April 9
It has been a good week for the most part with each day better then the last. Thursday and Friday were a lot of fun. We spent the 2nd half of the class day all together as a group to learn about the kitchen in preparation for a day of cooking on Friday. We learned how to kill and butcher chickens, cook mendazi, chapattis, pilau ( a special Tanzanian rice dish), coconut rice and beans with coconut milk.
What was the most interesting (or shocking depending on how you look at it) was the fact that 'Daisy', who is a vegetarian, wanted to kill one of the chickens! She then proceeded to tell us that the only real reason she is a vegetarian is because she does not like animals! We all thought that was just fantastic as none of us have ever met a vegetarian that has no issues with killing animals, even at her own hand. So off she went to slice the throat of a chicken and she thoroughly enjoyed it! Eric left during the killing of the chickens, Netta turned a bit white and I wished there was an extra chicken so I could kill one. Oh well, maybe next time?!?
So after the killing of the chickens we split up and most of us hung out outside the kitchen learning how to make mendazi and Masala Chai while Ronit and the kitchen staff plucked and cut up the chicken. I missed all the action, bummer!! Mendazi is the local morning tea snack which is basically like small donuts (tim bit size) but with no sugar on the outside. The Masala Chai is something I hope I can make myself as it was so good I had three cups. It is milk, water, tea, cinnamon, cardamon and sugar boiled , and then strained. I than spent the rest of the day in the kitchen at the stove learning how to make pilau, coconut rice, beans with coconut milk and other vegetables and only burnt my finger once. We had a wonderful feast for lunch that I’m sure it tasted even better because we all helped to make it.
Then to end the day off Kevin and Anne arrived and are staying the weekend. It is Anne’s birthday on Monday so they brought a cake with them. Homemade chocolate with real icing! We all died over it and it was so yummy!! It was the perfect way to end a week that got better with everyday and to end a great day. :)
I will post pictures next week after I have returned to Dodoma.
I will post pictures next week after I have returned to Dodoma.
OMG... I can't believe that you WANTED to kill a chicken! Eeek!!! Glad your week was good! Maybe when you get back we can sample the coconut milk creations... they sounded pretty tasty.
ReplyDeleteoh that sounds like a fun week!
ReplyDeletehahaha wanting to kill a chicken! There is no way I would ever want to do that!
so happy that you get back to Dodoma next week! That way we can finally see some photos!
oh btw, check your email, I have some news for you
luv ya
Wow, that all sounds so good. This vegetarian has participated in the annual chicken butchering at the farm and I wouldn't rule out doing it again some day, but it was a heck of a lot of work. And I was pretty young so it's not like I did very much, LOL.
ReplyDeleteCynthia has told me she has a package to deliver but we haven't connected yet. I think it must have come from Tanzania faster than it has travelled in Saskatoon!
Very glad to hear you have chocolate cake. All must be well. He he :)
Are you typing in Swahili at the end there?
When I was a kid, my favourite part of butchering chickens was breaking off their legs. I liked the snap. Isn't that twisted?
ReplyDeleteI guess I can understand why the vegetarian might have enjoyed it.