My Family Rituals: Sunday Sunday Rice (Jollof Rice)

Do u know most common food in Africa and Nigeria as a country is RICE? Worldwide there are more than 40,000 different varieties of rice and in Nigeria we have more than 20 ways to prepare rice in Nigeria but I will be talking about my family rituals which is done every 1st Sunday of the month, this is a Sunday meal after church called Sunday Sunday Rice, this meal was chosen because Rice is the most common food in Nigeria and everyone love Rice. In my family we must eat Rice on a Sunday afternoon and it all started in my grandfather’s house in Benin City Nigeria and now we do it in my dad’s house. I will be teaching you how to prepare this delicious meal and why it is important to my family. This are the things needed for the meal, 600g/11b rice,1 kg/21b meat or chicken,2 chilies (liquidized),1onion (liquidized),11tr/2pints stock,1onion (sliced),3 fresh tomatoes (sliced),200ml groundnut oil,Seasoning,1bayleaf,teaspoon thyme,1clove garlic,1teaspoon curry,1teaspoon of nutmeg and salt to taste. There are three steps in preparing this great meal. First we make sure we wash out hands, we must always have clean hands while cooking. After that we wash the meat or chicken, season with garlic and salt, Place to cook until tender, after that we wash the rice and leave to drain, in Nigeria we always use our hands most time while cooking that why we must always wash out hands. Secondly we heat the oil and fry the cooked meat until brown, we remove the meat from pan and fry the ground tomatoes, onions and chilies for 10minutes, and after this you go check your drained rice make sure it is well drained. Thirdly we add the tomato puree and seasonings, fry for another 5 minutes and add the washed rice and gradually add the stock, stirring continuously, reduced heat and cook for about 15minutes until nearly soft. Add the sliced tomatoes, onions and fried meats. Stir and cover allow to steam until all the liquid is well absorbed, Serve the meal in big bowls.
After all this I always serve this meal with the hot garnished piece of meat and boiled eggs. I and my cousins place the meal on the table then we call all the family members to the table, the meal will be blessed by my dad or my grandpa when he was alive, then he will thank the ladies for the meal, after that the food will be served by my mum from the oldest to the youngest of the family. I know table manners don’t allow people to talk while eating but in my family we talk while eating, it like an African thing, most family I know talk while eating it very common with the African families. In conclusion, this meal is very important to my family because it brings all the family together, we play games and talk about our problems and how we can help each other, with this Sunday meals I get to see my cousins and other members of the family. This meal brings about family bond and family unity, I love my family that is why I can’t wait for Sunday Sunday Rice.