Africa-Press – Botswana. In my ongoing quest to stretch meals these school holidays and whip up trusty staples, I’ve started catching a bit of side-eye from the squad. Whispered comments like “Ah mom, again? We had pap two days ago…”
Listen, pap might not be Instagram-worthy, but it does the job. It holds them off for a good few hours. That alone is worth its weight in mealie meal.
And let’s be honest, with all the ways you can play with proteins and sides, it’s practically a blank canvas. Tonight for example, I made myself some pap and paired it with delicious impala sausage my husband fried up. On the side? Cabbage, of course.
But not just any cabbage, cabbage seasoned with Hinds Cabbage Seasoning. Now, I know that little bright green box is easy to overlook on the shelf, but let me tell you, it is the perfect marriage for cabbage. If your kitchen doesn’t already have it, fix that the next time you buy a head of cabbage.
Anyway… where was I? Right, the complaints about staples. Tota tough cookie! These big appetites mean dainty, picture-perfect meals (you know, the kind that rack up likes and shares on the ChellzKitchen Facebook) have to take a back seat. I have mouths to fill, not just plates to decorate. Bread is another battlefield.
I don’t know if I have ranted about this before, probably have and you’ll surely understand my struggle even more now. Two loaves vanish like snacks at a kiddie party. Nowadays, I avoid shopping with the kids. What should be a quick essentials run turns into a full-blown field trip. Even after a movie date, they’re still at it: “Can I have? Can I have?”
The plan was simple. I bought two loaves to make Kotas for the boys. I only had my first Kota in my 30s they’re not really a Botswana thing in my defence, well nowadays they are available and accessible. Before that, I fell in love with Gatsby sandwiches during my varsity days in CPT.
If I had to choose between the two? Honestly, I’d take a Gatsby any day. Maybe it’s the memories, late nights, good friends, budget bites with flavour for days. I can’t lie, my first Kota was actually memorable.
My husband took me out for one in Brits while visiting Bo Uncle Divide, Aous Bosha, and Fam. We spent time with Kgomotso and Naledi. We’re long overdue for another trip, actually.
This part was easy. The essentials were Bull Brand Mince Meals and Mafresh, seasoned with Hinds Chip Spice. Honestly, that combo alone would have satisfied them, they didn’t care for anything more. But you know me, extra like that. A mom’s gotta make it look like money, even if it’s a hustle behind the scenes.
So I layered on: Crisp lettuce Sliced tomatoes Red onion And of course, a generous squiggle of chilli mayo Bull Brand Mince Slaap Chips
These boys ate like kings, whether they noticed or not. They might grumble about the pap, eye-roll the cabbage, or inhale the bread faster than I can blink, but feeding growing kids with hearty, affordable meals that still taste like love? That’s the real flex.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
