Dreaming of Africa

I have been dreaming of Africa lately. I have a friend from college who was recently married and is spending her honeymoon with her husband doing service work in Mozambique Reading their adventures has brought back a ton of memories. When I was about 10 years old maybe a little older, I saw the movie Out of Africa and it set in motion a trip I would take to South Africa when I was 18 years old. I lived in South Africa for three months as a nanny to an Afrikaans family that was arranged for me by a teacher who was a big game hunter. I arrived in October just before their summer season officially began. It was lovely. I could hear the music of African drummers from my bedroom window at night, and the voices were like the sounds of angels. South Africa was where I was introduce to curry for the first time, lamb on the spit, billtong, and mangoes. I learned a whole new vocabulary and even learned some Afrikaans. While I did not have lions and elephants in my backyard there were plenty of monkeys and lizards. I remember the first time I saw a herd of hippos. It was amazing. There were about 20 of them. We were on river in St. Lucia. South Africa has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. God's Garden. While I do not know if I will ever have a chance to go back, I certainly hope I do. I want to go to the top of Table Mountain with my husband and ride in a jeep through Kruger National Park to see the changes that have occurred since the end of Apartheid. All of this dreaming of Africa made me hungry this week and I made African Peanut Chicken.

African Peanut Chicken (chicken could be easily substituted for chickpeas or tofu)
1 onion chopped
1 Tablespoon Olive oil
I red pepper chopped
1/2 cup of chopped carrot. I used shredded carrot in order to get my boys to eat it, but chopped is just fine.
1 pound of cubed chicken breast
1 1/2 cups of chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup of cream
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1 small can of diced tomatoes
optional chopped peanuts and green onion
Serves 4
Serve over rice or couscous
In a large skillet saute onion, carrot, and red pepper in olive oil over medium heat. When onions are just about translucent add the chicken. Add salt, pepper, pepper flakes. Once chicken is browned, add peanut butter, chicken broth, can of diced tomatoes, and cream. If the sauce is too thick just add more chicken broth, cream, or water. Then when everything gets cozy warm in the pan serve over rice. This is my new comfort food.

Congratulations to the Happy Couple!