Last night, Emily and I made broth for dinner.* This is the list of things Emily did wrong, as outlined by her and as jotted down by me during the kitchen session. One, she threw out the packet which contained the cooking directions. Two, she forgot to set a timer. Three, she forgot to use a pot with a handle. Four... four I hesitate to share, but she had in her head that my decision to document the activity instead of partaking was the fourth. It was broth, I repeat, it was broth.
The food situation in Malawi has been rather tame. Remember how I always say that I love chicken so much, I could eat it for every meal. No? You don't remember that? Well I've said it -I'm sure- and meant it. And now, my chicken dreams (darn malarone) are a reality, as chicken is the backbone of my diet. Usually, it's 1/4 or 1/2 of a roasted chicken with rice or "chips" (thick potato fries) on the side. Often, the rice is served with a red sauce that my brain is interpreting as tomato sauce and not ketchup because those of you who know I love chicken also know that I have choice words for ketchup.
For snacks and lunch, we turn to the bread products, including "Obama rolls" (apparently named prior to the presidency) and old-fashioned PB&J. Obama rolls are a white bread slightly larger in size and rounder in shape than a brioche hamburger bun. They're (relatively) soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, and they have a ting of sweetness to them. Of note, I've only had 1 Obama roll so far but anticipate more. Second note: tomorrow I will have N'sima with dinner, a Malawian grain staple. To follow-up.
Emily and I have been impressed with the baked goods and meals whipped up by both our housemates (which we have 2 of, by the way) and by those in Ekwendeni who have had us over for tea. Resources, cooking appliances, and occasionally even electricity can be limited so food production is no small feat. My mother is a professional chef, justified the very kind English housemate yesterday evening, as Emily and I sipped our curry broth and she enjoyed the meat and pasta dish she threw together from leftover groceries. Of course she is, I thought. And by thought, I mean I think I said this aloud.
So let's conclude this food-focused post on an upbeat note, with a fast word on coffee- a Malawi export and an AM requirement of mine since around the seventh grade. Upon arriving in Ekwendeni I quickly secured the coffee making staples: coffee, sugar, milk. The milk is powder, the sugar granulated brown, and the coffee... The only problem with the coffee is that I am befuddled as to whether it is instant or regular. I've tried to make it both ways and am still unsure (which is sad), but I think I've remained sufficiently caffeinated nonetheless.
Alright. I've said a fair amount about food for now. For those keeping track, I'm sitting in the front yard at the moment. There's a man hacking down maize 50 meters in front of me, and there is a rooster cooing. It's only 4:30PM but we'll shortly head to the Ekwendeni Guest House for dinner: from coop to kitchen to table takes some time.
Until I write again (and write about our first focus group, I'll try!)
Rebecca
*The Ekwendeni Guest House where we eat most meals was unexpectedly closed upon arrival.
The food situation in Malawi has been rather tame. Remember how I always say that I love chicken so much, I could eat it for every meal. No? You don't remember that? Well I've said it -I'm sure- and meant it. And now, my chicken dreams (darn malarone) are a reality, as chicken is the backbone of my diet. Usually, it's 1/4 or 1/2 of a roasted chicken with rice or "chips" (thick potato fries) on the side. Often, the rice is served with a red sauce that my brain is interpreting as tomato sauce and not ketchup because those of you who know I love chicken also know that I have choice words for ketchup.
For snacks and lunch, we turn to the bread products, including "Obama rolls" (apparently named prior to the presidency) and old-fashioned PB&J. Obama rolls are a white bread slightly larger in size and rounder in shape than a brioche hamburger bun. They're (relatively) soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, and they have a ting of sweetness to them. Of note, I've only had 1 Obama roll so far but anticipate more. Second note: tomorrow I will have N'sima with dinner, a Malawian grain staple. To follow-up.
Emily and I have been impressed with the baked goods and meals whipped up by both our housemates (which we have 2 of, by the way) and by those in Ekwendeni who have had us over for tea. Resources, cooking appliances, and occasionally even electricity can be limited so food production is no small feat. My mother is a professional chef, justified the very kind English housemate yesterday evening, as Emily and I sipped our curry broth and she enjoyed the meat and pasta dish she threw together from leftover groceries. Of course she is, I thought. And by thought, I mean I think I said this aloud.
So let's conclude this food-focused post on an upbeat note, with a fast word on coffee- a Malawi export and an AM requirement of mine since around the seventh grade. Upon arriving in Ekwendeni I quickly secured the coffee making staples: coffee, sugar, milk. The milk is powder, the sugar granulated brown, and the coffee... The only problem with the coffee is that I am befuddled as to whether it is instant or regular. I've tried to make it both ways and am still unsure (which is sad), but I think I've remained sufficiently caffeinated nonetheless.
Alright. I've said a fair amount about food for now. For those keeping track, I'm sitting in the front yard at the moment. There's a man hacking down maize 50 meters in front of me, and there is a rooster cooing. It's only 4:30PM but we'll shortly head to the Ekwendeni Guest House for dinner: from coop to kitchen to table takes some time.
Until I write again (and write about our first focus group, I'll try!)
Rebecca
*The Ekwendeni Guest House where we eat most meals was unexpectedly closed upon arrival.
No comments:
Post a Comment