Bobotie

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            FOOD FUNNY
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Here'a another from Anna Welander of Uppsala, Sweden:

I was examining cantaloupes at the grocery store and turned to
the produce clerk who was refilling the bins. "Choosing a cantaloupe
is like picking a mate for marriage," I observed casually. "A person
has no idea what he's getting until it's too late."

"I know," he replied. "I've had three cantaloupes."

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            TODAY'S RECIPE
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If South Africa had a national dish, this would be it. As with all
popular dishes with a long history, every cook has her own secrets
as to its preparation, so use this recipe as your starting point
rather than gospel.

Bobotie

3 Tbs (45 ml) butter
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 apple, peeled, cored, and diced
2 lbs (900 g) chopped or ground beef
2 sliced bread, soaked in milk
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup (125 ml) raisins
1/4 cup (60 ml) slivered almonds
2 Tbs (30 ml) lemon juice
2 Tbs (30 ml) curry powder
1/2 tsp (2 ml) turmeric
6 bay (laurel) leaves
1 egg mixed with 1 cup (250 ml) milk

Heat the butter in a skillet over moderate heat and saute the onion
and apple until tender but not brown, about 5 minutes. Add the
beef and cook until browned. Squeeze the milk from the bread,
discard the milk, and add the bread to the meat mixture, stirring
and mashing it to mix it well. Remove from the heat and add the
beaten egg, raisins, almonds, lemon juice, curry powder, and
turmeric, stirring to combine. Place the mixture in a greased baking
dish and place the bay leaves vertically in the mixture. Bake in a
preheated 325F (165C) oven for 40 minutes. Pour the egg and milk
mixture over the meat mixture and bake an additional 15 minutes.
Remove the bay leaves before serving. Serves 4 to 6.
Received on Thu Sep 28 10:35:37 2006