Food Facts

Tonight I spent a few hours in the kitchen cooking…the only way I really eat meals at home is if at the beginning of the week, normally on Sunday’s, I spend a few hours in the kitchen preparing meals for the week. Tonight I made breakfast tacos, tuna, and some chicken/cabbage/carrot soup concoction.

I do love to throw things together and see what happens. In the words of Pam as she was describing my cooking…1) If all else fails, you can always throw in one of your pepper blends 2) You don’t know how to make things in small portions and 3) well I can’t remember what the third one was.

Anyway…20 Random things I have learned about food and my enjoyment of food since moving to Korea.

1) If you do not have shortening just use oil and cut the amount in half.
2) I love to snack on peppers and cucumbers—they are a better base for dips than chips most of the time.
3) Garlic tastes really good in a lot of things.
4) I REALLY like cabbage—who would have thought.
5) Eggplant…I can still only handle in small doses.
6) Plain yogurt is a great substitution for mayo in tuna and for sour cream on Mexican-type meals.
7) Making cakes from scratch can be nearly as quick as using a box mix
8) White pepper is an awesome seasoning—much different than any other pepper…particularly great in chicken-noodle type soups…try it sometime
9) I do in reality like salads…I am just very particular in the types of salads I enjoy and I still never think to make them for myself.
10) I like feta cheese.
11) I actually enjoy rice now—major change for me!
12) If you store lettuce in a bowl and place foil over the top before putting the lid on…the lettuce remains crisper, longer.
13) You can make sour cream from whipping cream
14) There are a lot of meals you can make on the stove top—I rarely use an oven now, except for baking.
15) I really enjoy Filipino food and Thai food and Indian food and Chinese food…but still only minimally enjoy Korean food.
16) You can get to the point where you enjoy ground pork about as much as you do ground beef. 17) Making Bisquick is really easy and it saves pretty well.
18) Tabasco sauce tastes better than Parmesan of pizza!
19) Tortillas are easy to make and very yummy.
20) Several things taste good wrapped in lettuce rather than eating it on bread.

I am sure there are more…but those are the first 20 that popped into my brain.

Though for the last year and a half I have been eating the foods that make me gain weight (starches of any kind), I am finally starting to cut back on them and enjoy vegetables once again. Now that I am eating them more…I am realizing and remembering how much I LOVE VEGETABLES! They are so yummy…why do I bother eating that other stuff? Call me crazy…but vegetables are the best! I look forward to eating many more of them in the near future.

This is a random food post…but I do so love food. And since I am in the process of once again training myself to cook and eat things that are a better stewardship of the body Christ has entrusted into my care…I am being reintroduced to some very yummy flavors that I have not enjoyed in awhile! I have dedicated lots of time to contemplating food.

Do you have any interesting food facts or food interests to share? I do enjoy learning about food!

Proud Coach

JiHee, Soh Yeong, Julieane, Becky (Captain), Jin, Ariele, Sook Yeong, and Clara

Last year, let's just say that coaching was not a joy. It felt like an battle; the entire season. This year, I love the squad. This group of ladies is such a teachable group. What a blessing for a coach. These girls have learned so much this year. I am amazed at much they have grown--not only as a cheerleaders, but personally as well. It is an honor to coach these girls and to get to be a part of their lives.

Competition is in three weeks--pray for us as we continue to prepare for that, as well as, cheer on our team, the ICS-Pyongteak Eagles.

HELP!

Because I gave up a week of my vacation to teach English Camp...I figure I deserved to use the money on myself and not responsibly. So...I am now officially an IPod owner.

Now...I really don't have much of a music collection. In fact, I am clueless when it comes to music--this is not an exaggeration. I listen to music and love to have it playing...I just normally don't know what I am listening to. I even know what I like...I just don't know the names of the bands. Yes. Pathetic. I know.

Anyhow, I grew up in a home where only Christian music was played. While this is not a bad thing...I am just clueless when it comes to secular music. There is some good stuff out there.

If you were to suggest a band or song for me tocheck out...what would it be?
Christian or secular.
*Note: If the song is about sex or has curse words in it...I would rather not listen to it...even if it does have a good beat.

English Camp

In January, during my second week of Christmas Break, I taught an English Camp. We (Riley taught from 8-12...I taught from 1-4) had 20 Korean middle schoolers.

It was a good experience...and while I had some fun and made some extra cash...
I was happy to be able to return to teaching math--for some reason I just enjoy the subject more!

Randomness

Below are a bunch of random posts I meant to blog...but never did.

I figured why not blog them late! Enjoy. More to come.

I had discontinued my other blog...Ramblings...but have decided I like it. I plan to start posting a Ramble there every two weeks or so...for those of you who actually enjoy them!

For those who don't...you can just keep checking out this blog. The link to Ramblings and to my myspace account are on the side.

I always enjoy comments...even if it is unrelated to my post and simply says hi.

Crocs

Crocs--the perfect winter shoe for Korea!

One day a co-worker wore some black Crocs to school. Now while I struggle with the idea of plastic shoes being professional (simply my personal opinion), God used this incident to let me realize that these shoes would actually make great shoes for the winter in Korea.

Now...are Crocs my my favorite style...no way! However, I e-mailed my mom and her her buy me some dark brown Crocs. Sure enough, she did and I was pleasantly surprised when my Crocs did not have holes in them like a lot of them do!

Why are these such great Korean winter shoes?

1) They are slip on--in a country where you are constantly taking your shoes one and off...this is a blessing

2) They are closed-toe! Last winter, I mainly wore flip-flops. I don't have near as many people look at me like I am crazy this year. I like to wear comfy shoes to and from school (flop flops or Crocs), so that I can where my heels at school, but then can have my shoes that are better for walking for when I go home, being that walking is my main mode of transportation.

3) Because they are plastic and they don't breath...my feet stay warm! I had some shoes, that while they appear to be good winter shoes, because they cover your entire foot...they don't keep my feet warm for anything! Not good shoes for a day spent walking in the cold! So my feet have been much warmer this year.

4) They are comfortable--what more needs to be said!

5) The only downfall...Crocs are not great shoes for the winter in Korea when it snows. They don't have much grip. I slide around like crazy...buy hey...Crocs...they can't be perfect.

Thanks for reading my praises of Crocs. I have been very blessed to have these this year. They are almost the only shoe I have worn this winter! A simply joy from the Lord.

Meet the Caudles

Meet Bob, Stephanie, Nathan, Me, Sarah, and Erin

(order going around the table)

I keep forgeting to let people know that the Caudles are finally in Korea! They have actually been here since about a week and a half before Christmas! That is how delayed this is. If you are not sure what I am talking about...the Hospitality House is the fellowship of believers that I am a part of in Korea. This family will be the directors for at least the next for years. Britt and Becca (previous directors) left Korea in July and we have been waiting for them to arrive.


Anyway...Christmas week I got to hang out with them some. On this day we spent ALL day organizing and going through all the cabinets at the House (that is what you see in the picture below).


That evening we took a break and I took them to the Mud Hut (not the offical name--just what call it) for dinner. It was their first Korean meal other than mandu and kimbop. They were brave and did pretty well--a few of them even at the octopus!

Running--Two Year Anniversary

Mid-December I hit my two year anniversary for not running. Not an anniversary I am extremely proud of...but a reality. Yes, I have run some in the past two years but never consistently. How sad!

Anyway, I celebrated my two year anniversary by running! I thought it appropriate.

My 45 minute run turned into a two hour "run"--some fast walking occurred--as I got lost, and I let my running buddy take the lead, only I had no idea she was directionally challenged...equally as much as me apparently...after some bad attitudes (only on my part, not Kim's)...and we eventually made it back.

I love running because of the lessons God teaches me as I run. Normally I can handle a 45 minute run that turns into a two hour adventure because I am directionally challenged and it is just something that happens to me often.

And normally running makes me happy, but because I had to be somewhere, my timely nature struggled with my directionally challenged nature. Anyway, I won't go into all the details...but God taught me some more life lessons that parallel with running. God teaches me so much through running analogies...I could write a book!

It is hard to run during cheerleading season...but I anticipate taking the habit up again ASAP once cheerleading is over. I have even found a running buddy or two! Something that can be very hard to find.

Kim was a trooper to put up with my bad attitude...and we had some fun. My attitude only lasted for a short time before I asked for forgiveness and I loosened up. Kim is a friend from the Hospitality House and I enjoy getting to know her. We get together and cook--she knows how to make some great things. Kim is a blessing in my life.

Happy Pepero Day

Pepero Day was on 11/11...but better late than never.

On Pepero Day, you buy your friends pepero and give it to them. There are huge displays at stores so you can all types of gift packages.

It is actually a tasty little treat. We went to the Suwon Folk Village on Pepero Day (or near) and we could not resist taking this picture.