Food from A to Z, which translates foo foo!

Water!  A definite necessity for life.  This is one of the Church's water projects in one of the villages.  They used to have to carry it for miles.  The yellow containers hold up to 20 liters.  The blue one in the background holds 35.  HEAVY! Here is an early morning gathering at the tap.  Soon the women will be ready
to cook breakfast.

Clean potable water!  Morning, noon and night.

Beef on the hoof.  These fellows look like they could use a drink.

Our growing pumpkin.  The pumpkin is quite a staple here.  This little squash finally became pumpkin soup last week.   We have also eaten the leaves.  You can google the recipe if you are interested.  It is said that they are quite nutritious.

The proud father!

This is the cutest of little pumpkins, but she is non-edible.

Pumpkins and watermelons for sale along the roadside.

Here is a nice, neat little fruit stand.

The Greek baker down the street experimented with a foo foo type bread and let us try some.    A lot of corn in this recipe.  It definitely needed  a little cucumber and tomato salad to soften it up and to give it some taste.

How about a nice hard boiled egg?  The hot sauce sits right on top of the pile in a pint mason jar.
This is a common sight.

Foo Foo in the making.  This is corn and cassava mush Sylvie is stirring up,  and it will be served in a ball with green sauce and a little meat, if you are lucky

Foo foo and green sauce ready to go.  The green sauce here is Congolese spinach, with a little onion, leek, leaf celery, a snip of red pepper and a cherry tomato.  We did add a little can of corned beef.

Cassava leaves are usually part of the evening meal.  It is quite a process to cook these.   This sister is ready to go home with her arms full of them.  We know what is for dinner here.

This is Rose.  She knocks on our gate quite frequently.  Her produce is usually nice and fresh.    Today she is selling green bumpy lemons, guava, papaya, tomatoes, mint leaves, palm nuts and green beans.  By the way, would I give her my Skechers as her thongs are getting worn out and her feet are tired.

On her way again.  She is a natural show woman.  She will bring mama some potatoes Monday

This is mama Teresa.  She is counting her money on the way out.  No cucumbers today, but maybe next time.  She carries the money over her left breast.  
Saturday night and it is already time for dinner again.  Enjoy!

The Making of a Congo Country Home

This is a good basic structure.  Next comes the mud.

A  Congolese home from its very beginning.  Picture taken through the half open car window.

We were invited to visit the home of a church member.  He is one of the Branch Presidents here.  He is the owner of a large property and probably pretty well off.  I apologize  if  you have already seen some of these photos

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This is the beautiful front door.

This is the front room.  There is some nice handwork displayed.  The cloth on the table was very pretty.

This is the master bedroom.  Mom's purse is hanging from a peg on the wall.

A peek into another bedroom.

This cabinet against the kitchen wall has a fine mesh front to keep the insects out.  The table to the left will show in the next photo.

Basic storage, etc.

The stone jug in the corner keeps the drinking water cold.   The barrel to the right is much like the water barrel we use to catch rain water.

The basket against the wall is used to carry live fowl to or from the market.  

 W

These palm nuts are much like chewing gum as we know it.   Pop one in your mouth and enjoy.  They grow in the top of the common palm tree and the kids make it a great sport to pry them loose with long bamboo poles.  These are also used to make palm oil.

The garden tiller stored against the house.

Farm land and out buildings.

This little guy is $40 if you want to buy.  He is the source of his young owner's school fund.

Love that bamboo!

There is always a ready supply of amaranth leaves growing.  These young girls have their work cut out for them every day before dinner.

Who needs a patio when there is such a nice spot of bamboo shade next to the house?

The quiet landscape around the farm is incredible.

Meandering paths and a threatening sky.  Beautiful.

We now leave the peaceful landscape to head back to the city.  Ready for the bumpy road?  We think on occasions that it is more blessed to walk than it is to ride.