Myth BUSTED
As we grow up, we get used to certain things. Smell (mom's cooking), taste (local food), surroundings, environment, climate, friends, language, etc. We get used to ourselves and the way we do things and the way people around us does things. We are comfortable with the places we buy our groceries, clothes, and also where we go for relaxation and holiday destinations. It's like we live in our own little world and stick to our little preferences. The comfort zone is our protection and change is hard to accept.
But once in a while, we get torn away from the comfort zone and suddenly have to adapt to change. It can be quite challenging at times and I think in such cases, it's good to remember our roots.
Moving to another continent 5 years ago, did just THAT for me and my family. We had to adapt to new cultures and a whole different environment, but we just could not get used to the food, so we either had to make a plan, or suffer with every meal.
I experimented with meat mainly. As South Africans, we missed our delicious 'Boerewors' (sausage), 'Biltong' (dried meat, beef jerky) and 'Droëwors' (dried jerky sausage). I had to learn how to make these things myself because in this country, you can't just walk into a shop (like back home), pay for it, and walk out. I used different recipes until I got it right. My family, my guinea pigs!
Recently, I wanted to try something else as a new challenge. I wanted to try and make Russians.
It's quite a process, but seeing as I had all the ingredients and a smoker, I gave it a try and it came out amazing!!!
The process (in pictures below): Grounded the meat finely (mainly pork with fat) and mixed it with the Russian spice that I bought in SA. Filled the casings with it and then smoked them for about 3 hours. Cured it in a pot at just the right temperature and then deep fried it in oil, just as Russians should be cooked.
Came out perfect!
How miserable wouldn't we have been by now if we were unable to adapt to our new life.
The "comfort zone" myth...
Delicious!
And I assume the family survived the experiment? ;) Traveling and moving and adjusting to different cultures and areas is both stressful and fun. Having done it myself, I admit to NOT being a food taster. No matter where I live I stick with the basics that I like, but I do try the local fare occasionally. So I will test, just not try to make it a home unless it really passed the test in the restaurant or someone else's home. I'm not familiar with South African foods and look forward to learning more from you.
We really did survive his experiments @infopro . He is actually very good. lucky wife
Always good when the family survives the food experiments. Some don't, you know. Not fatal, but relationships get strained and bellies get sore :)
😉
They survived it all ;) These particular South African foods are surely not for everyone, but as we've grown up eating it, to us it's the best thing in the world. Thank you for reading my post. I will be posted again soon.
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Please do the same for me :)
-Sashna 👈 Click this !!