KELEWELE

I love food, I love spices and I love food full of flavour.
Growing up in Labadi - a suburb of Accra (Ghana), kelewele {spiced plantain} was a snack that we sometimes queued to buy 2 streets away from our house. It is best served with roasted peanuts.
Imagine my delight a week ago when I realised that Pepper and Stew Ltd were offering the pre-packaged spice blend – I HAD TO BUY some!!!

After taking time off work today, I decided to make use of the kelewele spice. I blended the spice mix with medium sized onion, small scotch bonnet, fiery Ghanaian skinny ginger {a real pain to peel but worth it} and a teaspoon of water not forgetting a pinch of salt to enhance the flavour.
The paste was added to the plantain and left to “marinade” in the fridge for almost 2 hours before frying it. The end result is one glorious snack which I really enjoyed and brought back good memories of living close to the beach in Ghana.
The one down-side (for me personally) is the taste of cloves still lingering in my mouth. All in all, it is a great blend and I am really proud of PepperandStew for offering this to those of us with a diverse palate.

Akua
ethical + fair trade business
sheabuttercottage


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SCALP ISSUES : AN EXPERIMENT

Back in September this year, I had an interesting conversation about the use of baking soda + distilled water as a shampoo and wondered how many used this hair cleansing system? I posted this on our Facebook fanpage with mixed reaction

I therefore decided to try it myself.

I believe our scalp thrives best around pH of 4 -5.
I used distilled water which has a pH of around 7 [neutral], organic apple cider vinegar which has a pH of 5 [acid] and bicarbonate of soda which has a pH of 8 [alkaline].

These were separately mixed with distilled water - sodium bicarbonate solution iin the plastic jug - left of the screen and ACV in the glass jug - right of your screen.

"18.09.12:
Sodium bicarbonate is a mild exfoliant to release the dead skin cells.

Apple cider vinegar on the other hand is seen as a fungicide as dandruff could also be the result of bacteria.

I diluted ~15g of sodium bicarbonate in 270g of distilled water and used this solution to wash my hair.
Rinsed out with distilled water ~ 500g
Applied diluted apple cider vinegar - ~15g in 250g of distilled water. Massaged into my hair and rinsed out with distilled water after 5 minutes. My scalp was and has been breathing since.

Not yet oiled my scalp but neither the scalp nor hair feel dry."

Akua
Sheabutter Cottage

TROPIC ISLE LIVING BUSH BATH @ SHEABUTTER COTTAGE

Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep,
Step into a bush bath
To relax the muscles
Soon will be asleep.

BUSH BATH

TROPIC ISLE LIVING BUSH BATH/SHOWER GEL

We are excited to receive our Tropic Isle Living consignment which includes the new range of 100% natural bush bath/shower gel which can be purchased at http://akuawood.x-shops.com/product.php?productid=832&cat=42&page=1

Now here is the fun part - caption this photo below and win a bottle of ginger bush bath/shower gel.

This is open to all till midnight of 4th September 2012.

Good luck

Akua Wood
ethical + fair trade business
http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk

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TROPIC ISLE LIVING JAMAICAN BLACK CASTOR OIL

TROPIC ISLE LIVING [TIL] asks

Did you know this?

For ages throughout the Caribbean, black castor oil was and still is highly prized for its beneficial effect on the hair and scalp. Women with natural or permed hair use it to cleanse toxins and fatty deposits on the sca

lp and hair follicles that causes dandruff, dry scalp, and barber umps. It also nourishes the scalp; thickens hair roots; and stimulates hair growth. A black castor oil hot oil treatment will moisturise dry brittle hair; repair split ends; and gives the hair body, bounce and sheen.

Black castor oil is also popularly used to manage aches and pain caused by arthritis, rheumatism, joint stiffness and muscular strain. By massaging black castor oil in these it will help to sooth, cleanse and improve blood circulation to the area. It’s also used to soften corns and calluses and reduce the soreness.

Traditional healers usually recommend that women massage their breast with black castor oil to ease the soreness due to hormonal changes and to help prevent cysts and lumps from forming.

Black castor oil is also popularly used to manage aches and pain caused by arthritis, rheumatism, joint stiffness and muscular strain. By massaging black castor oil in these it will help to sooth, cleanse and improve blood circulation to the area. It’s also used to soften corns and calluses and reduce the soreness.

Traditional healers usually recommend that women massage their breast with black castor oil to ease the soreness due to hormonal changes and to help prevent cysts and lumps from forming.

Tropic Isle Living is still the trusted Jamaican Black Castor Oil brand for 18 years and counting. We are the originators…not the duplicators. Our healthy natural products come to you from many years of research and development.

Sheabutter Cottage is proud to distribute this wonderful product through.  Grab yourself a bottle and find out why some call this a miracle in a bottle: http://akuawood.x-shops.com/product.php?productid=124&cat=42&page=1

TIL - the name to trust

Akua
ethical + fair trade business
http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk

socialise with us
facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sheabuttercottage
twitter : http://www.twitter.com/akuawood
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SHEABUTTER COTTAGE @ UZIMA HOLISTIC EXPO

Your discount coupon for next Saturday Uzima Expo - just click + print BUT don't leave it behind!!!!!

*Only printed coupons will be accepted*

Buy your tickets at http://uzimaexpo.eventbrite.co.uk/?ebtv=C

Hope to see you there

Akua

Sheabutter Cottage

CIOCCOLATINA GIVEAWAY

Watch and WIN goodies from an ethical + fair trade business [http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk]

All comments to be either on our YouTube channel [http://www.youtube.com/user/sheabuttercottagehq] or facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/SheabutterCottage]


socialise with us
facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sheabuttercottage
twitter : http://www.twitter.com/akuawood
pinterest : http://pinterest.com/akuawood/