Potjie (Poikey)

Twenty five minutes of suspense as we drove to join a large group having a Sunday event called a potjie. We arrived to find heaps of briquettes set right on the ground and shaped like a small fire pit. Each team had their own briquette pile and the briquettes were already turning white from the heat. A light breeze fanned the energy of the burning coals. Nestled in the coals were several small pots call potjies. A potjie looks remarkable like the witches cauldrons from stories of old. They are black cast iron, pot shaped, balance on three short legs and have a lid. Each pot contained a mixture that was simmering and receiving lots of attention.



At our team's camp one pot was cooking Warthog, and another was cooking Antelope. Both resembled an enourmous pot roast, bubbling away in a broth of liquid. The three legs on the potjie were keeping it balanced with coals piled up underneath. Tiara and Loren started to cook a Canadian contribution, a hearty pot of "Quebec Beans" and salt pork. Several hours into the cooking another potjie was filled with a variety of vegetables. The last two items to hit the coals and start baking were Corn Bread and a Fruit Compote with a Sherry Sauce that was spooned over Bananna Fritters.

The whole meal was supposed to be completed by 2:00 and most teams were finished and ready to eat by 2:30.

The Rotarians had invited official Chefs-in -Training, from the local Chef School to sample each meal, and rate both the meal and the meal presentation. This was a fun competition with everyone willing to share recipes and cooking techniques. Prizes were to be awarded. Our team went all out with both the cooking and the table decorations and meal presentation. We won first place!

Each team had a theme for their decorations. One theme was Asian, another German, and even a Professional Chef theme. Our theme was African.

The meal itself tasted delicious! My favourite was the Warthog and the Letourneau Beans! I thought of both Gregg and Nana lots! Gregg would have loved the outdoors campfire all day and Nana would have loved tasting their venison, complete with gravy and sauce.

It was a great social. Everyone was relaxed and having a good time. People mixed, mingled, and talked with others from all the teams. This was a fun get together. I wonder if it could be recreated at home?

Liv was an absolute gem all day. She continues to amaze me. She played happily, smiled at strangers, walked with us, and did the yabba yabba all day. We put her in her playpen a couple of times for a nap, but she just laid down with her eyes open. Finally at about 3:15 we tried again and she laid down and had a nap. Not even the cheers from our team when we won woke her up.

Her smile brightens my day. I am so thankful to be here and able to get to know her. She is such a trooper. Liv is so good natured and goes along with all we do and blesses us each and everyday with the way she stops to examine a leaf, bounces gleefully when she is happy, and smiles at us with a twinkle in her eye.