented fruits which I believe were the result of kindness.
Several years ago in Lagos, I had a catering outfit which had started out small just to test the waters.
I pursued and got contracts to service some corporate bodies with hot meals, finger foods etc, and I would always join my staff to attend to these customers, sharing a word, smiles and general chit-chat.
At the end of each day that we worked, left over food was shared to those who could not afford to buy these meals. Many of them were total strangers on the streets who were destitute.
This went on consistently for a while and though one or two people thought that it was being wasteful (because they felt that we could still serve some of the leftover the following day) but I never saw it that way and as a matter of principle, we shared everything to the last spoon.
I recall that on one of the days, a poor man came up to my vehicle to thank us for all the food that he had been receiving and he was almost in tears.
I was a bit embarrassed to see a grown man scrounging for food and I told him that it was not a problem and that so long as I was catering in the vicinity, we would give him something to eat.
Anyway to cut a long story short, we continued giving as much as we could.
Not too long after, my small scale business exploded.
It became inundated with so much demand that we could hardly keep up and I had to turn down some jobs at the onset of the deluge.
I had contracts crawling out of the woodwork’s and falling all over my company, that the only way to go was to expand fast in other to manage the demand.
I quickly employed more hands, bought a second delivery bus, and within the space of four months thereafter, I saw myself entertaining the idea of building my own structure which had not been in my plan because the rented space that I was using got too small.
Nothing had prepared me for such breakthrough.
In a quick wave, I had realized sufficient capital to build and equip a modern medium-scaled bakery and a kitchen.
This project ran into millions of Naira (Nigerian currency) without a single loan from anybody, but gains realized from the overflow of business that rained on me.
Some might call it coincidence and hard work, but I called it divine intervention. I called it spiritual uplifting. I called it OPEN HEAVENS!
Whatever part of the World you might be in; from London to Tokyo, US to Zimbabwe, Japan to Ottawa, Venezuela to Nigeria, Cambodia to Paris, Russia to the moon, these principles remain the same!
I am not advising that your giving should be tied with expecting something in return, but that the law of nature works that way.
Gratitude makes what we have enough and more, while generosity opens up the store house of harvest for us.
The wise words of the Bible says that, ”when you open your hands to give, you equally open your hands to receive.”
”We must give in other to get more. It is the generous giving of ourselves that produces the generous harvest” – Orison Swett Marden.
”Generosity consists not of the sum given, but the manner in which it is bestowed” – Mahatma Gandhi
”We can do no great things, only small things with great love” – Mother Theresa
Thank you izzyasabee for your invitation to participate in the 3 quote challenge.
I would like to invite these 3 lovely bloggers to participate in the 3 quote challenge.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
There are times when people pass on and you wonder…
Was it that we didn’t pray enough?
Was it that we waited too long to pray?
Was it this and was it that?
Then it dawns on you once again!
That The Scourge of Death,
Though a most unwanted visitor,
Is the only certainty in the cycle of life.
And will call at His own time!
Like seasons come and go,
So does the life cycle of man!
Rest in peace, my lady.
Your absence will be felt.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
Image credit: Funcrisp.com
Have you ever had a mill stone tied around your neck? No? You are not sure? Well, unforgiveness is a mill stone!
Bearing grudges does not only feel like the weight of an albatross sitting on your neck, it is giving free rental space in the hardware of ones brain to issues better tossed out.
Forgiveness frees your heart and mind in ways that are beyond measure.
I forgive, not even for the sake of the person who has offended me, but to set myself free.
You forgive for your own sake, because not forgiving is called slow poison.![1448465122541[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/14484651225411.jpg)
This poison taints your heart, taints your mind, taints your life and it is a hindrance to the fullness of your joy because it will always remain a dark shadow and an acid leaching away at the insides of the unburdened.
It is a given that somethings may happen to us that makes us feel as if we can never get past it to the level of forgiveness, but indeed we can, when we seek the grace, even if we don’t forget the incident because it is difficult to delete certain memories that have become ingrained in our memory banks.
However, our minds are very resilient and will fight for us if we give it the chance to. Sometimes, if I am mad at someone and they are within reach, I simply unburden my grudge and move on. It is not worth nights of lost sleep. Not one bit.
I speak deeply from painful life experiences that I thought would make me cynical, embittered and an unforgiving soul.
…But love set me free! I had to actively seek peace, forgive and let go for me to be free indeed. It was so bad at a point that I secretly wished every imaginable ill on Earth on the offender and when I say that it took the serenity and the divine grace of God to expunge my bitterness, I don’t mince my words.
When I accepted those words ”daughter you are loosed” over my life, my joy burst through that no dam could contain it. Now all I feel is pity! Maybe, one day, I shall speak of these things.
It took learning to realize that even though forgiveness does not excuse a behaviour, it prevents that behaviour from destroying one’s heart.
Forgiving was unlocking the door to set a captive free and that captive was me.
Not forgiving meant empowering the enemy some more and remaining a victim.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The Daily Post prompt I Can’t Stay Mad At You.
Do you hold grudges or do you believe in forgive and forget?
How would you feel if you are at a cocktail party or any social gathering, where several chit-chats are going on in small circles and you are stuck with a Mr/Ms Know-it-all, who is busy spouting boring bunkum over a singular topic that would probably put you to sleep at the get go; no matter how much you try to steer them into a more interesting topic?
Your ears will twitch and strain in a giraffic eavesdropping attempt to catch morsels of discussion going on across the room, where every body looks animatedly engaged, while you nod in mindless agreement to phrases and lip movement’s of a conversation that lost your attention 2 minutes after it started
I bet you, once you think it is polite enough, you would definitely find the quickest and possibly a dumb excuse; usually a visit to the rest-room always comes in handy, then make a fast get-away, only to slink back in and go over to join the merry crowd who are laughing off their heads and having a swell time.
I definitely don’t want to be that boring bunkum that you want to escape from!
I love to know bits and pieces of this and that, even if I don’t know all of them with the proficiency of an expert, at least let me know enough to hold a sensible, intelligent and entertaining discourse.![1448372992825[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/14483729928251.jpg)
Certainly, there are people who are designed to be experts in physics and geology and what not but, I am simply not one of them!
My interests are so diverse that sometimes I wonder when on Earth I am going to be able to experience doing them all!
Serious consideration on making a bucket list as long as ever, is currently on-going on my part, so that I can start prioritizing those things that I want to do or learn to the best of my ability and for my own pleasure.
Maybe it is due to my spirit that seeks to find beauty and fulfillment in everything that I see that pushes my desire for a bit of knowledge of diverse things.
I would rather have a spicy and flavorful life of bits and pieces of knowledge than a staid, cold custard of expertise.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
NaBloPoMo Prompt – November 25, 2015
Do you think its better to be a recognized expert for one thing or known to be really good at a lot of things.
United we stand!
BLOGGERS UNITE FOR PEACE!
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We are normal, everyday hard-working people with a common hobby, blogging. We hail from far and wide. We reside in different lands, on different continents. We speak different languages, eat different foods, and are of varying ages, professions, and religious and cultural backgrounds.
We do have one thing in common…
We believe that terrorist attacks, wherever they may be perpetrated; whether in France, Tunisia, Canada, Iraq, or in Denmark, Turkey, UK, Algeria, Yemen, USA, Lebanon, or in the skies over Egypt, or in India, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Kuwait, Libya, Bangladesh, Syria, or…
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I am thankful for those celebrating Thanksgiving. I am still waiting for the invite from you, to come over to baste and eat the Turkey, since I am too far away to join the fun, I will simply drool over the photos.
For journey mercies, I thank you Lord. These are no longer days where men set off nonchalantly, undertaking far distance journeys without a thought given to the safety of the journey. 
As I continue to be grateful for the simple things of life, today, I am most grateful for the safe return of my husband from trips across Continents.
Yesterday, close to 10p.m when he was boarding his flight after the usual security checks, he called to tell me that they would soon take off.
We had a little chat and in-between, he started talking about his life insurance scheme (I knew that he was saying that to me, just in case of eventuality, but I did not want to fill my heart and mind with any negative thoughts), I simply said to him, we will talk more about that when you get home and in my heart I silently uttered another word of prayer for mercy and grace to be their guide.
I refuse to let the spirit of present fear dictate the pace of my life because that will simply suck the joy juice out of it.
I choose instead for my mind to remain in the state of praise, thanksgiving and grace, since it is a gift that I can give myself and expend without fear of it finishing irrespective of whatever the situation of things might be.
Have a grateful heart today. I want to thank Colline and Maria Jansson for the gratitude challenge platforms that you both present.
Regards,
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
Your delightful presence would be most welcome to a cosy dinner party that I am hosting.
You know how I love to liven things up and I can assure you that you will have a most relaxing and delicious experience.
I wouldn’t want to let too much cat out of the bag but I want to titillate your senses just a wee bit.
An exquisite and sumptuous banquet from top culinary artists will be laid out to feast on.
We would have the most entertaining dinner guests of the past few centuries, in the names of Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Ernest Hemingway, Leonardo Da Vinci, William Shakespeare, Wolfgang Mozart, Chinua Achebe and James Brown.
Da Vinci will be seated between Jane and Charlotte where he will spend the evening admiring their profiles and twiddling his thumbs in earnest desire to cast them into esteemed timeless art pieces like the Mona Lisa.
Shakespeare will be at one side of Jane where he will whisper naughty poetic nonsense to her and Jane will definitely reply him with Pride but without Prejudice.
James will ensconce himself beside Charlotte as well and listen to her tales of Jane Eyre and her enduring love for Rochester. He will do a little footwork under the table to her blushing chagrin and admiration.
Mozart will keep us entertained with his sublime piano concertos and intermittently, Ernest would recite his poetry’s that will make us feel intelligent and at peace.
Respected Achebe would recline in deep appreciation of his company while penning ‘So Long a letter’ to his pal Mariama Ba about how things seem to be coming together at my dinner party (and not falling apart like in his book ‘Things Fall Apart).
He would also emphasize on the fact that under my auspices, every one is now at ease and also not like in his novel ‘No Longer at Ease’ which had been written after a rather poor dinner outing with the Westerns 😉
RSVP as quickly as possible and do tell me you would grace us with your presence.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The Daily Post prompt Seat Guru
You get to plan a dinner party for 4-8 of your favorite writers/artists/musicians/other notable figures, whether dead or alive. Who do you seat next to whom in order to inspire the most fun evening?
Image credit: Zazzle.com
a cooking pot and twisted tales 