Who Knew Red Split Lentils Could Do THIS?! 😲✨

Hey guys, welcome to Maryam’s Joyful Life blog!

Today is a beautiful day, and I’m excited to share a post with you that’s filled with family, food, fun—and a little surprise ingredient that blew my mind.

So… Red Split Lentils. Who knew they existed and could make such amazing akara?

At least not me. I know, right? You might be thinking, “Maryam, how could you not know that?” But honestly, I didn’t—until a few weeks ago when I came to London to visit my amazing big sister.

Now, let me tell you something about my sister—she knows her food. Like, really knows her food. I’m convinced she could be a top-tier taste tester if she ever decided to change careers. She’s not a professional chef, though. She’s a businesswoman, a true BAWSE lady, making big moves and doing big things. But even with her busy schedule, she still finds time to throw down in the kitchen like nobody’s business.

She introduced me to akara made with red split lentils, and whew—mind blown. It’s light, crispy, fluffy, and everything akara dreams are made of. She taught me her recipe (thank you, sis!), and I’m definitely bringing it back to America. My Sweetman has already dropped hints that he’d love to try my version, and even the kids have been loving it. I’ve posted a picture of the red lentils here on the blog so you’ll know exactly which kind to get. Keep an eye out—I’ll be dropping her secret recipe soon, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it.

Now onto another delightful surprise—oatmeal, but not just any oatmeal. This one is made by none other than my nephew Showers—yes, Showers with an S! As in Showers of Blessings (and believe me, he lives up to his name!).

Let me tell you, Showers’ oatmeal has the kids raving. And I mean raving. The kind of raving that makes you question your own cooking skills as a mom. 😂 I had to pull him aside and ask, “Okay, what is this magic you’re doing?”

Here’s how he makes it:

1. Start by boiling milk on the stovetop.
2. Add a little sugar—just enough to sweeten the deal.
3. Then stir in your oats and mix until it becomes a creamy, dreamy, heavenly mixture.

The result? Perfection. Creamy, warm, comforting, and kid-approved. I’ve already made it twice for the kids here in the UK, and all I hear is “Oooh!” and “Aaah!” followed by empty bowls. It’s THAT good. I promise to post a quick recipe for that too, and I’m sure Showers won’t mind… Right, Showers? 😂

I feel so grateful for this sweet time with my family. Being here in London has not only filled my heart but also expanded my recipe book—and tastebuds—in the best way possible. It’s a joy learning new things, especially from the people I love.

If you want to give Showers’ creamy oatmeal a try or start prepping to make the red lentil akara, stay tuned to the blog.

And while you’re here, remember to check out MaryamsJoyfulLifeLuxuryVacation.com for all your travel planning needs. We’re creating unforgettable travel experiences for families like yours!

🌟 Want to support a good cause?

Please consider donating to our nonprofit, Dream Big Corp, where we’re feeding families, helping small businesses, supporting seniors, and spreading hope both in the U.S. and Nigeria.

👉 Click here to donate now

Until next time,

Keep smiling, stay joyful, and never stop learning in the kitchen or in life!

With love,

Maryam 💕

BAKING WITH MY BABY GIRL

 

Good afternoon all. I hope this blog meets you in great spirit. Today is a great day and I am so excited to post a new blog as always. This is about my sweet baby girl, Zozo. Zozo wanted cookies and we baked some together. Zoe surprises me everyday with her sass and communication ability. Watch the video and see what we did.

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

BEST CHICKEN RECIPE FOR ANYONE|| EASY TO MAKE

Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. I hope this blog meets you well. Today is a beautiful day. Thank you for stopping by today. In today's blog, I want to share the easiest and best chicken recipe I ever tried. It so happens that I came up with it lol...

I used to make complcated chicken strips but never really got the texture or taste I really loved until now. 

What you need:

10 Boneless, skinless chicken strips

Progresso Bread crumbs

Zatarains Creole seaoning

Vegetable oil     

Combining Ingredients

Place 10 skineless, boneless chicken strips

into a mixing bowl

Add a teaspoon of Zatarains seasoning

Mix seasoning until chicken is covered

Add 1/3 cup Progresso bead crumbs and mix

Set chicken aside

Add 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil to a frying pan

Let heat for about 3 minutes at medium high heat

place chicken strips in oil and let side cook for 3 minutes

flip over and let other side cook for another 3 minutes

Lower heat to medium and let cook for another 2 minutes per side

Life chicken out of oil and place on a flat plate

Let cook for 3-5 minutes 

Now you are readty to eat with any dipping sauce of your choice

My baby girl prefers ketchup

I hope this inpired your culinary curiosity. 

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

MY MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE

 

Good mornign wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. Thank you for checking out my blog today. Here is a recipe for you. Enjoy!

Get the book here: www.maryamsjoyfullifeapparel.com

SIMPLE MAC AND CHEESE

Here’s what you will need:

A box of Barilla pasta or any kind you have

1 tbsp of olive oil

1 tsp of salt

3 ½ cups of mild cheddar cheese or American cheese

1 Quart heavy cream or 946ml

3 cups of water

A saucepan

½ tsp ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Set stove at medium high heat

Place saucepan over stove with 3 cups of water

Let water boil

Add olive oil

Add pasta to boiling water

Let cook for 8 minutes

Drain water

Turn stove down to medium heat

Add milk

Add salt and black pepper

Stir until well combined

Add cheese

Stir content until well combined

Cover pot and let cook for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted

Turn off stove

Let cool for 5 minutes and serve!

Don't ley anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

Picture is from https://bakingmischief.com/quick-mac-and-cheese-for-one/

HAPPY LABOR DAY|| PECAN PIE RECIPE

 Good morning, wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. I am grateful for the grace to be alive today. I hope you are also. Today is a beautiful day. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life. 

So, it is Labor Day in America and I am happy to make this post in honor of the amazing men and women in the workforce and business who keep the engine of society flowing. To teachers, nurses, doctors, first responders, military, builders, essential workers, business men and women, pastors, spiritual leaders, mothers and fathers, Thank you! Everyone who contributes to making the lives of others better, thank you! We are all in this together. May God bless and keep all of us In Jesus Name. Amen!

May the the Angels of peace, love, healing, joy, protection and abundance surround each and everyone of us now and forever, Amen!

Now let's make this day one of celebration for all. 

Here's my favorite holiday pie recipe. Enjoy!

This recipe is from:  https://celebratingsweets.com/maple-pecan-pie/

Ingredients

Pie crust (or use your favorite 9-inch deep dish unbaked pie crust):

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• 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough

• ▢

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

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• ½ teaspoon salt

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• ½ cup chilled unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

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• ¼ cup ice water, plus more, if needed

Filling:

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• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

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• 1 cup packed light brown sugar

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• ⅔ cup pure maple syrup

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• ½ teaspoon salt

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• 3 large eggs

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• ¼ teaspoon maple extract OR 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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• 2 cups chopped pecans, toasted, if desired*

• ▢

• non-stick baking spray

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• flaky finishing salt

Instructions

Pie crust:

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add the cubed butter and use your fingers or a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour, doing so until the butter is broken down into pea-sized pieces. Add ¼ cup ice water and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the dough starts coming together. Then use your hands to bring the dough together. If necessary, add another tablespoon of cold water. The dough should just be sticking together. Try not to overwork it.

2. Transfer the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap. Flatten it into a disc and wrap it up. Roll the edges of the crust on the countertop (like a wheel) to smooth out the edges. Transfer to your refrigerator for 1 hour (or up to 2 days). Note: If you're planning on toasting your pecans, now would be the time to do it.

3. Let the pie crust sit at room temperature for several minutes until it is no longer rock-hard, but still cold (this will depend on how long it was the fridge). Roll out the dough on a floured surface until it is a 12-13 inch circle.

4. Lightly spritz a 9-inch deep dish pie plate with non-stick spray, then transfer the crust to the pie plate. Trim and fold/crimp the excess crust around the edges. Place the crust in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes while you prepare the filling.

Filling:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add brown sugar and maple syrup and whisk until smooth and combined. Bring the mixture to a low simmer (bubbles forming around the perimeter of the pan), then remove from the heat. Pour the mixture into a bowl to cool for 15 minutes.

2. Add eggs, salt and extract to the syrup mixture, whisking until combined.

3. Sprinkle the chopped pecans in the bottom of the uncooked pie crust. Pour the syrup mixture over the pecans, rearranging the pecans if necessary. Lightly spritz a piece of foil with non-stick spray. Cover the pie with foil and bake in the center to lower third of the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, then continue baking for another 15-25 minutes (approximately), until the edges are set but the center of the pie is still a bit jiggly (like gelatin). Sprinkle the top of the pie with a few sprinkles of flaky finishing salt. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely, then transfer to the refrigerator. Serve at room temperature with Tillamook Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream.

How To Make Maple Pecan Pie:

1. Line a pie plate with a standard pie crust (use my homemade recipe or your favorite pie crust). Place the pie crust in the refrigerator while you assemble the filling.
2. Heat butter, brown sugar and maple syrup in a small saucepan until smooth and combined.
3. Whisk eggs, maple extract, and salt into the syrup mixture.
4. Sprinkle pecans over the bottom of the unbaked pie crust, then pour over the liquid mixture.
5. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

I hope this inspired you. I love eating pecan pie during the holidays with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream and it always does the trick. 

Thank you for checking out my blog today. Have a delightful Labor Day!

MARYAM

Don't let anybody steal your joy!

BAKED CHICKEN AND POTATOES RECIPE|| FEATURING YOUTUBE'S COOK WITH LIZ

 

What's up wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. I hope this blog meets you well. Today is a beautiful day. Thank you all for joining me. You guys are so amazing. Today we are sharing an amazing recipe from one of my friends and subscribers Lizzie. Check her out on Cooking with Liz . Please subscribe to her and let her know I sent you.

Here's what you will need in Lizzie's own words

How to easily prepare baked chicken and potatoes dinner dish. Here are the spices that I used to season my chicken. You can use your own spices. Paprika, All Seasoning, Lemon Pepper, Salt, Roasted Garlic Powder and ground ginger.

Here is the video please watch:

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

MY HOMEMADE GRAVY RECIPE

 

Good morning, wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. Thank you all for checking out my blog today. I am so happy that you are here. Today is tasty Tuesday and I am excited to share my gravy recipe with you. It is absolutely delicious and my children love it. I hope this inspires your culinary curiosity.

EASY HOMEMADE GRAVY

What you will need:

2 packets of .87 oz brown gravy mix

¼ tsp salt

½ tsp crushed red peppers

½ tsp knorr beef bouillon powder

2 tbsp all purpose flour

¼ cup chopped onions

1  tbsp olive oil

 

DIRECTIONS:

Place a saucepan over medium high heat

Let heat for 2 minutes

Add oil to saucepan

Let heat for 2 minutes

Add onions

Cook until onion is translucent

Get a mixing bowl

Open gravy mix and pour into bowl

Add 2 cups of water

Add all spices

Mix until you get a loose batter

Empty bowl content into saucepan

Stir saucepan content until onion mixes well with gravy

Taste for salt taste

Add a sprinkle of salt as needed

Cover pan and let boil

Keep an eye on pot to handle overflow

Turn off stove and let pot sit on heat for 5 more mins

Let cool for 5 minutes

 Serve over mashed potatoes and rice or even biscuits

If you want more recipes like this, please get my simple cookbook:https://www.maryamsjoyfullifeapparel.com/listing/12-easy-dinner-recipes?product=1451

Don't Let Anybody Steal Your Joy!

Maryam

Cashapp $maryamsjoyfullife

Thank you!