News Release

Cook-Off West Africa Style

While many Ghanaians huddled under shelter from rain, Young Single Adults (YSA) from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered to share fun, food and fellowship at the first ever Kaneshie Stake YSA African Cook-Off.

Members of the Church, ages 18-30 and their friends joined in the Saturday event. The purpose of the activity was to help find and fellowship those in their age-group and create opportunities to associate together in meaningful service and social activities.

 

YSA from seven wards (congregations) in Kaneshie Stake (group of congregations) brought food stuffs, cooking appliances, utensils and recipes handed down from grandmothers and aunts to prepare authentic foods from Africa. Some of the cultural dishes prepared were: ampesi and palava sauce, fufu and abunabunu soup, konkonte and groundnut (peanut) soup, banku and okro soup.

Both men and women were involved in cooking, setting up fire, fetching water, chopping fruits and vegetables. Others set up canopies to provide shade for the cooks and tables for the final presentation.

The culinary creations were evaluated by food judges Judith Mettle-Nunoo, Thomas Larbie, and Jennifer Dosseh.  According to them, each group did so well they were unable to identify just one winner. 

Jamilatu Aryee, a member of one cooking team said, “At home I cook alone, but here there are many. I can feel my family traditions and enjoy cooking with so many friends.”

“I loved my Grandmothers groundnut soup when I was a boy, now I am learning how to make it” remarked Emmanual Freeman.

At the end of the day the YSA were satisfied. They had made new acquaintances and renewed old friendships. Their souls were filled with joy and their mouths with yummy, local cuisine.

Yet, the perfect outcome of the event was more than 200 young people came together in friendship and service. Indeed, the day was a success! 

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