There is a funny looking fruit here
that reminds us of Dr. Suess. When I saw this fruit I immediately thought of my
favorite Dr. Suess book, Oh the Places You’ll Go. When Donovan and I were
moving away from California to Kansas for the first time my college roommate
Christina gave us a copy of Oh the Places You’ll Go. It was something we read
to Hannah all the time and when she was 18 months old she had memorized the
whole thing! It was the cutest thing to hear in her little baby voice, “98 and
¾ percent guaranteed!”
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| The rambutan originates in Asia. We ate them in the Philippines on occasion. |
As we ate this
sweet tasting fruit I thought about how many places we have gone that I never
would have expected! I never would have thought 12 years ago that we would be
foreign missionaries living in Costa Rica who had the year before lived in the
Philippines (with some stints in Wichita, KS and Abbeville, LA).
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| Felicity & Grace in front of Pablo's pineapples in his garden. |
Going to different places we have
found that we always miss the food that we are used to eating. It was a
challenge in the Philippines and we are finding that it is also a challenge
here in Costa Rica. It reminds us yet again that we have such a different
experience in the United States than many other places in the world. The amount
of access we have to pretty much ANYTHING we want is everywhere. We have so
many choices and options (an entire aisle of different cereals for example).
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| A new pineapple starting to grow. If you break the stem of the top of a pineapple and plant it, it will produce 1 pineapple. |
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| This one is ready! |
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| Pablo gave us his pineapple and we just enjoyed it for lunch! |
It’s a challenge to go from being able to eat whatever you want whenever you
want it to figuring out what your family can eat, how to prepare it and where
to buy it. We have two grocery stores in Coopevega which are more like large
convenience stores. Over the past 7 weeks I have been trying to learn new
recipes with the food that is common here (rice, beans, fruits and vegetables).
The cost of food is about double what you would pay in the U.S. A liter of ice
cream is $10 L!
So that is reserved for special occasions only and we are finding ways to make
food we enjoy with the staples we have (eggs, beans, rice, oats, milk, butter, fruits
like mango, pineapple, papaya and bananas, veggies like garlic, onions,
avocados and sweet peppers, and a little meat – usually chicken).
Two of my favorite Costa Rican
recipes are Arroz con Pollo and Pinto Gallo. These are common dishes for locals
here and many eat Gallo Pinto for breakfast. Rice is served at every meal (just
like the Philippines). Here are the
recipes for both dishes so you can try them at your house. Both are inexpensive
to make and require simple ingredients.
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| So far our favorite tico dish! I like to serve it with a side of black beans. |
Arroz Con Pollo (rice with chicken)
Sauté the following in butter or
oil:
* 2 diced red or green peppers &
* 1 diced large onion
Then add & sauté together:
*4 - 8 cloves of garlic minced or
chopped
* 1 handful of chopped cilantro
Add & gently fry (you may
need to add more oil or butter):
* 8 cups of cooked rice
Lastly mix in:
* ½ cup tomato sauce (like Prego)
* 1/4 cup chicken broth (optional)
(optional: for authentic Costa
Rican flavor add 1 tablespoon Achiote paste)
* 1 tsp. salt
* 2 tsp garlic powder
* 1 tsp onion powder
* 2 cups shredded chicken
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| Really yummy with avocado slices or guacamole and a fresh tortilla! |
Gallo Pinto
Sauté the following in butter or oil:
* 2 diced red or green peppers
* 1 diced large onion
Then add & sauté together:
* 4 - 8 cloves of garlic minced
*1 handful of chopped cilantro
Add & gently fry (you may
need to add more oil or butter):
*8 cups of cooked rice
Lastly mix in:
* 2 cups cooked black beans (or 1
can)
* 1 tsp salt
For those of you who know me I love
to bake sweet things. So I have been trying some recipes that use the staples
we have here and are a healthier version of the original. Two of my favorites
are Black Bean Brownies and Chocolate-Chip Cookie Pie. Both are made without
flour and use beans instead (which gives your dessert a boost of protein)! I
didn’t come up with the recipes myself, but found them on my favorite healthy
dessert blog: Chocolate-Covered Katie. Her recipes are usually vegan (which I
am not) so I use butter instead of oil. Try making these and don’t tell anyone
what you used. See if they notice a difference. Katie says no one ever notices,
but Donovan always seems to J
(probably because he is not a bean fan). But the chocolate-chip cookie pie does seem to be growing on him!
Chocolate-Chip Cookie Pie 2 cans white beans or garbanzos (drained and rinsed) (I use 2/12 to 3 cups homemade)
1 cup oats (regular or quick)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or 1-2 eggs
3 tbsp oil or melted butter
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 and 1/2 cups brown sugar (I use half of this)
1 cup chocolate chips
Blend everything (except the chips) very well in a good food processor (not a blender). Mix in chips, and pour into an oiled pan or pie plate. Cook at 350 F for around 35-40 minutes. Let stand at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
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| Aaaand the brownies are GONE! Yum! |
I know that for a long time I was afraid to be a missionary. I had my own plans for myself and my life. I didn't realize that the plans God had for me would be much greater than the plans I had made for myself. Following where God leads isn't always easy. It can be the most challenging thing you've ever done. He wants to stretch you, take you out of your comfort zone and take off the blinders. He wants you to see what He has for you. I hope that you too can step out in faith and see all the amazing places God wants to take you!
"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me..."
Jeremiah 29: 11-13
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