Fruit and Vegetables.—There is an abundance of fruit, while some vegetables are plentiful, others are very scarce. In addition to the varieties of fruit common in England, there are loquat, tamarinds, guava, medlar, quince and the Cape gooseberry.
Cooking in South Africa.—The instinct of good feeding is inherent in the Boer character, and the better-class Boer housewives are capital cooks. They are very fond of sweetmeats in every shape and form, and are exceedingly clever in making home-made preserves. "Mebos" is a very common and universally appreciated preparation of dried and salted apricots, while "honing kock" and "koe-sisters" are typical old Dutch sweetmeats. "Bobotee," "Sasatees or Kubobs," and "Gesmoorde Noender" all owe their origin to the same source, and should, as well as many other recipes not named, prove most useful.
Typical South African Dishes
3812.—ALMOND CAKE. (An old Dutch Recipe.)
Ingredients.—1 lb. of Jordan or Valencia almonds, 1 oz. of bitter almonds, 1 lb. of castor sugar, 12 eggs, 4 heaped tablespoonfuls of pounded cracknel biscuits, rosewater.
Method.—Blanch and pound the almonds, adding from time to time a little rosewater to prevent them oiling. Beat the sugar and yolks of eggs together until smooth and light. Whisk the whites of eggs, add them alternately with spoonfuls of the prepared almonds to the yolks and sugar, stir in the powdered biscuits, and beat lightly until well mixed. Turn into a well-buttered cake tin, and bake gently from 1½ to 1¾ hours.
Time.—To bake, from 1½ to 1¾ hours. Average Cost, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. Sufficient for 1 large cake. Seasonable at any time.
3813.—BOBOTEE. (A Favourite Dish.)
Ingredients.—2 lbs. of meat finely chopped, 1 thick slice of bread, 2 medium-sized onions sliced, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoonfuls of curry powder, 1 dessertspoonful of sugar, 1 tablespoonful of lemon juice or two tablespoonfuls of vinegar, 1 oz. of butter or fat, ½ a pint of milk, 8 almonds finely chopped, salt.
Method.—Soak the bread in the milk, drain away all that remains unabsorbed, and beat out the lumps with a fork. Fry the onion in the butter or fat, add the curry powder, ½ a teaspoonful of salt, the sugar, almonds, lemon juice, meat, bread and 1 egg. Mix well and turn the whole into a buttered pie-dish or into little cups. Beat the remaining egg, add the milk strained off the bread (not less than a
