The Common Woman

Source: projectcasting

I don't want to be tagged a feminist. However, I don't think "the female" should be treated like a lesser being. I don't want a tag to who I Am when it comes to gender. I just believe we should all let our conscience guide our actions, especially when it comes to how we treat each other as human beings. I believe in the The Word "do unto others as you want others to do to you".

That being said, I will like to move on to the reason for this post. We all love and appreciate women that are doing it big in the industries. Women making the headlines, bringing change in their various sectors and exploring waters that are male dominated. These women deserve the standing ovation they get from us aspiring to be like them. However, we should not forget to appreciate the everyday common woman. 

Not all female tailors can be fashion designers with famous brands. If they all are. Who will sew your DA Viva Ankara or Aso ebi materials at affordable rates and within a reasonable time.

Not all caterers/cooks can own a fine dining restaurant like René Redzepi's Noma. If they all had fine dining, who will prepare that delicious firewood jollof rice for your wedding. Or will we all be glad if there was no longer "mama put" spots around?

I know that pepper/vegetable seller and pepper grinder in my estate has saved me from having so many failed dinners. The way they pick and chop that ugwu leaves.... So fast ... I always watch in awe. 

All around me, I see women working hard, trying to sustain their families and making a livelihood for themselves... The Cooks... The Cleaners on street of Lagos and your homes... The fish Sellers... Many are not appreciated because they are not the picture of the success we aspire. The least I can say is about the Common Woman is that she hardly settles to becoming an armed robber, kidnapper or a hoodlum / thug on the street, especially when compared to the Common Man counterpart.

It looks like I am just ranting a lot of words, but I am just trying to shine some form of light on women doing jobs that no one recognizes but yet their non-existence will make life a bit inconvenient for us. 

My New Breakfast Obsession: Oat

When I was growing up, Oat was a breakfast option I never liked. In fact, I despised it, but my mother made us take it. About a few years ago, I became more conscious of what I ate and oats became an option I started to consider. Now I am not saying that I "fell in like" with it, far from it, I still dreaded mornings I planned it as a breakfast option. I just took it because it was healthy for me, high in fiber and I could take it with left over fruits. To be honest, I end up trashing it because it goes stale in my pantry.

However, the story has changed now. I discovered oat flour and my mornings with an oat breakfast is something I look forward to now.

What is Oat Flour?

Oats can be further processed into coarse powder. It becomes Oat Flour.

How I Make Oats Flour

Ingredients

- Whole grain Oat (preferably organic ones, but any one will still do the job)

Time: Less than 3 Minutes

Equipment Needed

- Blender (dry food blender) or Food processor (I prefer a blender because it was faster than my food processor)

Instruction

- Put as much oats as you need into the blender. I will advise that the oats are higher than the blender's blades. This enables the blender to blend the content better.

- Blend the oats until it becomes fine.

- Store in an air tight dry food container until ready for use.

Result

- Close to a flour consistency, just a bit coarser

Tips: Most Blenders can get the job done. I use my wet food blender too. If using a wet food blender, You might need a spatula to stir the content every now and then when it's blending. Blend for like 20 seconds first, then stir the oats, blend for 10 seconds again and keep repeating until you get your desired result.

My oat flour is used in everything from breakfast meal to pancakes. Recipes of how I use it is coming soon in other posts.