tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51520456978326655732024-03-14T20:15:20.263+02:002 SuitcasesLife, Adventures, Minimal BaggageLorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-70377700191036396182013-04-12T20:19:00.001+02:002013-04-12T20:19:50.109+02:00Boston 6: Abolitionist Exhibit, a 2-Pizza-Day and Bye Bye Beantown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last day in Boston!</div>
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Our flight was later in the evening though, so we had time for a few more sites ... AND a slice of true-blue East Coast pizza. The kind that's bigger than your face. MMMMM.</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqXpFzGM0RKFWwLnrP0lAaOxT64gn2jL1li6tcukazZ1O_gKivkZXqzhsuHdX-mLdk2wLWpqo7PbZFlkZPCFEAX0_KBOrlZ-j5P8EydKK0xHcYLEkLSwuAdWexH7fatO2-V2cY9mPDQc/s400/IMG_0400.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Then it was off to the <a href="http://www.masshist.org/" target="_blank">Massachusetts Historical Society</a>. It is free and has a couple of small exhibits -- small but incredibly powerful. The one they have now is<i> "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land": Boston Abolitionists, 1831-1865</i>.<br />
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This is Mumbet, who famously said, "I am not a dumb Critter, won't the law give me my freedom?" Read her story below:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7StOPRI5CYA6S61LW55A6_h27whyphenhyphenDAu7B6MmDbuWHDA9-VEMLsQcRnJb6t9nXb51ZQCVjIhBsDqpbtmPKYmiv0uAOhB6EKb9bJO7tlKZCVDopPRTHF49LgY3h321SiWvTps6fNLXTVpk/s1600/IMG_0402+corr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7StOPRI5CYA6S61LW55A6_h27whyphenhyphenDAu7B6MmDbuWHDA9-VEMLsQcRnJb6t9nXb51ZQCVjIhBsDqpbtmPKYmiv0uAOhB6EKb9bJO7tlKZCVDopPRTHF49LgY3h321SiWvTps6fNLXTVpk/s400/IMG_0402+corr.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
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And here is the story of Quock Walker:</div>
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This, ladies and gentlemen is the pen with which President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation:</div>
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And a few very important Lincoln letters -- which document his feelings on slavery -- are also on display:</div>
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Then it was off to the <a href="http://www.paulreverehouse.org/" target="_blank">The Paul Revere House</a>:</div>
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Unfortunately you can't take pictures inside. It's a fascinating look at 17th & 18th century living. Really, I can't tell you how much I love Boston and her history. If you're a history nut there is nothing like being in a place and knowing oh, Paul Revere touched these walls. </div>
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We had a little more time before leaving for the airport so we took one last stroll through the North End:</div>
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Then is was time for one last meal ... and oh gosh, how typical of us, we decided on pizza again! This time at the gorgeous <a href="http://www.cafeflorentine.com/" target="_blank">Florentine Cafe</a>. But this was decidedly different; arugula, eggplant & parm:</div>
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Oh man. What a trip! We packed an amazing amount into 4 days. And there was so much more we could have seen!</div>
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This is the best way I know how to sum up my feelings about Boston: I want a new tattoo. I want the 4 national/state flowers of the places I have considered home: El Salvador, Minnesota, South Africa -- and Massachusetts.</div>
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Till next time you beautiful city of my heart.</div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-41774764236153905712013-04-04T00:13:00.000+02:002013-04-04T00:13:47.076+02:00Boston 5: Peabody and Natural History Musems & a Portuguese Feast<div style="text-align: center;">
A tour of Harvard would not be
complete -- especially not with Aaron in tow -- without a visit to the<a href="https://www.peabody.harvard.edu/" target="_blank"> Peabody Museum</a>:</div>
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Again, I have my issues with museums -- specifically their "owning" (ahem absconding with) national treasures. In the Peabody's case, they have a large Mayan collection. Many are reproductions, but some are not. A few years ago I was actually in Copan (in Honduras), standing in front of the famous Mayan staircase. And right there in the middle is a big ole hole. When the tour guide said, "The masterpiece of this staircase, a statue of the king who built it, is at Harvard University," it just broke my heart. I am not proud that my alma mater is still holding on to something that was collected over 100 years ago when "collections" were gathered indiscriminately. I hope one day they do the right thing and return it. Because look at their reproductions: </div>
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Great, right? Educational and fascinating and not so grievous. </div>
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They also have brilliant reproductions of some of the Mayan world's most stunning murals:</div>
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I could have stayed all there. I am FASCINATED with the Maya -- yes, because they are among my ancestors, but also because of their iconography, their utterly unique world-view. In my next life I'll be a Mayan archeologist. (And then maybe Aaron will be a poet? Ha!)<br />
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They also had a glorious Día de los Muertos display:<br />
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Attached to the Peabody is the <a href="http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/" target="_blank">Harvard Museum of Natural History</a>. It is a fantastic collection:<br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLksuvEUyfyrGhniDhhxMj3DFomujyS-5e7qc8dRtT2XZjcNkcBrkucBeOc73ia4LuZVPODJUn6Ou0EQgFfxXz_RUpSMNfCO0jRE-ORwST-fOtwvPsKu9B-wJwlHDWfHlrz_c1hXKorpI/s400/IMG_0366+corr.jpg" width="391" /><br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_VqcaSwJYjTPUj525iI0LEFOGD-dZnD8RHMOXi3J5F55pRNKemKLSyv5AlI4IVtlBugO0T0q0oYYVeU5J9eY665gznqotmxSb6EZci7PEd3x-fkfoxCUESQE3fgNx43OBf9CdUMc4rI/s400/IMG_0355+corr.jpg" width="400" /><i><br />This is etched aquamarine crystal. It reminds me of a poem I wrote once about ice. I'll have to share it one day.</i></div>
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After all that Harvard nostalgia and museum-walking we were starving. And for my last night in Boston, I had to go to another one of my old favorites, <a href="http://restaurantcasaportugal.com/" target="_blank">Casa Portugal Restaurant</a>!<br />
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Just like dim sum, I have yet to find a good Portuguese restaurant in Minnesota.
Which is a DAMN shame. Portuguese peeps, please, I beg and implore you!<br />
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We had chouriço and fava beans to start:</div>
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And prawns and fish for dinner. See the rice below? I know it doesn't look like much, but much like the Indian kheer, I have remembered that particular taste for over 15 years.</div>
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Mmmmmmmm ... Perfect way to end the day!</div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-17315987408111846062013-03-28T20:26:00.001+02:002013-04-01T22:42:44.285+02:00Boston 4: My Harvard Experience<div style="text-align: center;">
Onward:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgozEoSkklk7I-WHXxavzLiGOT19FE-OzAPjsVl7br5YCYYgY5o0Z19RZ5e_IEgXg_Fmx6vGcqFMegLaiP9ELvTB8troc8bQM5MA7cxYqg_lLsf2JUT6Pf0nXvDEJY4W9yhFqlW8KbOAY/s400/IMG_0274+-+corr.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ..."</div>
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Ah, Harvard!</div>
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So, as I mentioned in the <a href="http://2-suitcases.blogspot.com/2013/03/boston-1-mfa-fenway-walk-chinatown.html" target="_blank">first of these Boston posts</a>, my feelings on Harvard are complicated. It is an odd thing to have gone to school like Harvard, especially as an immigrant kid. People hear the word "Harvard" and there are a whole list of assumptions that are made instantly. They range from "smart and hard-working" to "box-checker" to "arrogant and privileged."</div>
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Harvard is a wonderful place, an amazing school, a resource beyond compare. But it is also a very intense, competitive place. You are surrounded by genius-level kids and their generations of preparation. </div>
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At least for me, it just wasn't a friendly place. And as a very shy, very unsure/insecure undergrad, I needed a little more friendly. Partially my frustrations were with the school itself, its rigid and conservative views (at least at the time) on things like Ethnic Studies, professors you rarely met, impersonal advisers, etc. I just didn't find a lot of encouragement. I was told a couple of times that if I really wanted to study what I wanted to study (U.S. Latino literature) I'd have to transfer to a school out West. It was very hard for me to find my place there. I've come to realize that it's a phenomenon common to immigrant kids in higher education, but at the time, I just felt very isolated and scared.</div>
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Which is where the other part of my frustrations lay -- with myself. I guess since I'm writing about this I might as well talk about something that I've referred to briefly before -- and that is my struggle with depression. I did not know -- certainly did not recognize -- but I'm pretty sure I went through 2 if not 3 bouts of major depression while at Harvard. For anyone who has never experienced depression, it is very difficult to describe what it is like, but let's just say that it made an intimidating place all the more intimidating. I did not know I needed help, did not know how to ask for it. Eventually I would. Eventually I would tame my "black dog" as Winston Churchill called it. But at the time I was just hanging on by my fingernails. </div>
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Given all that, it's actually a miracle I finished, and with not-too-shabby grades either. But for a long time, I never wanted to talk about having gone to Harvard. I didn't want the assumptions made about me, didn't want to sound whiny and ungrateful, didn't want to relive what were some painful times.</div>
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But I've come to terms with it. In the past few years I can honestly say I've reclaimed the title of Harvard alumna. Do I wish some things had been different? Of course. But time gives perspective and now I can be proud of having gritted my teeth and gotten through it. I can appreciate all the fun times and the good professors and the doors it has opened. I can now more thoroughly elaborate when people ask, "What was Harvard like?"</div>
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What was it like? It was beautiful and scary and wonderful and inspiring and crushing and I made life-long friends and some days I just wanted to run screaming.<br />
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And you thought I was just going to show you pretty pictures of the campus!<br />
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But really, this is how far I've come: I used to say I'd never want a kid of mine to go to Harvard. Now I say, hell yes I'd want them to go (someone's gotta maintain my poet ass in my old age), I'd just try and prepare the daylights out of them. And send them lots of care packages!<br /><br />So there you go, a brief account of 4 of the most intense, most important years of my life. Harvard, you kicked the crap out of me, but oddly, I still miss you.<br />
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<img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGK8tDjifQW_cMaEum6glIQ7s_AX_85LmqfjIkyiXxvFKBL99HpN8qfH_4-OTfHch17uIHS5sHdBqgetgvznTMlCk1El7Q0EqkLIMMrw9i3wUQ4d0pzPR8yb4iVUfxQKNfqLxwqzM71Q/s400/IMG_0383+corr.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<i>It was great to visit my old house (Harvard upperclassmen live in one of 13 houses, this was mine, good ole Currier House!)</i></div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-36383900456565388062013-03-27T23:04:00.000+02:002013-04-01T22:41:38.549+02:00Boston 3: Pudding Lust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When
we left off we had just finished (barely!) the Freedom Trail. The
following day was our last full day in Boston, so I wanted to
spend the day at Harvard.</div>
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But
first, we stopped for lunch at one of my favorite old haunts. </div>
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And "haunts" is the perfect word, for I was indeed haunted ... by a pudding. <br /><br />No, I know that sounds dramatic, but really. Have you ever had an experience where you taste something and it's so sublime that you spend years trying to find it again?</div>
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Well, once upon a time, a little Harvard undergrad worked at a social service agency in Central Square (one
subway stop away from Harvard Square, but a whole other world away.)
Sometimes, when she had a bit of extra money in her pocket, she would stop at this Indian joint and feast on their
buffet. Their samosas were amazing, the lassis excellent ... but it was their kheer that made her see unicorns and double rainbows. </div>
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<i><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY000C0r15cx934Gh_FRi39fqMm-ewOpBgX5OcVeEJERPTYSpmaqCG5VMpxokWJmlcLGiuGHLP0X7ksZ6F9TPC2dlpClZKaxg61-C3EterTglyCA1qokHfOi8noRajiQ6I5eFzMjJLCog/s400/IMG_0272+-+corr.jpg" width="300" /><br /> ... lo and behold over 15 years later, it's still there! <a href="http://www.shalimarcambridge.com/" target="_blank">Shalimar of India</a> how I have missed you! </i></div>
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Kheer
is Indian rice pudding -- delicate and divine -- and no one, absolutely
no one does it better! Believe me, I've tried kheer at so many Indian
restaurants and nothing has ever come close. It'd been over a decade and a half that I've been dreaming about the perfection of this kheer ... and how was it? </div>
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Oh. Oh. There are no words. Except these: delicate bits of rice, subtly perfumed with cardamom, tiny slivers of almond, the occasional golden raisin and an almost toffee-like aftertaste.</div>
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After some shameless
flattery, I got the owner to give me the recipe -- the ingredients at
least, not the exact measurements -- which I doubt he'd be able to tell
me anyways. I have a feeling it's just one of those things that they've
made thousands of times and never even think about. He said the true
secret is that, "As long as you cook it, that is how good it will be.
And keep stirring." </div>
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So I'm setting myself a challenge. Picture me stirring pot after pot, hour after hour,
peeking in anxiously -- that's how I'm gonna be spending my Friday
nights! I am determined to make this at home. I can't go another 15 years without that taste. </div>
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Actually though, I'm almost afraid to start experimenting to
recreate the recipe, because if by some culinary miracle I actually get
close, I'm afraid that I'm gonna hafta devour it by the panful. </div>
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I'll keep you updated!</div>
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Anyhoo, that's the tale of one girl's 15-year pudding lust. Tomorrow, Harvard! </div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-71304455105223244492013-03-21T20:29:00.000+02:002013-03-21T20:29:00.547+02:00Boston 2: Dim Sum, Freedom Trail & North End<div style="text-align: center;">
So, we loved <a href="http://www.heilamoon.com/" target="_blank">Hei La Moon</a> so much for dinner that we went back the next day for DIM SUM! Can we talk about dim sum? I love dim sum and one of the few sorrows about living in Minnesota is that I have yet to find good dim sum ... Does anyone have any suggestions? Cuz, really, is there any better breakfast than spicy clams? We don't think so! </div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvoFoTge1mD_P_xpXiaNpW9R77LThHuQ2JjJ7Y_zbog2b6ipUOURUNL3h5dieRlv8IB-BmjfBZSBGpVeHqBnDFCCyHDyfcBeoMslgVxYM1GJ4bQU0qyyv6d877ETh05kwEXValuFuLqM/s400/IMG_0165.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Thus (heavily) fortified, we started <a href="http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/" target="_blank">The Freedom Trail</a>:</div>
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Remember how I said if you have 2 days in Boston then you have to do the MFA? Well, if you only have one, then you absolutely must do the Freedom Trail. It is a 2.5-mile walk that takes you through 16 historically important sites through Boston. It's free and simple, just follow the red-bricked road!<br />
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I've done this now a bunch of times, and each time I learn something new and am re-enchanted with the living history Boston embodies.</div>
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You start at Boston Commons and quickly reach the Massachusetts State House and the Granary Burying Ground. Paul Revere, signers of the Declaration of Independence Samuel Adams and John Hancock, and Phillis Wheatley -- slave and first African-American poet and first African-American woman to publish a book -- are all buried here.</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpjcmjqj2aSES01h9cGiJabovUGXNmcvi_K5x8yRtxTykfMPeyYU_LfhVcLNigFCKtHfgmeUvtidRqiJNbLNMH2zgzCagSP-dJX8Xk3R55kaTg67boD-CS4KgYxmZu4qUtH5XyROF3Ok/s400/IMG_0172.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Another of my favorites is <a href="http://www.oldsouthmeetinghouse.org/default.aspx" target="_blank">The Old South Meeting House</a>:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKIEMG81Yz0Wpj8upE8XLA1kvS7EsgVBs3tDbYif4x-LVesWMm8BImyVNcWDeqEvHijiH7eo8hv4OoGFesNmWwo4QLIUmECZ8BJ3RMJSJRLshyphenhyphenCp6n1mD-wxsltxj_oQSSQIar6231Hs/s400/IMG_0186.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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From the organization point for the Boston Tea Party to modern-day rallies and events, The Old South Meeting House reaffirms that one of America's greatest strengths is -- and has always been -- its rabblerousers who refuse to let injustices go unchallenged. One of my favorite statues inside is of Margaret Sanger (1883-1966.) A plaque next to this stunning sculpture reads, "As a public health nurse (she) witnessed the disastrous effects of unlimited births on poor families. Her life's mission was to legalize birth control. She was arrested numerous times for distributing information and lecturing about sexual contraceptives. When officials barred her from speaking in Boston's public halls, Sanger taped her mouth shut to protest and dramatize their efforts to silence her."<br />
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Close by is <a href="http://nehm.org/intro.html" target="_blank">The New England Holocaust Memorial</a>:</div>
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Haunting. And infuriating (why don't we ever learn?)</div>
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You keep walking and hit Paul Revere territory in the North End:<br />
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Now, I know I said that the trail is only 2.5 miles long, but with all the walking and stopping you do at each stop, you get tired! To will ourselves to finish we stopped for a break and I had to indulge in one of my college favorites, a plain donut with Dunkin' Donuts' crack-tastic coffee:<br />
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Then it was off to <a href="http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/" target="_blank">The USS Constitution</a>, she was launched in 1797 and today is America's oldest commissioned ship:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgRsPWnOaoYI368P_FW3mKO9Di_AoTq1nz9Z6sV4Rz2Fe1Er21ieZFLKjlK-OHdwoNDl5IGgRpoAWT5wrSbaG_3BfUamaiBL_hIM_G6VfJh3CxK9rvmbMvds0POGJzJrJnFtXdmGI5U4/s400/IMG_0220.jpg" width="300" /><br />
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Aaron is a big historic-boat buff and I'm just a big history buff in general, so we loved it!</div>
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We went below decks and I made Aaron stop and grab this picture of me:</div>
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Why there? Well look what this cannon was nicknamed:</div>
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Hee!</div>
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The ship is located in the former Charlestown Navy Yard which has a fascinating history of its own, especially during the World War II era:</div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7Sew2Wl1VxMfiZjMgAsL8cUvzBvjjrbKGapwf1xDeX1aN_k8mp6dQ6DP35MUBuNkessy1STpXqtO9dEI0m6GLL-xeKbcyI0NMCP4sdRDnFzR9KNW3u7EbJDc8xTjHpX3NHciOvK1ySg/s320/IMG_0231.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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I almost walked out of the museum shop with this:</div>
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By this time our feet were killing us, but we were determined to make it to the end of the trail, Bunker Hill, the site of the first major conflict between British and Patriot forces in the American Revolutionary War, fought here on June 17, 1775: </div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG-DgxfqfQwZWhIUkgxIO3e24WnTs-qcHW2yymdmKxRx8tAW8jlcG_Y9eR3P221qJcMRhk2-eh6HwJZDK87B8tpGRSKRhzB6eRz_ylWqGtxAyJOidWATEFMKwdZs5zHUqy0__mf_mnjA/s400/IMG_0243.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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On our way down the hill we ran into this little guy:</div>
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Quite possibly one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. Look at his jaunty, swingy-ness. Like he's taking his last bow, doing a little shuffle dance & saying "Hey folks, it's been great, thanks for coming out, catch you next winter! <<JAZZ HANDS>> Goodnight!"</div>
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Now it was still early, but after all that walking we were famished! Thankfully we were close to the North End, Boston's historic Italian neighborhood which is cram-full of every kind of Italian cuisine you can imagine. Can you hear the angels sing?<br />
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We ended up going to <a href="http://www.panzarestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Panza</a>; and I highly recommend it! It got rave reviews online with the caveat that there were often long waits. Well, thanks to being so early, we got in with no wait and had a prime table.<br />
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I wish my pictures had turned out, but it was just too dark inside. Take it from me though, the food was scrumptious. We had a perfect Caesar salad to start, Sicilian ribs as an appetizer then I had a free-form lasagna with pepper-pasta (amazing) and Aaron had some sort of sausage and rigatoni mish-mash that I wanted to steal from him.<br />
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To finish our epic day we had coffee & treats at a nearby cafe ... I had my favorite filled Italian cookies:</div>
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Then back to the studio and some serious foot-rubbing ... tomorrow would be our last full day in Boston and we'd be going for a grand tour of my alma mater!</div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-84124255963590830202013-03-19T16:01:00.002+02:002013-03-19T16:02:15.943+02:00Boston 1: MFA, Fenway, Walk & Chinatown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, a couple of weeks ago Aaron and I went to one of my favorite cities ever, ever, ever: Boston!</div>
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I went to Harvard as an undergrad -- which I don't think I've ever talked about on this blog. It always seemed an odd thing to mention amidst bread recipes and lion sightings. I have lots to say about going to Harvard, but I think I'll just save that for another post. Sufficed to say for now that it was -- and still is -- a complex experience. But whatever my Harvard life was like, I always adored Boston. I loved it from the time my sister (who lived in New York City) took me to visit colleges there the summer between junior and senior year. In fact, I loved it so much that I only applied to schools in Boston! Crazy, now that I think of it. </div>
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And what drew me as a 16-year-old still draws me hhhmmmmlalala years later: being able to walk and walk and walk and always see something interesting; great public transportation; the huge range of cuisines; the mix of high-brow and down-home cultures; and more than anything, the history that you can see, feel and touch all around you.</div>
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The first few days I was attending the <a href="https://www.awpwriter.org/awp_conference/overview" target="_blank">AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) annual conference</a>. It's essentially the biggest writer's conference in the country, and I was there to perform/present at one of the panels on behalf of The Loft. I don't have any pics of the conference itself cuz I'm a loser, but it was a fantastic conference -- got to meet amazing writers, get some very sound, practical advice and was left open-mouthed by some of the poets who performed.</div>
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Aaron then joined me and we had a jam-packed 4 days of enjoying the city. It was really special to me to be able to share Boston with him -- it is the place where I began to grow into the woman I was to become and I wanted to take him to all my favorite spots, my favorite restaurants and -- oh hell -- I guess revisit my misbegotten youth.<br />
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First up was the <a href="http://www.mfa.org/" target="_blank">Museum of Fine Arts</a>:</div>
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Much like the Harvard experience, I could say a great deal about my conflicted feelings about museums. Of course they serve a hugely important role in preservation and education, but the politics of repatriating (or not) national treasures, etc. always bugs me. Still, it is a stellar collection, brilliantly curated that spans from modern weavings to Mayan masterpieces to Monets and so much more. If you have only 2 days in Boston, take one whole day just for the museum, it's that stellar.</div>
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Amid all the treasures like the Olmec mask above and the rows of Velazquez paintings and such, I found what I think was the most hilarious thing I have ever seen in a museum:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BWabxx9Qm0DuipeRB2sGYdIXeW0IsQCX1uj_lq6ORMco2h_f8nYFKAqCgryBIhEBHzpIXkcOp6n7-kVYbnJKZ0eRPATlMGq9cuh7Gz0AgLmH_wFcrMJ0OWazJLRNXkwnTF2JTsl0WuE/s400/IMG_0129+-+corr.jpg" width="322" /></div>
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YES! A good museum trip is never complete without copulating rats, I say.<br />
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Then, a beer break:</div>
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Those are blueberries in my beer! (That's the awesome Bunker Hill Bluebeery Ale at the <a href="http://www.beerworks.net/" target="_blank">Boston Beer Works</a>.)<br />
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And post-beer, what are you gonna do? Go to Fenway Park of course!<br />
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Aaron is a huge baseball fan, so he had a blast standing on top of the "Green Monster."</div>
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And there's me reliving my journalism days in the press box:</div>
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Then we took a really long walk through the heart of the city:<br />
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This is what I love about Boston; look at that gorgeous old architecture right smack dab between glass and steel. No other American city does it better.<br />
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We were exhausted -- and famished -- by the time we hit Chinatown:</div>
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We ended up eating at <a href="http://www.heilamoon.com/" target="_blank">Hei La Moon</a>, which a friend from college who still lives in Boston recommended. It is Hong Kong food at its best!</div>
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We staggered home to the studio we rented to get some sleep, rest our weary feet and get ready for even more intense walking the next day ...</div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-72056442420210189002013-02-21T01:39:00.000+02:002013-02-22T20:35:21.312+02:00Recipe: 4 Days, 3 Feasts and One Leftover Special<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mid-February is always a busy time for the Armstrong-Duartes. Within the space of 3 days we have to celebrate Valentine's Day, my mother-in-law's birthday and my dad's birthday! And this was an especially important birthday for my dad -- he turned 75!</div>
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So, loosening our belts, we prepared for the onslaught ...<br />
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First up, Valentine's Day. Now I get that a lot of people feel that Valentine's is a Hallmark-consumer-driven-cheesefest. Got it. But I still like it. I like taking one day out of the year to show a little extra love. We don't do presents or boxes of chocolate or overpriced chi-chi restaurants. What we do is cook ourselves a feast at home! <br />
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Now I wish I could say that I had developed all these recipes on my own, but let's be honest: I don't cook 10-ounce lobster tails on the regular. I followed recipes. And they were brilliant, I highly recommend all of them. Here was our menu:<br />
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We started off with Tyler Florence's Steamed Mussels. LEKKA! Amazing. We ate an entire pound-and-a-half between the 2 of us (with lots of toasty bread.) </div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUy4TMGaRZKg6P-u4VEb_dD-63jPxOSju-SZjiyTHQEviCueM0hB9Pnhl8P-4gb9D8s-6Xd7BqNZ2aNj8snrPZfnxgpHBcn_Wy3jSSZlHvcE9VYgylHsUILpDjlAbhaY6phyphenhyphen-1UPFgOE/s400/IMG_0026+corr.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<i>Here's the recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/steamed-mussels-recipe/index.html</i><br />
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Next up: Broiled, stuffed Lobster Tails. The stuffing was garlicky and buttery and complemented the luxuriously tender meat. SIGH.</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9pD6gPMQT1pLuUwZdCdji77iOuUAsuNJ4QOj4fjHCsJkBS_XN7Z7mZDV1zJcrGjtP7HzEjGXnTy611RHgTcbc5iVoY4245-DTK0WMIO8-3ud-VvZPXYd7aL4RAh3Xcrm3nsJiBKjr0s/s400/IMG_0035.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<i>This recipe is easy & genius: http://www.food.com/recipe/baked-stuffed-lobster-tails-174936</i></div>
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With the lobster we had roasted root vegetables. No recipe needed for this one, just a mixture of beets, sweet potatoes, small Yukon Gold potatoes and whole garlic cloves tossed in olive oil, fresh rosemary, salt & pepper:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyZYKnAhPFSwkb87tNomlACg55ZzkMaMYli-pDl_k5wedH5w7Q7zueXGpqK4De5LpnVXMMOumW0pEKPp3PXNupW5oRqfeolOfSvOWQQOaw3pbHlh7FnAHHO-lJBzLe4bCgE10JzPVNoE/s400/IMG_0036.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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Then for dessert we wanted something lighter, simple, but apropos ... we did poached pears, one of our favorite desserts:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzt271P33eTi_zC735OqmEgv3vhw8TRq5wW_jxREfFEN837HbWv5DmO74voMrOo0nFcW8s9MZaCme5rB_Cz-5mYTMgH_xkwFa3v8rTUXByzvxPce3xW2Rqo2TjqVn_FkvITT5xZS3mq24/s400/IMG_0040.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<i>This recipe is so delicious: http://wine.about.com/od/howwineismade/r/poachedpears.htm</i></div>
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One down, 2 to go!</div>
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Next up was my darling mother-in-law's birthday. We actually went out for dinner, at a South Minneapolis Italian place called Al Vento -- really lovely Southern Italian cuisine. But we came back to our house for cake and presents. Behold:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBMUPEUb8w3MKXBX7wwksdz5CVpSEmg_xVj9CTeJzCzntfSa_35n3ByseELhyphenhyphenuhBNFaK6zepZdJWSThfXTshAGF-zoUZu_O6zoiGWJHvK3E2f0Sb39cUvtKS3s3TPgmbgLqR2ZRuY_h8/s400/IMG_0042.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGe4VIVhzix9QqV67NgGWtgZgWWOtoRbU9Q7ySvhwEtVaPk4aa3rdzd6Yi4KlNtpAFKpCnx3rlJjf1QnMzRkMhxhOsH9ipjWoGDdgs5aioy60Apa3K5dLMO4uDp5PC5XWLhOHXpAzf8E/s400/IMG_0043.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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That is the patented Armstrong-Duarte birthday candelabra. I think a touch of Liberace should always be with us, dontchathink?</div>
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Two down, one more! ¡Si se puede!</div>
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When I asked my dad what he wanted to do for his big birthday, he was very clear: a lunch at your house with shrimp, rice and salad. OK, then, here we go!</div>
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The star of the show was this:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytgV9w0MG8vg9io5fH3lfyC7zxJC0fky65CJj61PNQ24weUPG4KiHHYCdo4EbRIb9Qxl-Y2sdhVOo2VIYKMsg6aeip4pyKsN6MUiF9BRaBz4c_C165dhMxwvjdGoVSZarZPewrWH9Yew/s400/IMG_0067.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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I actually found the recipe in a little pamphlet-like cookbook that I got in South Africa:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d7ZI4gkuWaicbM_vhpYd8DPjHbKk6mULB1e3J_a96oeMPaP0V0QIEg4ukfBraP3yNgJ7bYO-UsnUino9f1SriYjKV4GBvwy6yxnnFYDVeSHpIhgIeum4WeFqJDTBOGzGD9kW4SawP7M/s400/IMG_0082.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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It's called "Let's Braai" and is Published by Media24 Weekly Magazines and edited by Izelle Venter. I altered the recipe a bit, so, here's my version:</div>
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<b>Swakopmund seafood potjie (ala Salvadoreña)</b><br />
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2 Tablespoons olive oil<br />
1 large, or 2 small/medium onions, chopped<br />
6 garlic cloves, crushed<br />
2 Tablespoons tomato paste<br />
3 bay leaves<br />
1 teaspoon paprika <br />
1 teaspoon ground cumin<br />
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)<br />
1 red, 1 yellow and 1 green pepper, seeded and cut into strips (I used one whole bag of Trader Joe's raw, frozen peppers)<br />
3 celery sticks, chopped<br />
1 cup red wine<br />
1 large can chopped tomatoes<br />
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives (or to taste)<br />
1 teaspoon sugar<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
Juice and zest of 1 lemon<br />
1 pound large shrimps (prawns), cleaned & rinsed *<br />
2 pounds mussels, cleaned & rinsed *<br />
Chopped fresh parsley and cilantro (coriander/dhania) to garnish<br />
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* You can use any combination of your favorite seafood to equal roughly this amount.<br />
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Method:<br />
In a large Dutch oven, sweat the onions in the olive oil till translucent. Add garlic and cook 1 minute, till fragrant. Add tomato paste to brown a bit. Add all the spices and cook them a few minutes, till they are fragrant. Add peppers and celery, turn heat down a bit and let the natural moisture of the peppers andcelery come out. Cook the mixture down. You should have a very fragrant sludge. Add wine, tomatoes, olives and simmer 15-25 minutes. Add salt, pepper and sugar to taste. (The sugar helps balance out the acidity in canned tomatoes.) <br /><br />Turn the heat up, add the lemon juice and zest, stir, then add all the seafood. Cover and steam about 5 minutes till the prawns are no longer translucent and the mussels open (discard any that don't open.) Serve with rice and bread to soak up all the juice!<br />
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Speaking of bread ...</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3467X6RhkkH4I-SZpbhN1ZVKWY7T0JdW5vVJQaUcuakoBlsceNytFR5PH1Bq3rvd2-5GQB4yyHSN1TXPcKoX5gvNSXb4OK-d7GIZRPE5hHH1nWmi1wt3wEJggy3W2ekfB_xXa2uWtL-s/s400/IMG_0065.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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I made a loaf of the <a href="http://2-suitcases.blogspot.com/2011/08/potjiekos-pan.html" target="_blank">New York Times "No-Knead" Bread</a> -- and I realized again how ridiculously simple it is. Everyone loved it and assumed I had slaved for days kneading and coaxing starters. I almost didn't disabuse them of that notion, but my inner Catholic won out and I confessed how stupid-easy it really is. <br />
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We also had rice and salad, but in the midst of feeding and feasting, I didn't get any pictures.<br />
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I did, however, make sure that I got a picture of this:</div>
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<img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlva_E31SMw-M4VTDqKo83CkRT3tjAYbjDToR-OD4YIDSMd915a5-D7UAMeikeldwtTh8ffHyrg753r8iT9CJg6Z1RQsYCtpH7Xb00HVL9drEdMPDjypSQcxBpV1FRIUdVqxWJegwwl3g/s400/IMG_0060+-+corr.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Isn't she cute? It's my dad's birthday cake. He specified: vanilla with whipped cream & strawberries. Now the challenge is that my dad has diabetes and he is very careful with his diet. So I had to -- you know -- make sure he could eat his own cake.</div>
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I searched and searched and finally decided on a recipe using Truvia Baking Blend. It's a mixture of sugar and stevia (an all-natural sweetener that I've loved for years.) And here's the one womp-womp of this whole marathon of feasting. I used a recipe from the Truvia website and it was OK, but too dense and too dry. I mean, it was passable, but not great. Sad-sigh. Truvia people, can you please test your recipes a little more carefully? I had a feeling as I was pouring the batter in to the pan that it was too stiff, but I thought, well, maybe the Truvia acts differently than sugar does ... No. No, it does not. Anyhoo, it was still pretty good and ice cream helped moisten it a bit ;)</div>
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And a beer always helps dry birthday cake go down!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKde1r17GX9kXcZ5Yi3LTINkGktbrM6ycO0kuYICbk_C5qFYoY4rYeuHl11v7JhO6_3N5ppDre_J1zgA0XMoYU0-yQrpS3DlyohjNSuXlITyYygLmYNV3tEy39z6Q-5dlx9HoSMFqAPFI/s400/IMG_0072.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<i>(Note the candelabra again!)</i></div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-7JrUrVsHTXrpCEe8gx3wuTrDGXmF_LkXWH2lswLnFEoJOLqV6JSpZokl2U1dWhmHOqdzlKNov9kMD-xYnuadXawd7aHi8aRNwq4K_HUJBQ6zMDYRn4sRlL7nlt3n3Dz1CJgdZHnTRg/s400/IMG_0075.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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And to top it all off, and as a light, cleansing meal, the next day I whipped up a yummy rice salad using leftovers from my dad's lunch:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzxlWGQL-KeAUDFwAbMeM7lLk013hJ3JlZtuTbq4uD9YZCzfoO_WUKUOkjziRfywUkUt6Uxw29ELzHYgFjV1lGevkJUii30B_sDkH01LPpzFg_WT16B4bmdPXncVz0ZJGkPha1yBl-Fw/s400/IMG_0077.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />The real secret here is the vinaigrette, which is my own version of a classic French one. I use way more vinegar and more mustard -- I guess I like it zippy! Here's how I do it: <br /><br /> 1/2 cup red wine vinegar<br /> 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard<br /> 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)<br /> 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper<br /> 1/4 cup olive oil <br />1/4 cup any light-tasting vegetable oil (grapeseed, canola)<br /> 2 shallots, finely chopped<br /><br />This will make lots of salad dressing, just keep it in the fridge, it's really yummy! I just mixed a couple of tablespoons of this dressing with rice (white basmati, which had been cooked with chicken stock, bits of carrot, one onion and one garlic clove -- but you can use whatever you've got), some leftover chicken breast, both lemon and lime juice, chopped cilantro and parsley, grape tomatoes, chopped scallions and chunks of avocado. It was really delish!<br /><br />So there you go, 3 feasts in 4 days! Hope you are all well and that the year has started off great for you!</div>
<br />Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-90449393598703479762013-01-07T19:33:00.000+02:002013-01-31T05:56:03.656+02:00Recipe: ¡Paella!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello and Happy New Year!</div>
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I hope you have had a wonderful holiday season! I want to share with you the dish we made on Christmas Eve: Paella! It is an absolute feast, worthy of any special occasion.<br />
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This is how my mother and my aunts make paella. As many of you may know, there are many ways of making it -- from the most traditional Valencian paellas made with rabbit and snails -- to all seafood, all meat and vegetarian paellas. This is a classic paella mixta (mixed paella) -- a mix of meat and seafood. This was my first time making it, with my mother leading the way. </div>
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Now this paella is enormous; it feeds probably 12-16, with leftovers. You can certainly scale it down as needed. </div>
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I am so happy to share this amazing recipe and my family's tradition with you. And let me tell you -- this paella is out-of-this-world. </div>
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¡Buen provecho!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYJVHoGSdctW7w-52EiWme9ZFn6YoSqHjnlN7JzK15VtNuXntLuKxIN0551Gju_z4WLrUoycP-02LM7_o0gbBts-FQZKJJPeVTDVh1jqk8Uq146NwHDwXYvsAIPM6tI6yI1y2f3zZwxU/s400/IMG_9908.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<b>Quesada Family Paella</b></div>
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<b>Ingredients:</b></div>
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Extra virgin olive oil </div>
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12 drumsticks (or you can do one per person)</div>
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1 rack of baby back ribs</div>
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1 pinch of saffron</div>
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1 huge onion or 2 medium, chopped</div>
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5-6 large garlic cloves</div>
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1 large red pepper; 1/2 chopped, 1/2 cut in strips</div>
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1 large yellow pepper; 1/2 chopped, 1/2 cut in strips</div>
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2 large tomatoes, chopped </div>
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24 mussels (approx)</div>
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12-16 large scallops (approx)</div>
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24 large shrimp (approx) </div>
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4 cups arborio rice</div>
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8 cups chicken broth</div>
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1 cup frozen peas</div>
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Flat leaf parsley, chopped (for garnish) </div>
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Garlic Powder</div>
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Cumin</div>
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Paprika</div>
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Adobo</div>
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Salt & Pepper </div>
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<b>Method:</b></div>
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Begin by dusting the baby back ribs with garlic powder, cumin, paprika, adobo, salt and pepper. My mother has the butcher cut the rack into long strips to make cutting them into bite size pieces easier later on. It's not necessary but nice.</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXjMkMd671GyfseAxDIMPilJMchJbOMH3hDmEi3rcj_8aciYKSH-dgKz1_4J47hm-gVHjFH-fhtk6aSvMMSWhfMHYiOb95A0Qn4oHAuG_jgWTHBsWkmjgLiOcE6VYmY0HpzVfvE4agGY/s400/IMG_9860.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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Put the ribs into the oven with the broiler on.</div>
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Now here's the thing that makes paella paella -- real Spanish saffron. Expensive as all get-out, but for a feast it's worth it.</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1B3GP8XUmEZREdONOuYb03KZMjUYyFVJvfcSooznX26vAayV3r2fX1Xlg27iqtyUoMNVf6zaEZTg4RAhy3SMRefXhQwNPP5I5X6n8MysPEh0m_xDrZzRZ65GBOtLXeeSW3yGykuDnnU/s400/saffron.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Add a pinch to the 8 cups of stock and set the stock to simmer.</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2xKm8syAhxrb49zN4JSzlrHW_jY-T9jv6W42wqlw3DE-0RLb7pO8t5D9avr9qBOwaa0Zlaq-iof5ZmPtYxlGe3C3vvIEMFWRRuz1cSCyUlka6qpw3Fax4RqouJsU30eleJm5Nsi45Bw/s400/IMG_9862.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Dust the drumsticks with garlic powder, cumin, paprika, adobo, salt and pepper. Add 4-5 tablespoons of olive oil to the paella (paella is the name of the dish and the name of the pan) or whatever dish you are using. (A 12-inch stainless steel pan would work well for a smaller batch.) Heat up and add the drumsticks and whole garlic cloves. Brown the chicken slowly so that you don't end up with burned skin and raw chicken inside. Turn the pieces frequently.</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1b6S9EAPin-NGDJ0pEmAArvfckJXs3Fod10zV78X5kHIk0AETmo1BL2RYDcmwSbuysvEH4Eu3qbQRlS_n-DRDgKx8-MvvAPjtlDVMvUzPy6hOSx3bMmotXg3D8wrZxhTwww3AH_crOE/s400/IMG_9868.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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In the meantime, chop your veggies:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWj3lxQr6iFO4igahG-2zJwcVkDXFW-Fy-rjo7pUkxgkJOv9CVf4mjL-bObjl-eXYw_9H_8V1TTE004X2OtWs8btRuBRkwIWxIZz6g1lC4AgUUkdNEsYsRLqUThSS484-61BMc_HRA0w/s400/IMG_9865.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6Zxy2c2M31_kHqMal2CTJbkLfThF92Sh-LfRGORI34IFaiO_w2lTv9Bw3C1yxQIFvnaHk0yz8HjhI4BuPROXg9aEHeAyuuUzgNfeRdzJWXx1N-fZDw8QBDT0Xr4uTHJ4R8wz3bU_TnE/s400/IMG_9866.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdI13EQJf2pGoysBWmKIqs6rcqabglbP50YV3mSK-frKIzI8s2DPiC2iWkKD7hw5VMyS9SC7efCXoGTcctQHX3cSPhSrnHJvUPy2SyWkwl6GXzKKIizppwB8MR20o6sIMWOmoxIJL4YE/s400/IMG_9867.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Also, be checking and turning the ribs, when they're well browned, take them out of the oven. Turn the oven down to 350F/180C. Cut the ribs into bite-sized pieces. </div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wu2a-A6ljHW0UqMG5qimsapTb_7s_H61CwijguaMQiyIMhW-odt2-9LVzojU_cFhi4ReNAsetR0qPzyGrevaZsCTdSSW6faDR7cWHZgIXhimAtfwiAtFpaja-YNHN61qZLJaLPy3Jvc/s400/IMG_9874.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Add them to the chicken. Take out the (by now well-browned) garlic cloves.</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92qUto-7SKIAlQbOHLowaqB6zmb8rydCcUhltDvUdQsPKyE5CKTevCAb2_zlipzFBd_fILeSBCAH7IPbZtGslxc3TkO5GZoHcCfY-U4m_MzzP1XJfs579Vk8Kx10663WG6_A5nfSvvds/s400/IMG_9876.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Add the onions, and cook a few minutes will they're soft:</div>
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Now add the chopped peppers:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeEXTL-TEj_v9l3ItAsOqSorBhbYW06gjVKZcB8ysNMK3azKQTUdvd1B2VNqL1ygp1NC5lr42SxJlZlcBc7AX-Dm7ypvs-z497MpELqG5-5SW-9yIii749sydNt8WXlTpCZWQnsCGhd8/s400/IMG_9881.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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Let them cook till soft then add the 4 cups of rice. Stir the rice through the meat and veggies and saute for a few minutes: </div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lMiPSY2KYOZF_ho6yhGTThm492z2Z4ZzWSzaHtVJ1KOLEkuiA0h1eACFcjteNHgXPYGLG7GzRKLWXQFcLi-TuoFc4npxPIHcRC2wgdmBWYN37cj49ePUn_NZrOGm45oflit-vy8hQQA/s400/IMG_9886+sharp.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Add all the stock:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6HjcC97yKvdZmgnWpoBW-QByXsYiCT-ITNd8W2zEah5rKOErYX5y40_gxYUIF0vUwq-_0m35jOgeDakz-5Rtj2RVs4bI0G8Luz0BxtjzokiWl43LjxDYgmWCLboIud8ipbtgQq_3bWc/s400/IMG_9888.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Give the paella a good stir and cook it over medium heat until you see the rice begin to emerge out of the liquid:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnU5rCoFKXGbQhfaVG0wzOLIrhdaSYcAmMMFukOhRQhQsHS37ab891dMbd8gb8OTiwm5z8l5lwTTqtzr0vPU9Px3TUAlo0vjZwbx1d4Yvu_2lZMGzjPDE9641Wbt6V3VjpXyZ3oTu77k/s400/IMG_9889.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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At this point, add the seafood, right on top:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVzp9p0JFNYNgKUbTD55EQL6DgPbpivVXE-rMCUFJ4E0qoYsFKkfvWsOQvbqJ9t-_LcW0b2WfkjLWpwDD2pdXIFAkU5XEOrIZqGFqcbTgGTW-CWUdrZCvK9yqh_AURuJRkFOTwCcKoSQ/s400/IMG_9892.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Pour some of the stock/broth over the seafood. A turkey baster is a great tool for this:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJ9_Ocw9S87a3ksMhutTHouvUUAyJsTnyRf3iqSFlF7gpE2AYvP0XhyKQTxommROIcWbdiF-FchhvO1WxqaufVSRWR57Qcm73xU9apy_MYPWdjYXIbpcSSYLetolu3ex8cvy4EDicraQ/s400/IMG_9895.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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And decorate the top of your paella, alternating the red and yellow pepper strips:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogao3MuhDQOrhGgNo0EmuoM6QkDTZNXTuwTpd9D_nS3keAN9DFH3nqErZAIP8XmuiVRNowAjKx9Wp5dY3J1ikAHlSWca-EQ9strz4ZyR9TWL-1sRS7UH62fzxiUhDMjid8xNkh-HyApk/s400/IMG_9896.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Now take a deep breath, gird your loins and hoist that baby into the oven. Seriously, it's heavy, be careful!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgleYN3x31rI3EpLyEngJe_wg63TPVr9TigQTgyEyFFQLd_qjz0KvwTrNsDIwcPTQuF7ZAcTnoljLvaWXH-D6WjI_ZBm8xZyBlla1gPinrIPyPMdE6gCD1kwYC-jlw4y2bfipYUK1Ce8/s400/IMG_9903.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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The paella will take another 30 minutes or so to finish cooking and absorb all the stock. After about 15 minutes add the frozen peas. Be checking the rice. This is one dish where you do not want the rice al dente, you want it soft all the way through. If at any point it looks like the paella is drying out and the rice is still not done, you can add a bit of water (or stock, if you've got some extra.) When all the water is absorbed and the rice is soft, the paella is done!</div>
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Sprinkle with the chopped parsley y ¡ya está!</div>
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From my family to yours ¡Buen Provecho!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJ5lw7BngS8Ratdsx0Veu2VWhsv0GekD6X_2fiMZ-xXYGcuKZeCcc_ZjJU-k2EwiJX3So0Hg_hWAR-sQU_IlinHlmhgnfwP097hKbeAZu1A28DiEtFCq9OiT7IXbVEgfnut5FRr1O_3I/s400/IMG_9909.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wb7XwMjcaQoA16G1-78uDBxuLwyvKrpx56Ofx6ycH_D18cW2DW7WpHQiefBo4zQ1Py6pcKsdeZw78ZmxuXuFps2FVbsSnC33YnhdQS9gQn2Qhz4EMMOMjRnaU7Iroj_vGyl1Qb-YsYE/s400/IMG_9914.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpjzCMW2FURZ1_RKwPgrDfv1l9lc3JzXPO-RtVouCMrJ5C2-Ve2ViXn4SGfQklzNu9zWVZsxq2P_uBhEDqL55Hv4v6egpMNdUXCBIwQgHw9s4-evIveGg5Ll4dwtRA610GPZ961qC1KM/s400/IMG_9901.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<i>Me and my mom, the master paella maker!</i></div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-64648588735431262742012-12-31T15:37:00.000+02:002012-12-31T15:37:15.891+02:00Remembering SA: New Year's and the Fountens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It being New Year's Eve, I can't help but remember <a href="http://2-suitcases.blogspot.com/2012/01/south-african-new-years.html" target="_blank">last New Year's</a>. It was one of the most fun nights I've ever had. When Aaron and I were told we were going to stay up and ring in the New Year, we didn't know that we were literally going to stay up all night -- but that's what you do in South Africa! And we didn't know that that night was going to be the beginning of our relationship with one of the most beautiful things South Africa gave us: the Founten family.</div>
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As we prepare to ring in 2013, I just want to take a moment to remember our dear friends, who from that first night treated us like family, who laughed with us, who shared family recipes, who taught us about everything from what it was like to grow up under apartheid to how to make a proper braai fire. </div>
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These pictures were taken at our send-off just days before we left South Africa.</div>
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Here are two of the cutest girls on this here earth, Miss Jamie Lee and Micah!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuUHMYU6gmBgpOIT5uSALgMr9dmsmQbIq7115EypQU1fPrRlaKJTkfEDR9bLQ673-jeBxA2LIhaSrYc6tc2vV2ISR_tpjy6j52vDdmOsWJtV8kvednYHcvxlpJoI8F1V1bKScJraS7S4/s400/IMG_9507.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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The boys, chillin':</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE10R5JcnagpsJRwAJ_21OQA7cnVV4QPha32pIPmX7mPFQ7RXY2So6c0TEhQweyjo6xXrgU8nI-yOSyE3kw5nrBhAh3e4ckZM_P4eTTNEkIMXMJbGI3FRQ5wyXcGrBg9eO0iq4sfAtbDQ/s400/IMG_9511.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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The girls doing likewise:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCGCEMgzO7ES96P4xu5cVdhZ9ZVpXBvGNAJfWL8sd8DDohoV7iE939f8Cb595YZeZWjIKYKJbUmobvDe73bx02FWuLhu5oN6ltVpUNRs_4PP-_gm3GNXmVKDeDuMXpIyzvc2T_wa5yGg/s400/IMG_9512.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Anton made a delicious potjie:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ArP75Z5FsXHajxUtYFMjytD7tljjB0PBKxixdWsxwDzireFLkYnA8JhVwhtfYYsuDosMMUwGgXzuSSR0mjw87f6u8xWdQO-aRKuNLDFKJXSbwEtG9rLGTHj4f-ZvtwaJa7hBvyNBtBA/s400/IMG_9517.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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Mutton and bean curry -- my favorite!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hgVZDPe8XIsUoJww3s4aeq4OG0on9FjxW3Gv1dveDG2FqK5F7Cra8RHhNwnVsOnKZH7GFRF3R3paysgEq82kt8rp7NiyFi6bBlasF_1tG_9kL3QWAsNLd7C8zHwJder7F_wtf8kONaA/s400/IMG_9518.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Superstar!</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HCnYVeAwFCnGYQyPPwx8qmseIimWmnaK5WhVBxH-DknotjXY4bYfaD-pTpt_5tSZrPwLoHYABfgMiq1je0cQ6-qb7FvGdbiGcTYznPAd9dk4Mkrps09BwY8ioW7onNCSddAZl4vMfEo/s400/IMG_9524.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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She learned it from her mummy!</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SvVR-LDv86D276GzoAoFIiymrk-hgtti6sJ74HILk6ciAA7kPEyuu-DeeuPDOeCAUh8_d5dBo6I0vAeR6ilzjO4KTGavZW475yLDLH7P6AnzrnQUwq4taWrNC38QM_jH1zkRjcIQtWY/s400/IMG_9531.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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As always, the food was AMAZING:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9g21flxZniPFMbELKdLUQVwpOfkRRbU3QRvlbN17yO3XjUuiZlpHDykCA9YvOZuir0q81r4LLOmxh9oBVNSFbcaDearQnT5qXipGfUbttyplYknRn93VzF-yZwrjxoSy-EvZ6uwmpStk/s400/IMG_9538.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQJ_lmPzDcKRS9Li6OqIqbiuNgUIVnv2U12Usj4SdxBIIAF9HeOX4OdsltcJnUwQv6ha-65p3uNMyAnxoMUsevAUjl7FtQ-6CHM_TMDlSkuTll7Pxkl1n9rJb35-V63otG_D_iLMUkNY/s400/IMG_9514.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5tshsLskvxR_cCvvxfY8tVLsNnpvlN5043eXopKeT-pToKATvxddXFKchV5mZ4wxC_hKNBqjPPLOKY-xcxbatmKnRaZ_2j5l1nMU9TUw2lU_2i-Vl-eFslG7cyn1LmQD9g-B6hROKnw/s400/IMG_9541.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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Petula and Terrance are one of the sweetest couples I've ever met. And Petula sings like a songbird!</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3lI6IXLfXTwhaSZAcXc3oN9JCVdhTm7oOJtyWtLbuWcVeB1jZh-rwLqufnSpdWpWEnu-Cx0WvudFLzdJOMRZHuDSM1YyOpx7EfdA0iyVfeR9h21P4v7fEBG7stuOGUx6vq7WOtCEjuI/s400/IMG_9542.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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Here are (from left to right) Auntie Angela, Trevor, Mark, Charmaine, Auntie Poppy and Anton:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1663cFlNyvFgP2v8nqUXiYDXtQC8GjgXKCN-7bfUV-bdkvnKdYvxmwRZghG6YopgpVnbQutjcFQpvLWfgqWKEEut-t9paV6Jm4RYHz0TjHSHHXtiCFO8HCMFftgWAvifwEBfwZAVwUR4/s400/IMG_9543.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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The fabulous Liza and Fiona:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0641Kq4ZK4ipuRI1hiVkFRmZyYd34RRmd2XbwqaJnbRc4uFo-l04XrjOVQAWKjYN9KhYgpfk3QonmAAHi_RwrAprgOW0XKdrjpL4zOHfNOaV5qb9g4GOC_wdXRFps39LlWa8zfQDKM0/s400/IMG_9545.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Girls, girls, don't argue about the cake!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3FQMZr5SMVPCMas9-mrE9ejUXznmwyThjxtssUB9Gj9mDdi6ikNCnRUeDQbQ5rs35Er32oS-kPnxUECU-2bYd5pvlSu2g9x1HKtBMnVgnGOO-rSIY_WNz9hNPNHAF7s171yrLYVK5jo/s400/IMG_9546.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Janine with her gorgeous baby Allyah:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdHa_riGnY3fnbXFxvC2cJzt1fX7J0qBaw9w4RXsIVhCmY4VOnqbzDXxuERagFQlPn1DXQ9PcUJHjfRkql3zjo0QWcfRVDTCK7KBYrLs-GIY1gV8U3Aj8laFIzFLLRzKjRGiicipb3ws/s400/IMG_9548.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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And the whole clan!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyyHDe-Ye2HVN8CTxXgcWfZ9xw4W40cUwqVusk49PY0j0RVe0b6FdgP9Z1tXAgwEYDUBHEutBnBnAuYxyluzhTyi8oA3GRitBZUH6aZfchAn6pP6C3NAos6Y45Ke0hOfNCvgJNROHwFc/s400/IMG_9552.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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And don't you know that they surprised us at the airport as we were leaving? They are truly such a sweet, loving, fun family. Saying goodbye to them made me cry like a baby!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYfszBdZs_AUhpXdrvkBSfRcANEhbGzX1fMIjpN0ehqEozM0RREZ4DHuWCTR1Q359gGXgY9rprxE-USX7iMtogR39PAro5Q5UUjjv7sM7LD-eYGllJgnoiNAq1Lo7oN0oZ2AgiSNe-00/s400/IMG_9624.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaB-LzGw4uiSjLUMiu19iJbCrhBfuUAtHT1wr4WqyFDDMVRY-IEIuQ5Gw9Lb_At9kiHhc7HqZtlB9e0s04_kfLra1Jm7MEesfdm9ArqFGx0DTZbLeTcyPpF-cicmvalgtlElOhtYonqM8/s400/IMG_9627.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Dear Foutens, we will be remembering you this New Year's!!! We will miss the midnight braai and the dancing at 3 a.m. and watching those first rays as the sun brings us a New Year. You are ever in our hearts! <br />
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And to everyone, I want to wish you and yours ¡un Feliz Año Nuevo! May 2013 bring you lots of peace, joy, fun, adventures, growth, learning and love and love and love. Gelukkig Nuwejaar!!!!<br />
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-56896221500865730462012-12-27T16:53:00.000+02:002013-01-31T18:56:37.416+02:00¡Feliz Navidad!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hiya! Here's a quick little pictorial of our Christmas celebrations!</div>
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For us, the big celebrations come on Christmas Eve. The first was at our house, where we had paella (I am writing up the recipe!)</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3JdCHLE0aO_jkt0EoLyF5v42WJ_qBWgY1JnKeQeo9Xc3EMPyeB2W-CSiNK8f18GDLRw4TLaAG7TpG8kptqZJLw2lzMJDCjfNfcGwaFFe1ahB4-T5prqduiYseQJaTpFSQeRP4wqB7Ao/s400/IMG_9858.jpg" width="300" /><br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEWp0UzmHNs1CTH76orOhu8EDjZakaOFeMQmjNOd7WRbdGMZd6Ex2eICVN3Vlm22V_pdmUQX-vPypIMiYvbPhbNKB51RSMEbylMsM4RVfAGEmgc43QH4p8piQ2ypD7Mmpvlr3ZeqEFQc/s400/IMG_9912.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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My niece Naomi was fashion herself in her Christmas dress:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVr0du4X7pQEPZmcUTkMqDLzUiU-RQMwsm4kRA6o0chpkSdOtvM-Qh7kCzvYtDKCyXWjIXsZGE5AFaPuqd9FsmQZVFtBUVBbdD5yNbqev9R6xs8FBHGCE7vTCQzBW6-vq8lvJfxwW5A4/s400/IMG_9916+corr.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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My nephew Nathaniel loved his cap from South Africa:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeCYdf_JPfX9rRSND4LzJ_6yOGWTqQ9RrAcukw7rvUxeIVORceQ2O_8RkmbsMV77d0_59gi_Nm7aW4i1NHMjAjEpYTaqM9W-LhetMHVEDlVBpjY_8Fnmi2tXbBZDaBib2BazvaDBGkSw/s400/IMG_9917+corr.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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And Naomi loved her flamenco shawl and her South African doll whom she named Winnie (as in Mandela) ... look at my sister putting bunny ears on Winnie!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOCiMczl_N1czNqCft3ldEv82jLVL_OA4Bsvog-Yv14Q3Tk4fKfcO65iGWHsFU5sZ-Mb4rHEv_hhrC75mIz8qX3p_uzhqalJTJ6ro1P8gfZ8sHBJfIY3uAt_aZlwu3cYWzQ56hkJ_kvk/s400/IMG_9922.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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We had a great time (though Nathaniel might have been in a sugar coma at this point!)</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfuRr_21XFxugrkRZb-QoqgP7xRnTk9R-e5amPaFO3YYWr_t7vlzLQd-zR60UOfwkcKkpsCEc69rLnaF_uAfgcrvTOg2CgzcKwsr9goY0zDt-HoHZx3eFi9qa-KWcU0YchKZkgLQXWmE/s400/IMG_9921.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Then it was on to the Armstrongs!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uBmIaJ1UxnuUdBNWLmNdovU8v1ItpuJoFqdVEdxXIquvEQus8aRQxGNXjclVmy7mY2PSOYVvP6A1x98GwpxI7BeHMhV-t14abvdijDi1qtUpQv2VSKSNiofi4fc0AFDc_5dzE-lNhh0/s400/IMG_9926.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Don't Aaron and his dad look so much alike?</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCXhuzY_CTGSmtQvHqisEDkGNlv6vzoeXL86jNw47tpvhD-0g5X1sWeYFIP9-IGimwytmRsk63RpabCz1HDoh7Rr7Dthc9jvrvkU1lOuCzooeW6wdwQ8tdelUVJfoLFvAvmo0VbF1e-U/s400/IMG_9927.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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My mother-in-law and my sister-in-law:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_to5Ccz-ViE_CuPp3MVOWxHclTYpXq9BS7gCEa4DaPfedHJsWWKQC2cKnkOj8ewrCbRhkjPujBntyAQvxnLjnZodCHAzglNwZoE7UYgQg7gAE7xyk6Dlr0MUkmRCAqwge-wBn0288zg/s400/IMG_9932.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Our cousin Crissy and her sweet daughter Bella:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsf15UXbybNneYjFxRH5PlF4lnkin8UC64OaxnMncGCYErEOZYvC41CPnRTlKsmulrkqZ5I3VZy2QlGBSeP8Z_-217o946ecxvKzy_bliBWK_tXrjaWajvvVoFT7Pjb0PWu4bqY4OQK_8/s400/IMG_9934.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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It was pasta-party-time!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05o7ghaLFdz7Jhl6ImFo-oE-ms52R2vovOgzGIZWX0KtuvojSSSlUk9XnsLgTJcRAzoaFxDvt9N5ZTGXxMMOCLhRAyMc2LUje2A4lYZVqe70uNLCUuXez874IrT9DI8Roh3BgMBNzLr8/s400/IMG_9936.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Cousin Jeff and Roman:</div>
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And cousin Guido's little boy, Aiden in his awesome new Spiderman slippers:</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqVxPZa032YfNLGb0wI5E_UmEr1zDn5oKfE07z8iIJRnU_z-K_GQzmMYyJvye-rrhNNBvpGZGAwQJWdWFk3R4NI7B3VB3aaA-BC-LfzABNUyrjVrCfv6SRbAm-UXrqEdTc7w5xsYBWlU/s400/IMG_9965.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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Squid is a big part of the Tuccitto family (Aaron's mom's side) tradition. Back in the day, they -- like many Italians -- celebrated The Feast of the 7 Fishes on Christmas Eve. These days, while we don't do 7 fish dishes, we still do the squid. And it is amazing!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6cAUn4eZuLb1ZlEeRKzvcioZS0oPSlmraNkvh7I8kt9u_1bTjuicbFj9QTXNyFea40AtCDbh79cK3MLGQsRK4jl4Y5S0es3m1dYtNI_CZ9M7xULDf59suKBeBUb1ipX7sKiu9wvxNQE/s400/IMG_9944.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Here's what I brought, strawberry tarts topped with fresh whipped cream and strawberries:</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMICP5_71cJQ3KB6kVQJGZ8oiqZbs8Wx-yrI2_pg1WOMi3WYzx2npNDbTKSq3U1nG8-TOx14E-WHb7yp186JL6NQNGemZ3qrb_xRE_q-1lDyK_TMJvLSgJ5imqM-dRXtjtU3wgT7-sh50/s400/IMG_9946.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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At the front are Italian cookies, pizzales. They are super light, crispy and slightly anise-flavored. So good, I'm going to get the recipe from my mother-in-law!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfAC_zhVXbHnb2oDTZpLDJyVuqN2NxUFIjxe-HDbJmtgmE4ru9j_HDhExy_MHWhes6L9iVYxSEE2wyvC1RjXvYBXj6jgO07pHRiGWY-GIqbuxgYHYSf8naQYBf8rXhMupkqbZhQ5vQD4/s400/IMG_9949.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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It was a big gathering, and so much fun!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aQfm9QIhOOJRLEY8H-Cfd07gUdmzFRXrOP6yusjDUA_ElefN7-GwrVS7fUailzK06zphGblYVLOuSdPsBBXWLo7YqgJdycoEzGTQQvABEPakQcQfRXaqBBFgvnnLT2wlaIKNXQ1mIy0/s400/IMG_9959.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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The next day (Christmas Day) is when the Armstrongs just chill!</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nOVywZ-0knygtDAIWyZ7xYiJoxuTLDqTA5GWzzXPSFlcZapON8ZNyameAr6e42f6m0NpdrLNi-jHR9xIzKK4giLk5_4s7cjPQ0aeTjxq4cySNGsB3p9PmlspHpcjxtKSH0noOxIbFmg/s400/IMG_9969.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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After all that feasting and partying, it was lovely to just chill in front of the fire and relax with homemade biscotti and a hot drink. </div>
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I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones. </div>
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XOXO,</div>
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Lorena</div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-68679375554319643312012-12-24T18:06:00.000+02:002012-12-24T18:06:48.896+02:003 Months Back, Ending 2012 & Feliz Navidad!<div style="text-align: center;">
Just about three months ago, Aaron and I came back from South Africa. They've gone by quickly, and before we say goodbye to 2012 I just want to share a few pictures/glimpses into life as we've known it.</div>
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Less than 48 hours after I landed, I was called to duty! </div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaL7xmZNIzvLuD6LARqTOHocUngkeZ0vq3XZYAx-x0AslmEw25ukxN6opn_KpFGp6eovqrxJeroGrJnlxdja2X6K7HYXaZGGpc3XuWfaX8wespRiDU1qvLH-pJF2s2E8YvwlrQQ-IPnE/s400/IMG_9638.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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I'm very proud to be on the Board of <a href="https://www.loft.org/about/" target="_blank">The Loft</a>, the US's largest
and most comprehensive literary center. And wouldn't you know it, basically upon disembarking (30 hours, 4 flights) I was at a Loft
event! I had the great pleasure of thanking Bao Phi for 10 years of
dedication to our unique spoken word series, EQ. That night, we
featured bow-down-and-recognize poets Patricia Smith
and Anis Mojgani. I also got to see my poet-brother, Rodrigo, and his family, including little Santiago, who was born while we were away:</div>
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Cuteness, no? And speaking of cuteness:</div>
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I was SO happy to have gotten back in time for autumn. It is my favorite time of the year here in Minnesota. We went apple and pumpkin picking with my sister Carolina's family. That's Aaron with my niece Naomi and my brother-in-law Paul on the hay wagon.</div>
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We also had to have a Salvadoran feast upon our return:</div>
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On a beautifully warm day my family gathered in our back yard and I was able to have all those foods I could not get/find/make in South Africa:</div>
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<i>Yuca con Chicharrones!</i></div>
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<i><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUyRqBeBNhNXfnfPOaekW_WRGqo9g6fbwdxgyWl4b6VRxHhu0BIVxYV-UNFM9aDUaB-_hF6D_ztPibciZGLP1RnBDW7vAgbYf13Ob9RMcprVJwLNOd3hEYIQUuwVOjpx6QUKCF8jFptk/s400/IMG_9711.jpg" width="400" /><br />A meltingly tender Salvadoran tamale, note the chicken and chunks of potato within?</i></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajEQIAQs5WbcuMkfsBuMqzxrt3PEzQhJOdG76LvBMednrijsH0KxBL26hBHk9GSWfc1F-In8axJe9lnQXVvyklKOK0mMxJfWBzwXhgWQyqsicOdEpKeqCCbBdAcwkt9xLUKxV-wF4NC0/s400/IMG_9712.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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<i>... and Mamones! (Also called quenepas) They are a weird tropical fruit that Aaron looks askance at and which I gorged on.</i></div>
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Also, there was some bocce played:</div>
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One of the nicest things about being back has been sitting with my kitties in my sunroom:</div>
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I am a complete animal lover and I missed these guys terribly. This
sunroom is filled with my books and little mementos. It is my happy
spot. But truth be told, my whole house is my happy spot. I am a true homebody. I love our home with its warm wood and books everywhere. I'm a nester for sure and I can't tell you how lovely it has been to be back in our own home, with our own stuff. To have more than one room to live in -- it's glorious!</div>
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But gosh we miss South Africa! We miss the people, the food; in fact, we were braaing till we absolutely couldn't anymore. Look at this chicken my boy made. Yum:</div>
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And then he attacked a pumpkin with a drill:</div>
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Hee! It was all good (Halloween) fun:</div>
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Also, I turned 30somelalalala:</div>
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My brother-in-law and I share the same birthday. So we went to one of our mutually favorite restaurants, Bucca, to celebrate. Yes, that is the pope's head on the table. And yes, there is a small monkey sitting on top of his head. Let's just say we had a good time!</div>
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November was a more somber month. A good friend of mine passed away suddenly and it marked the third anniversary of my sister's death.</div>
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And on Thanksgiving, we decided to finally scatter our cat Mickey's ashes. <a href="http://2-suitcases.blogspot.com/2011/07/heart-sick.html" target="_blank">Mickey had to be put down while we were in South Africa</a>. It was awful. When we got back, my in-laws had his ashes for us. We thought about it for a while and then decided we wanted to scatter them in one of our favorite places on earth, Minnehaha Falls: </div>
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The falls are right in the middle of the city; they empty into the great Mississippi River and are about 5 minutes from our house. They don't look like much right now because there was almost no water and it's fall and all the leaves are dead, but it's a spectacular spot. </div>
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We decided to scatter the ashes on Thanksgiving; we were very thankful to have had our little guy for 7 years, we loved him utterly and it seemed appropriate. His absence is palpable in the house.</div>
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The rest of Thanksgiving was lovely. Lots of pies of course:</div>
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And we got to meet another baby born while we were away, our cousin Kadie's boy Roman<i>:</i> </div>
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<i>Such a cutie, he's like the Gerber baby! </i><br />
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Which takes us into December:</div>
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Not only am I a nester, I am a crafter! Made the most awesome salt dough ornaments this year!<br />
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We also had a big, beautiful snowstorm:<br />
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A total winter wonderland, like living in a snow globe! I guess I really am a true-blue Minnesota girl because I really love it, I love having a white Christmas. There's something so finite and ethereal about a snow-covered world. Happy sigh. <br />
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By the way, I love Christmas. I love this time of year, I love the decorations, I love the snow, I love the preparations for it, and most of all I love sharing it with family:</div>
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We are a bit torn this year. On the one hand, we are really missing our South African friends -- who are like family to us. We will miss the Christmas crackers and the braais (and OK, it would be nice to take a dip in the pool!) But we are also so incredibly grateful to be home again and to celebrate with our families. We are going to savor the paella and the squid and pasta (and we're gonna go cross country skiing soon!)</div>
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So I guess all I can say is that we are just really grateful. To have had the incredible array of experiences we've had this past year. To have all the families we have. To have weathered difficult things and come back out. To have savored so much, with so many beautiful people. To have each other. </div>
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From our little family to yours, we wish you a beautiful, safe, and joyous Christmas. </div>
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Love,</div>
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The Armstrong-Duartes</div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-62934865379861561712012-12-19T16:23:00.000+02:002013-01-31T05:56:22.285+02:00Chocolate Panna Cotta: Yummy, Easy & Healthy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hi lovely people!</div>
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Christmas is almost upon us and although you might have all your cookies made, I thought I'd offer you an alternative treat for the holidays: Chocolate Panna Cotta. </div>
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I fell in love with Panna Cotta in South Africa. I know it's originally an Italian dessert, but it was often on the menu in SA and I've been fiddling with different recipes since I got back to Minnesota. This is my favorite so far, it tastes like a super smooth chocolate mousse but is a lot easier to make -- and a lot healthier! It's what I like to think of as stealthily-healthy decadence.</div>
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It is super quick & easy -- no exaggeration, it takes 5 minutes total to make. It's also very rich and chocolatey so you'd never guess how healthy it is -- which is kind of nice for the holidays! I mean with so many full-fat, full-sugar desserts on offer, it's nice to have a yummy & healthy alternative! </div>
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First of all, I used dark chocolate, which in small amounts is very good for you (all those antioxidants and such.) Also, instead of sweetening it with sugar I used <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia" target="_blank">stevia</a>, which is all natural and calorie free -- you can find it everywhere now -- I even found it in South Africa. I also used almond milk, but that's just because of my lactose intolerance. You could certainly use cow's milk. I'd use 2%. Oh, and this would be an easy recipe to veganize, using vegan chocolate and agar-agar in place of the gelatin.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The recipe below is for 6 servings. But you can double, quadruple it easily. And if you want to make a bunch, silicone muffin cups (like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/HIC-Brands-that-Cook-Essentials/dp/B00428M7ES/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1355867070&sr=1-1&keywords=silicone+muffin+pan" target="_blank">these</a>) would be ideal. This Panna Cotta would be great for Christmas of course, or a New Year's dinner, or you know, on a random Tuesday night ... what? I had to test them for you right? </div>
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<br /></div>
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ENJOY!!! and ... FELIZ NAVIDAD! </div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nNC-wWjrn5xPSGEzBIR4Ws3PChEA3frt1tiKsJnDO56V8g-shTJJVop8HhxkSf0NBPxMdHLLZfM63VWGdywVTXU7gYigNzQf-obIb21WNGZWAIZt8FSotYTuJPNflcRPrfG6cGpUELc/s400/IMG_9757.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<b>Healthy Chocolate Panna Cotta</b><br />
<br />
6 servings:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>1 package Knox unflavored gelatine (or 1 Tablespoon unflavored gelatine)</li>
<li>2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of your choice)</li>
<li>2 ounces (57 grams) dark chocolate -- chopped -- use your favorite</li>
<li>Stevia to taste -- I used about 1/16 a teaspoon, but I don't like things too sweet. Here's what I recommend: add a teeny bit at a time and keep tasting till you like it. Remember that stevia is much, much sweeter than sugar. The total amount you add will depend on how much sugar was in your dark chocolate and, of course, your preference. </li>
</ul>
<br />
1. In a saucepan, sprinkle the unflavored gelatine over 1/2 cup of the cold almond milk. Let stand for 1 minute.<br />
<br />
2. Place over low heat; stir constantly until granules are completely dissolved -- about 3 minutes. <br />
<br />
3. Add the rest of the almond milk and whisk till hot and combined. Add chocolate and stir constantly till it just comes to the boil.<br />
<br />
4. Add stevia to taste, anywhere from 1/16 - 1/4 teaspoon; whisk well.<br />
<br />
5. Pour into six 1/2 cup ramekins/molds or muffin cups. Chill till set; I left mine overnight.<br />
<br />
6. Top with fruit/fruit sauces/sauce of your choice. You can unmold it as I did above (run a knife around and dip the mold in hot water for a few seconds) or you can just leave them in their ramekins.<br />
<br />
<b>Note:</b><br />
This recipe makes a very soft gelatin -- it is indeed, mousse-like -- which I love. If it is too soft for you, add another packet of unflavored gelatin. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
BUEN PROVECHO! ENJOY! </div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-45785475305678072992012-12-18T22:30:00.002+02:002013-01-31T05:56:28.856+02:00Chumpe: An Authenticity Update<div style="text-align: left;">
Hiya folks!<br />
<br />
So I have a bunch of posts I'm working on, what we've been up to since coming back to Minnesota, lots of South African reminiscing pictures and posts, etc.<br />
<br />
But before I post all those -- and in the holiday spirit -- I wanted to revisit one of my favorite recipes, Salvadoran Turkey, or Chumpe. I <a href="http://2-suitcases.blogspot.com/2011/12/recipe-salvadoran-turkey-chumpe-plus.html" target="_blank">originally posted this back in the day</a>, and I mentioned in my post that this is how my family does Chumpe. But just today I got a comment on the post where a lovely lady said she was going to make this for her Salvadoran husband. Which got me thinking ...<br />
<br />
See, most Salvadorans will add a special mix of spices & nuts to their chumpe. For one reason or another, my mother never did. Now, I LOVE the chumpe the way she makes it, but if someone makes this recipe and serves it to a Salvadoran person, they might say, "Hm. Good, but not quite ..."<br />
<br />
So I wanted to update this recipe to add the spice mixture that gives it a more traditional Salvadoran taste. One isn't better than the other, I love the chumpe both ways. But this way you have the option!<br />
<br />
If you're making this for Christmas, let me know! And FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!<br />
<br />
<b>The updated ingredients and method are in bold below.</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uksx02aGKl9tXFvtbBp6X2mZb8F9UjQK8kVAT1vQTYE0qQSN1k8fgsmoFucaE81tKZwbd3IR_GUvQcw_BjuepgvgTHWQCZBCP5lIJT5M2jYAQFPK3CG4rYXLDT9VTDaYfZx9OxzXOBI/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<i>Here is the Pan con Chumpe, a saucy, drippy sandwich packed with Salvadoran turkey, veggies and delicious sauce.</i></div>
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<b>Ingredients:</b></div>
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Turkey (I used about a 14 pounder)</div>
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Rolls</div>
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Romaine (Cos) lettuce</div>
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Slices of tomatoes</div>
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Slices of peeled cucumber</div>
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Thin slices of radishes</div>
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Watercress</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Marinade: </b></div>
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1/4 cup of softened butter</div>
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1/4 cup of <span class="st"> Worcestershire sauce </span></div>
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<span class="st">1/4 cup of yellow mustard</span></div>
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<span class="st">1 Tablespoon coarse salt (or 1 1/2 teaspoons fine salt)</span></div>
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<span class="st">1 1/2 teaspoons fresh cracked ground pepper</span></div>
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<span class="st">1 1/2 teaspoons </span><span class="st">Adobo or other favorite savory spice blend, I used cajun this time</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span class="st">Sauce:</span></b></div>
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<span class="st">2 medium green peppers, whole</span></div>
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<span class="st">2 medium onions, quartered</span></div>
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<span class="st">2 large cans chopped tomatoes</span></div>
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<span class="st">1 small can tomato and onion mix</span></div>
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<span class="st">1 very big handful cilantro/coriander</span></div>
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<span class="st">1 very big handful flat leaf parsley</span></div>
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<span class="st">2 celery sticks, chopped</span></div>
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<span class="st">3 bay leaves</span></div>
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<span class="st">Salt and pepper to taste</span></div>
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<span class="st">1/2 - 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)</span></div>
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<span class="st">Lots of olives, whatever style are your favorite. I use Kalamata. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span class="st">* Spice mix: </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="st">1/3 cup raw sesame seeds<br />1/4 cup raw peanuts<br />1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="st">1 dried mild chile, destemmed and deseeded<br />2 teaspoons dried thyme</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="st"><br />
</span></b></div>
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<span class="st"><b>* Adapted from http://www.whats4eats.com/poultry/pavo-salvadoreno-recipe</b><br />
</span></div>
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<span class="st"><br />
</span></div>
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<span class="st"><b>Procedure: </b></span></div>
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<span class="st"> </span></div>
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<span class="st">Wash
turkey well inside and out. Pat dry. Mix all marinade ingredients
together into a liquidy paste. Don't worry if it's not a perfectly
smooth mixture (I often forget to leave the butter out to soften and end
up with little lumps of cold butter in the marinade. Not to worry.)
Bathe the turkey in the marinade, inside and out and between the skin of
the breast and the meat. (The skin really isn't a big deal with this
recipe, so don't worry if it rips.) Then take a very sharp, small knife
and poke holes in the turkey, all over, front back, breast, thighs,
etc. Leave to marinade overnight in the fridge.</span></div>
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<span class="st"><br />
</span></div>
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<span class="st">The next day:</span></div>
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<span class="st"><br />
</span></div>
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<span class="st">Take
turkey out and in a deep roaster, put it in a hot oven (400F/200C).
Let it brown, probably about 30-40 minutes, start to check it after 20
minutes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMSPke53M07_BpeVkOrzRi0VMQk0KKZyQNvBGPQqU8anTqSm-2ISAZA2vDnc9HqKYWqgIzK_bMI36-V2GgFrXrFrS8he104Fr5_aWRbKG4qNc5whXyyQ8Irz66wLkKY7cfjk_r9Oe2aE/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span class="st">
Then turn it to brown the other side. This can be a bit tricky. As
you can see, it took lots of weird kitchen utensils and three of us to
do it:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLUfhrBUfhdejeIUbR4HAw8lapya8vUW1pAQnm7BEH-yXODeUzTJ17JLggqQx2Vz2_qsmD3UmlDBymg2BjH9PV9xJeFxqOgqctDjsWBp2uRLywNJ5teFbOaMPt0DTFxF1qHTDZhFs6o0/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vx3lSAQ2uowF6_7gS8AaqHteQUc5-KMMK6i8MTR4s-CKMYw1RHijbNkkayZDD1VQwJyvSHHgiDYpu6GlhRdAxUPvoJq5CFZIN1yJRVx03QLgUMNSSrQ2tMMFiYRyIPpOTNoMxzQAGMQ/s400/4.jpg" width="266" /><br />
<br />
Now, as the other side browns, you can make the sauce.<br />
<br />
<b>Add the sesame seeds, peanuts and pumpkin seeds to a dry frying pan over moderate heat. Toast them till fragrant and golden, constantly stirring and shaking the pan. Don't walk away -- this only takes a few minutes and the nuts will burn easily. When done, put them in a large bowl to cool as you prepare the rest of the sauce: </b><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo3Rff0RhQPsuC9zuhW4uqlj8jJSICLOjxdXU2GS9hrvxmla1WSwXhj7ytAYF1K3X-PtJBp5wNnfkwdszhX_JgJ8drP4TBp3Hi2IOtxHXJsjrvEuQrRod1j_EfEmXyZeYCVOixwiFkDw/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Put the quartered onions and green peppers in a dry pan over high heat. Blister the heck out of them:<br />
<br /></div>
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<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3Pb11Fg-NnWL7DEsFMMtu9eITyXidEGMkJ4AzKGzwN-4yRbS1_rLmupUeK4VNEhWvumHlDQ8AC6S7IVzgwL8wDOJMhFVj9uGIM6gWQSyG6p3Veg1YuT-TEmk7Nh733w7YMcBQmC1cbk/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
When
good and charred, split the peppers in half and take out the seeds. Peel them lazily (as in, rub off whatever falls off, leave the rest.) Add the peppers (in rough chunks) along with the onions into a big bowl <b>(where you have the roasted nuts) </b>with
all the other sauce ingredients, except the bay leaves and the olives. <b>Also add the thyme and the dried chile.</b>
Blend, blend, blend till smooth:</div>
<br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u-5qpEn9f37-Z6ZV9hrqLroflVN-S5hHotbz0pjKsSsh7vsKFJSjM3W58ZTquUq4rpxTPIXn4aT5bOfnSqorVDklzx2q32RLkbDU9njNbPSVI1T1fcVvDUS07PPo0xuVQ9WsX4ObvhY/s400/7.jpg" width="266" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then pour over the browned turkey:</div>
<br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgjIHA_bGeXaHQI46P8hZazc0xIUZdyoLwvN_Gnk1_KOx8ciJvpFyNUkp_viWOuwBMYSfCpPv3VVt08vdoEwHmh4M8klhvW73yWdMXcPc3fO57io7eyP3dHGTDHyRidKeXE1A82KrSGA/s400/8.jpg" width="266" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5BcA7kYXi3eQAc9to6ov2KceWWkZB5rJOcx906-sy1vtkEjqqk44QHKS3hTlj74mPJvajdA4Fr6mpdhxAYGnETIF1ptRvefTSXYGI1fXg6bZJfuXCEnjntR0eWiSI1ZrW0iast1c74U/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Add olives and tuck in the bay leaves:</div>
<br />
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<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7siht2Si6hs3VP6y6g9TdHFCNZ9sgfCTt8cnfPBPbUlcJZquMXu8McELE8v435AwS2DyoSsNtlyP5fM3dgUW2vBimcFHVaMYhPIQR2yRsXOEWyEx0y5XWn1Fqwd5pxnAXxb5EPA0LyGs/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
I
usually wait till it's cooked a couple of hours before I add
salt/pepper as the marinade will flavor the sauce. I will also add a
half to a full teaspoon of sugar if the tomatoes aren't very sweet and
the sauce tastes a bit "acidy."<br />
<br />
Lower the heat
(350F/175C) and bake the turkey for approximately 3 hours or until it's
basically falling off the bones. If it starts to get too browned at the
end, cover with foil.<br />
<br />
You can have the chumpe with rice and salad, or as "Pan con Chumpe," which is my favorite way, like this:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGRAGTI9oM4cimzYKX_A_gHmsXCsohrhpkw1W4JwK8_2E_eDe8_GPZvEXbuNgQKp8qpRejutvwTrVKKWxe0m9nkaBL4_XgHHb9tuT9HLZGqsvp6FGdpwXTcuCaRQaC0evrIrHLm_pgUg/s400/11a.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
Basically,
you just stuff a lovely roll (Ciabatta, french, etc.) with lots of
turkey meat, romaine (a.k.a cos) lettuce, slices of tomato, slices of
cucumber, thin slices of radishes, watercress (if you like it). Then
top it with tons of sauce and ... curtido! (<a href="http://2-suitcases.blogspot.com/2011/12/recipe-curtido.html" target="_blank">Here's the recipe</a>.) It makes for a pretty huge sandwich.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
ENJOY!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FdiG45kCxaXtfZBDm9YBWGzmrnVq0sXBAe7rO_elQPbs1q0zql2dU_fzABZw4h7qHFGWFqpCNqM7LXEKUHaall765EQAd46-_Kwr7vLST6bSx3O21A9hERlJr4RrehnCnsQQl_mug1c/s400/12.jpg" width="266" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Making the Day Before</b>: Since the chumpe is
stewed, it's even better made the night before, which can make planning a
big feast a heck of a lot easier. If I do make it the night before, I
leave it to cool all night in the oven, then in the morning take it
apart, slice the breasts, and chunk off the dark meat. Put the
slices/pieces into baking dishes, cover with some of the sauce and put
in fridge. Then, when you're ready to eat, reheat them gently in the
oven (covered with foil) and the leftover sauce can be quickly zapped in the microwave.<br />
<br />
<b>Making Pieces</b>: While this is a recipe for the whole bird, you can
easily adapt it to just make a turkey breast or a couple of thighs or
drumsticks for a less fancy dinner. A couple of thighs make a great
Sunday dinner.<br />
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<br /></div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-80337368175784589412012-11-20T03:54:00.000+02:002013-01-31T05:56:36.521+02:00Recipe: Streamlined Mother-of-All Pumpkin PiesSo back in the summer I posted a pumpkin pie recipe and I was all like, hey, Northern Hemisphere folks, just pull this out come November ... so guess what I'm doing?<br />
<br />
Actually, I'm also updating this recipe, streamlining it, and including a much simpler (but just as delicious) pie crust recipe.<b> </b>So here you go my darlings. The best dang pumpkin pie you will ever eat, just in time for Thanksgiving!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lUWSvDTh7DC10_zZKfF3DJxGhK1dKY4-oqewXfWoMGRtyRPw9WyEglaxwMiEiWJuj2KPsQfrVOq5BW0UvlbnCrnfvgCqHyn1fnQWYvxmM9JCo-Kl6QJOh2laakjGEw0lSHQTtqyr3xNQ/s400/pumpkin+cropped+small.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<b>The Mother-of-All Pumpkin Pies</b><br />
<i>Makes 2 pies </i><br />
<br />
<b>Crust:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>2 1/2 cup of all purpose flour</li>
<li>1 Tablespoon sugar</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt</li>
<li>20 tablespoons of butter (280 grams) </li>
<li>4-10 Tablespoons of ice water</li>
<li>1 egg, well beaten</li>
</ul>
<b>Filling:</b> (Tweaked from this <a href="http://www.pickyourown.org/pumpkinpie.php" target="_blank">original recipe</a>)<br />
<ul>
<li>1/2 cup white sugar</li>
<li>1/2 cup brown sugar</li>
<li>1 teaspoon of vanilla extract </li>
<li>1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon ground ginger</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon ground cloves -- if you can, use fresh ground. I use a mortar and pestle and it's SO much better than pre-ground</li>
<li>1 teaspoon ground allspice -- again, I grind this fresh in a mortar and pestle<br />
</li>
<li>1/4 of a nutmeg (freshly grated) </li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon salt </li>
<li>4 large eggs (to reduce fat/cholesterol, you can use 8 egg whites instead)</li>
<li>1 1/2 cans (12oz each) of evaporated milk (Low fat is fine)</li>
<li>2.2 pounds (1 kg) peeled and cubed butternut squash/sugar pumpkin *</li>
<br /> * You have to trust me on this one, use the cubed, peeled butternut squash you find at the store, unless you have the luck to find a sugar pumpkin. The behemoths we carve don't taste nice at all. You CANNOT tell that it's butternut squash and not pumpkin and it will taste SO much better than if you use canned pumpkin. Trust me! </ul>
<b>Method:</b><br />
<br />
Begin with the crust: Mix
sugar and salt into flour. Cut butter into flour. Add just enough
water to bind it together. <br />
<br />
Wrap in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge while you make the filling.<br />
<br />
Now,
the filling. Steam your squash for approximately 10-15 minutes in the microwave until it is very soft. No need to add water.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjADVr3ssA-hK9uNIaHQEyh_XZr0LKGp8fK7wyneI_ZtCMZvAfxMMLvvRYLvPcE3kmsBUFuemNpNneSeQH9DsOPpSj90trXJrTXm103_-efktRkHDBM8rzaf7eWuC_ebabKqZDcX8579s/s400/IMG_7145.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
This should yield you about 3 cups of pumpkin/squash mush, add all the other
filling ingredients. Blend everything together in a blender or with an
immersion blender:</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdJW_tXCoD_YA6yCd0HQayRm8MIyf8MQH8QaXAF3UV_JJhkQmOncIQ4eG7XG6IqHXEBj6Uhvnti-xAO3_FE-mje5TEUsgd4n1Y9Z1tswNLm0_VTa4J_ilNsWMvov-3mY01fwjSq9GIkBY/s400/16+dec+2011+152.jpg" width="300" /></div>
<br />
Now
flour your counter well. Separate your dough into 2 pieces and roll
out 2 pie crusts. If there are gaps/rips in your crust
you can always fix it with your pieces and/or with additional pieces.<br />
<br />
Line
your pie tins with your dough, and then add your filling. Crimp the crust and brush with the beaten egg. It should be just
perfect for 2 pies. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGu9sKVFS_RWrKD9FY8B1Zwxid2Rnpp-4yrqonpapyW1cCT1qK7TDXyLa6ff8oOT5NStAiQrCjhCRU9NCqMB-2WY8RszDLLAM_96e4RKbMcIOHADsTi8lZJiXVhic0WETz_4J8ExepcOL/s400/IMG_7158.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
Bake
at 180C/350F for one hour, but start checking at 45 minutes. The pie
is done when a toothpick comes out clean out of the center of the
filling.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenl9v9cEd7RjFp-_o03dXVvdtDIdey2ged0OpIbn6uuUjUA4TDZcnOhoesPJAI3nUe61N3YuheVjOK73cYQJ-JZw8mLM-64G1amve7JlcIa5S6TGaVVl1bhaP-zyjAklSbRUmLf6W_lS_/s400/16+dec+2011+159.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And there you go, best pumpkin pie you'll ever taste!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxaT5WnpfGvbzUVEGYhibWIk35lZZSoNW4ZRXTnimkmCgSdOsUYUi_W88IBLvsNe2m8EJbeDY-PKuq4ZFNszeun1Z2iwBUjSSf5X4c3mDHdIH6LNLvqiVHOdNvxU_fVRw4U15zSP2INoL/s400/IMG_7211.jpg" width="266" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
ENJOY! BUEN PROVECHO!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnKFTSo5xfxzUdy7hQwnrPgq3WlVuKq6WVXQ11mCqfQk3X1wpTXMG9_AHZwmPa_-CTzlnGfLCzf1Zo5HyemceMF8Nj-kARZXkAqSbOgSt-I35D3NwdTXOutD_Ol0r68R_7RbCKJEFqH8V/s400/22+april+2012+761.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-39491653423572091242012-11-16T18:43:00.001+02:002013-01-31T05:56:36.516+02:00Home Sweet Home: The Perfect Apple PieBut what is this?<br />
<br />
Is Lorenita blogging again? <br />
<br />
Yes, I know. It's been a while. But folks, let me tell you, Transatlantic moves are no joke. It has been a crazy couple of months since we left South Africa. The jet lag, the endless unpacking, the welcome homes, the malaise, the getting life back in order, the trying to find work, the birthdays, etc., etc., ad nauseum.<br />
<br />
Oh, and then, just as I was beginning to get a little settled I decided -- like the crazy person I am -- to embark on this thing called <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">National Novel Writing Month </a>wherein you attempt to write 50,000 words in the month of November. In my case, I took it on in the hope of trying to hush my very loud inner editor. Also, I think I have a bit of a masochistic streak (but that's just par for the course as a writer.) Anyhoo, it's been a great challenge that I'm still in the midst of. So when I'm done with that, I do promise to get some more posts up with more frequency. I still have to show you those beautiful Addo elephants! And I know that our friends in SA wanted to see what life is like here in Minnesota. So there will be all that.<br />
<br />
For now, I am going to gift you with 2 of my all-time favorite pie recipes -- just in time for Thanksgiving! <br />
<br />
This first one is the one I'm most proud of since I created it using ideas from 3 different recipes and makes the yummiest and most crispy-crust-apple-pie ever. I'll post the second (a streamlined version of my Pumpkin Pie) soon. For now, enjoy the appley goodness!<br />
<br />
It really is easy and is the foolproof way of avoiding a soggy crust, but a word of caution: read through the whole thing before you start as I have notes
about the timing and filling in the crust section ...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RhSxf_rVHG-JOyCSSGLU__GKz3-TAwwQAIloWT1Fm_1ujDIW3FvbmOxZZu6NotVge8ad2FUlPjx8w8uLAW6KCd6NbNf0P9qthA9YQMidJ-R9c1Jn9kyyMp_rdJ5wq3Qu37r5aTntXi4/s400/2+September+2012+007.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
FILLING<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<ul>
<li>8-9 medium apples, sliced medium-thick (the
key here is to take the pie pan you'll be using and fill it with the raw apple slices.
Fill it until it's almost overflowing because they'll cook down a lot.)</li>
<li>1/2 cup of sugar (raw is great)</li>
<li>a bunch of shakes of cinnamon</li>
<li>dots o' butter (about 1 Tablespoon total)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmcf-92XYTqyIfqoR5Sy86TqAzfb8w_6bEa97-bO6Ird8KyIgRSW7_jg3l2nHaB5MV079s_sd-daXVUWF6VHmsylqKRoKDC2geo5y1NJ6nnDwZTSkmYBS5_kw9Dh9APfkOEK6SYBFD_g/s400/IMG_9669.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Here's what you want your raw apple slices to look in your pie tin, just about to overflow.</i></div>
<br />
METHOD:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The method here is very important.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Put sugar in heavy pan with a little water. Cook till it caramelizes
(keep a close eye on it and stir every couple of minutes, especially at
the end). Add apples to caramel:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUE1E8qBo6a1kkvwsgfdZ_xdXwFYCI1ARnIxUtuK6YYupvRutuqtJLDUEgk5IS63isokGBgML6-cpzm_iLnfb17mpwKZBDcLvfi_omaDCeFshYpGv821xITDkt-VLk_r1j9XGiFz2XW8/s400/IMG_9671.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stir together quickly, add cinnamon to your liking (I shake a bunch in and taste -- probably about a teaspoon or so) and cook a few
minutes till apples are soft (kinda "wilty" but not mushy):</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNazOqna42Agf2YYRAPAtvDLVjX3GLeBL1mWcENDQ4RXlqNgIsTQrBDeegMKFTSb_xgx_Azw2o6ck5QrgCTsNvYMsjjwZcmWNta3HN-lcj6ALrNv6XTfSZIcTE_cojKYFnKpydBv8z4vU/s400/IMG_9673.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Put apples
in strainer (put a bowl underneath) and let them strain at least 5
minutes: </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJd0_BWcR0a3vfDorV-8QUO5Z4bNreQdmGQfjp6ZagR3dcV0DZhidgpLhkbqFjMzXb-6IZ9ma7AG_HLfmb_QehdORtX_yUFfxnq8BG4muxaZgB8vIdEwU-QCSumlVejYGF_NoMIxtLpWI/s400/IMG_9674.jpg" width="300" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Collect all the strained juices: </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwg3mWsFrZX-YkNHpWOrTo5qoW6nvkm9bx3AZ1dLAfRQoh3Agd4vwWbIE8la76BlZdkVAOrxkgj7CyBWs2zbAzQdJNbgd0Eskxv-uBMoDuuhh8pCOCk2MN7pTV8jjtyK6kZaLyQXaGos/s400/IMG_9679.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<i>See all that juice? That's what would have made your crust soggy & puffy!</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Take all those juices, put them back in the pan and cook down till it's almost a jelly. Mix reduced juices ("jelly") back in with the apples: <br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyhEYPOcQPywERdVouQCTAojp9Jqpkn2hj_DxMW-sPMYhS1A1X8JrCc7lLkiyzhhw_xJh63NbeySB-wNS2KR3TrmD3DP-2X3ytQGntkPAoivxlOWRVe22GupBv4wlO9pBykCBJTjHutE/s400/IMG_9683.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pour into prepared pie crust (raw), dot with butter, top with latticed
crust (brushed with one beaten egg.)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_900H4HmlfboQ7aJJJhwapW29-9rsvM9AQFVFY2fyIg1MllpaKQHg3UGoZglAOSyBhbCz4YY2o2SmuxPbdj9FvYg9dOzjuEHDBqXpx4X5hVyDf3IdlEUYHpDOZTntYV6toIYVojw0tI/s400/IMG_9684.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bake at apx. 350F/175C till golden on top. (About 30 - 40 minutes.)<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2qDKmHuNSNqXJCjvohzkXFXWuHFTqkP61KNgEYtn9dpYE2Dm6_oS3Lr3jgosAIlgQ_J2DBx0-Z4FI0vhsryxfovrrmC0itYPy4DU_NTRyhvL0L3i_3zJLNkIxDPPDItZ-a_ji8vFeY4/s400/IMG_9688.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdpRHVeDAZtND1JzmQKHTCI-Rs-cA3kmIWarbNeHNiH5FosCNBeuJbBcfQTFl09hlMLXazv4fmu8U1agIiv88fnjZFc1ExJ66qx1pto5FJjqbbnQwyr8cO_4zynegxsulasF6uFJUBwA/s400/IMG_9689.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
CRUST:<br />
(MAKES 1 CRUST -- THIS RECIPE IS EXCELLENT FOR ALL PIES)<br />
<ul>
<li>1 1/4 cup all purpose flour</li>
<li>1 1/2 teaspoon sugar</li>
<li>1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt</li>
<li>10 tablespoons of butter (141.75 grams) </li>
<li>2-5 Tablespoons of ice water</li>
<li>one beaten egg </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mix
sugar and salt into flour. Cut butter into flour. Add just enough
water to bind it together. At this point I usually make the filling, so
I let the crust rest in the fridge. Then flour your surface and
rolling pin (or old wine bottle like I had to do in South Africa!) very well and roll out your
dough. If it breaks/cracks, no worries, it patches easily. Fill and brush with beaten egg before baking for a nice, golden, shiny crust.</div>
<br />
Note
that for apple pie I make one and a half of this recipe -- I like a
latticed crust because you see all the apple slices, plus it lets even more
steam come out of the apples, once again, trying to avoid the dreaded
soggy pie. So you need 1/2 the recipe to make a latticed crust. Or you
could just double it to make a full top crust. <br />
<br />
Here are the amounts for the 1 1/2 recipe:<br />
<ul>
<li>1 7/8 cup all purpose flour</li>
<li>2 1/4 teaspoons sugar</li>
<li>scant 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt</li>
<li>15 tablespoons of butter (141.75 grams) </li>
<li>3- 8 Tablespoons of ice water</li>
<li>one beaten egg (you still just need one egg!)</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ENJOY !</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7iWghi7MGL_3GwMoNraGc7FmU0KUyB3idEGX70-sCjWCoYQYxFfcgehG33VJRQ7WaUQ4c4D6sFQeW71y8usFjH5gNXm-gKZ2ve2zo394PlQX9o_tjZKG1rsa1KclNoasp2Mtg3WE-MM/s400/IMG_9696.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>P.S.: A scoop of vanilla ice cream with this is heavenly!</i></div>
<br />
<br />Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-38731519705066953792012-09-17T15:28:00.000+02:002012-12-19T04:09:44.210+02:00Goodbye, Totsiens<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><br />
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We leave South Africa tomorrow.</div>
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I’m in the middle of packing and I just found a pack of peanuts from Turkish Airlines from my flight here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can it be that a year and a half has gone by?</div>
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How in the world do I do this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do I wrap up – summarize – do justice to – say goodbye?</div>
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It has been the most extraordinary 14 months of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I feel like I will never be able to thank people enough:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>those here who enriched our experience and those back home who made this epic break-from-real life possible (they who watched our cats and took care of our house and with whom we Skyped each week.)</div>
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Right now I am a complete muddle of emotions, memories, hopes, anticipation, happiness and sadness.</div>
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Of course I am beyond excited to go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To see my family and friends, to give countless hugs and cuddle my cats and get a new job and sleep in my own bed again.</div>
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But I am heart-sore (that wonderful term I learned here) at the thought of leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot deny the empty, hollow place I feel in my chest at the thought of getting on that plane tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the price you pay, I guess, when you find a new place to call home.</div>
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This place has taken root.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have lived a different life here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have come to know new parts of myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have learned to love new places, new foods and new people.</div>
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What will I do without my rusks and hot cross buns and boerewors and bobotie?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Clearly lots of culinary experimentation awaits in my Minnesota kitchen.)</div>
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What will I do when I long to feel the stillness of the Kgalagadi?</div>
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What will I do when I feel like making mince pies with Gill?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or tasting Anton’s sugar-bean potjiekos?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or hugging Auntie Angela and playing with baby Micah?</div>
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What happens in the freezing cold of a Minnesota December when I long to be in the pool – hot sunshine on me and the 150-pound Rottweiler doing laps? </div>
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I will miss Christmas crackers and staying up all night on New Year’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I will miss hearing a minimum of 4 languages (and 4 different kinds of English) every time I go to the mall.</div>
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I will miss the proteas and the fynbos and the sea – so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mountains – don’t get me started on the mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love this country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the arid Karoo to the wine lands to the rolling ocean to the mountains soaring everywhere you turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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How do you say goodbye?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The adventures?</div>
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In the time we’ve been here we’ve walked every inch of Cape Town’s Gardens and City Bowl neighborhoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve hiked, gone on many a road trip, been on an archeological dig, ziplined, ridden horses through the bush, gone on safari 5 times,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>beachcombed, and more importantly – most importantly of all – we’ve spent time with our friends, we’ve celebrated, eaten and laughed with beautiful people whilst here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve made new family here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the greatest gift of all.</div>
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I return to Minnesota with all this in my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With these people, with this beautiful place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With new words; among my favorites:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>liefde, naatjie, potkie, laapie, bokkie, shame, plehzah (pleasure), ag!, dankie, lekker and a few choice swear words that I never learned to spell but which I relish saying with great vehemence. </div>
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I return with new poems and new writings that excite me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I return with a greater appreciation of what is important in life:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>love, adventures, family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I return with a South African family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I return with a 3<sup>rd</sup> home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First El Salvador, then Minnesota, now Cape Town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I want to thank everyone who has read my musings and recipes and adventures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deciding to blog during this journey was one of the best decisions I could have made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been wonderful to share all these experiences and tastes and places and people with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will continue to blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have several trips that we’ve taken to write about and I’ll probably blog about the aforementioned culinary experimentations (and crafts and natural health and beauty and goodness knows what else.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll write about all the things I’ve learned here and the things that have stayed with me, that will stay with me always.</div>
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I am so very, very sad to leave.</div>
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But nevertheless, I return, heart-full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With so much gratitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCbdGxhUVCdA1hC9DP0rM23B_TQ3BSDeMTKummk2AllQwiS9sbVp2dZBtk7VH_8sTNW1nIfK7Gkfqras_vmNhstIRg5Mw9AepB4VvEtDWd-1bTkahxOyWZM24T8YXyWD-RB2Uzao35Ac/s400/2+September+2012+208.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-24693028995948907022012-09-13T17:29:00.000+02:002012-09-13T17:29:39.181+02:00Recipe: Bobotie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Way back when, I talked about why food would be an important part of my blog. Well, that turned out to be true, huh? Just take a stroll through <a href="http://2-suitcases.blogspot.com/search/label/Food?updated-max=2011-08-03T15:12:00%2B02:00&max-results=20&start=16&by-date=false" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>So given all that, I couldn't leave South Africa without giving you the recipe for one of its most iconic dishes: BOBOTIE!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bobotie is one of those staple South African dishes. Its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobotie" target="_blank">origins </a>go back a long way, at least to the 17th century, starting with the Cape Malay culture. In the intervening centuries it has been modified and adapted by all the peoples of South Africa. Today, it is eaten by a wide variety of folks and is one of those quintessential "national dishes."</div><br />
To non-South Africans however, it can sound weird. Meat and apricots and what? A firm custard on top? Huh? But trust, kids, trust.<br />
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South Africans have a particular love of mixing sweet & savory. And that's what this dish is all about: aromatic, spicy, a teeny bit tart, sweet, with textures ranging from crunchy to meltingly soft.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Even if it sounds weird, give it a try. It really is delicious! It is typically served with chutney, sliced bananas, shredded plain coconut, and yellow rice with raisins (though I admit I'm not a huge fan of coconut so I skipped that and only had a few banana slices.) <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhrtLhJfJf4edRUI9UdNgxhEyfN1oEOKZ6vReTJwjDhLVx4oPfJxiZRF4JEBZzs3rNnRvvGPNSXpPJ25GCzABFrnjBe0EJEHrDs8jnlQIv5vfVLA7p_DvqDjSx7zDuPc8bs_yrrYpWe4/s400/22+april+2012+742.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<i>(Many thanks to Gill for her recipe!)</i></div><br />
<b>Gill's Bobotie </b><br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<ul><li>2 tablespoons vegetable oil</li>
<li>2 medium onions, chopped</li>
<li>1 kg mince (2.2 lbs ground beef)</li>
<li>3 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice</li>
<li>1 cup milk, divided in half</li>
<li>2 slices bread</li>
<li>1/2 cup raisins</li>
<li>1 teaspoon apricot jam</li>
<li>1 tablespoon hot chutney</li>
<li>1 tablespoon curry powder (or to taste)</li>
<li>1 teaspoon salt</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper</li>
<li>2 large eggs</li>
<li>1 pinch salt</li>
<li>Dried bay leaves (about 4-5) <b><br />
<br />
Optional: </b></li>
</ul><ul><li>1/2 cup finely chopped apricots</li>
<li>1/4 cup slivered almonds<br />
<br />
</li>
</ul><b>Directions:</b><br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 320 degrees F (160 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.<br />
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Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onions in the hot oil until soft. Add the mince into the skillet and cook until brown.<br />
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Soak the bread in 1/2 cup of milk. Add the bread to the beef mixture. Stir in the raisins, apricot jam, chutney, curry powder, vinegar (or lemon juice), salt, and black pepper (add the apricots and almonds here, if using.) Taste & adjust seasonings. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeESngIrvMCeruhFwApRMECN2bn-KNy09HXJReI2ouHkxzXUYxALBcHhmfJDQrPti-c9XAGLWKTk_Oks-bOIbXRfjI2riJztWp-BOpqglfTf1r5sWb64dRImXwts4nHwKK__Z-0aw600/s400/22+april+2012+732.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Whisk together the reserved 1/2 cup milk, eggs, and a pinch of salt. Pour over top of the dish:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikuw8Q1E_h4PJ9DRT1WsraHhU2DvpfNE9fbPnaxu8cixeO2TzVqh_IYCPntS8SdplrW407WwXh2tJUq0ndPdvx9sFPWq5bG12R-lQ7-waBMrBYZ-B-nzC9U90q_DguQ6_aS70pB4CUi8/s400/22+april+2012+734.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Lay the bay leaves onto the top of the milk mixture:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xvSG2ZGiiT8LMIEl6AuwTVnEmAQ5DZoJkB25CzpY-_3ghvN017d2Q-R8L1cdzXWQxNJ2JpKJ22NOAM5OiDrpQ2nra4i5-HofkGK0nDtkDgFq43GKueHHDD6xMV7lNrd2lLNrqPc_srg/s400/22+april+2012+735.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Bake the bobotie until the top is golden brown, 30-40 minutes: </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhrtLhJfJf4edRUI9UdNgxhEyfN1oEOKZ6vReTJwjDhLVx4oPfJxiZRF4JEBZzs3rNnRvvGPNSXpPJ25GCzABFrnjBe0EJEHrDs8jnlQIv5vfVLA7p_DvqDjSx7zDuPc8bs_yrrYpWe4/s400/22+april+2012+742.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Serve with chutney, sliced bananas, shredded plain coconut, and yellow rice with raisins:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZJVowpB5YQrwuYfLNzWRXFXiDqb5cZzIGikqE8NGGGHIe_Qy7BSJO3bqfAdKbKCjHa8ckWE6pIJTunKBfsn53PfPDucgK8wq3s1Zdc5Wx5aqFUx1Nh2F1TfECxU-4CuGpawiFGRJSUQ/s400/rice+and+bobotie.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZdQOdIN4fAh22p5eBGv06-KXpMe7TPKouXvnUI3gn7141HxREJJl0I4wtH9_dgV5l0NISu9ac90ot1w-vyitg8-z4R7YEBgNAoSyHdWism9dY6awoFZNvvBtiVq0HvV6NYoHSa1vk-E/s400/22+april+2012+747.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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Enjoy your little (or big) slice of South Africa!</div>Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-20356008711748844662012-09-12T09:36:00.001+02:002012-09-12T09:36:00.761+02:00Namibia: Fish River Canyon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our last stop in Namibia was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_River_Canyon" target="_blank">Fish River Canyon</a>. To get there we drove along the Orange River, and what a STUNNING drive it was.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTY6ztSh5OJ7IKGdKz63cD5PQmSjGfmTnQmIWQtljMeOnd9bEJ7puCK-GxDPGdnZ8Doe2w7Tw1CAXglDCrwCrxnRxB7sorKFciIWnchzGEVr6jeowLT2WlTxbmhGMtQmDx8BLe2tgJxA/s400/IMG_4250.jpg" width="266" /></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And we got a real treat, we saw a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klipspringer" target="_blank">klipspringer</a>!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY6hutFtkgfHZl_YfNPS3EgbxI6q7wDqmNLZU3pxaMGAKjHU5v5UOrYplty0D49FC3lN2IC4h8U4MAbCtvEQ0ismU08K8TZPFkI8Z_NQVsZzsw0BmM61tGbWJ_EwW1rKEoplSB6793ew/s400/IMG_4263.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Like leopards, klipspringers are very rare to see in the wild. They are very skittish, tiny antelope who are specially adapted to jump from cliff to cliff (thus the name, which even if you don't speak Afrikaans, is pretty self explanatory.) They actually stand on the tips of their toes, like a ballerina.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpphv-hBPZsFSWFgqyWEW50mg3HmbqwFa4D3jAYunVqgx_qul9NJ3qBKfRlUMyvx_tUXNO47WMnyG-LswaFdm1ocWy6GemMFKTKoDvdsqNWbNsF0a6j7nbYRlntMus5FLTsqBHb9gMHh4/s400/IMG_4266.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Look at this little guy in action:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PqPkH3SS5ulu1vopEwM2PaGMInqDrMlHtWrrRmOXARRaXHON29Y109fFROBbF-GizxloghznNPkNxuTtqCjA5FX8to6hKYBmKQ7t1iDBzMWa_vVObdbj-ozY5Pf56RJDFSDLuHN8Wk4/s400/IMG_4261.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Very cool.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The next day we went to the Fish River Canyon. It is the second largest canyon in the world and the largest in Africa. As per Wiki: It features a gigantic ravine, in total about 100 miles (160 km) long, up to 27 km wide and in places almost 550 metres deep. </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BZ2-HewoT9clagWFDlM8KHon6c8kUPqD2vRQouEhNftvXTghrhQesNPlx8xvfWq7iKHJj3ROSDSCovieBSSm8HS0bfQqCiklS-664IuKSqzKgKhJIouXxalFmTFqRohhsCSOs2ZVyRI/s400/IMG_4370.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0INELlevCPCjns6HvE_9YJyOZwXVJSpUA9AywwhIz2PqavMYaHK162DrE-xZydGfog_tgovt8TIwYFJRxYjnowV59pDyDdGRHpHsKywQrvOckbjpJCIaqz086JY8hCHeoaDegPTV6Ps/s400/IMG_4367.jpg" width="266" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
People leave stones marking that they've been here, so of course we had to do it too:</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately, you can't go hiking!</div><br />
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You have to book ahead and it is a 5-day trek. Boo. I think there should be an option for day-trippers like us.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We returned later in the day as the sun was setting to get a few more shots:</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">A hell of a way to finish our 2-week journey. Goodnight Namibia.</div>Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-77278756221481241682012-09-06T09:29:00.000+02:002012-09-06T09:29:00.131+02:00Namibia: Kolmanskop, Ludritz and Dias Point<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our next stop in Namibia was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolmanskop" target="_blank">Kolmanskop</a>, a ghost town in the Namib Desert. And Namibia continues its streak of being really beautiful and really eerie.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60fZxuIOcoNxgOlCVTWa2c7hX9-RBXqTrvLFDxz4GOCbVK5jeOEbUCnUdJlYAWzxELllsTgeR5CSn_mmCoF8f6ZunFKKH5a56dLXIRDAz5a38Dl_56Eoe5BBfXKNBSVtMO5zPERkj0Gc/s400/25+July+2012+329.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A former diamond mining town, up till the mid 20th century there were hundreds who called Kolmanskop home. It was slowly abandoned after its diamond production declined. The last people left in 1954 and since then, the desert has started to take it back.</div><br />
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Sand fills houses knee-high, lovingly-painted stencils chip and fade ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittRI5lfLUDdiCDNHvn2DSowR9XDuB9bFcgsVgjHowfFylIOreiXM4IKH7povUCb5RlZ941BznOk6VlK0li_xJJuGXXv1U-Szdsh0OQgtwaan3g6v8YMA-fahyphenhyphenzzOfKm48YfDU9zF6VeM/s400/25+July+2012+325.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqYBVL8-tRmFEcCMc-QrNiVAoHY2YM_Z4rqwtel769_LQSDQdBzN_ga5uNv9nOgdCA9SSP8BuboyYY5cPYO5WfjVCHO7KGU-yjUjwA4ZmfiAFrzjO1hk_xTcu0cGyf4U42VNb8RLfQBo/s400/IMG_4184.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO445cVzJPMHX092T_SXuv0Ev4tzNynxXV8E6p4Y18lUPjQ213a74TxxEm5rCbAMUxLwsZcCjgB4TDfT5wH-WRgy1G8BaLe4ZgstLuKuRl5RfPcF5zU5hlQKgq37I4IpAPwDmzyQffo78/s400/IMG_4157.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HqfshmEqKL0kMVH-hqA72tJKf2fQFenWqfmUeoyb2NCwJy_ZZQ4sZAKLYCoaSD0Lgb6D01Ekwb_r-UikLTA4AWH6jtOMPu1ivK7SUzZ7DTl8E2K3S2y0lvNTTqqYFm2DeHTVH4MlEPo/s400/IMG_4179.jpg" width="266" /><br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZPILHT9eiBE_rX9mKHGLtbUBzwuJ1QR1esQovuLmOYz5K-5AXdWo20_pxxGpp-BQKXhue9bMQoIdaahP9ZirPIhVmEYF7AUHnDY-UndIw0W6wFhMoRhZdcNpoToxK6Vbz41DsSntW1o/s400/25+July+2012+326.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbw2n5bjtCmxXgEykmSxYL5BmD4r4iISfjckoiQx-er7nwmPrFeV5I74AOe5GUui9C2VKbxxRV7bgaaLfcTdeRSh_F1pxeINwNW3d5MtU8Y779vGYvP4dRq8ORVywIwGOHnuZtY9AYCQ/s400/25+July+2012+332.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">After roaming around with the ghosts we decided to go to the nearby seaside town of <span dir="auto"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCderitz" target="_blank">Lüderitz</a> to eat some lunch ...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRa7mfyvCxw_CZAmjZvhhCysmZIM1gnxoAv9iNVZdiR6Hju7eQSTkdKPbC6k8BlNvBOryrEjk2kF0EtNVbw9jMmrAkFPsa7-fzFCBHh86tMgam-CLF9j7GKfV_qbAIazRauFUD-i9Blc/s400/25+July+2012+336.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">and goof off a bit:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIN2WmQfxo4fq3WPXcjKrxGeIOuVDx9thNzTNchztH8LtTNCKOUL4I57BXTPDis0gw6o-IV9ZMieuVuUwgn57WUQ3lk7HwyVmfznTyr444Q0nqyV089UCFkBbOlJvnQCqO1qBXBaxWWg/s400/IMG_4235.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We capped off the day by going to Dias Point. Well, one of the Dias Points. Dias as in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolomeu_Dias" target="_blank">Bartolomeu Dias</a>. As as it happens, there are several Dias points throughout the Southern tip of Africa. As Mr. Dias went a-conquerin' he kept leaving these crosses. "Mine. In the name of Haysus." Ah colonization.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAHb-SXb8i9Hu1dv-f9nvM2mpMN0KXVKkRtCM7xWevTX8RnZyCSlDHGij1oE2MYkH8hUEkHPm43J50O2eGYou08U4NC2T7TwondhktvuY5mmQ0UZuwg677ddAr822RiuuKrVI00amI6g/s400/25+July+2012+353.jpg" width="300" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q6ZT5GbgzL20R9_GiIr3sKAqE9EK7ELaKkla1rkQ8TM1YNIT7tXZL5fsEBnz3Ylqma_477fGgBCpLuaCr1UjYBu7JcRLo0m7EerzYJO3SIiPRZRZ7654ZyeCHlq07yPqS8Px5kxZVk0/s400/IMG_4238.jpg" width="266" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNu61QN9oSuXVh5C1EuVUMRaRkDQrMVfR6Q5JlCXJz91VM_8ov0GZibSyiwKGOAypSlgPHfoiXFA8DHRjl87Z6RkzhOBVmXxZ_MpLOLXPAJw9QlmTUfbAXcPvyMZGt5BP4d70X4b2j1M/s400/IMG_4244.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOaeUfdF3GgR1YPOEkxT9mJPvZZSvspJLM3D1KsXsqH8wLOkPk3sdk7PCYxWmsq_xwh0lsLU5SNAtxRJymUb9W68WCaC_ks28u2GlogjaoPB2ZyjepXx6djgNgneqPHLHnbCt9uCjQrg/s400/25+July+2012+347.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">It's a beautiful, wind-scraped spot. And the original stone marker and cross are still there ...</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNK5e7Cvbqw9TspdfeoNiDpigiRxDew_naCGmLE0ah5mpw_-VoBKDqgFAidmyTrSNrzVaGKg70i-ZD5gU79vxTSUsQu2V7GzOzaHhJUTJ_fhMFBdkb9mlISL1xIZFMGljKStyJEuvSS4/s400/25+July+2012+348.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUv6wF4mkYW3JisqDLda35OrRlDIyLJQMTLEGhAg-Jum6JaGbm6w2pGvZOMPFMvo8MLJc0a48YApqfRF8VY0lIfeP7pVQ36np8tFJtEuLVfdTzcoyA5CNyAuGYNH8Dg0FesM-W5oP1vd0/s400/IMG_4248.jpg" width="266" /><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe3f-00Z0PT8rM6HUn864jVEv-JyQz0C3zdwri3CmdE1o69Tl_HHNcC-AJQroY78uTLC7i7JcXvMiHJh-GULN5a4FdpN6z30EoZ7w3m_EqOpZALUToUq4ZVacOMX5d1VXW_06M0Zn-lY/s400/IMG_4247.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">But talk about ghosts. I think I heard a some howling in that wind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-22427633524586161182012-09-04T09:26:00.000+02:002012-09-04T09:26:00.116+02:00Namibia: Wild Horses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On day 3? 4? (hey I told you I was kinda hallucinatingly sleep-deprived) of our Namibian trek we went and saw the Namib Wild Horses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Who?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once again kids, let's turn to the font-of-all-knowledge that is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namib_Desert_Horse" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"The Namib Desert Horse is a rare horse found in the Namib Desert, of Namibia, Africa. It is most likely the only feral herd of horses residing in Africa. Today, approximately 150 horses now live in 350 square kilometres of the Namib desert. The origin of these animals is unclear, though several theories have been put forward. Genetic tests have been performed, although none to date have completely verified their origin."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We never got great shots. There were a bunch of tourists (dang those tourists) that kept ruining our shots. Stallion rearing! Great ... except for lady with pink visor directly behind him. Sigh. Oh well. They were amazing. Especially given their environment. They are incredibly hearty to survive in such an unforgiving place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONdGCtkHd_41TL_A9U7lcAuFbaJyXkdHTtOHCVud_Q0GzPq84pJM10jwtbP7imoZJ3V77LTrMUi5NlGEHHgG8f8_OOdM4Cc1PPy1O6tk6iaU32k76HXESWmJvR9avbDuLdhxsNN4Usak/s400/IMG_4148.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjAXysdf2Xg5S7qmrmWjINREUpmMA_W9Gh4soyjsokIpHPXz8Deo5wiXdzqrJLA_Wics514fsT2id3AWmSp-gEZkC91_OaybJ_hVymUkVxazXidVFlzLrg5IGQi5QbcsZsYmZPZaaXzI/s400/IMG_4117+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkI0dg3VYnlYWdqgvzBmRho2zuNpCCBbHNdr-WGw0AY_Pk0GqUMd1ECDN52kS5tt43yQ-Hu2NjUUEYOALmg3GrWAG6HdsoXXep22-29g1d3xPmXyKobbfexsR9yW7BNiSrqTq6Ow2PJt8/s400/IMG_4131+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVm7cYU9xM75ikaB4I0KZ3CGHhLFu_4Seo5uSXnZENPkZAr39scvnziu8fG7nSxEQ_3LGADGNi-KO5-YaMKho4mVLhMC3AyJOAXkvJ1-rS0_-vvfCzLWg-bBebMKQaVtmfJwJ8crNwLAM/s400/IMG_4149.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5pnK5QR6HvGYY3MaJdqd8CLpgC23nfunHxdqJW3m1bynO5LbZ-EzPq7r018V0EalLN6Jq17O8KD1QB_oj7158CQjP0zMZfLPxBw8_8ZNz6sHH-aNJjNJhSSZHpyX_bVg_q8i8DCxTU8/s400/IMG_4151+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
PS:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OWIVi_Oa4as" width="420"></iframe><br />
Here is your cheesy You Tube video of the day. No, but it really is a lovely rendition of a good song. And I can't believe I'm saying that about a Rolling Stones song, but there you go. But I don't advise you to go in search of the Rolling Stones actually doing the song. Unless you like skinny, fish-lipped men who vigorously shake their nether regions at you. That is all. Run with the wild horses kids.Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-10229599774258708192012-08-30T09:23:00.008+02:002012-08-30T09:23:00.717+02:00Namibia: Canyon Climbing, A Tale of Insomnia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyWbZVakPS45e9qfFtlaLnwlN3SAKgar71aQQZxVmHMv_q6qCERQGrSGbnsPqR1oDeHv_OyQO6JfCpYnwuPKB_jz0UUV7ze57d_41E3olYQJ1RRWZjsLMdM13-MWQSmAn76YFPAkZuW4/s400/IMG_3951.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Y-M-C-A!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"♪ Young(ish) (wo)man, there's no need to feel down.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Young(ish) (wo)man, get yourself off the ground ♫"<br />
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Well alrighty then, don't mind if I do!<br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwny2TTczOyEAcSZHWlPG7_hZZCsvIey7wFBlzhLmH0_fmGRFYa6j1c_MT7DRu5whuakTHfviJkPdFWxC697pbuxyuk3EDk5sWBtxT94EDifW-nRPW-iagg6xK9p1yXU_WgTrpke1IuY/s400/IMG_3956.jpg" width="266" /><br />
<br />
This is a canyon near Sossusvlei. What's the name of the canyon? I have no idea. Why you wonder? Ah, well. I guess I haven't mentioned it before but while this trip was A to the amazeballs, this trip was also a hellish experience in sleeplessness. The nights were really cold, children. And I'm a really light sleeper. And because of the cold I had to sleep in a cocoon sleeping bag, which for a starfish sleeper (as in, that's the shape I take on whilst sleeping) like myself = clausterphobic torture. Wish I were exaggerating kids. But I slept horribly, if at all, most nights. So by the time we got here, I was becoming delirious. I can cope with many things, but give me night after night of sleeplessness and I. JUST. CAN'T. With, like, anything.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So yeah, I don't know what the heck the name of this canyon was. BUT. I loved it. Cuz I love climbing things. I like heights. I love scrambling on top of rocks and seeing how high I can go.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, thank you, canyon-somewhere-in-the-middle-of-the-Namib-Desert, for making me gleeful in the midst of feeling like an insomiatic zombie!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQe5Nm1PClxhyAy4Wv1TjsAJ_palK3ghWWdzKPE6aiTZzl8iCxqev7FlFAca7jiivHaebJoEi3W4m45sn664ryWx7oh0FmkrVtKIMXJ1i-irHlvGtv3UlZCoRcJNwbxGh7N3OPKXTAHI/s400/IMG_3959.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmvlLM6hStzfozTZ1r3gBryJ5TRjdNStqLL-JXoApdCDLhBUEdiNKtWQGft7Hh5ihmq2tg9_2wdckYHyztvUt7I-hVYBm7Kw-yQ3jEYFWFDkwxgPwujOVH6Vsef6n8XogqGGfpzuXD58/s400/IMG_3960.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhYVCbubLrXQJM2wVrMD7SXuN-_tMDpJnLGwbSyDW9NkOfA5CUVRYUuoxOGn4ug2a2HrVF3-hzIVJayJzA9g00TRNKuDPEt07lslnKnyHTq9pCa36UL3ZwIYSELcIDHnN8uwn2p450ec/s400/IMG_3967+CR.jpg" width="266" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuVBWqZc3xQjX6jcqOn4uUr9N156bost8eMyGOKu6WQwx_kRBJS6w_DJLogWWaZZTg9IGu-7nEjGF6emAIDZYtQdu3HKuSe1xpTp6HIuwKuGDSG8zZQB1P9bU-_0zEGm4P_yBl5clcak/s400/IMG_3969.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKACZifPAx3P6sAPsugH_DsFIA6fjQO572CAPq6_Xel1EVtT7euvA54ow74ibwIxRzGRS1gjKSDbhaR086GaWp3Q9wHUTrFbfipe9pjnPjtwR9TkFX5bV3T7ljJP1bIpNj38zo41o9hZA/s400/IMG_3970+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div>Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-27849774265869244702012-08-27T09:13:00.000+02:002012-08-27T09:13:00.742+02:00Namibia: Deadvlei<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqq5d5Aw6a9AvYScttBLTtnIjiD3ZHo6qH4qNaOoa-T0aIOQqB8VAp9-TUbuE2rYNzacI6dqAz_gCk8LTiKoC39Repwjy_mcjOC9ZfyDwtEPQxCEqpTQP1jEEwHeEEtIfxahyu6IAFbc/s400/IMG_3883+CR.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Wherein I proudly show you my favorite set of pictures of the past year and a half. There's not much I can say about this except that the Namib Desert is one of the most eeriely gorgeous places I've ever been in -- or hell, imagined being in.<br />
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I'm gonna let the pictures speak for themselves, but I'll explain a bit: The super eerie ones are the remains of a vlei (wetlands), long since dead and standing ghostly sentinel in the middle of the desert. <br />
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Also, there are a couple of different ways of getting to the Deadvlei (or Dead Swamp, get it?), one is around the bend, the other is straight over an ENORMOUS dune ridge. Due to some miscommunication/confusion on my part, I took the, uh, path less traveled. And damn near died. I swear my heart was about to explode. And not in the, "Oh, the BEAUTY!" kind of a way, but in the "CHEST PAIN" kind of a way. Anyhoo, Aaron (who took the other route) documented my epicness. (It's the photo with a green arrow.) <br />
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OK, I've blathered enough. Enjoy the BEAUTY!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCw5KTcxQFhyphenhypheny_wPikbTFgQBX_svg2wCKwCNrvrpRAemy3zTXOm8LzMQ2jAgpQmn6GEUbP3SokI842M-yZVi68FYSF4KHWi49uQGq00iHOPA7I_Bi2o2q3Zc8KXaN2-9L5qyBP_epHpM/s400/IMG_3949+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div>Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-59002435231390285012012-08-23T09:10:00.001+02:002012-08-23T09:10:00.240+02:00Namibia: The Dunes and Sossusvlei<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK7ArDqF5S2qpz6OqiUa6mgzsW7vMB1z3KPmaIlBsYzEC0QzzMdF7jnZ56yqii7PfbI5JWIiY-6yZ8ln5lgYX7IEwGpk2um3g3e-NfsLKXpc1WKv0ae_zG1QFT8MWQFFOhT_0aFmISxA/s400/IMG_3645+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">ONWARD!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So after a week in the Kgalagadi, we were off for a week in Namibia. We were quite excited, especially Aaron, who is very interested in the archeology of the region.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the route we took:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyMnNTGitzrFwXd5egpY2kAf9f4NfMFcY4dvKZ7FU4a5u4i9Sm8F2e_cpzLSgIF-tvAPH8jserSlswr7SIVldssGTIV3r3D-5jQOcd0HpK4-J9LoVTzVPsrsVjlgnRilRubsUED_xryQ/s400/namibia+map+arrows.jpg" width="398" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Uh. Kinda.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyhoo, our first stop (other than to get groceries) was Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert. According to good ole <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sossusvlei" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>, Sossusvlei is: "a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes, located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia. The name "Sossusvlei" is often used in an extended meaning to refer to the surrounding area (including other neighbouring vleis such as Dead Vlei and other high dunes), which is one of the major visitor attractions of Namibia."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It it UNREAL.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like, you actually feel you are on another planet. A more breathable Mars or something. It was stark and alien and stunning.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOcdqEUn0CqdRzdIu0xuR6Uw4nQnaEOwHpyEJyTKWF02Ac9gzByhca8FdJYNy4TsHxyMV_O8K5ul8L8h99jstr_mswloPrUuqJrq0Nu2ChrYQdHJ0wcm90G-wxZ8DUof-W1K2-EZhlNk/s400/IMG_3694+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">How high are these dunes? Well look below:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tmSTpRJo8qtBA0Kgn1YIsqX18rhqbMVCMTFI0kbh8RSN6vEfl_za6IBx1bf2LoUA8nr8m5fcVvhXpNNPD_R14LpJi0aMzZ2iSY-ff5-Xq_Mw8vwyAQ8n0hWaGTgVTLeQfPlbyK4atI0/s400/IMG_3677.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I'm the black and white figure. So yeah. Pretty dang big.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And of course, you gotta climb them:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B9wWpobHzdS-n6ulu9QBro0lZBuQUmTvNgUs8WLR83PLKYO0-xtvHahnkYy80FTN2CHxymZkQE55SJY0As5QamDGD7xEBaJsToGBzQOQQj9lrbRmE6eZYDXWlJGxmgGIQj_y4gqO_hM/s400/IMG_3719.jpg" width="266" /></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhY1lArzt8iI_F46v_4icQtm7SvTSTfek0fghZ-UglR4qZSFCYBZ88qCVt6voSl7YJyQKYLlC3KRhlna8KH5ZkoW7iI0BTEs3Fps4_KhnnKfopnV2TET3JU_AVPPtGAlbUQaIBa_-Oxrw/s400/IMG_3707.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And climb ...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxO9s5-Mp0mZpcGci2rJkuB5OWyTfwLMIDn0pSOIwaKDhzRXqqeoJyTl7-2E9tLi0usJAr936bKE6ZM17qZSQpLjQlIMwHe__7io23F3PicgBQ9Y8oQcAaXSfakdJnUzEBkhhsA0gjGTY/s400/IMG_3708.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And climb some more ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvW0kVgvKKOAG9gJWCEeQc5-xhBj9f1hQmDnUi8JwiwHO57sUS9nOupvSMYA9Ne_w8QuAfIbKxSJ9ZqEOz9LPTq0oIrqTmkGdvVcChr5jLIGIbZE0bPzWBjQwjq9G8z7A3hZtvHYxlcg/s400/IMG_3715.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And then you die a little ...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N9fc5C05FQ7bMgkzh2_zOAf19tVbbR5y_vaJimrWaIV0P0FieolNhL0M4Gm9yHhfKkpniQsaMUtVsFQSbPegWJp4vQ0zpD3CukZPQVk3kRgs15Q7vi5ynCF0i0g4i5W0TLHSnkQH6yw/s400/IMG_3716.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And you stop to admire the view and then you keep going ...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoQBOeG8q45ADsqUdaBIh2AY2gi6xNFWnjJkmaMRWHGuPGWx9ZrFYtUqhuOrsRwq2Vl1dZT0EbmQIenrT9UAyRVhansy5xGJLqhAN9a8BNcHzhOTtsw5uhIodp-V0pIRj9HtF4L_8i6I/s400/IMG_3704.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And then you get to the top (or you know, mostly.)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAC8u_4ZiD_7WyKIE2Nv60racCqtn1d_zrF7u33XiulGnPiaRPJnmulJkz9prW9mSks6bYtOyr8fy61yGumVNR9xoR7UgCOfzUSJSnNwt_yVYlgdz-b5IE2XAAqz9DIs_hyc4tcLP_Vgk/s400/IMG_3709.jpg" width="266" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And the views are kind of heart-achingly beautiful.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW60-1aNrq5bLHLARmd_AVxSY9F8mtslF6LHfGb_MjLc_NFbQx6ysPXxPep_HK0LpbmsUh5LERfmIwOLSrTyiJLqARek5QOjMutV1whR4LoKMQEcGZUs5JeGklvZ5wBMKMuaIl1a2F9Q/s400/IMG_3723.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And then the sun sets ...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLhSS5q__7bWKfP0jkLERlrcPDkPDa_7wvrqMnEeJRw6brya09NogxwVIMDInwmH8ZLtGugLqMKukmlc4qouJQ5yIKgyJO1ZlQRJJBPSbetJDahfiiJtffHIdGf2mEC0GKveG5fR68Og/s400/IMG_3735.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">and you go back to camp and have lots of beer.</div>Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-27408520433659943562012-08-21T08:33:00.003+02:002012-08-21T08:33:00.106+02:00Dear Kgalagadi: A Farewell Love Letter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dear Kgalagadi, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been a little while since we were actually there, but I wanted to say goodbye properly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, let me say that I am a city girl. Born and bred. As are my parents. As such, I have to admit I approached you with great trepidation. You were entirely foreign to me and I didn't know if we'd get along. But, oh, Kgalagadi. You worked your hot/dusty/rainy/cold magic on me, didn't you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
I have never been in a place of such austere beauty. Where I felt so close to the wind and silence. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlRHqVTWT2wyj4yZxBLcl0TXW-Yw0eXGtmb_PTCEKtsjDAk9aT2oIShC64ighW8eC4k6DQje22wzljOp9X4lCfcY5CPps9VR2oU8hbnSYjdlQek_3u-ee3A0zo2ZLah6ZfMX4dccIT0g/s400/IMG_2572.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtGkpE6RrvKSMZLN6wSdFVDqIgsVtfH4FoO3jO17sJocbYvOQSolzqzQDrHkUtrP8kOmntgE16GdxRvUl5PfZpCAZc2f2tbUY4lEQ9ahHIYITiYel-Gn1NNz2Mu5rON2BGFNXJskUNWI/s400/IMG_2596.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw3fYGgFvtrzF7e0BrNr07eIkpX1o5SiM_yeYFEvJVK86rR0-3ywjKKfOdBV6GPoCsEW6KxrBN-z4CDegTZnq-H-iZyi8bOKICCRc1GbW5F4JUyoVxExQw-zi7OKFUltk8lPAkxqNHI4/s400/IMG_2654.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I've found my inner nature freak thanks to you. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW6YuI_FkRlXTx_7VN7-F4orbXty56rJJvpg3dCR_OF9iJYsRWPn7-ABAiYdEnZ0-2Wngno7OVnSxrPF5k7o03uJttqfup87K5TscG3BD8Hn94K4B6uQhMC7Zn147qmLuBYYcqr9kCXU/s400/IMG_2660.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixALdacxMAWmtNS-2nqLnLnigtZI3PGZAJgy5Tc8iY6z6QMVl9-ilI06eUXwQMx0CcL1-iFuM8MLn8RplHox3pydKjpCJqFYX1Y_Ivr615-Ftz5OZVxAUktgaJhKIOS6Oo-m3oM-F6CoU/s400/IMG_2691.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for every single animal sighting we had. From the hundreds of springhare at night to that one lion up a tree.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljY_xvNjJyTTkZtSEI-iZhfNUqIVghTT9hGezih7iK_qSVvDTkxARq39qhuFJxMz5z0RzvS0KmnvPtg6BWpv99h9Id_cgs99DaK5o5-Ulah5spQAj-1jTV3CEIC44o0jSExJWUXcLyeg/s400/IMG_3307+CR.jpg" width="266" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love your jaunty little jackals ...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOj4yvtRYYEgDDcahJXcKQ4nVI8YvaHP9FhUSNAIu0UxSQ7_NXLKTmomBxRq_Z3ZOuKaH4Qnuqz2Bs6ZRF3t9HH5HNIsIVKzd-g7ndz7RomDT9SnEtxNiE-62460emgBs4JtxTx9BvD8A/s400/IMG_2695.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">and the crazy ostriches.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9Ug3-jMTyonhwUze-oKJxV1TgRC9buWjXjUKPoQUOVyusVPQ3K0a8cChptB3MjEW2apqnpIRNSl0M9v4Cd4OkJ63hgdkBqYYWwKbmyc81G9L73NqaD6a-V3xIJ7Mj39U0cLpT4_fK2o/s400/IMG_2555+CR+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">All the cuties (the ground squirrels and whistling rats and meerkats ...)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-O0L90XWt2duWM5pz22gPpqYqxK307HzWQRcueWjHSO8DLGqqSt869ARRj-8kAuQg-fe624UqDSUeXKayYhIxao2vFKBMcQXudwJJIqAaWHPWHiC7va8XaDUxOk2EwPBq2Dg1T77K5c/s400/IMG_2547+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">and the huge herds of bokkies. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEAEw2zso4ckbduAyaprzY4mudTmh3c_8oDtkXxGNADWHXxJ7PxYIp6egKN8Ts8Uq8vCR8cJ2i7EcQhQjhZSh6_vjTgO2zsC5E-Cp1uUxMeTYROvP__reXN_rxXJT-9jPW6AhJniXDnk/s400/IMG_2861.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yTT5_QBC-d5tKCwOOHN8Fee4j_VUT6a7qEtK9Tjh3_qB8snIre4JoyQh5nHHpC1WrTpn9hu1ZrMByki_5QlUBH2eRiztaiI-Dx4g8rtZSb7CU05Q60jbv2d_Cdqvlifxw61wh4bscpI/s400/IMG_3529.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Thank you also for the impossibly fragile-looking steenbok. Seeing them always made me think: Looks are deceiving. Beauty flourishes even in the hardest places.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZrV6ubM7xVaN8pNmfac3mRSu3fw63JhtXwbXcH0uv83h4K915nuSQLB_f29713FhWyo04DQA0r3DeNDWcna203T0cg5pj13o1Fy79NB22ddLX-Vs9UcZX7AVSrsNZeEf-DEdTc0xhoA/s400/IMG_3005+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Your birds are the same. (That such tiny, lovely things thrive ... there, with you.) Thank you for every single technicolored bee-eater.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1mjVxUcobJvxM35BP6PeEg3S4OzwIeBfvjsRKNGFT5ULJB3LJmTP0m7CVmLSmB_78fEuLi1rRuYiNDoTsAutcwJzWcDEwsI4UOAvJBl3ovmDkyUD87eEfpk5gexf9Ya1Xeh-BlMIknQ/s400/IMG_3500+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">and all your raptors</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSK-zsyQe9w1KHHNxBj6KiDnKhn0wrY8BXHL5JVwG0g2QzXXj53kf5fq4egnqVtPeGvf5bO7x9fneaeHa0CFlq1F7tXKRJx3ybPOyNb0y6uMbH_jzR64ukjlDcN23SgxJxhsWB4zfy2cI/s400/IMG_3591+CRO.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">and every other bird who "got away."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaT9E9c_eYWvnXFYSkSkeEQCQ_5VSpmyQc7k97T5Ve5OjmbeP-1UUVxwYEG_tXrwRoBFdHCkRlT6RJOLzpa1QsmrfRPCa8ieaUB8whVvBUYdLKmi-HvbT34CJIi5DqDpKjkMTbq_n4lQ/s400/IMG_2966.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Thanks for reminding me so forcibly that nature is not here to serve us. That we are lucky to be in her presence. That we should speak up for her and protect her. That we should be grateful for the glimpses she allows us.<br />
<br />
Thank you for every gasp as we came around a bend.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4YIebDVZdp_deTt22vx-cNxjQep3537zpvhxnuyuc4QaSITbsKAmJaTJ7TWI9Opa5MroEMk3MHsCD7gXLY8-4SZ4E7cmeTpzeyK-nekhjA2oXu2mTgdT-IqYrK0MIIHavZHoOkX29l4/s400/IMG_3055+CR.jpg" width="400" /> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Oh. And a big shout-out for the giraffes. You know how I love my giraffes.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9_l3QjmRTnkQnFla3LQG7fXCMZxkiKFY66UVIpaHrcYKRmEurNqeUNooONV-bakrMwiPYlOiMTAl16E5B7dRSyozGYeqgS55isLGz75c-5ajpdLDeVd4ZMFKu5ey18H6EboAmuebQf0/s400/IMG_3569.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And have I told you about your sunrises and sunsets? How they make my heart go all a flutter and that if I believed in divine things, that's how I imagine them?<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUGsIxUULtAoRKiWYPFU1lDKkGWDZ_QsFtnBqJJ7e2XgkujP9uZvJtInIouLslJSULCUdTkH3Of0nXqO9hkmaOpbjiVDpM7o-Ekha2mU73Z9KFKMwUCgIgreJ6C6HE5f4d1zp7QetBto/s400/IMG_3383.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu0pn-_JfPzC4LIRBXIuhu8h74kGkSyEkRBonVbJDq0OZ3Xt2s_q_ZAT1HAyeuBCuLg9yweS1Zxf5loO9Qq0QnF60xUL-JXpfn9PoMjvNXW35kZQaSk17ovFtTFs-QHTkrxJCWJmPNS8/s400/IMG_2864.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for helping me to understand my husband's nature-loving ways.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKFaldDF_d0T6MDpWeybZQ-Qw2bSPdvgKEutyt7oWeyzlCytQP9AtLbrQVP7JBE-s8pgPMRyMEpjia-dkJroqyOybO21YFRNzFNIOQZeW6I5yz8ibrhes8QYVw31wmlU5sPgJzKqL2o4/s1600/25+July+2012+292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKFaldDF_d0T6MDpWeybZQ-Qw2bSPdvgKEutyt7oWeyzlCytQP9AtLbrQVP7JBE-s8pgPMRyMEpjia-dkJroqyOybO21YFRNzFNIOQZeW6I5yz8ibrhes8QYVw31wmlU5sPgJzKqL2o4/s320/25+July+2012+292.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Thank you for the friends we have made while exploring you ...</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4sA32RCUB8EemRHH_ZXoMy4oZo9Z45kNGue_xH4_SN1-yHdx9RdbUzY_Pr0Q3Bl5SQQaMTr4axQ6SruyNA7M8ZzkHbbvvjcBfJmHPYah38gJRFbGvMAZ7lS5vTcRc8kieffchzRJpBE/s400/25+July+2012+299.jpg" width="300" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pfSRPWPqL-wU4RH_e4awR1IUMYnFEcvTCCbLKcshaiecClmOBSpeSPMAm-N7rgoAwRl6OUYyRANGLn7tPSKA8wVtb4vgCr7ZrjvbRENSGDicB-FzXuEWaekZgByv3N2CJ1hw1BvKbKs/s400/25+July+2012+286.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I don't know when I'll see you next. But I hope it is soon. You have taught and touched and inspired me. You've forced me to be quiet and grateful.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBKexl2SFzGjeoX6tDQv1Phb6ODdQzyMsdTX4Jx8-ZnezsBBzVg8oR_xswhaXIoVkUffwfJ-Jih-obBmGbjsGSWXKt3famuBF2ePCag73j81-ZeykIHp9V_YetvmK9cjps6ltVHEWu2k/s400/25+July+2012+288+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I will miss you.<br />
<br />
Yours, <br />
Lorena</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152045697832665573.post-26617499209105636942012-08-16T09:06:00.010+02:002012-08-16T09:06:00.213+02:00Kgalagadi: The Rare Herbivores<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I feel all guilty. As if big cats are the only reason to go on safari. Which, of course, not. Not! But we really did have amazing big cat sightings ... Anyhoo, the "other" extra-special sightings we had were what I'm going to call the "rare" herbivores.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Specifically, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudu" target="_blank">kudu </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_eland" target="_blank">eland</a>. Both are rarely seen in the Kgalagadi. But apparently drought in Botswana has made them migrate west into the South African side of the park. They are huge, magnificent animals and we were very fortunate to have glimpsed them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First there was a solitary male, very close to Twee Rivieren, which -- if you know the park -- is well South of where you would ever look for kudu:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEMrA_GyZt9RM_Cn9xKqRwPcXf9krSPL6S0e1mOs1QGLVxFfKWuREkj_7e7fXgeSR4Yln-fG64WBqfxDZgjhaxDfq3SaAdwjZOWCCniZQBBWzAv8lNgkT6YUHQdIt9cQm2Vcp2btyesQ/s400/IMG_2514.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NCnvAjeixc0JqHX6AiV_WswJN78qak3v0q3tTzPXTRyP-OT4-JYdwm5XM9xzo7ED9zOcDbNnpmtbQedJyFjs5ue5EGXgRLvV66h8WC-z3xEr3U9V2NVwO4HZ9bM5MdKIqT1rWj8d5Zo/s400/IMG_2529.jpg" width="266" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZljRF4__mOTTgOQD28-d3sXLtNt8OCQuseEDDCXCyGM2KAKJE7vdYwoNCHYA1iYEZtSO_CovhrkhQ9AaKHWdkXOIaojdt4jRUNCjZ3_2SCQOLca5YR6TerROQVkyyb1A1y6RFiUQsm4/s400/IMG_2533.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Later there was another bachelor male:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_q4R9ZySCM77P3dUJ8UteqJDMEXqtiu1LwKDhm64L_oTp1jZFHYyXMiiVrSZEKDJ9xwh9rfH8YGl0Kgz5XNf-T3uI9hITXtXtXjVDWuuVuctLxd3Lg7n_2MyBmuNUlKugDBZudH5lJLg/s400/IMG_2709+CR.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And then a huge herd of eland:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXJOIxOfJXAmpvhZuX98GUA1P5TAg6PQfcWX6PfneWZliZTiWHOSSltXIobocySDCVpFn9EbvDL0sGpRBWvKyQLEr1ZNKBifKXkyKWxrWKVe5_jrAdqJPH3LiBS4o8kv-WFewzbjbcdM/s400/IMG_2733.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">These photos don't do it justice, there were at least a hundred!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipab4DiUF1hLAeRQ-x-DH7KJJLRdUxXuq0x_UAevs-qVHawXIp6mNUApWb90fv3FPMY6aW00ckNj4QTDIn7DOCIS4LEKj8V2WUiRl2H4srr9ZWaYpC2ZRKvC0-Bq1UwyQiK6qEbZ6PG08/s400/IMG_2745.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82VSGQ5S8Jkj52cDhc7kaQzLV0dLTrqtZ_XEae2KCPLgh-HxZL89zXw_T0jAYJw6lb7q4vyUAljHFDOefS48b5j_COM15J7xkbaywjKU3VVDY5CoyF9pFg4LvMNCXYWOTV9kp8sl0ko8/s400/IMG_2754.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bXLlN-O9WlKUujp1mhvNpYIrKqwTBoIi0zbYDCHaOsZYnZ3k4ogCflx7smBTQ79tXVF-AGS491u_cAES-bGETiCRAzzbo34HLyirvF08bEWRJmavj1wJHr3W8RkEybcvZrtj-29NpYw/s400/IMG_2758.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And finally, a family group of kudu. Including a kudu baby!</div><br />
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Stunning, isn't he?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423682527125077774noreply@blogger.com1