A lot can go wrong with a meal when the cook has not learned some secrets from more experienced hands. A long time ago, I learned that when cooking with dried fish, you have to rinse off the excess salt with cold water before you begin, and taste to determine if you have enough salt already before you attempt to add any.
You see, salt is used to preserve fish and several foods. It’s effective because it draws out moisture from the food and thus impairs the growth of food-spoiling microbes. In fact, Bethany Moncel, in her article – Six functions of salt in food – states that many disease causing microbes are unable to grow in the presence of salt. Interesting.
I am yet to see a fully stocked kitchen that doesn’t have salt in it. This ingredient is a must have and is used in several meals. Even some desserts have a pinch or some other small measure of salt in the recipe because small amounts of salt intensify sweetness. I use it in my chocolate cakes – super yummy. So apart from its own flavor, salt enhances other flavors.
Did you know that salt counteracts bitter flavors in food? I just found out; and salt also reacts with some food molecules to release additional flavors that make the food more aromatic. Awesome. No wonder Jesus calls us the *SALT OF THE EARTH. So as salt is to food, so we are to the earth – preservatives and flavoring agents.
In preserving, we are to create an unconducive environment for anything that seeks to spoil, damage, corrupt or bring about decay and death in our spheres of influence. Preserve your earth – the people, systems, and environment around you. It seems we’ll need to pay attention, observe the trends, identify the problems and the root cause, and then do something about it. Our role is definitely not to stand by and do nothing.
As flavor enhancers we have to endeavor to bring out the best in every person and every system we interact with. Seek to add value always and to make things better. There’s a poster I saw in a public restroom a while back. It said ‘Please leave this toilet better than you met it’. That says a lot.
Be aware and live like one who is aware of the fact that you are the salt of the earth. This truly pleases God.
Everyone knows what’s up in Nigeria. I’m thrilled. You can almost touch the hope in the air and each breath feels like a dose of reassurance that our country’s headed in the right direction and a new Nigeria is emerging. I’m glad about this. I believe this Nation is rising again and we’ll be pleased with what we become in months and years to come.
But this is also a good time for you to make changes in your personal affairs; changes that will bring about a better you – a more effective, efficient and valuable you. And you can always make that plan today. Like Winston Churchill said, ‘He who fails to plan is planning to fail’. So go ahead and make that plan and run with it as much as you can. Be faithful in your little beginning and soon enough the platform will present itself for you to do more.
So, think about it. In this season of change, what are you going to change in your own life that will add up in some way to the efforts of others to bring about the change we all want to see?
Photo credit – nairaland.com
Everywhere we look today, we still see giants. This time, they’re not necessarily 9-11 feet tall but some of them still are intimidating and seemingly insurmountable. They show up in different sectors of the economy, in our businesses, in raising our children, in keeping the family together in unity, in improving the quality of education in our schools, in communicating the right values to our protégés and leaving a legacy for future generations, and in national transformation.
I know for sure that just as there was a David for Goliath, there are people everywhere with just the right skills, passion, experience and grace to take on the giants we see today. Yes! Someone has to get the job done. These giants don’t just turn and walk away. They stay there, consistently trying to strike the hearts of people with fear and keep them from advancing. Goliath stayed on for 40 days until David dealt with him.
The interesting thing is, no one would have thought David could do it. He didn’t look like a giant slayer at all. He wasn’t even old enough to be in the army. But he had all that was required to get the job done and he knew it. It’s a good thing he didn’t count himself out because of all the ‘you don’t qualify’ speeches he was hearing. And that brings me to you. Before you join the majority of people complaining about this issue that you’re so passionate about, look within and see. Perhaps you are the one that is to solve the problem and the whole world is waiting for you to take down that giant.
Take some time to consider those issues today. Have you got what it takes to fix them?
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