Three Eastern Cape stokvel semi-finalists will don their aprons and cook up a storm in East London on Saturday morning in a Stokvel Cooking Challenge competition.
Competing stokvels have to use White Star maize meal and Royco soup in their culinary creations.
Celebrity judges – MasterChef 2014 runner-up Siphokazi Mdlankomo and singer/actor Lucia Mthiyane – will decide which dish goes through to the national finals in Rustenburg next month to compete for the chance to win a share of the R50000 prize money.
East London administrative officer and Golden Girls stokvel member Berenice Brown said her five-woman team would make a delicious beef curry and “stywe pap” on Saturday.
“We made this meal at my home and brought it to the office to share, and it went down very well. The secret is in the spices,” said Brown, who is hooked on cooking and baking and has had her lamington recipe published in a national magazine.
She said the Golden Girls stokvel had formed at work two years ago and each contributed R100 monthly to a kitty they took turns to benefit from. “We can buy a microwave or a set of duvets or whatever we need,” said the Buffalo Flats resident. “We are thinking of catering for funerals to make an extra income on weekends.”
Sales promoter Sandiswa Mananga of Mthatha said the Siyancendana stokvel was founded in February in response to post-festive season budget constraints.
“There are 10 of us friends and neighbours and we put in R1000 per month and use it for school fees or to repay debts. I want to use my R10000 to register to resume my studies in IT development,” said Mananga.
She said they would probably make steamed bread and lamb stew on Saturday morning.
S’nako Stokvel group, also of Mthatha, helps members pay for funerals, parties and weddings.
It is the third Eastern Cape semi-finalist.
MasterChef SA veteran Mdlankomo said she would be looking for creativity in the stokvel chefs.
“I’m looking for an African dish that has bold flavours. Be creative with your pap,” advised the Cape Town domestic worker who thrilled the nation two years ago.
Mdlankomo, born and raised in Tsolo, now gives domestic workers cooking classes under the auspices of a national supermarket chain.
She said she’d never been a member of a stokvel, but she liked the concept.
“Stokvels are good because people bond and make good friends while saving money.”
Saturday’s winner goes through to the finals which will be held in Rustenburg on June 4. Prizes of R25000, R15000, R10000 and R5000 will be taken home by the nation’s four best cookery stokvels.
lThe fun event starts at 11.30am on Saturday in Powertrade Cash & Carry at Taxi City on Jagger Street in the CBD. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Let the stokvel cook-off begin
Competing stokvels have to use White Star maize meal and Royco soup in their culinary creations.
Celebrity judges – MasterChef 2014 runner-up Siphokazi Mdlankomo and singer/actor Lucia Mthiyane – will decide which dish goes through to the national finals in Rustenburg next month to compete for the chance to win a share of the R50000 prize money.
East London administrative officer and Golden Girls stokvel member Berenice Brown said her five-woman team would make a delicious beef curry and “stywe pap” on Saturday.
“We made this meal at my home and brought it to the office to share, and it went down very well. The secret is in the spices,” said Brown, who is hooked on cooking and baking and has had her lamington recipe published in a national magazine.
She said the Golden Girls stokvel had formed at work two years ago and each contributed R100 monthly to a kitty they took turns to benefit from. “We can buy a microwave or a set of duvets or whatever we need,” said the Buffalo Flats resident. “We are thinking of catering for funerals to make an extra income on weekends.”
Sales promoter Sandiswa Mananga of Mthatha said the Siyancendana stokvel was founded in February in response to post-festive season budget constraints.
“There are 10 of us friends and neighbours and we put in R1000 per month and use it for school fees or to repay debts. I want to use my R10000 to register to resume my studies in IT development,” said Mananga.
She said they would probably make steamed bread and lamb stew on Saturday morning.
S’nako Stokvel group, also of Mthatha, helps members pay for funerals, parties and weddings.
It is the third Eastern Cape semi-finalist.
MasterChef SA veteran Mdlankomo said she would be looking for creativity in the stokvel chefs.
“I’m looking for an African dish that has bold flavours. Be creative with your pap,” advised the Cape Town domestic worker who thrilled the nation two years ago.
Mdlankomo, born and raised in Tsolo, now gives domestic workers cooking classes under the auspices of a national supermarket chain.
She said she’d never been a member of a stokvel, but she liked the concept.
“Stokvels are good because people bond and make good friends while saving money.”
Saturday’s winner goes through to the finals which will be held in Rustenburg on June 4. Prizes of R25000, R15000, R10000 and R5000 will be taken home by the nation’s four best cookery stokvels.
lThe fun event starts at 11.30am on Saturday in Powertrade Cash & Carry at Taxi City on Jagger Street in the CBD. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos