South Africa
After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.

South Africa is slightly less than twice the size of Texas. The climate is mostly semiarid with subtropical conditions along the east coast.

Recipes

Biltong - Snack

Ingredients
600g fine salt
50ml coriander seeds, roasted, crushed, not ground
25kg beef or venison, well bled and cured
250ml vinegar
(the recipe can be scaled down if 25kg of meat is a bit much)

Directions
Mix the salt and coriander. Cut the meat into strips about four inches wide and three-quarter inch thick. Rub the salt mixture well into the meat, using up all the salt.
Lay the salted strips flat in a dish, thickest pieces at the bottom. Sprinkle each layer with vinegar, but do not soak the meat with the vinegar. Allow to stand for 12 hours in a cool place. Turn over and allow a further 12 hours of standing. Hang the strips up in a cool draught. You may use a fan, but NEVER heat the meat up to dry it quicker.
The biltong is ready for eating once the outer layer has become hard and black, and it is slightly soft in the centre, with a red tinge.

Crumbly maize porridge - Main

Ingredients
500 ml water
3 ml salt
700 ml maize meal

Directions
Bring the water to the boil. Slowly add the maize meal until it forms a pyramid in the middle of the saucepan . Put on the lid and allow to simmer until a "skin" has formed around the maize meal.
Stir with a fork till fine and crumbly. Put the lid back on and simmer over LOW heat until done. Stir once or twice to break the lumps. (It normally takes about 30 - 40 minutes) Serve with tomato and onion stew.


Milk tart - Dessert

CRUST:
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 egg (take 1 egg, beat it up a bit and then use half of this)
2 oz butter
1/4 cup sugar salt

Directions
Beat together butter and sugar. Add egg, and then add in dry
ingredients. You should get a crumbly mix. Press this into a pie
dish and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.


FILLING:
Ingredients
1 1/2 eggs (use the other half of the egg that contributed to the pastry)
1 1/4 tablespoons flour
1 1/4 tablespoons cornflour
2 1/4 cups milk (this is 1 pint)
1 tsp vanilla flavouring
1 tsp butter

Directions
Boil the milk. In another bowl/pot (depending on whether you are using a microwave or cooker), beat the egg and sugar. Add the flour and cornflour to the egg/sugar mixture and beat this together. Add the milk and cook till it thickens. (This works well in a microwave oven). Remove from heat and add vanilla and butter. Beat well, and pour into the baked shell. Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, and cool. (This is best refrigerated.).