Being in Lesotho, I have access to many fruits and vegetables but the ease at which they are accessible is greatly decreased. Everything I buy, I have to carry to the taxi rank and once I get to my site, I have to carry it up a moderately steep hill. To cook, I have a gas stove and a gas tank, 3 pots, 2 pans, a kettle, some plates, bowls, and utensils. I have no refrigerator so everything that I make must be eaten pretty quickly and I basically need to cook every day.
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| French toast topped with bananas and powdered sugar |
Usually, I am lazy so I have my go-to meals that seem to be easier. Just like in the US, this goes in phases – I will eat the same few things every day until I get tired of it and then cook something else. For breakfast, I’ve rotated between oatmeal, French toast, pancakes, toast with peanut butter or some type of eggs. Most of the time topped with honey and always served with coffee (usually instant). My lunch or dinners have included instant ramen, pasta, fried rice, or soup. I usually throw in whatever vegetables I have at the moment – carrots, tomatoes, green bell peppers, onions, or leafy greens.
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| My Garden (last May) Swiss chard, lettuce, cilantro, bok choy, onions |
When I get bored of what I am eating or just bored in general, I try to be more creative with my food. I will try to make something (or something similar to things) I miss eating in the US. I have been able to make salads, cookies, cakes, pizza, pie, quiche, French bread, tortillas, guacamole, salsa, and more. In order to bake, I have to make a dutch oven. This consists of elevating a heat-proof pan or pot into a larger pot and covering the larger pot. That way heat can surround whatever is baking and cook it thoroughly. All of these things do take more time and a lot more effort, but I have not lost weight and am not starving.
This past week, I had host volunteer visit (HVV). This is where PC trainees who just arrived to Lesotho visit a volunteer to see what life as a PCV is like. This year, I was assigned to host two boys. So cooking brought on even more challenges – I had to make at least 5 times that amount I normally do in order to feed them. The menu consisted of pizza, French toast, tuna sandwiches, spaghetti, pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches, and lentil burgers. With the limited supplies and space, I barely made it work. Cooking in Lesotho is definitely an accomplishment!