Introducing Nolan Adimulam - Class of 2020
“With our school still in lockdown mode, we are continuing our daily, online, Zoom sessions. It’s enlightening to realise what this situation has brought out and, so often, we all are overcome with fits of laughter. A wonderful release for the tension that sometimes builds up – and so good for our mental wellbeing.”
First-year student, Nolan Adimulam is from Pietermaritzburg. He went to Alexandra High School which made me reflect on our other ‘Maritzburg-educated students who were educated at Girls’ High School, Voortrekker High School, Russell High School, St Anne's Diocesan College, and The Wykeham Collegiate. How fortunate we are to have such good schools in our midst. We also have students from far-away places such as Morocco and England.
Nolan chose to share his potjie recipe with you.
“Potjie may be one of the simplest home meals to cook,” he says. His dad, however, insisted that the secret behind getting it right was that you ‘must have the hand’ for it.
The inspiration behind doing the potjie kos came from Nolan’s birthdays, as a young boy. His family would abstain from eating meat for the entire month of October, which made catering for his birthday suppers a difficult process.
“Every year my parents would experiment to try and find exciting vegetarian dishes and, as a result, an all-time favourite was born - my dad's vegetable potjie with dumplings,” he explains. “This was a hit, absolutely delicious and perfect every time he cooked it. By popular demand it became a family tradition.”
During the experimentation time, the family discovered that a wood fire was best for meat potjie. After gaining more confidence in the kitchen Nolan impressed his entire class, at a matric leadership camp, when he cooked his chicken potjie.
“That was the day I mastered the art of cooking a potjie kos,” he says with pride. “I enjoy cooking outdoors and tailing behind my father as I steal with my eyes while he cooks. I believe the best way to learn is from mistakes.”
Nolan had so much fun while making this potjie and I look forward to more of his Indian, flavour combinations that he has been promising us. For one of our ‘family meals’ - as we call them here at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine – he made biryani; served with raita; and the tastiest, heavily-spiced, but-well-balanced, homemade samosas. Dessert was an absolute treat of over-indulgence – soji, decorated with rainbow almond flakes.
Please try Nolan’s recipes, and remember, the students get so much pleasure from your comments.
Nolan, who has volunteered to the Angels Care Crisis Centre and Thembelihle School, spends his time making sandwiches for children in need. During one of last week’s lectures, he shared the learning and the emotional rollercoaster ride the experience has presented. With intense sentiment he highlighted how we complain when our school lunch breadcrusts aren’t cut off our sandwiches, we complain about having to eat veggies we don’t like… “I now realise how reliant these children are on their two sandwiches, yoghurt, fresh fruit and boiled egg on a Monday morning, because the last time they may have eaten was their Friday serving,” he said.
Angels Care Centre needs your help. Direct your email to Georgie or Carolyn: at sponsors@angelscare.co.za. You can give a child a food parcel for R15 a day or R90 a week.
And remember our Wonderbag food parcels that are distributed through African Enterprise, around Pietermaritzburg. Sarah Collins is donating the Wonderbags and we need sponsorship to fill the bags with healthy produce. You may contact me for details on this project.
Never before have so many had so little – your help will go a long way.
Be kind - we can only get through this together.
Visit www.jackiecameron.co.za to find out more about my Women’s and Men’s Chef Clothing Range. Remember Jackie Cameron Cooks at Home and Baking with Jackie Cameron – the books highlight all my foodie adventures. I always look forward to hearing from you so please communicate via email: jackie@jackiecameron.co.za.
Jackie Cameron - owner of Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine in Hilton, KZN - for enquires email admin@jackiecameron.co.za.
Find me on Facebook – Jackie Cameron Cooks at Home, Twitter - @jackie_cameron and Instagram: jackiecameronincolour
Food assistant and recipe developer: Nolan Adimulam
All photos by Kathy Pitout Photography