Galley Essentials with Amanda
Amanda with Ratu on Mopelia
Just after first light our
crewmember Sue spotted a Banana Bread
fringe of palm trees on the 1 teaspoon cinnamon
horizon. The 102 miles from ¾ cup butter
Maupiti to Mopelia in French 3 cups sugar
Polynesia had been windy 3 eggs
and rough. We knew it would 6 ripe bananas - mashed
be as we’d left Mopelia in 25 16 oz sour cream
knot winds to avoid being 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
trapped in the lagoon for 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
five days due to a forecast of ½ teaspoon salt
consistent reinforced trades. 3 teaspoons baking soda
As we neared Mopelia, 4½ cups flour
huge breakers pounded the 1 cup chopped walnuts
windward reef of the tiny, Preheat oven to 300° F.
nearly uninhabited coral Grease four 7"x3" inch loaf
atoll. Our plan was to anchor off the pans. In a small bowl, stir together ¼ cup
pass to wait until the sun was higher
Celebration Potluck
white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
for better visibility to transit the narrow Dust pans lightly with cinnamon and
pass and cross the lagoon. But when we
on Mopelia
sugar mixture. In a large bowl, cream
arrived at the anchorage we realized butter and 3 cups sugar. Mix in eggs,
that with winds blasting at 30+ knots mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and
anchoring on the coral reef was now
by Amanda Swan Neal
cinnamon. Mix in salt, baking soda and
rather treacherous. flour. Stir in nuts. Divide into prepared
We decided to try the pass and as we pans. Bake for 1 hour, until a toothpick
lined up the entrance we were surprised and coconut crabs had been caught and inserted in center comes out clean.
to see only a half knot ebb current. I felt I think nearly every boat had made a
it was safe to go inside and we smoothly salad and baked banana cake. Most of the yachts in the anchorage
shot the pass crossing the lagoon to the were either French Canadian or French
sheltered southeast corner. Five boats Potluck Bean Salad thus creating a fascinating evening with
were anchored off the beach and not long 1 potato - cooked and diced into cubes conversations in French, Tahitian and a
after we had the anchor set, Sebastian 2 cups green beans - trimmed, cut into little English. I chatted with Ratu about
and Celine, a nice young French couple one-inch pieces and steamed life on Mopelia; he was staying awhile
aboard Touteau, their recently purchased 1 can chickpeas to harvest copra. He asked if I’d like
ex-charter yacht, dinghied over to invite 1 can black beans some coconuts and in exchange I offered
us to a birthday celebration ashore that ½ cup thinly sliced red onion him some cumin seeds and orange juice
evening. 2 scallions - sliced to make the following recipe from the
Upon landing the dinghy at the 3 tablespoons chopped parsley remaining pork. Everyone was certainly
white sand beach, we discovered we 1 garlic clove - minced partaking in the celebration and when
were in for a feast. Kalami, his wife ¼ cup red wine vinegar we left the beach to go home, the dancing
Sophie and their son, plus a couple of 2 tablespoons olive oil was in still in full swing.
friends are one of only two families, 1 teaspoon sugar
with a total of only ten people, living on fresh ground pepper and salt Pork and Chickpea Stew
Mopelia now, down from 100 a few years In a large bowl, combine all the beans 2 tablespoons olive oil
ago. Several of the cruisers, Kalami and with the onions, scallions and parsley. 3 lbs pork shoulder - cubed
two of his Tahitian helpers, had been out In a separate bowl, whisk together freshly ground pepper and salt
the previous night diving for lobsters. A remaining ingredients, pour over the 1 onion - diced
pig had been slaughtered, several fish salad and toss to coat. 4 garlic cloves - minced
48° No r t h , Ja N u a r y 2010 Pa g e 62
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