Children of the World -- Africa

I am running my own children of the world theme with my girls this week; and Monday we explored the continent of Mama Africa! We watched a video about African dances and read two of the children's favorite books, Owen & Mzee, and  Looking for Miza. I found an adorable coloring print out of African children here,http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/children-around-the-world-colouring-pages.htm and we had a nice few minutes coloring with markers and crayons together. The printout was the inspiration for their dinner bento which they shared with Isi for Monday night's dinner.

In this dinner bento the girls had:

1. Nigerian Jollof rice.(Recipe to follow) The Two African children are made from pancake batter with Wilton brown gel color. Their clothing is purple egg sheet, but the purple doesn't show up well in the photo. The children's details are cheese and nori pieces.
2. In the small round dish is a traditional African Peanut Stew. (Recipe to follow)
3. Mini fufu balls. Another traditional African staple. Its simply boiled cassava (a starchy root, almost like potato) and lots of butter.
4. Beef meatballs
5. Carrot salad with a cherry tomato
6. Sliced cucumbers and diced fresh mango fruit.

Jollof Rice:
 Ingredients

•  1 cup rice (long grained or medium variety)
•  1 tsp cumin 
•  1 tsp curry powder
•  1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
•  1 onion 
•  2-3 cloves of garlic (as per taste)
•  1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated 
•  1 tbsp tomato paste
•  2 large tomatoes,chopped finely
•  1 cup frozen peas and carrots 
•  3 1/2 cups water vegetable or chicken stock (I like the glass bottle stock)
•  cilantro or parsley to garnish

 Saute cumin, (I used the whole seed not ground) crushed garlic, and chopped whole onion, in garlic infused olive oil. After garlic and onions turn golden, stir in ginger , curry powder and nutmeg. Next stir in rice, tomato paste and chopped tomatoes. Mix stock by adding to taste bottle stock to three and a half cups of water, pour into mixture and stir in well.Turn down the heat to low and cover with lid. Let let the mixture soak up most of the liquid till rice is soft. Add in frozen peas and carrots and let mixture come to a quick bubble again till peas and carrots are warm all the way through. Ready to serve!

 African Peanut Vegetable Stew: (Vegan friendly)

 Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons water for sauteing 
•  1 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
•  1 medium onion, chopped
•  3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced 
•  2 cups of mixed beans, Black beans, chili beans, and Pinto 
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch squares 
• 1 can diced tomatoes or 2 fresh tomatoes, diced 
•  1 chopped medium sized zucchini
•  1 cup smooth natural peanut butter (crunchy works great, too)
•  2 cup textured vegetable protein (TVP)
•  1 teaspoon ground cumin 
•  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•  4 cups vegetable stock 
•  1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
•  Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)

 Heat the water in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the bell pepper, cover, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the ginger, cumin, cinnamon, and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Stir in the peanut butter, and distribute it evenly throughout. You may want to thin out the peanut butter first by mixing it with some water in a small bowl before adding it to the pot. It will make it easier to incorporate it into the stew. Add the TVP, sweet potatoes, beans,chopped zucchini and tomatoes, and stir to coat. Add the vegetable stock, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sweet potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes. Taste and add salt, if necessary. Serve in individual bowls, and top with chopped nuts and cilantro, if desired. Both of these recipes are really easy and tasty! I hope you can try an African meal today!!! ^_^


 I have to apologise about being so slow in my Children of the world posts. I have a huge project assignment from my daughter's school. Missy Lulu's snack bentos have been noticed by her teachers and school administrators. Monday, I was asked by a school board member if I would enter a gingerbread house contest. The winner of this contest wins a 1,000 euros worth of toys for the school! I said "Sure, I can!" I mean, how hard could it be? Oh, and the house is due in complete with photos on the 3rd of December....(yeah, I'm an idiot)

Anyways, will keep you all posted with all that, and do a catch up post hopefully by Sunday! Everyone Have a beautiful Thanksgiving, and a wonderful weekend!!! Love Kiki ^.^