TFA-Cuisine+and+recipes

Cuisines and Recipes Commonly Found in Umuofia:

 * **Yams** are constantly referenced in this story, but you may not know what they are. Yams are very similar to potatoes in that they are a starchy tuber as well. You may think of sweet potatoes when you hear the word "yam", but it is not the case. Yams and sweet potatoes are indeed not the same thing. They are a valuable resource in Africa because they can be stored for more than six months without going bad.
 * **Foo foo (Fu fu, Foufou, Foutou, Foo-foo)** is a dish that is very similar to mashed potatoes in many ways. It is starchy and goes good with soups or saucy dishes. Foo foo is usually made from yams; though it is made differently in many other cultures of Africa. One thing all the different recipes of Foo foo have in common is that they all require boiling, pounding, and vast amounts of stirring until it is thick and smooth. Steps to making Foo foo:
 * 1) Gather three to four pounds of yams and one teaspoon of butter.
 * 2) Puts the yams in a large pot with water and heat to water to a boil.
 * 3) When the yams are nice and soft, drain the water out and cool the yams with water.
 * 4) Remove the peels from the yams and place the yams in a bowl.
 * 5) Mash the yams with a potato masher then beat and stir the yams until smooth.
 * 6) Shape the yams into a ball and serve immediately.
 * **Kola nuts** are a nut found in more than 125 genus of trees. Kola nuts have a very bitter taste and were usually chewed upon by the bearer. They contain caffeine and were originally used by the Coca Cola company to produce their beverage. They have a brown, outer shell and a reddish inside.
 * **Alligator pepper** is a spice found in western Africa. Even in west Africa, it is very expensive and used sparingly. Generally, they take a single pod and mash them in a mortar and pestle. It is often added into stews or rice for a very unique, delicious, and rare flavor.
 * **Fried plantains** are a very tasty treat. Plantains are very similar to a banana in shape. Steps to making Fried Plantains:
 * 1) You need a quart of oil (for frying) and two (overly ripe is generally best) plantains.
 * 2) Preheat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
 * 3) Peel the plantains, cut them in half, and slice the halves lengthwise into thin pieces.
 * 4) Fry the plantains until brown and tender. If the plantains are green, they will need to be fried again and flattened between the fryings. Drain the excess oil in a paper towel.