Well, we live out in the boonies. I mean remote. Not the place that most teenagers would like to live. Nearly all the students are bussed into school from a radius of 30 miles all around. The closest thing of interest is the big dam with the hydropower plant. Things to do around here are ride your four wheeler (fall and spring), ride your snowmobile (winter), hunt (middle of the National Forest), ski( two slopes here), fish (lots of salmon), pick morels (spring), go out for fish fries on Fridays (7 choices of eateries.) The kids around here are spread out across our school district so you don't just walk or ride your bike over to your friend's house.
Now my wonderful neighbor 13 year old girl has been an isolated entity for too long and this fall finally she got a neighbor friend who only lives a mile away. They have become best of friends. Before this friend came on the scene, she would come over on Saturday mornings and spend the day with me making a batch of cookings, working in the garden, helping me clean! This can't be a barrel of fun for a 13 year old. Lonesome was probably the word to describe her.
In one of her school classes, there was some ethnic cooking to be done, so I helped her look up recipes, we made them and she wrote up her report to turn in along with the cooked food. This fall she and her new friend (NF) had to do some studying of Africa, and the class made a stew from Senegal. She trotted herself over to my house the next Saturday, along with NF, and some of the ingredients. She knew I'd have the rest. Could we make them here with you today, Pleeease? So we proceeded to duplicate this Senegalese stew. After it started cooking I suggested they dress up in central African costume, and yes was the excited answer. Out we went to the pole barn to find the stash of costumes I have packed away, (since retiring from teaching, I haven't found a repository for my treasures).
Anyone who knows my packrat tendencies, my love of theater costumes, and 30 years of teaching supplies, laughs at me, but steers everyone my way if they need a costume, or want one made. I could outfit the world theater, really! Anyway, we found the two boxes labeled West African costumes and materials, outfitted the girls, along with Rodney, who's game for any dress up. Time for pictures on the deck so Jack obliged them She begged me to invite a couple of my friends whom she adores, so with a call quickly made, they delightedly agreed to drive over in a couple of hours, for our African feast.
Rodney helped the girls set the table, decorating with orange, black and green objects found around the house. We found a huge pottery bowl for the stew and the rice--very ethnic looking! A fruit salad with a predominance of tropical fruits and coconut flakes complimented the whole meal. Below is an approximation of our feast that Saturday Night.
Senegalese Beef Stew (Chew)
In a 4 quart Dutch oven:
- Saute: 1 cup chopped onions along with 1 T. salt, ½ t. pepper, ¼ t. thyme, ¼ t. coriander in ¼ cup oil, until soft and translucent.
- Add 2 lbs. Stew beef in ½ inch cubes and saute 5 minutes
- Combine 1 cup tomato paste, 3 cups water, ½ cup white vinegar and simmer, covered until tender (about 1 hour).
- Add ½ lb white turnips, and ½ lb. Sweet potatoes cut in 2 inch cubes, and 8 cabbage wedges (about 1 inch at bottom of wedge).
Cover and simmer slowly for 20 minutes. Arrange the rice on the platter and pour the meat stew over the top.
(My guess is a more authentic meat would have been goat, or lamb, if you have access to it. Pork would work too.)
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Comments: 17
You are such a fun woman! I can absolutely relate to your costuming..... though I don't sew much, I'm a thrift store scavenger and festival buff, so I'm the costume resource for my friends!
You made me want to try the recipe just so I could feel part of your fun.
Bless you for your friendship to your neighbor.
And it's not too late, you can edit and just link up.
Sorry. Have to pass on the burgundy.
Now what is up with all these Voights? Jessie is your niece... what about Tom?
When I read a piece like this I realize why I decided to read all your stuff, and not just the poems; Lady, you are a prodigy hidden away like a smiling Sufi saint who no one knows is the holiest man in the room. Your creativity is boundless, your packrat tendencies are precious in the best sense, and your generosity (most important of all) is boundless. I'm enchanted by you at times like this, Carol!