Cook 'n Potts

Michelle and I working on the e-cookbook

Michelle and I just finished compiling our joint cookbook of favorite Zambian-ized recipes. Cook 'n Potts (our sir names combined... pun intended...) is an e-cookbook and is available free of charge (via a flash drive :) for all service workers who move to Zambia.

Our hope is that Cook 'n Potts might be of at least tiny assistance for at least one or two folks who arrive in Zambia from the West and aren't sure where to start when learning to cook in a new setting. Our focus is using locally available produce and grocery items, though most of the recipes are Western (different from the local uses of local products).

From the first time we met twelve months ago, Michelle has reached out to me as a friend. We have enjoyed many, many visits, chats, and treats together over the past twelve months.

Michelle, Andrew, and kiddos- thanks for being a blessing in my Nahumba life!

Oh, and just in case you're curious... here's a portion of the cookbook's introduction:

"Here in Zambia, time spent together is a valued thing. Sometimes the best moments are shared on the veranda over a mug of steaming tea accompanied by a little something sweet, or outside casually nibbling on groundnuts and fresh fruit, or inside after dark when sharing the evening meal…

"Coming from our Western backgrounds, we’re well-accustomed to spending time with people and food. However… we moved to Zambia and discovered we had a different set of “toys” to play with here in our new kitchens. Some of our North American go-to meals/food items weren’t available (or were just too expensive to use every day!) here in Zambia. On the other hand, we found a whole new collection of local products available at reasonable prices (or… at no cost if you’re fortunate enough to have a fruit tree in your garden!).

"We decided we would adventure, create, tweak and save our favorite recipes to share with future Zambian newbies. Thus, the idea of Cook ‘n Potts was born." 

PS- The Potts family has just wrapped up their first of three years serving with MCC here in Choma, Zambia.