Nigeria+-+FCP-+PD1+-+SP11

How is that society's food a reflection of the beliefs? behaviors?
The food in Africa, specifically Nigeria, is highly reflected of their culture. This is because there are so many ethnic groups. The foods represent creative responses to radical and economic oppression, and poverty. The food is also highly suited to the physically demanding lives of laborers and farmhands, etc. Under slavery, the Africans were not allowed to eat better cuts of meat. Also, many people were too poor to afford the meat. Nigerian food has a great variety due to a great variety of ethnic groups. The Unity among the people in Nigeria influences them to eat meals together. Since Nigerian food is a combination of cultural influences of many tribes, there is a huge variation in the recipes. Additionally, palm oil is a common factor in almost all dishes. Production of food items is so high that food items are exported to other countries. For beliefs, Nigeria has a festival each year called the Arungu and is a fishing fest ival that marks the end of the growing season and the time for harvest. Next, there is a Benin festival. This is a festival held at the end of the rainy season and after the harvests have been gathered. Finally, when people cook, they often eat at home but they cook for anyone who may stop by. This societies food is a reflection of the cultures beliefs because they celebrate the fact that they have enough good food and enough for everybody to eat. Also, food is a major part of Nigerian rituals. It reflects their behaviors because it is considered rude for anyone to not invite guests to eat with them after they have visited. Many of the foods represent responses to past hard times and troubles. Nigerian food brings people together and helps them celebrate.

In what way does food represent the cultural norms of the greater region?

Nigerian food has a great variety, as there exists a great number of ethnic groups in Nigeria. However with time, the unity among the people in Nigeria influenced them to have their meals together. Nigerian foods are diverse and exciting.They are often unrefined natural foods, rich in dietary fibers, low GI carbohydrates and a wide range of highly nutritious and vitamin rich combination. Their food represents cultural norms because before the different ethnic groups ate meals by themselves but now they eat together, which is now normal for the region. Also the nutritious food of Nigerians represents their values of health, but at the same time, tasty food. Food for the rich is also very westernized and supermarkets contain many westernized prepa c kaged or canned foods. Other food is a combination of traditional and western cuisine. Rural Nigerians eat traditional foods with traditional preparation techniques. New food and traditional food bring together Nigerians around the dinner table.

List 4 cultural dishes and why the reflect that society's culture?

Meat Pies reflect the culture because it is a mixture of cultures into one dish. It is similar to a Jamaican meat patty, or an empanada. Meat Pies also allow for diversity in the dish, Nigerians can use whatever meat or vegetables they have on hand.

Jollof Rice reflects the culture because it has an influence from other countries. Jollof rice is a unique dish mad e of fried plantains. Jollof rice is the most common of all the staple food for any occasion in Nigeria.

Fufu reflects the culture because it has ingredients from different parts of Nigeria. In the household Fufu is made often for anytime of the day. This dish can show the different areas of the country coming together. Fufu is reflective of Nigerian culture beca us e they commonly grind flower with vegetables to make a paste.

Chin Chin reflects the culture because it is simple, easy, and fast to make. It is very similar to the dish we are making, known as Puff Puff. During social events such as weddings, and gatherings it is given as a small snack. Chin Chin and puff puff both have the same consistency of funnel cake.

Why is food important to that culture? (Other than sustenance, of course!)

Food is not only a main necessity for anyone and everyone it also represent ones culture. In Nigeria food is used for celebrations, house warming, and gifts. If you where a guest in someone’s home, it would be proper to bring food to show your gratitude (depending on the occasion). Bigger celebrations such engagements require a bigger item such as a goat, chicken, and if wealthy a cow. Many times people who have done wrong, they would bring food to ask for forgiveness. Food is used for multiple reasons, during holidays animals would be ki l led, cooked, and eaten as the main course. To Nigerian's it is very important to not waste food ; it is looked at as a sign of disrespect. Their motto is "only take as much as you can eat." As you can see food in Nigeria is very important to their culture.

Puff Puff: **Ingredients** Put the floor in a bowl, add the butter, yeast, suga r and ground nutmeg. Mix all these together. Add water in small quantities and mix everything by hand till you have a good blend of all the ingredients. Use warm water to mix the puff puff ingredients if you want it to rise faster. **Note:** The softer you want your puff puff, the more water you should add but ensure that you do not add too much water to avoid spatter during the frying stage. Keep mixing till the batter is smooth enough to flow from a wooden spoon. The mix should be a bit thicker than __pancake__ batter. Cover the bowl with a cloth napkin and put in an airtight place for instance, an oven. Leave to rise to about 2 times the original quantity. Pour some oil in a deep pan and allow to heat up. If using a deep fryer, set the preheat temperature to 170°C. **Note:** The oil should be at least 3 inches deep. This is so that the puff puff will become spherical when scooped into the oil. You don't want to end up with __Pancakes__. When the oil is hot enough, scoop some batter with a deep spoon and slowly pour into the hot oil. **Note:** If using a deep pan, test that the oil is hot enough by putting a drop of batter into the oil. If it sizzles, then the oil is hot enough. If the oil is not hot enough, the batter will go down to the bottom of the oil and stay there. Once you have confirmed that the oil is hot enough, put in more scoops of the batter, as much as the space in the frying pan will allow without overcrowding. Once the underside of the puff puff has turned golden brown, flip the ball so that the topside will be fried as well. When both sides are golden brown, take out the puff puff balls and place in a sieve lined with paper towels. The paper towels are so that the excess oil in the puff puff can be soaked away. That's how the Nigerian Puff Puff is made.
 * 250g of Plain Floor
 * 2 level tablespoons of butter
 * 2 level teaspoons of yeast (the one used in baking bread)
 * Half medium size nutmeg
 * Granulated Sugar to taste
 * Vegetable Oil (for frying)
 * Direction**

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