{"id":1195,"date":"2012-07-03T15:07:09","date_gmt":"2012-07-03T15:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/?p=1195"},"modified":"2012-07-03T15:07:09","modified_gmt":"2012-07-03T15:07:09","slug":"cooking-in-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/2012\/07\/03\/cooking-in-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooking in Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mceTemp mceIEcenter\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_1204\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1204\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010755.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1204\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010755.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010755.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010755-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1204\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This is the tranditional way of cooking in Africa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Adjusting to cooking here has been one of the big challenges for me. \u00a0The first time I went to the store here I came home and cried as I was missing one ingredient from each meal that I had planned to make. \u00a0I knew coming here that I would have to make everything from scratch, I was just not prepared for the limitations I would have on the resources\u00a0available\u00a0here and how difficult it is to find some ingredients. \u00a0However cooking is also one of the areas where I have seen great progress over that past 9 months. \u00a0Our family is becoming very comfortable with eating and cooking here. \u00a0So what are some of the differences in cooking?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I probably spend 3 to 4 hours a day in the kitchen<\/li>\n<li>There is no short cut or easy meal.<\/li>\n<li>Pretty much anything that you buy frozen, in a can or in a box is just not available here.<\/li>\n<li>Ingredients that are not used in the common meals here are either not available or difficult to find.<\/li>\n<li>All dry ingredients must be sorted for bugs and other unwanted additions<\/li>\n<li>Fresh ingredients must soak for 20 minutes<\/li>\n<li>There is significantly less variety<\/li>\n<li>If you don&#8217;t eat it or freeze it, it will spoil in no time at all.<\/li>\n<li>Everything takes longer! Take Pancakes&#8230;First we have to sift the flour, wash the eggs and make the milk. \u00a0Then we mix all the ingredients together. \u00a0Finally, as we cook the pancakes we also have to make the syrup to put on top. \u00a0Small additions just add up fast!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>So What Do we Usually Eat<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Breakfast: \u00a0For breakfast I either bake something or we make French toast or pancakes. \u00a0Occasionally\u00a0we do oatmeal, which is our easiest meal but unfortunately is pretty expensive here.<\/p>\n<p>Lunch: This is our main meal of the day. \u00a0At least once a week we eat a Senegalese meal. \u00a0The other days we eat a variety of things. \u00a0Some of our favorites are:\u00a0Spaghetti,\u00a0Chili, Tacos, Stir Fry , Chef Salads, Soups, Stroganoff, and meatloaf. \u00a0Each piece of the meal has to be made by hand. \u00a0So for tacos I have to cook the meat and make the refried beans, the rice, the salsa, and the tortillas.<\/p>\n<p>Dinner: We usually reheat leftovers on the stove or we make a sandwich with popcorn.<\/p>\n<p>Snacks: \u00a0Our favorite snack is homemade\u00a0Popsicles, prefect on a hot day.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cooking For 50 in only Two Pots<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1205\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1205\" style=\"width: 375px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010757.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1205\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010757.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010757.jpg 375w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010757-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1205\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Me and Cecil cutting onions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Each week I have been learning how to cook a new Senegalese Dish. \u00a0Our host wife, Cecil has been showing me the art of Senegalese cooking and training me to cook as they cook. \u00a0She will usually cook the entire meal in one pot over the course of the morning. \u00a0It is a long ordeal, but it is an amazing part of their culture. \u00a0A typical meal is served in one bowl. \u00a0The bottom layer is rice with some kind of sauce. \u00a0On top of that is the veggies and in the center is either fish or meat.<\/p>\n<p>My work paid off as this weekend when, for the first time, I was allowed to help with the preparation of a meal for the end of the year school party. \u00a0In two large pots we cooked 50 pounds of potatoes, 50 pounds of onion sauce, some pork and two chickens. \u00a0It was amazing to watch and participate in the work taking place.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1201\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1201\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010750.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1201\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010750.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010750.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010750-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1201\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The pot used for the meat and onion sauce<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1202\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1202\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010752.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1202\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010752.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010752.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010752-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1202\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The pot used for the potatoes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1200\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1200\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010746.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010746.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010746.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010746-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1200\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">We were there celebrating the end of the school year<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1206\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1206\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010763.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1206\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010763.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010763.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010763-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1206\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The teachers and students showed off their work<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1207\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1207\" style=\"width: 375px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010776.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1207\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010776.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010776.jpg 375w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010776-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1207\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The kids took home their school work<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1208\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1208\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010777.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1208\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010777.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010777.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010777-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1208\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">And showed their families<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1197\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1197\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010735.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1197\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010735.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010735.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010735-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1197\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The best part was watching these preschoolers dance for hours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1199\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1199\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010741.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1199\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010741.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010741.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010741-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1199\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tyler and I both gave the dancing a try<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1209\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1209\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010779.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1209\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010779.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010779.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010779-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1209\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">It was a long day for our kids...we left early and came home late<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1198\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1198\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010739.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1198\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010739.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010739.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/07\/P1010739-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1198\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">But it was worth it for all the connections we were making!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Adjusting to cooking here has been one of the big challenges for me. \u00a0The first time I went to the store here I came home and cried as I was missing one ingredient from each meal that I had planned to make. \u00a0I knew coming here that I would have to make everything from scratch, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":830,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2545],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1195","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-updates-and-news","7":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/830"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1195"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1195\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}