Wrapping up

As we prepare to leave next week, I have been getting very sad about all the things I will miss about our life here in Malawi. There are sooo many, but I will only mention a few. Oh, and Eli is ready to see America again :)

Friends!
I can't picture them all, but these are some of the people who mean a lot to us. As well, we will miss all of those who have loved on Eli.

I never thought I would say this, but I will miss the food here in Malawi. I won't be able to buy such delicious organic fresh foods in America at such great prices. Just look at that huge avocado!

Mama Mia Cafe has become our little get away spot. We've gone for breakfast, lunch and dessert many times as a way to spend time together outside these ABC walls. It's a cheap way to escape the heat as the ice cream is only 250 Kwacha!

Our friends at the MOH Crisis Nursery

Our students!
Teaching has been such a blessing this year. I have really enjoyed spending time with the older kids. I've also enjoyed sharing with them something that I love, French!

Last but not least, the sun sets. Since moving up the hill this year, we have enjoyed a beautiful sun set each and every evening. I will really miss this beautiful sight.

Our last day of school is tomorrow. We leave next Thursday and have a lot to do before then. Please pray for us. It is tempting to get stressed and freaked out about all the upcoming changes. There are still a few unknowns in our future and we need to trust in the Lord and continue to pray for His peace to surround us during this time. Thank you so much for all of your continual support throughout these two years. We know that we have not done any of this on our own or in our own strength. Thank you for lifting us up in prayer and for helping us carry our burdens as well as rejoice with us in times of joy.

5 minute bread?

Many have asked me for the recipe of the bread I recently posted about. It comes from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery that Revolutionizes Home Baking. I don't actually own the book, but my friend Bech does, and he shared the recipe with me. Believe me, the first book I buy once in America will be this one (among many other cook books). I still have so much to learn about cooking and bread baking. Still, with this easy recipe, my family and friends can enjoy a delicious loaf of bread anytime we want!

First, find a bucket or large Tupperware that will contain all the ingredients but also will fit in your fridge. Remember, it will rise!

-13 Cups flour (white)

-3 Tbsp. coarse salt

-2 Tbsp. instant yeast (or 3 Tbsp regular active dry yeast)

-6 Cups lukewarm water (100 degrees F)

Mix and let sit in container (with lid on) for a few hours.
Put in refrigerator and use the next day!

When I want to bake bread, I take my desired amount (with floured hands!) from the bucket and shape it a little bit. Then I put in on a floured surface and let it sit and rise for an hour or so. Pre-heat your oven as hot as it will get. Opening the oven will always result in a loss of heat. (again, this is why you NEED the book! There are so many things to learn about baking bread!) It will still look pretty flat after sitting for some time. Do not be discouraged. With floured hands, form your loaf gently (always be gentle with bread) and put on a baking sheet (well, that's all I have...I'm sure there is something better for baking a good loaf of bread). Bake for 30 minutes or so or until browned (not golden...if it is golden, it's not done yet, trust me!) Let it cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting it. Enjoy!

This dough is very wet, so you must always have floured hands when working with it. I was able to make 4 larger loaves that lasted 2 meals and 3 smaller loaves out of one buckets worth of dough. It's pretty great, seeing as how you just mix and refrigerate! Still, I recommend getting the book as there are a lot of things you should know about baking bread. It is an art, and I feel like I am still in the crayons stage of things. But seriously, anyone can make this bread and I promise whoever eats it will complement you!

mmmmm food

The weather has been strange lately. Although the days still get hot, mornings and evenings are foggy and chilly. It even rained last night for the first time in a while! Dan and I have been wearing socks and hoodies. Our bellies have been craving soups and chili. I don't know why it has taken me this long to make soups, but I am glad I have finally started. My two favorites- Cream of broccoli and Butternaut Squash soup.

Our good friend Bech has blessed me with a new bread recipe. I still use my wheat one for sandwich bread, but this one is great with any dinner meal (or breakfast sandwich as Dan has recently discovered). The best part about this bread is that you can make a HUGE batch, keep it in the fridge and use it as you need it. So simple and yet so good!

Dan and I were talking about how we are going to be experiencing 3 different seasons during the next couple of months. Here in Malawi, it is technically winter, but it feels like autumn. While in Cape Town, we will definitely be experiencing their winter which is very close to a Seattle winter. Once off the plane in America, it will probably be scorching summer. After living in summer for the past 2 years, I am really looking forward to the little window of cold weather coming our way!

Eliya!!!!

It's 85 degrees outside, and the steering wheel still burns my hands after driving for 10 minutes. Eli and I are coming around a corner and the market comes into view. People are swarming the side of the street and I look for an open area to park in. As I veer off to the side of the road beside the market, I hear yelling, no chanting.

"E-LI-YA! E-LI-YA!"
(the E being pronounced like an A as in alien)

As I slow down and settle into a 'spot', the chanting gets louder and louder and louder. Within seconds, there are easily more than 15 young Malawian men huddled around the car, throwing their fists into the air chanting "ELIYA! ELIYA!". I recognize a few of them and realize they are chanting for Elijah (Eliya is Chechewa Elijah).
As I get out of the car, some of the men come to me saying "Madame, where is mwana (baby)? I hold Eliya!" Before I could get Eli out of the car, I had to calm them down and promise them each a turn to hold Elijah. It was hilarious! The only thing funnier was watching Elijah get wisked away by a crowd of Malawian men chanting his name and holding him up high like a king. I promise, next time I will get video. For now, these pictures are all I have.

I love the guy in the back, trying desperately to be in the picture.

This is our favorite vendor. We go to no one else. He gives the best prices and also yells at the other men who try to sell me stuff I don't need like bags of beans, poorly made mops and chomba (marajuana).

Here is a closeup of his vegetable stand. You buy a bundle (5 tomatoes) for 300 Kwacha which is about $2.
I have to say that visiting our market is something I will miss terribly when we leave Malawi.

Thai food in Africa?

Dan and I love Thai food. My love for Thai began in high school when I worked at a Thai restaurant. After moving to Seattle, it became more of an obsession. Dan and I loved to walk to the Ave in the University District, place an order at Thai Toms (the best Thai food in Seattle, seriously don't try to argue with me about this) and then go to Cellophane Square and buy a new album while we waited to be seated at the little hole in the wall restaurant. We went so frequently, they knew our orders! After friends and family, Thai Toms is the thing I miss most about Seattle.
Sadly, there isn't a Thai restaurant in sight here in Lilongwe (does that shock you?). We want Thai food!!! So, we made it. And let me tell you, it was gooood!!! We made enough yesterday for last nights' dinner and lunch to share with out friends today after church.

Tom Kha Gai (coconut milk soup)

Phad Thai (most popular noodle dish)We also made a red curry and an Asian salad, both not pictured.

We added some tom kha gai to Eli's usual beets and carrots dinner. He loved it, and didn't mind that his dinner was HOT PINK.

Of course, after we eat beets, we must have a bath.

All clean

In other Eli news:

Eli has begun to actually crawl up to the screen door for a better view of the outside world.

We are pretty sure that Eli is beginning to get his top front teeth. He is getting fussy again and chewing on everything, including the chair.

We've begun to keep sliced carrots in the fridge, nice and cold ready to be chewed on. Elijah loves it and we don't have to worry about little pieces breaking off and causing a choking problem.

The best of both worlds: food and the thumb.

People are always commenting on Eli's striped wardobe. He is almost always wearing stripes. I like to think he likes it. Who says horizontal stripes make you look fat?

What I did today....

Yeah, I taught French for about 45 minutes, but what I'm really proud of is two things having nothing to do with teaching: keeping Elijah alive and happy and cooking!

Today, I made bread (2 loaves), baby food (beans and carrots), lasagna, pineapple salsa, and tortilla chips. Needless to say, I am tired! I made tortilla chips for the first time on Tuesday and they turned out all right, but were a little thick. This time, I set out to make them as thin and crispy as possible. They were delicious! That hard part is not eating them all at once, but trying to enjoy them over the span of a few days. It's kind of time consuming, so I like to have them for a while.

First, you make the tortilla shells

Then, you cut them into triangles....

.....and fry them

Finished product, yummy!

Bread!

Lasagna

Baby food!

Dan and Eli playing with our new Christmas tree ornaments

Eli has really started laughing at "fart" sounds. He loves it when Dan squeezes the wind out of his water bottle. In this video, Eli cracks up at Dan trying to get mustard out of an empty bottle.

Susie home maker!

I really don't know what has gotten into me, but I've been enjoying myself in the kitchen lately. For those of you who know me well, you know that this is strange. I have had so much time at home before my class, so I've been experimenting. I've always been intimidated by recipes that call for yeast (I have NO idea why). I guess it just seemed like too much work. Yeah, I'm pretty lazy in the kitchen. Anyways, since I've had time to take it slow, I've really enjoyed trying new things (new to me). I never liked cooking because I hate to be in the kitchen for 2 hours by myself, slaving away for something that will disappear seconds after it is placed on the table. Well, it still takes me about 2 hours, but I do little bits at a time throughout the day, and it feels more like a project than a chore. I should have taken more pictures of the things I've made, but here are a few.

We make a lot of pizza here as it's "quick" and we can have left overs for the nights when the power goes out. Here is a pesto pizza I made. I've also been really into chicken pesto pasta with a white sauce. I've been working on lasagna, but haven't quite mastered it yet. It's hard here without the canned ingredients!



I am most proud of my braided French bread. It was delicious! We had it with tomato soup one night, butternut squash curry the next (Dan made that...I can't take the credit)and then as French toast the next morning.

Random stuff:
This is just a funny picture of a gecko that went to church with us last week. He held onto the car the whole way to church! It was so funny. I used to be terrified of this little flesh colored guys, but they aren't so bad anymore. I just hate it when they jump out when you are reaching for a mug in the cupboards or something. They are kind of like a mouse in that way.

Again, Eli LOVES water bottles!

Like father like son.



Look at how they are both grabbing their toes!

Yeah, I like to think that he is maybe a little bit like me...hmmmm. At least I know he loves me!