Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Food

Probably the thing I get the most questions about is the food, so I thought I would make a post about it. 
I eat what my family eats so that means rice or millet- plus oil, usually fish, usually some MSG/bullion and other stuff.  My family is really big, and a few years ago it was decided that there are too many people for one person to cook for, so we have 2 dishes for every meal cooked by two different teams of women.  For breakfast, the family usually eats leftovers from dinner the night before.  I sometimes do if it's nyakatonge- my favorite dish, but usually I eat granola with peanut butter and milk powder mixed together.  Or if I really feel like living it up I eat a granola bar. On Sundays, I mix chocconut (pretty much nutella: chocolate-hazelnut butter) in with the peanut butter, milk powder, granola combo.  That is really good. 
Nyakatonge is rice or millet cooked with pounded up peanuts and bullion and most of the time pounded up fish.  It is so good!
Here are some picture of my food-

These are both millet nyakatonge I think

This is fitof (palm oil) domoda (sauce with pounded peanuts) and rice

This is different than the millet I usually eat- this kind is ground much smaller.  This is how most Gambians eat millet but I am just lucky that Jolas grind their millet more coursely because it tastes great that way!

I think it's millet nyakatonge on the left and rice with noodles on the right.  They use maccaroni here to soak up flavor and oil and basically use the pasta as a sauce for rice.

I don't know why some of these look so distorted, but you should at least get the idea. 
In general, I like the food here a lot.  There is really just one dish that I really hate and cannot eat.  I have no idea what it is.  I think it might just be rice with vegetable oil.  Whatever it is, it's terrible and whenever that comes (which thankfully is not very often) I rely heavily on the other dish or make something in my house.
I eat on a different schedule here than I used to at home. We eat lunch at about 2:00- they usually bring me my bowls right before the 2:00 prayer. Then we eat dinner between 8:30 and 9.  Breakfast is an eat when you want affair so depending on the day, I might eat any time between 8 & 11.

8 comments:

  1. It was so good to check and see a new posting. I'm glad you are enjoying the food. I'm not sure its my kind of food. I had cream dried beef here in SC this morning. Wish I could send you some of that. It was delicious! Miss you bunches!!! Mom

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  2. Hi, Linzann. You don't know how often I think of you. There is a woman in one of my classes who has a grandson in the PC in Mali. Is that far from you? I'm enjoying your mother's and sister's visit. Keep well, love, and keep on with the wonderful words about your stay. Gram

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  3. None of that sounds appetizing - I think I would starve!! I would definitely have to rely on the PB.
    Sounds like everything is going well though and I'm glad you found something that you like to eat!

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  4. I'm so proud of you Lindsay! I remember the little girl who used to eat vegetable soup one veggie at a time. :) And, you are enjoying the "native" foods.....you truly are a trailblazer, aren't you? :) So glad to see a new post and so happy that I caught you on facebook to chat a little the other day. Love you, miss you and yet SO proud of you! Take care and keep enjoying your time and experience. God will use everything you learn there in your life! Praying for you often. Love ya!!!

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  5. What, no mashed potatoes? How ARE you surviving?

    Gram's house was quite full this past weekend, with your mom & sis, Uncle Kurt, Jonathan, Gram, AND me. Most of us were watching UK beating UT. Kayla sweetly occupied Gram with card games so she wouldn't get too stressed out. Uncle Kurt and I screamed, growled, and/or beat up the furniture whenever UK (or the refs) messed up.

    How's your saving-the-crops-from-the-wildlife project coming along? Has anything worked?

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  6. Rice and Peanuts... Peanuts and Rice... glad to see you're mixing up your food selection ;) Just promise to keep eating so you don't wither away to nothing! I'll send you a message soon. Lots going on and a lot to think and pray about. Love and miss you lots!!

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  7. well, after looking at these pictures, I'm am ready for dinner! Are you working with chickens at all? Just wondering. Gotten any good videos yet? Love, Aunt Dawn

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  8. Is this where we are asking questions? 1. What do you need sent to you? I want to get another package together. 2. How are you doing and what are you doing with your days? I would love to hear a "typical" day in the life of Lindsay kind of thing sometime. Love you and miss you lots.

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