I will never have a recipe/food blog. But today, I am going to talk about food.
I am soooo thankful for those who do have food blogs. Obviously, the Pioneer Woman is one of my favorite places to find excellent recipes, but my most frequented cooking blog is from a girl who lives in this country and buys everything from a market like I do.....and makes it without a box or a can. As you can imagine, that can prove challenging. I have always been the "I'll bring the paper goods" kind of girl. And as my college roommates can attest, I only knew how to cook in the microwave. Moving overseas has forced me to learn how to REALLY cook. I enjoy finding everything I need in the market and then making sauces and breads and all sorts of good things from scratch. Lots of excellent tips have also come from my good friend B who lives in this town with me and has several more years of cooking experience.
Tonight we are having one of our favorite meals. Calzones. And we are having some local friends over, so it will be a PARTY. This is such a great party meal becasue everyone gets to put together their own calzone just the way they like it and requires little preparation. All you have to do is make the dough and put out all the special toppings in bowls, allow each guest to role out their own dough and top their own calzone.....and then you bake. Very fun and very easy!! Tonight we are having chicken, pepperoni, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, sausage, and cheese.
Let me just say after a week of living in the countryside we are ALL ready for a little (or maybe a big) CALZONE.
What is your favorite "meal for a crowd"? (I always need new ideas!)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
In the Country
The last week of our lives was spent out in the countryside with some wonderful people from Tennessee. We always love when our Tennessee friends visit! Especially when my brother, Reagan, is among them.
Living in the countryside is always an adventure. It is not for the faint of heart. There are fleas/bugs/unknown biting things in the covers (just ask a few of my family members). There are very dirty floors. There are no western toilets and your shower just flows into the toilet.....causing you to not be particularly thrilled to take a shower. The bathroom smells like the choir tour bus after 14 days of touring. The key to your room sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. There are loud noises from trucks, dogs, pigs, trucks, horns, trucks....ALL DAY AND NIGHT!
However, there is a very sweet lady who runs the "hotel" and has been there for all of the last 3 years that we have been there. She is kind to us and we have become friends with her. She always comments how amazing it has been to watch our language improve and has told us we are her first friends that are foreigners. We got to talk about many wonderful things with her this last week. She makes it all worth while.
Living in the countryside is always an adventure. It is not for the faint of heart. There are fleas/bugs/unknown biting things in the covers (just ask a few of my family members). There are very dirty floors. There are no western toilets and your shower just flows into the toilet.....causing you to not be particularly thrilled to take a shower. The bathroom smells like the choir tour bus after 14 days of touring. The key to your room sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. There are loud noises from trucks, dogs, pigs, trucks, horns, trucks....ALL DAY AND NIGHT!
However, there is a very sweet lady who runs the "hotel" and has been there for all of the last 3 years that we have been there. She is kind to us and we have become friends with her. She always comments how amazing it has been to watch our language improve and has told us we are her first friends that are foreigners. We got to talk about many wonderful things with her this last week. She makes it all worth while.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Open Letter
Dear Mr. Sunshine,
You haven't made an appearance in weeks.
Every shoe is soaked and muddy.
It has rained for days.
It is cold again, in and out of the house.
I know in a few months we will be sweaty and hot, but for now, please come out.
We miss you,
O Fam
You haven't made an appearance in weeks.
Every shoe is soaked and muddy.
It has rained for days.
It is cold again, in and out of the house.
I know in a few months we will be sweaty and hot, but for now, please come out.
We miss you,
O Fam
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Village Driver
Tonight was my night to travel out and visit with some girls in a small town. I stayed later than normal, way after the last bus had already departed. One of my friends has a new home and wanted to make dinner, meaning I would be late. My plan was to take a taxi for the hour drive home. Upon arrival this afternoon, I walked to the center of town where taxis hang out. I scoped out the drivers and found a lady....I didn't want to drive back after dark with a man I had never met. She agreed with me on a price and that she would pick me up after dinner and take me home.
A little before 8pm I called her, and 15 minutes later I was in her car. I knew it was going to be interesting after the first 5 minutes in the car. Here are a few of my highlights:
1. The driver's husband came along for the drive. Apparently both are drivers.....and the hour drive might require the 2nd driver, at least that's what they said.
2. When I called Rob to tell him I was on my home, the driver's husband leaned forward and said,
man: "Wow, I didn't know you could make calls to another country from your phone."
me: "What?!?!"
man: "You just called a foreign country and it was so fast and clear."
me: "Oh no I didn't. I called my husband who is in the next town. We live here."
man: "But you were speaking English....."
In other words, as logic would require, a phone call where English is spoken has to be going to another country.
3. On a cold dark, rainy night, it is imperative to use the defrost feature in the car. My driver and her husband spent half of the time trying to figure it out. Finally they rolled the windows down, so then we were all cold, but the driver could see out the windows.....at least the last 1/2 hour.
4. The best part of the evening was when we were about to go through the toll gate to get onto the highway and I discovered something. My driver was having her first highway driving experience......on a dark, cold, rainy night.....WITH ME IN THE CAR! Several times I thought about demanding to drive. Especially when the husband was halfway in the front seat with us trying to get the defrost to work and she was weaving all over the road.......I was pretty sure I wouldn't make it home. Thankfully I made it safely, and she felt good about her new experience.
And yes, they really are villagers who took me to the big city tonight......for the first time. Boy do I know how to pick 'em.
A little before 8pm I called her, and 15 minutes later I was in her car. I knew it was going to be interesting after the first 5 minutes in the car. Here are a few of my highlights:
1. The driver's husband came along for the drive. Apparently both are drivers.....and the hour drive might require the 2nd driver, at least that's what they said.
2. When I called Rob to tell him I was on my home, the driver's husband leaned forward and said,
man: "Wow, I didn't know you could make calls to another country from your phone."
me: "What?!?!"
man: "You just called a foreign country and it was so fast and clear."
me: "Oh no I didn't. I called my husband who is in the next town. We live here."
man: "But you were speaking English....."
In other words, as logic would require, a phone call where English is spoken has to be going to another country.
3. On a cold dark, rainy night, it is imperative to use the defrost feature in the car. My driver and her husband spent half of the time trying to figure it out. Finally they rolled the windows down, so then we were all cold, but the driver could see out the windows.....at least the last 1/2 hour.
4. The best part of the evening was when we were about to go through the toll gate to get onto the highway and I discovered something. My driver was having her first highway driving experience......on a dark, cold, rainy night.....WITH ME IN THE CAR! Several times I thought about demanding to drive. Especially when the husband was halfway in the front seat with us trying to get the defrost to work and she was weaving all over the road.......I was pretty sure I wouldn't make it home. Thankfully I made it safely, and she felt good about her new experience.
And yes, they really are villagers who took me to the big city tonight......for the first time. Boy do I know how to pick 'em.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
My Best Friend
This week I had a very bad horrible rotten terrible awful day. And then the next day was also bad. No details are needed but dissapointment, frustration, and sadness showed their ugly faces this week. Through it all, my very best friend and helpmate was there with me. I can't tell you how thankful I am to have someone who is always on my side, always looking out for my best interests, always willing to sit in the darkness, hold my hand, and cry with me. Someone who is my biggest fan, my greatest encourager, and my wise counselor.
And someone who loves me enough to take me away to the "Big City" for pizza and a movie for a day, leaving homeschooling, children, and daily life behind (thanks Ryan for staying with the kids). I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband, a very best friend. Through him I have felt the Father's love, encouragement, counsel, and guidance this week. How could I ask for more?
And someone who loves me enough to take me away to the "Big City" for pizza and a movie for a day, leaving homeschooling, children, and daily life behind (thanks Ryan for staying with the kids). I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband, a very best friend. Through him I have felt the Father's love, encouragement, counsel, and guidance this week. How could I ask for more?
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