Cooking at Baobab

Cooking is slightly tricky and extremely different here in Senegal. The ingredients are different and quite frankly, there is not near the selection as there is in the United States... which isn't necessarily a bad thing considering many of the food items in the US are not organic or are bought under-priced which does not support the foreign growers (globalization) but.... anyways... the cooking here is most usually an adventure when stepping out of the norm of omelets, egg sandwiches, and egg scrambles ; )

I mentioned to my parents the other day, the food in Senegal is delicious. The difference between the food here and the food I am used to eating or to cooking in the US is that here they can make several dishes of different tastes and textures with the SAME ingredients WHILE I am well versed in preparing several dishes of different tastes and textures with many DIFFERENT ingredients. It's not a problem though, I am still able to make a tasty meal.

omelet time... eggs with a lot of spice and a chopped onion

chopped potatoes with lots of spices... notice the large knife my Grandfather kindly purchased me before returning to Senegal - I use it every day

I have been into breakfast sandwiches lately

mixed veggies with fried potatoes, fresh tomatoes, and scrambled eggs

prep-work stage

a spaghetti concoction

cheesy tomato pasta (with a side of sheep for Moussa =)

pesto pasta with sauteed vegetables and fresh chicken

rice crispy treats...

... and you cannot go wrong with a little chocolate and coconut on top!

I hope the photos give a little insight into SOME of the cooking we do here at Baobab. We also cook rice, other veggies, french fries, and cabbage!

Cheers,

Lacey

our house in Baobab

I just noticed that I had never shared photos of  Moussa and my's apartment. We have been here since November.  I don't like to call where we live an "apartment" and no one here does because it is not what we call places like this in Dakar, so I refer to it as our house. I forgot to take a picture of the building right before you walk in but some day soon I will take pictures of that too. Okie doke artichoke - here is the tour!

when you first walk into the door straight ahead there are double doors leading to the living room hung on the wall a  little piece of art from my dear friend Dayna Tapp

the double doors

directly to the left in the kitchen with a large window opening to the living room

we have a swinging half-door at the kitchen entry way

our little trash and brooms next to the new paint that got wet and crumbles off often - the electricity box was fun to learn

to the left of the kitchen are the cupboards (I forgot to take pictures of the inside... they will be coming soon) - also there is our lovely gas tank "spot" where we cook

as you keep turning right there is the fridge next a little ways away from the gas tank which is neatly tucked away next to our counter and sink - I love my faucet but have to admit that a double-tub sink is so much more user-friendly - you can see my sponge, scratch pad, and dish dryer that Moussa's sister got us - the pot is only in the sink because I just cooked green beans

there are big hollow ccupboards below the counter where I store nothing but washing tubs, scratch pads, and sponges

 I love my kitchen

the view when the double doors are open - we have two comfy old lawn chairs : )

standing at the door and looking to the left you see our windows and little TV - the chandeler is actually really beautiful and there is a single matching lamp in all four living room corners

our living room from the three windows - we have pretty black marble flooring... it is pretty but so hard to keep clean

the door to our guest bathroom

our tiny guest bathroom - I hope you are not claustrophobic

 for example, when I sit down my legs almost touch the door but they can touch the wall... so if you are bigger than me... it cannot be very comfortable... I still think it is cute and quaint

oh, and there is a silly little window without class just above the door - at least it is ventilated... but then again, too bad it is right next to our bedroom...

the door to our bedroom

That is all for now.... the tour will continue another time....

Hope you enjoyed our apartment!

Cheers,

Lacey

I forgot how much I love green beans.

I forgot how much I love green beans until yesterday morning. I happened to see a young man sitting in the warm sunshine on the curb just across from the house preparing a basket full of fresh green beans to sell as he walked through the streets of Dakar. I saw him and thought, "wow, it's been a while since I have eaten or cooked green beans... yum... let's see if he can understand my Wolof and French...." I grabbed a few CFAs (equivalent to two dollars) and I walked out our front door.

I greeted him with the usual "Aslalamalekum" proceeded by the usual banter of asking how much or do I buy it by the kilogram etc. Basically one kilo of green beans costs one dollar. I bought a kilo and then munched on them raw all afternoon until I cooked some today to snack on and use for dinner tonight. Needless to say, I am quite satisfied with my random purchase and excited to eat my green beans.

The simple things in life are what bring joy to our days.