Jungle Safari Recipes!

[cat lover]

Elephant Stew


1 elephant
Brown Gravy
salt & pepper
2 rabbits

Cut the elephant into bite size pieces; this should take about 2 months. Add enough brown gravy to cover. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook over a fire about 4 weeks at 460 degrees. This will serve about 3800 people.

If more people are expected the two rabbits may be added but don't add the rabbits unless necessary because most people don't like to find a hare in their stew. :eek:

[cat lover]

These are some dishes from a real jungle cruise in Nepal which is in Southern Asia between India and Chinal




Daal (Lentils) - the creamy protein delight

Boil 1 cup lentils of any variety in water until cooked. Add turmeric, salt, ginger and pepper to taste. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a serving spoon, add chopped garlic pieces, and if you like, add minced onions. When they turn brown in color, plunge the spoon into the lentils dish cautiously to bring about killer aroma!

Bhaat (Rice) - the king of grains


Rinse rice in water to get rid of excess starch. For every cup of rice, add 1 1/2 cups water. Bring the rice to boil, uncovered, at medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes, stir the rice in between, then turn the heat down to low. Place the lid on the pot, keeping it tight, cook for another five minutes. Simmer for another 10 minutes and serve.

[cat lover]

Amarula and Chocolate-Covered Strawberries


Amarula is Africa's most exotic cream liqueur produced from the fermented fruit of the Marula tree. It has a caramel flavor with the hint of chocolate and vanilla.



1 12 oz package of semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup half and half cream
1 to 2 tbsp Amarula
60 large, fresh strawberries, rinsed and patted dry with stems left intact



In the top of a double boiler, over hot water, slowly melt chocolate.
Add cream, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and blend Amarula until completely mixed into chocolate. Hold each berry by stem, swirl in chocolate to partially cover. Place on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Place in refrigerator until chocolate is set. Transfer fruit onto a serving platter.

[cat lover]

Safari Dip

1/2 of an 8-ounce package reduced fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 to 3 tbsp milk
2 tsp honey
Celery sticks, animal crackers, and/or assorted dippers such as peeled jicama sticks, carrot sticks, apple wedges, pear wedges, or graham cracker sticks


For dip, in a small mixing bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in peanut butter, milk, and honey until well combined and smooth. Chill before serving. To serve, spread dip in celery sticks and garnish with animal crackers and cut up fresh fruit. Or, serve with assorted dippers. Makes twenty 1-tablespoon servings (1-1/4 cups).

[cat lover]

West African Beef Stew

Serve with mashed potatoes and a steamed leafy green such as spinach or Swiss chard.

2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
1 small hot chili, chopped
1 1/2 pounds beef round steak, cut into cubes
1 can,14 ounce chopped tomatoes
2 tsp grains of paradise, roughly crushed with a mortar and pestle *
2 tsp paprika
1/2 cup peanuts, roasted and roughly crushed with a mortar and pestle
1 tsp butter
salt to taste


In a heavy based saucepan, heat oil over mediumlow heat. Saute onion till transparent, about 4 minutes. Increase heat to high and add chili, then beef, adding just a few cubes at a time so that each piece is seared on all sides. When all the beef has been seared, add tomatoes, grains of paradise and paprika, stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until meat is tender - about 1 hour, depending on the size of the meat cubes and your stove.In a small frying pan, fry peanuts and butter, mashing them together to make a rough paste, then add to the stew. Add salt and cook for 3 to 5 minutes longer to allow flavors to blend. 6 servings

Source: The Spice and Herb Bible

*Grains of paradise are difficult to find in Western countries, as their supply is hampered by three limiting factors. First, to drug enforcement agencies, the name conjures up notions of mind-altering substances; second, their importation and use as an adulterant to pepper has been banned in some countries; and third, the crop has never experienced organized cultivation. Thus, with the exception of small quantities secured from West Africa by spiceophiles, it is likely to remain almost unprocurable. For those lucky enough to obtain some, only buy them whole and store in an airtight container away from extremes of heat and humidity. Under these conditions the flavor will last for up to five years.

A reasonable substitute for grains of paradise can be made by pounding together in a mortar and pestle six seeds from a brown cardamom pod, four black peppercorns and one mountain pepperberry. Store in the same manner as other ground spices.