Monday, November 28, 2011

Chicas, vamos a comer!


The title of this post is my favorite Spanish phrase. For the two days that Lindsay and I were in Ronda, I had the great privilege of staying with her host family, which meant a cozy bed and a few very enjoyable meals around their dinner table. Each day at around 3, and again around 9, Lindsay's host mother, Reyes, would yell, "Chicas, vamos a comer!" and my heart would fill with joy. I'm not ashamed to admit that food has a way of doing that to me. And combine that with Reyes, Fernando and Lindsay all speaking Spanish that I can sometimes understand, when I'm not being blown away by these amazing new dishes. It was too perfect to be spoiled by my camera, so I don't have photos of the pastel de atún (delicious tuna meatloaf) or the lentil soup or the ensalada de pimientos. But I can show you some of the other meals we enjoyed.


During our two days in London, we forewent the traditional bangers and mash in favor of more international cuisine. Thai, Indian, Moroccan. All quite satisfying. But my favorite meal there was the sweet potato quiche found at a quaint vegetarian restaurant called Food for Thought. Unless you count Guinness.


Because we stayed with Lindsay's wonderful uncle outside of London, we took advantage of the chance to cook together. Inspired by Lindsay's Korean classmates, we stopped in Chinatown for rice paper and had a little spring roll picnic in the living room. A lovely way to eat.


Once we got to Spain, I quickly realized how few preconceived notions I had about the country's cuisine. I knew paella and gazpacho, but was so pleasantly surprised by other dishes that I had no concept of. The beauty of the tapas culture is that I got to try so many things. In Granada, one can order a caña (a small glass of mediocre beer) for one or two euros and receive a tapa gratis (that's free). If one so chooses, one can hop from bar to bar ordering cañas and tapas all night. Another lovely way to eat, I'd say.

The best I can recall, clockwise from top right: jamon on little bagels with french fries, saucy mushrooms that made me want to lick the plate...with french fries, ensalada with the most wonderful olives on earth (and I don't even like olives!), and a dainty Spanish tortilla (omelette) with potatoes.

This next bit is more traditional Lindsay/Whitney cuisine than traditional Spanish, but we were delighted to find this little gem tucked among los bares de tapas. Smöoy frozen yogurt.


And it was confirmed that God was smiling right down upon us when we sat at a small table decorated with a large squash. We went twice in two days.


While Spaniards are pretty terrible at making sandwiches (my standards are high), they are adept at enjoying food and rest and family. I most certainly could have eaten a few more meals there. Who's with me?



With love.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Que bonita.

London, Swindon, Oxford, Birmingham, Malaga, Ronda, Granada, Madrid.

I'm still jet-lagged, still processing, but oh my goodness. Look at this goodness: 
















(It shouldn't surprise you that I took lots of photos of food. I want to give la comida its due justice in a separate post.)

I am inexpressibly thankful that I got to see this part of the world and spend the week with Lindsay. The views and the people are beautiful, and we were well taken care of. I got to drive a British car, see the Globe Theatre, enjoy true siesta and speak Spanish. These experiences are always worth the jet lag.


With love.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Dream Life

I bought a plane ticket three weeks ago (after gaining approval/encouragement from the powers at Rybread). I tucked some clothes and a toothbrush into a small backpack and charged my camera.

Tonight I will get on a plane in Philadelphia and land six hours later in London. The opportunity to spend a week in places I've never been with one of my dearest friends is nothing short of miraculous. Lindsay and I have shared some powerful conversations, incredible experiences and delicious meals, including about a million veggie sandwiches at Global Cafe. I miss that place.


This friendship is straight-up sacred, and that makes me even more excited to share her temporary home in Ronda, Spain for a week and see what happens there. I am starting this trip with an overwhelming sense of thankfulness and God's sovereignty. Other than that, all I really know is that I will wear the same clothes over and over and eat a million tapas. I'll tell you about it when I get back. 



With love.

Monday, November 7, 2011

sweet potato black bean enchiladas + doing good


Two of the greatest and clearest blessings of this move are the churches I get to attend and the people I get to meet there. Every Sunday (unless I am traveling) I have nothing more pressing to do than go to two church services. If someone would have told my eight-year-old self that she would someday enjoy spending six hours every Sunday at church, she would have been incredulous. And then would have returned to the Little House on the Prairie that she brought to FPC to read during the sermon.

Not only do I love these churches -- Liberti Fairmount and Broad Street Ministry (pictured above) -- I want to give what I can to them. Over the years, some really inspiring people have taught me that giving comes in a lot more forms than money. Like time and talents. And food. And lately I have gotten some wonderful opportunities to cook for people.


Broad Street Ministry shares my philosophy that eating together is the best way to bond a community. They serve dinner every Sunday evening after the service to everyone there. A couple weeks ago, to celebrate completing a multi-million-dollar kitchen renovation, they held a huge early Thanksgiving dinner. Kelsey and I went to help the night before and cut 250+ slices of pie. They planned to feed 300 and ended up serving 586. It was like the fish and loaves. This church is doing amazing things and I love being a part of it.


Enter my humble enchiladas. The next week, one of the pastors asked if I'd like to cook dinner for a new small group that will discuss what it looks like to care for people we go to church with. I'll explain more when we figure out what that does look like. All I know is, when someone offers me an invitation like this, it is best if I say yes.


So I decided to make some experimental enchiladas for the people I hoped to befriend. I made some with sweet potatoes and some with chicken. By the grace of God, they turned out alright and I did make a few new friends. And my friends can bake. That is was a pumpkin carrot cake. Oh, yum.


I left the dinner party feeling pleasantly full of food and God's love only to find a note from the infamous Philly Parking Authority saying that I had been parked there too long and owed them money. This is why I ride a bike.


Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
Makes 10

2-3 c. cooked sweet potatoes, cubed then smashed
1 can (4 oz.) green chilies
1/2 t. chili powder
1/2 t. curry powder (or cumin)
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of one large lime
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
10 whole wheat tortillas
1 can (15 oz.) red or green enchilada sauce
Shredded pepper jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350 and find a baking dish to fit 10 enchiladas.

Combine the rinsed black beans with minced garlic, lime juice and a bit of salt and pepper. Toss to coat and set aside.

Peel, cube and cook the sweet potatoes (I ended up boiling them, but slightly roasting them would be good, if you have time). Smash the potatoes a little and combine with green chilies and spices.

Coat the bottom of the baking dish with enchilada sauce. Do some quick visual division and spoon about 1/10 of the sweet potatoes and 1/10 of the black beans down the center of a tortilla. No need to be perfect...it usually works out. Place seam-side down in the saucy dish and repeat until all 10 are tucked in there. Pour sauce over the top and sprinkle with cheese. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and the enchiladas are heated through.

Serve with a loving heart. It feels good.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Home sweet home


When I talk about how much I like living in Philadelphia, I am not being overly optimistic or kind to this city. I truly enjoy this adventure I am having here. When I stop and think about it, I am the midst of a dream life right now. I don't want to forget that. 

With that said, I know this is temporary. I feel fully positive that I am supposed to be in Philly right now, and also fully positive that I will not live here forever. And that great blessing of contentment helps me enjoy the experience, even when I'm in the throes of post-trip-home homesickness.


I wrote about the idea of home way back when I was only beginning to process leaving Kansas, and I have continued to learn what home looks like. I can move 1,200 miles away and settle into a new city and make beautiful new friends, but the friends (and my incredible family) in Kansas are irreplaceable. That is home, and I am meant to be near it.


Of course I always have that in mind, but I am not always homesick (definitely God's goodness to me and possibly some defense mechanism). But gosh. It's hard to be reminded of home and then have it taken away so quickly. My friends and family love me so well (and I love them so much) that my heart was near bursting the whole time I was in Lawrence and Hutch. It reminded me of when I would visit Kid's Club after I had gone to college and the kids would knock me over with their hugs. And I was so excited to see them. The reunion almost makes it worth having to say goodbye.

And while I'm being a bit egomaniacal: the River to Well team put on an incredible gallery show at Signs of Life. Probably the best one yet. If you entered a photo or purchased a photo or came to the show (especially if you came just to see me) -- thank you

You can see the stunning winners online, and if you'll be in Denver (this Friday!) or Houston (Nov. 19!), please consider seeing the show in person.



After eating my way through Lawrence and trying to hug as many people as possible, Ken drove us both to Hutch for pork chops, grandparent loving and FPC. One hour in Newton with Charlie and 19 hours with my parents. That was icing on the home cake.

Braum's frozen yogurt eased the pain of having to say goodbye again.


Until Christmas!



With love.