They came at Nine. They left after Two. I made Indian food that didn't flop. I think they will be back even though the meal was on the fly! For clarity it did not include any flies.
Thank you, Mom, for the recipe.
Thank you, neighborhood pit stop, for my rotis (almost out of atta and I don't do rotis anyways..
Thank you Lord, for grace, peace, patience and a whole bucket load of JOY!
I am tired.
I still have a house to get back into order after a major change in our day.
But I feel a deep sense of satisfaction in just doing life with other believers. I was honored they came, stayed and will be back. We were mutually encouraged.
Showing posts with label Hospitality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hospitality. Show all posts
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Monday, 16 July 2012
Coping
One dog. (inside)
Two Puppies (inside till one pooped)
Two Toddlers. (one that likes to escape to the outside)
One Infant. (inside)
Two Little Kiddos. (girl inside, boy outside, both under 8)
Two Teenagers.
One Pregnant Mom.
One Nursing Mom.
Two Husbands with kids.
One Grandma.
One Grandpa.
One Single Brother from New York where singles are many and kids are few.
All stuffed together in Grandma's house.
All eating together. And talking a lot.
Running around, playing, truck zooming.
The heat was intense. The beds were scarce.
Crying babies in the night, sleep did hamper.
Single Brother moved out of the house to live in the camper.
The chaos was crazy. The noise level high.
Yet all were content and having a blast.
Now they are all gone and there are sheets by the dozen,
with towels and dishes and bathrooms to clean,
so I better book it while my babies sleep.
Friday, 29 June 2012
Cow Surfing Mug
She is one of the most graceful people I know. She could have been a dancer... maybe. She is gentle. She is kind. She puts others desires before her own. She has a strong identity in Christ and stands firm in His promises and truths. I count her as one of my friends. I have lots of people who I love but I have few people who I call "good friends." I am no facebook junky with thousands of friends but rather a starbucks long coffee drink gal with tissues for laughing tears and crying soul water with a handful of good friends.
Sometimes I find myself in the awkward position of the friendly gal with a friend who thinks I am a good friend and I sadly am not feeling the same vibe. Yesterday we visited someone who I count as a good friend. The kind of friend who after not seeing each other after years you hug and move into the mundane while crying over the heavy, mourning over the sorrowful and laugh over the victories. The kind of friend who you haven't written to for ages but whose very life's mundane realities are important.
Back to this friend who I consider a "good friend." While I love her dearly I also am plagued with much self doubt over friendships. Perhaps, I thought, she does not count me in her "good friend" category. It did not seem to be so. We took one look and it was like welcoming one another again. Major things had changed. We both had new grey hairs. I had two new little kids who interrupted everything. She had a new apartment, job, country and church. These are all big things but still it seemed that the friendship was there. The comfortable companionship of real frienship.
Still little doubts niggled. Am I her friend? Does she count me in her circle?
It was not until my husband pulled down a mug and handed it to me with my morning coffee that a peace settled. The mug had a surfing cow. Yeap! Complete with swimming trunks this cow was utterly ridiculous and surfed around the mug in stereo. Really it is a rather hideous mug that grated against the beautiful original hand paintings of Europe, the picture of the Opera House in Vienna (or maybe Salzburg), the photos of Venice, the tenderly loved and used piano and the overall beautiful ambience of the apartment. But at the same time it fit. And it was proof. I almost cried. Honestly. That is how pathetic my little worries had been. This little mug, a birthday gift from ME so very long ago, had made the cut to live on her shelf! I was honored and moved. Even though it didn't quite fit, even though it was ugly, it was on her shelf. We all know what we wrap our hands around to drink something warm is often something special. Whether it is a memory or a person it evokes. Like a hug or a letter in a far away place our mugs are dear!
So is my friend.
Thank you Liz for loving me!
Sometimes I find myself in the awkward position of the friendly gal with a friend who thinks I am a good friend and I sadly am not feeling the same vibe. Yesterday we visited someone who I count as a good friend. The kind of friend who after not seeing each other after years you hug and move into the mundane while crying over the heavy, mourning over the sorrowful and laugh over the victories. The kind of friend who you haven't written to for ages but whose very life's mundane realities are important.
Back to this friend who I consider a "good friend." While I love her dearly I also am plagued with much self doubt over friendships. Perhaps, I thought, she does not count me in her "good friend" category. It did not seem to be so. We took one look and it was like welcoming one another again. Major things had changed. We both had new grey hairs. I had two new little kids who interrupted everything. She had a new apartment, job, country and church. These are all big things but still it seemed that the friendship was there. The comfortable companionship of real frienship.
Still little doubts niggled. Am I her friend? Does she count me in her circle?
It was not until my husband pulled down a mug and handed it to me with my morning coffee that a peace settled. The mug had a surfing cow. Yeap! Complete with swimming trunks this cow was utterly ridiculous and surfed around the mug in stereo. Really it is a rather hideous mug that grated against the beautiful original hand paintings of Europe, the picture of the Opera House in Vienna (or maybe Salzburg), the photos of Venice, the tenderly loved and used piano and the overall beautiful ambience of the apartment. But at the same time it fit. And it was proof. I almost cried. Honestly. That is how pathetic my little worries had been. This little mug, a birthday gift from ME so very long ago, had made the cut to live on her shelf! I was honored and moved. Even though it didn't quite fit, even though it was ugly, it was on her shelf. We all know what we wrap our hands around to drink something warm is often something special. Whether it is a memory or a person it evokes. Like a hug or a letter in a far away place our mugs are dear!
So is my friend.
Thank you Liz for loving me!
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Casseroles and Briyani
Briyani is..... a delicious South Asian rice dish full of meat, spices and onions. It is a party in your mouth. It is a crowd pleaser. It is the dish extraordinaire to serve to guests. It is a one dish meal. All in one. It is the equivalent of brownies for dessert in America or a great casserole that needs no trimmings.
Here in India you better have at least a half dozen dishes to share unless you serve the all purpose Briyani.
My sister-in-law every Christmas makes a slew of different cookies. Her and her girls make dozens and dozens. Then they put a mix onto plates and give them away. When neighbors receive them they do not count the number of types, at least I do not think so. In America, if a friend visits, coffee and a cookie is great, particularly if the friend just dropped in unannounced.
Here in India, that is not the case. Three plates with at least three different items is minimal. Chai is crucial for everyone and it must be served with something savory. Water with the sweets and chai with the savory.
Just two days ago I sat with my mom drinking a hot drink and eating cookies at a moms and tots play group. My son Abe was playing with three other boys, one named Mohammed, all from different countries. They greeted each other with Salaams and then proceeded to do that cute toddler play which means no one play together just along side of each other. Us women had a delightful time as my mom made a Western time frame become an Eastern time of hospitality with just a little chai and snacks!
This is terribly disjointed and I must sign off as my computer is going to die.
In case of confusion remember Briyani for the East and Casserole for the West and for dessert the West is always easier but hospitality is not always about what is easiest.
Here in India you better have at least a half dozen dishes to share unless you serve the all purpose Briyani.
My sister-in-law every Christmas makes a slew of different cookies. Her and her girls make dozens and dozens. Then they put a mix onto plates and give them away. When neighbors receive them they do not count the number of types, at least I do not think so. In America, if a friend visits, coffee and a cookie is great, particularly if the friend just dropped in unannounced.
Here in India, that is not the case. Three plates with at least three different items is minimal. Chai is crucial for everyone and it must be served with something savory. Water with the sweets and chai with the savory.
Just two days ago I sat with my mom drinking a hot drink and eating cookies at a moms and tots play group. My son Abe was playing with three other boys, one named Mohammed, all from different countries. They greeted each other with Salaams and then proceeded to do that cute toddler play which means no one play together just along side of each other. Us women had a delightful time as my mom made a Western time frame become an Eastern time of hospitality with just a little chai and snacks!
This is terribly disjointed and I must sign off as my computer is going to die.
In case of confusion remember Briyani for the East and Casserole for the West and for dessert the West is always easier but hospitality is not always about what is easiest.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Charotzah
Tomorrow is Passover. I love Easter. I am glad on Easter I live here. I love to sing those glorious Easter songs that reverberate off of church ceilings and raise the roof on Sunday in the States. I love to say "He is Risen" and here the affirmative in reply. Even so Easter is one holiday I am thankful I am not in America celebrating.
At Christmas, I'd rather be in the States, I honestly don't mind Santa Claus. He bothers me when he takes the limelight but I love the warm feeling of carols in unexpected places song by unexpected artists with unexpected people humming along. I like the weather and the festive feeling. I love the colors and the drinks and the food. I love to sit with family and eat with family and just be with family. I love Christmas in America.
At Easter I struggle. I struggle with Easter Egg hunts. I struggle with pastel colors. I struggle with the way the most important holiday of our faith seems to be a half day affair starting and ending in church and peaking with new dresses. I struggle that Good Friday doesn't feel dark enough, huge enough, awesome enough so Easter is like water off a duck's back for one more year. How can the glorious glee of Sunday be anything if there is no heavy cross?
I am thankful for The Passion of the Christ and the year it came out giving a sobriety to our holiday but the Easter Bunny seems to have gotten bigger with each year. So how to redeem it, how to grab it back. First are you eating with anyone this Sunday? Are you opening your home to someone to celebrate this event? Are you talking about it, are you teaching your children and grandchildren about it? Are you talking about it while you drive, while you shop, while you cook, clean and do laundry?
Another idea to add weight to this Easter is to celebrate a Seder Meal, Passover Meal, sometime this week. It is not too hard, it is very meaningful and each year as I celebrate with different people I feel my heart swell with our truly amazing Christ.
..... more on this later, Zana just filled her diaper for the fifth time this morning, if you want a Seder Meal script and menu drop me a comment with your email.
At Christmas, I'd rather be in the States, I honestly don't mind Santa Claus. He bothers me when he takes the limelight but I love the warm feeling of carols in unexpected places song by unexpected artists with unexpected people humming along. I like the weather and the festive feeling. I love the colors and the drinks and the food. I love to sit with family and eat with family and just be with family. I love Christmas in America.
At Easter I struggle. I struggle with Easter Egg hunts. I struggle with pastel colors. I struggle with the way the most important holiday of our faith seems to be a half day affair starting and ending in church and peaking with new dresses. I struggle that Good Friday doesn't feel dark enough, huge enough, awesome enough so Easter is like water off a duck's back for one more year. How can the glorious glee of Sunday be anything if there is no heavy cross?
I am thankful for The Passion of the Christ and the year it came out giving a sobriety to our holiday but the Easter Bunny seems to have gotten bigger with each year. So how to redeem it, how to grab it back. First are you eating with anyone this Sunday? Are you opening your home to someone to celebrate this event? Are you talking about it, are you teaching your children and grandchildren about it? Are you talking about it while you drive, while you shop, while you cook, clean and do laundry?
Another idea to add weight to this Easter is to celebrate a Seder Meal, Passover Meal, sometime this week. It is not too hard, it is very meaningful and each year as I celebrate with different people I feel my heart swell with our truly amazing Christ.
..... more on this later, Zana just filled her diaper for the fifth time this morning, if you want a Seder Meal script and menu drop me a comment with your email.
Friday, 9 March 2012
Connie Auntie's Cookbook
Sometime along the way I will write a recipe for chaat..... maybe in a few years but for now I am going to write my new favorite recipe. Why? Because as a single I kept to the Fabulous Four recipes for all my cooking needs but now I am married to a man whose mom collects cookbooks. Not because she is some gourmet goddess but because she likes to try new things. Personally I feel this just leaves lots of room for embarrassment and error! Who cares what some random chic says tastes good? My motto is "get a recipe that works and then work that recipe!"
Well I have had to give that motto up to the great commitment called marriage. (none of my roommates had problems with my redundant eating habits but then again I never cooked for them) I have begun to read cook books (I have currently four in my home.... I tend to use one of them more than the others) and I have a new recipe. It is for banana bread. A simple thing to make. And instead of being from someone I trust it is from Emily, who I have NEVER met!
A lady here in the city suggested using her banana bread recipe but substitute the bananas with a green squash that is unique to this part of the world. Her family "just loves it." It was green! It was green and lumpy and my family did not love it, I didn't even try to taste the bread I was so put off by the bright color and sticky look. Sometimes I seriously worry about my baking abilities.
I decided to not even use the same recipe for banana bread but look further afield into a recipe book that has been fun to read. Why read and not cook? Well almost every recipe (at least in the desserts) has some American ingredient not found here. So I retired this book to the back burner. But for this cooking endeavor I dug her up and checked her out. And what I found was a winner. Pure genius for banana bread thanks to a lovely CHUC named Emily Fredrick. I do not know what a CHUC is but I do know it has something to do with the nursing profession as the cookbook is called, "Buns in the Oven... a second helping." Hopefully no buns in my oven, two in the short time of 16 months is enough for this mommy!
All recipes are made to be changed so I did jazz it up a bit but I will write that in.
Banana Bread
3 bananas
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. soda
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
3 Tbsp. sour milk (I used 3 heaping T. of yogurt instead)
Blend (I mashed with a fork) bananas, sugar and shortening (I just used butter). Add eggs. Sift flour and salt together. Add soda to milk. Mix into creamed mixture and then add flour. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
This recipe was great doubled and also with a few chocolate chips thrown in. It also cooked up fine after sitting in the fridge for a night! My son just gobbles it up! I love it because I have everything in my kitchen and even my dinky little shoe box oven can't seem to wreck this bread!
Well I have had to give that motto up to the great commitment called marriage. (none of my roommates had problems with my redundant eating habits but then again I never cooked for them) I have begun to read cook books (I have currently four in my home.... I tend to use one of them more than the others) and I have a new recipe. It is for banana bread. A simple thing to make. And instead of being from someone I trust it is from Emily, who I have NEVER met!
A lady here in the city suggested using her banana bread recipe but substitute the bananas with a green squash that is unique to this part of the world. Her family "just loves it." It was green! It was green and lumpy and my family did not love it, I didn't even try to taste the bread I was so put off by the bright color and sticky look. Sometimes I seriously worry about my baking abilities.
I decided to not even use the same recipe for banana bread but look further afield into a recipe book that has been fun to read. Why read and not cook? Well almost every recipe (at least in the desserts) has some American ingredient not found here. So I retired this book to the back burner. But for this cooking endeavor I dug her up and checked her out. And what I found was a winner. Pure genius for banana bread thanks to a lovely CHUC named Emily Fredrick. I do not know what a CHUC is but I do know it has something to do with the nursing profession as the cookbook is called, "Buns in the Oven... a second helping." Hopefully no buns in my oven, two in the short time of 16 months is enough for this mommy!
All recipes are made to be changed so I did jazz it up a bit but I will write that in.
Banana Bread
3 bananas
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. soda
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
3 Tbsp. sour milk (I used 3 heaping T. of yogurt instead)
Blend (I mashed with a fork) bananas, sugar and shortening (I just used butter). Add eggs. Sift flour and salt together. Add soda to milk. Mix into creamed mixture and then add flour. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
This recipe was great doubled and also with a few chocolate chips thrown in. It also cooked up fine after sitting in the fridge for a night! My son just gobbles it up! I love it because I have everything in my kitchen and even my dinky little shoe box oven can't seem to wreck this bread!
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