Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A Taste of Slovakia - Garlic Soup

Hey There!

Our friends here at the camp us are going to be doing an "international potluck" coming up.

It's neat because everyone that works here has a passion for missions and we've all spent time in various places around the world: the Phillipines, Brazil, Peru, Slovakia, Chile, among others.  We all want to get together and share some of the deliciousness of those places - I'm pumped!!

I've spent time in Slovakia working at a school of missionary kids.  I got to try some amazing food over there!  One of the Slovak specialties is Garlic Soup.  I recently asked my friend Melanie who grew up in Slovakia for the recipe and I made it for Jake and I.  It is sooo easy and yummy!  Not to mention it's probably one of the healthiest things you can put in your body.  Garlic provides powerful antioxidants to help prevent cancer.  If you make your own stock, you are making it even more healthy.  So here is the recipe so you too, can enjoy the Slovak goodness! :)  Bon Appetite!


Ingredients:

* 3 cups of chicken stock 
* 3 cups water (you can use 6 cups if you don’t have stock on hand)
* 1 head of garlic
* 1/3 cup oil
* Dash of sea salt
* Freshly ground pepper
* Few leaves of parsley
* 1 cup cubed crusty day old bread

Steps:

1. Heat the chicken stock with 2 ½ cups water to a gentle boil
2. Blend the garlic in a food processor, and slowly add the oil, a few drips at a time
3. Add ½ cup water to the food processor at high speed, a tiny bit at a time
4. Blend until thickened
5. Pour the garlic mixture into the heated chicken stock
6. Add salt and pepper to taste
7. Chop the parsley finely, and sprinkle into the soup
8. Toss the cubes of bread with 2 tbsp of olive oil and toast on a frying pan
9. Place a few toasted bread cubes in the bottom of a bowl
10. Pour the soup over top of the bread cubes



p.s. don't forget to pop a few powerful mints after eating.  Your friends and family will be grateful :)

Love,


Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter at Leatherwood


Howdy everyone!

I hope you all had an amazing Resurrection Day!  I have to say it was one of my favorite Easters ever.  I woke up Easter morning and got to peek behind a temporary "curtain" (a.k.a. blanket :) that Jake had put up over the entrance to his office and found my Easter surprise: my favorite chocolates and a bunch of coral-colored tulips!  And here I was thinking I would never get a Easter basket again...

After that, we went to church and got to sit in amazing service with powerful music and an awesome message.  This was one of the highlights for me:  I got to meet Franklin Graham!  He attends our church when he is not traveling and yesterday he was sitting by himself in the back row.  During the meet and greet time, we got to go shake his hand and thank him for all he does.  His humble response reminded me that no matter how much a world-changer you are, you are still human and God is God.  It was neat how his simple response to us thanking him reminded me that it's not about him, but about God.

After church, we joined our family at a lovely jewel of a place that Jake and I had never been to.  Leatherwood is an equestrian community between Boone and Wilkesboro tucked in a valley.  They had a lovely Easter brunch and even lovelier grounds to explore.  Jake and I had a blast walking around and seeing all this place has to offer.  We will for sure be coming back soon with a blanket, picnic, and books tucked under our arm!

Here are some pics:









I hope you had an awesome Easter too!  We can never be reminded too much of what our precious Savior did for us.

Love,