Haiti - June 2015

I can't adequately describe my experience in Haiti. I spent most of our 6 hours of flight time on the way home from Haiti writing. Processing through what I'd experienced over the previous days. Wrestling with facts vs. feelings. Wondering how I jump back into American life after all I'd learned.

*** THINGS I LEARNED ***

Not all orphans have no family. Many orphans are economic orphans. They have family, but their family can't afford to take care of them. This means that adoption isn't the only answer. What they need is education, investment, and opportunity. By teaching them a trade, they are afforded further opportunities allowing them to support their families, and helping to break the cycle of economic orphans.

Haitians don't need America. They have their own culture. They have a way of life. Its not our way of life, but it works for them. I saw some examples of how the first world failed miserably at their attempts to help Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. There were housing units built outside of Port-au-Prince in an effort to provide housing for an entire tent city of people displaced by the earthquake. However, they now sit probably 95% vacant because those people don't just need a roof over their heads. Most of them have to walk everywhere or rely on public transportation, so they need to be close to work and market.

There is no such thing as the Haitian public school system. Schools are private, which means it costs money to send a child to school. With the level of poverty in Haiti, this means that many children are not afforded the opportunity to go to school. Many families who can afford to send children to school can only afford to send one child, which means they have to choose.

[Photo Credit: Lindy Nance]

God is at work in Haiti. Haitians were created in the image of God just like you and me, and He desires to redeem ALL of His children.

*** WHAT WE DID ***

Two of Pastor Pudens' daughters

We spent a couple of afternoons at orphanages in Port-au-Prince (Source de la Grace) and outside of Gonaives (Desire), but the majority of our time was spent at Village de Vie in Gonaives. We spent our days playing games, coloring, getting our hair braided (even the guys...), doing crafts, teaching Bible lessons, and of course lots of snuggling.

One morning a few of us got to "help" the mammas with some laundry (and by "help" I mean we tried). Our attempts were met with joyous laughter (because we're really not that much help), but it was time well spent and helps build relationship with the mammas as well. They are responsible for taking care of the orphans day to day, so a little help (even bad help) brings them joy.

[Photo Credit: Stacey Gibson]

*** WHAT'S GOING ON ***

The Global Orphan Project is a global orphan care and orphan prevention ministry. Orphan care isn't just about feeding and clothing orphans, but about breaking the cycle to prevent future orphans. 

[BREAK THE CYCLE]

* Education * GO Project and the village orphanages are not just feeding hungry faces. They're giving the children an education to help them succeed in life.

* Training * The Pathways program provides an opportunity for the children in GO Project's orphan villages who are aging out of care to be trained in a trade/skill in order to be able to support themselves and a family as an adult. Because many of Haiti's orphans are economic orphans, this is vital in orphan prevention.

* Opportunity * Connections with job creation organizations such as Papillon give Haitians a chance at a good job with a living wage.

 [RESTORATION]

[Photo Credit: Lindy Nance]

* Broken Relationships * Pastor Pudens Innocent of Village de Vie knows the names and stories of all of the orphans in his care. Although the staff at Village de Vie care well for the orphans, there are broken relationships that have caused them to be orphans: death, abandonment, etc. Pastor Pudens knows that although the child's physical needs must be met, there are also deep emotional scars that must be healed.


* Reconciliation * Pastor Pudens desires for the children to be reunited, if possible, with their parents or other relatives. Because many of Haiti's orphans are economic orphans, there are often possibilities of reuniting children with their biological families.

* Jesus * The children are taught that above all else: Jesus saves. Jesus loves. Jesus heals. These children were created in the image of God. He has adopted them into his kingdom where they are not orphans, but cherished sons and daughters.

*** MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ***

[Photo Credit: Adam Lynch]

One afternoon I spent some time holding a little boy and walking around the orphanage grounds. He was content to be held and lay his head on my shoulder. At one point he began singing in English "This is the day that the Lord has made." He and I sang the song together several times. I remember thinking to myself, this IS the day that the Lord has made. He planned for me to be there at that moment, showing His love to His child.

*** AFTERTHOUGHTS ***

I've been considering myself undecided as to whether or not I will return to Haiti. I haven't made the decision to return, nor have I made the decision not to return. But at the same time I'm already mentally making plans for coming back. And I can't image not holding these children again.

I guess it's time my head and my heart get on the same page.

Also, since this this IS a food blog, here's the obligatory food pic from my trip.
Level of fish consumer: Expert

See also (links):

Thousands of children are living in orphanages in Haiti but not because they are orphans.

Stateless now homeless: despair on the Haiti border.

Papillon Enterprise

The GO Exchange

The Global Orphan Project

June 2015 Haiti GO Project Vision Trip Team

Chicken Tacos with Mango-Avocado Salsa

Yesterday my food blog turned 3. I celebrated by making chicken tacos for dinner. Since I failed to invite you over to enjoy them with me, today I'll share the recipe with you. The coating used on the chicken is the same as that used for the Bang Bang Shrimp tacos. While you can certainly use the Thai Sweet Red Chili Sauce on the chicken, I feel like that can over power the Mango-Avocado Salsa flavors. You could also season the un-cut chicken without the corn starch and grill. Then dice the grilled chicken. This would be healthier, but not crunchy like the chicken gets with corn-starch and frying. NOTE: This is also really good with fish. Use a meaty white fish like halibut for best results.

INGREDIENTS:

Chicken Breast, diced

3-4 Tbsp Corn Starch
1 Tbsp Lemon Pepper (I like to use the Mrs. Dash kind with no salt)
1 1/2 Tbsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Salt (omit if your lemon-pepper contains salt)
1 tsp Ground Black Pepper 

1-2 Tbsp Oil

1 Mango

1 large Tomato

1 medium Avocado

1 Lime

salt

garlic powder

Fajita-size tortillas

DIRECTIONS:

Put corn starch, lemon pepper, chili powder, salt and pepper in large resealable bag. Seal and shake bag to mix up ingredients. Add chicken, seal and shake (leave some air in the bag when you're doing this to aid in allowing the mixture to coat the chicken). Remove chicken from bag, shaking off excess coating. Heat oil in skillet over med-high heat. Add chicken and cook til done (coating should get a little crispy). Remove from heat. Drain chicken on paper towels if needed.

Dice (small pices) and mix together mango, tomato and avocado* in small bowl. Add a pinch of salt, a small shake of garlic powder, and lime juice and mix well.

You can heat your tortillas any way you'd like, but I like to heat them over my gas stove, using a wooden tongs to move it around and flip it so it doesn't burn. This doesn't take very long. 

Put chicken and salsa in a warm tortilla and enjoy. 

I also like to add a little mixture of sour cream and tomatillo (green) salsa (combine 1/2 sour cream and 1/2 tomatillo salsa -- its really that easy).

*A tip for cutting the avocado: Once you halve the avocado, cut while still in the peel, then remove with a spoon.  I like to add a little bit of salt, pepper, garlic powder and a couple drops of lime juice to the avocado.  This is to guacamole what pico-de-galo is to salsa.

Cinnamon Rolls

My family has a long history of baking buns. From Zweiback to ordinary dinner rolls, the Fast women just know how to bake buns. I'd always loved my Aunt Carolyn's recipe, as they are slightly sweet (and scrumptiously delicious). One time she gave me a dozen buns for my birthday. It might have been my best birthday ever.

A few years ago I decided to try my hand at baking buns. I pulled out an old church cookbook (the best kind of cookbook there is), and found a recipe for sweet buns. I gave it a try, and they were absolutely delicious. In fact, I now get asked to bring them to Thanksgiving every year.

Recently I was inspired to make cinnamon rolls and thought the sweet roll recipe would make really good cinnamon rolls. So, I gave it a try. Now, as the baker of said cinnamon rolls I may have been slightly partial, but they were amazing. I shared them with my fellow volunteers at our 5:00 service at church, and I certainly didn't hear any complaining (mostly because its not okay to talk with your mouth full).

INGREDIENTS:

Rolls:

2 cups warm water
1 pkg yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
5 cups flour, plus flour to knead


Filling:
1 Cup (2 sticks) butter
2 Tbsp cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp (approx) half & half (enough to make the filling spreadable, but not too runny)



Caramel Topping:

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
Chopped pecans (optional)


Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
4 cups (approx) powdered sugar
1 Tbsp (approx) milk


DIRECTIONS:

Rolls:
Mix yeast and 1 tsp sugar into warm water. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening, salt and 1/2 cup sugar together until well blended. Alternately mix in flour and liquids with mixer. Stir in remaining flour by hand until dough, when kneaded, does not stick to hands or bowl and has a satin finish. Grease bowl lightly. Let rise two times. Make into rolls or buns and let rise. Bake at 350 until browned. Baking times varies depending on the type of roll. When I make buns, it takes about 20 minutes. When making cinnamon rolls, baking time is closer to 30 minutes for large rolls. Recipe makes about 2 dozen large buns or rolls, or 3 dozen smaller buns or rolls.

Filling:
Mix ingredients together until well blended, adding half & half last (to desired consistency). Split dough in half and roll each half into a large rectangle. You may need to let the dough sit a minute in the middle of rolling. This will help the dough to relax so you can continue to roll it out without it shrinking back too much. Spread 1/2 of filling onto each portion of dough, going clear to all edges except the bottom (long edge), leaving about 1 inch of dough uncovered to seal the rolls.

Starting at top (long edge), roll up the dough.

Pinch together to seal the top edge of the dough to the roll.

Using about 18 inches of clean sewing thread (or a serrated knife), cut into desired amount of rolls.

 Place rolls cut-side up on greased baking dish. If using the caramel topping, place topping ingredients into pan before placing rolls into the pan.

Let rolls rise one last time, then bake until browned, about 30 minutes.


Caramel Topping:
Divide ingredients by the number of pans. Spread brown sugar across pan. Pour melted butter evenly over sugar. Sprinkle with desired amount of chopped pecans. Place cut cinnamon rolls on top of mixture, let rise, and bake as directed above.

Once baked, flip rolls onto tin foil so caramel side is up.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a large mixing bowl, mix cream cheese and butter with electric mixer. Add vanilla and powdered sugar (1 cup at a time). Add enough milk for desired consistency, spreadable but not too thin.

Frost cinnamon rolls immediately upon taking them out of the oven with a thick layer of frosting.

 *****

If you want to split the recipe between caramel/pecan rolls and frosted rolls, simply halve the ingredients for the toppings. 

French Supper. Phenominal Friendships.

It started in a boarding school in the Ivory Coast (Africa). My cousins went to school there while my aunt and uncle were missionaries in Mali. I have no idea if this meal came out of desperation, laziness, or lack of groceries (or, possibly, it was intentional?) All I know is "ICA Special" came back to the good ol' US of A and its now my family's star dinner-party go-to.

We all make the beef gravy a little bit differently, so depending on whose house you're at, you'll find some slightly different flavors there. But the manner of serving and the toppings stay the same. Rice. Beef gravy. Peanuts. Coconut. Tomatoes. Pepper. Pineapple. It sounds so weird. But there's something about the combination of flavors that is so phenomenal. PHENOMENAL! I always tell my guests to use all of the toppings, even if there's something they don't like all that much (unless, of course, you're allergic to something). To date, no one has ever regretted it.

The REALLY awesome part of this recipe is how simple it is to prepare. The slightly difficult part of this recipe is the fact that there's never really been an actual recipe. All of us Fast women just know how to make it. So, I apologize in advance that the amounts aren't exact, but you'll figure it out. Just taste it as you make it!

INGREDIENTS

1 Cup Long Grain White Rice
1 3/4 Cup Water
1 tsp Salt

1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
1 Can (14.5 oz) Beef Broth
2 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour (can substitute corn starch for gluten-free)
1-2 Tbsp Curry Powder (to taste)
Salt & Pepper

1 Large Green Pepper, chopped
3-4 Roma Tomatoes, chopped
1 Cup Peanuts (I prefer dry roasted)
1 Can (20 oz) Pineapple Tidbits, drained
1 Cup Shredded Coconut

DIRECTIONS

Cook rice per package directions (adjust water measurement appropriately depending on your cooking method).

In a large skillet, brown ground beef; drain. Stir in flour and spices (start with less curry powder, you can add more at the end to make it as flavorful as you'd like. Same with the salt and pepper). Stir in beef broth and cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until gravy is thick. If it is too thick, you can add more broth or some water. If gravy is too thin, make a slurry with additional flour and cold water (about 1:2 ratio of flour to water). Shake flour and water in sealed container and add slowly to the gravy (stirring in a little bit at a time) until desired thickness is reached. Add additional spices to taste.

SERVE IT UP

Serve the beef gravy over rice, and top with desired amounts of green pepper, tomatoes, peanuts, pineapple, and coconut. If you don't prefer something, use less of it. But don't skip it unless you're allergic. Trust me, you won't regret it.

This meal is a lot like a group of great friends. Some of your friends are sweet like the pineapple, some are fruity like the tomatoes, some are calm and cool like the green peppers, and there are always a couple nuts... And there's no better way to eat this fabulous meal than to share it with PHENOMENAL friends. 

#GCnotGC

Shifting the Focus: Fostering Community

A few months ago I decided to make a change in my living space. My dining room table was becoming a catch-all for mail, work, volunteer stuff, coats, clothes, pretty much anything but what it was meant for. So I decided to try life without a dining room table. I moved it to the guest room for temporary keeping, and placed a couple great reading chairs in its place. (Forgive the odd positioning of the chairs, Gracie had rearranged them while I was at work).

I used these chairs for their intended purpose a time or two, 

but mostly Gracie used them as a comfortable Neighborhood-Watch post.

I've also begun realizing that since moving to Kansas City a couple years ago, I can probably count on my hands the number of times I've cooked for my friends. Do you know what this means? They like me for me, and not just because I can cook. I have an identity outside of my kitchen. This is phenomenal, peeps: game-changing. Do I still love to cook? Yes. Will I still share my recipes with you? Yes. But I'm changing my focus from how great of an amateur-chef I [think I] am to spending time with my friends, fostering community, living life together. 

So, as I was home sick for three days recently, I decided to rearrange again. The dining room table came back out of the guest bedroom, and the reading chairs made their way into the living room area.

For those who have been to my home, you know I have a small house, which contains small rooms. I was nervous about moving two additional chairs into my living room area, thinking it might get cramped. As it turns out, now I have two more places in my living room for friends to sit while we play games, watch movies, talk about Jesus, live in community.

For those who have been waiting patiently for my next blog entry (supposedly containing a grand new recipe from yours truly), don't fret. When I invite friends over to share a meal, I still plan to share the recipes here. But my focus has become spending the time with my friends, and so you'll probably see more pictures of sharing the meal than you will of the meal preparation, because its not about how much my friends love my food, its about how much I love my friends. And the name of my blog is still fully legit. In fact, it kind of makes more sense now, since its about sitting down to share a meal: Now I Sit Me Down To Eat.

So be on the lookout for a dinner invitation, friends.

And don't worry, Gracie still has a comfortable Neighborhood-Watch post from which to stalk the neighbors.

#BecauseCommunity

Gracie Anne: A Review of My Greatest Food Critic

"Innocent" Gracie

This is Gracie.  [Also known as: Gracie Anne, Grace, G, G-Dog, Schnookems, Schmoopy, Schmoop-dawg, Schmufalupugus, Schmupalicious, Baby Girl, Good Girl, Naughty Girl, and, occasionally, Jacey (when Opa gets her mixed up with her human-cousin, Jace)].

"Impatient" Gracie

She is so many things: perfect, smart, beautiful, playful, soft, cuddly, loving, strong, impatient, stubborn, needy, demanding, and narcissistic (to name a few).  She's missing part of one of her ears.  I have no idea why its like that, but its one of my favorite parts of her.  I love her nose the most.

The day we met, our car ride home.

Gracie was already 5 years old when I adopted her.  She lost her home when her family lost theirs.  At first they just tried to board her until they could care for her again, but after a while they had to give her up.  I imagine that was one of the most excruciating decisions they had to make.  I never would have understood how difficult that would be before I fell in love with her myself.  There are times I want to find her previous family and beat them senseless for some of Gracie's bad habits (her dog-aggression, for example), but I also want them to know that Gracie has found a new home, and she's happy, loved, well-fed, and spoiled-rotten.

The year was 2012.  I'd been thinking of getting a dog.  I'd recently moved to a new city where I knew pretty much NO ONE.  I figured a dog would help keep me company.  I started volunteering for The Animal Rescue Alliance (T.A.R.A.), walking dogs at one of their boarding facilities (not the one Gracie was at).  One day one of the other volunteers was talking about "Gracie Anne" and telling her story.  My heart broke for her and so I looked her up.  [You can find her page here.]  I completed the application, met her that weekend, and the rest is history. 

Night #1 - That's her bed on the left...

I bought all the things a dog-owner should have: dog bed, toys, treats, food, food/water dishes, kennel.  I was going to do this right.  Bedtime came the first night, and I went to direct her onto "her bed."  No matter how hard I tried (or what I used to bribe her), she refused, and would just jump on my bed and lay down.  I gave up and let her sleep with me, but decided I would try again the next night.  Guess what didn't work on night number two either?  You guessed it.  She had already decided what "her bed" really was, and it was my bed. 

"Cousins"

When I first brought Gracie home, I didn't know how long she'd been at the rescue.  I figured it hadn't been too long, I mean, she was pretty much perfect: yellow lab, house-trained, loves people.  One day I figured out she'd been there for six months.  SIX MONTHS?!  Not just that, but for those six months, she lived in a concrete run with a gate on the front.  She had a dog-bed and interaction a couple times a day, but nothing like what she lost when her family gave her up.  How discouraged she must have been, wondering where her family went and when they were coming back.

I hope she doesn't remember the time she spent basically living in a cage.  But if she does, that must make this even more awesome:

Gracie has lots of quirks that make up her personality.  Because she was abandoned, she has an exaggerated need for attachment and to always know exactly where I am.  I can't so much as pee without her being able to see me.  If I shut the door to the bathroom, she tries to push it open (she has to make sure I'm not escaping out the window, you know).  If the bathroom door isn't latched, I have to be prepared for it to be pushed open, because it will be.  When we visit my parents, if I leave the house she waits by the front door for me, even if there are other people there in the room with her.  I'm her rescuer, and she will do everything possible to make sure she's not abandoned again.

Tuesday night snuggles.

Gracie is also dog-aggressive, which means she HATES other dogs (or really anything with four legs).  She's been that way since I got her, so I don't really know what made her that way.  Her previous owners just said "she doesn't really like other dogs."  She's missing part of one of her ears, so its possible she got in a fight with another dog.  Its also possible that her previous owners just didn't socialize her.  Dogs are like home-schooled kids.  You have to provide social opportunities for them or they become socially awkward.  (Gracie is definitely socially awkward.)  I do know that if a dog ever tries to break into our house, she will protect me to her death.  (Though I'm not so sure about a human breaking in.  I've told her numerous times that if anyone ever tries to hurt me, she's not allowed to ask them for a belly rub.  I'm not 100% certain she grasps this concept.)

Gracie is quite the cuddler.  She loves anything soft.  She'll move blankets around until they're in the perfect cuddling position.  She has dibs on every soft piece of furniture in the house.  She even has her own blankets (one on the bed, one on the couch, and one in the car).

The many cuddles of Gracie.

  
While Gracie has an intense hatred for anything with four legs, she has an equal amount of love for anything with two legs, particularly kids.  This is the weekend she met her human-cousin, Jace.  I do believe she approves.  What do you think?

Gracie LOVES when I have friends over.  She gets all excited like "just LOOK at all these hands that can pet me!"   She has no shame, and is not afraid to ask for a belly rub.  She'd also really love to make out with you, and she may succeed whether you like it or not. 

"May I have a belly-rub, please?"

One day a friend came over to do a home-energy audit.  We found proof that dogs really do have cold noses (and thus confirmed why I don't enjoy Gracie waking me up in the morning by putting her nose on the small of my back...).  She also apparently has really warm eyes.  Who knew?

Photo credit: Landon Hartley

Gracie sometimes provides reviews of the recipes on my blog.  She typically gives them two-paws-up (well, she would if she could get her face out of the bowl...)

"Quack-quack-seat-back" does not work in our house.

This one sweet, stubborn girl has taught me more about love than I thought possible.  I often think about writing a book called "The Gospel According to Gracie," because of how often her actions toward me mimic those that I should be showing my Rescuer, my Deliverer, my Savior.  She's so eager to spend time with me, she always wants me close, and she desires to spend every last waking moment with me.  She doesn't want to read a book about me, she wants ME.  Plain and simple.


Gracie sent in a little "thank you" letter to the great people of T.A.R.A. to show her appreciation for taking care of her while she found her forever home.  You can read that here.  She's right, I do love her more than I could have ever imagined. If you'd have told me a couple years ago that I could love a 4-legged creature so much, I'd have said you were crazy.  As it turns out, I must be the crazy one.  #CrazyInLove