Timbuktu isn't that far

It is true, the dart landed in Mali. Timbuktu is a city and province in Mali. This proved to be a slight challenge for finding recipes. About the only thing that we could draw a connection to Mali with was the movie Sahara. Here are some interesting facts that we discovered:

1. First of all, Tombouctou is the proper spelling.
2. Timbuktu began its infamous registration as a pseudonym when its ruler Mansa Musa did a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1390 and dispensed large amounts of wealth along the way…so much so (approx. 180 tons of gold) that he and his party caused the Egyptian currency to loose its value.
3. Timbuktu amassed its wealth due to its advantageous geographic position (right at a crossroads for terrestrial trading routes)
4. It was also known for it’s rich passion for knowledge. In the 12th century, Timbuktu boasted three universities and 180 schools.
5. Due to the development of nautical trade routes, envious tyrants and political unrest, the area lost all of its luster
6. The flag is simple, it is three horizontal stripes (Green, Yellow and Red). Don't confuse it with their neighbor Senegal (exactly the same except Senegal has a green star in the middle) or with Guinea (another neighbor with the same flag, but the colors are reversed.)

So we only found a few recipes. Caleb chose to make Poulet Yassa (Senegalese Chicken), Fufu (similar to mashed potatoes, but made with yams), and Meni-meniyong (a sesame seed, honey and butter concoction that is supposed to be a “candy.”).



The chicken sat in a marinade. It turned out pretty good. I am not a fan of yams, but the Fufu was actually quite a good compliment to the chicken. Utensils are not a common item, so we ate with our hands.
We, unfortunately, had a mishap with the treat. The seeds were supposed to be baked before adding the honey/butter mix. The recipe instructed a bake time of 8-10 min…that was waaaaaaaay more than enough to brown the seeds. We ended up with, what looked like, little black ants…but tasted far worse, I’m sure.



Caleb actually didn’t mind the burnt flavor. He said, “Just suck on it. Don’t chew.” Becky was especially sad because we used some high-end honey that was a gift from her grandma…and it went to waste. (I hurried and made a lemon meringue pie for later.) After dinner, Becky threw the dart several times. She kept landing off the map or the ocean no where near land. She finally landed on Norway…she shouted, “Yay! I can make lefse!” That is a traditional food in her family that is made at Christmas…I’m sure she’ll try something new though.