Ethnic Night + Enchilladas = Success!

Man oh man, tonight I made enchilladas with this Rockin' Robin's recipe that I found a couple years back. You can't buy little seasoning packets here in Cyprus so I've learned to modify and make things work. My reputation of just making it taste good was totally boosted and I have a huge head about it. But seriously, I'm gonna brag on this recipe!!!

Rockin Robin's Raving Enchilada Sauce

makes about 2 cups

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 4 Tbs Gebhardt Chili Powder
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 2 heaping tsp. garlic powder (with no salt added)
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon (less than 1/16 tsp.)
• 1/3 tsp. sugar
• 5 Tbs. cold water
• 5 Tbs. white flour

Directions:

In a 2 quart sauce pan add the chicken broth, chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, cinnamon and sugar (the sugar is a little secret to eliminate any bitter taste from the chili powder).

Use a whisk to mix everything well. Heat to a boil, reduce heat to a low boil and cook for 3 minutes.

Whisk frequently to make sure all spices dissolve. This is important for flavor and a nice smooth sauce.

While the sauce is on a slow simmer/boil, add 5 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl.

With another whisk mix 1 tablespoon at a time of flour. Whisk vigorously to avoid lumps. If you have lumps here, you will definitely have lumps in your sauce.

After 3 minutes of cooking sauce, turn the heat up to high. Very slowly, pour the flour mixture into the boiling sauce. Here you must whisk the sauce vigorously while adding the flour to avoid lumps.

After all the flour is added, continue to whisk for one minute. You can turn the heat down to medium during this time. Just make sure the sauce is boiling.

Turn off the heat, this enchilada sauce recipe is done.

You will notice that as this sauce sits it will form a "skin" on the surface. This is normal and in fact the longer the sauce sits the thicker this skin becomes. All you have to do is peel the skin off and throw it away.

Then I fry up some ground beef with onion, garlic, pepper and worchester sauce. Once the beef is almost ready I put a bit of the enchilladas sauce in it.

For vegetarians:
Instead of meat I sautee'd mushrooms, onion and spinach with fresh garlic and oil. I also cooked some beans and then stuffed it with cheese. The sauce was awesome with the veggie enchilladas mix!

To assemble the enchilladas, cover a casserole dish with a layer of the sauce. Place a flour tortilla in the dish and put as much cheese, meat or veggie mixture in it. Roll it up tight and repeat until the casserole dish is full. I like my enchilladas saucy so I poured lots of the Rockin' Robin's sauce over my stuffed tortillas and cover it with cheddar cheese. Mmm...the only thing it was missing was sour cream!

Julia whipped up some awesome guacamole with fresh garlic, onion, tomato and lemon. And at the last minute I made some Spanish rice that I totally forgot to do! Dinner was about 15 minutes late. =)

The sun came out today and my laundry almost dried. It's been hard keeping clothes clean with all the rain and our washer acting up so much! But Sarah blessed us with washing and drying a load so I have pants for tomorrow! Yay! Pictures next time...

First Week!

Sunday was testimony day and I spent the majority of my time in the kitchen with Cas. We made a Middle Eastern lentil soup with a typical fruit salad and wheat pita. I had a need to wear something fashionable and wouldn't let being in the kitchen all day hold me back!



After dinner we went over to Chandy and Sarah’s to celebrate Gwen’s birthday. We made it kinda fun and blind folded Gwen and led her through the rain out to the car. Julia and I made apple crisp which I don’t normally enjoy but it ended up being pretty tasty.

5 cups of sliced apples

4 tbsp sugar

Peel about 10-12 apples and thinly slice them. Layer them on an ungreased glass baking pan. Mix in 3-4 tbsp of sugar.

¼ cup flour

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup chopped almonds

½ cup butter

Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut in butter until the mixture is crumbly. Both Sarah and I noticed it could have used a bit more topping. So if you like the crunchy topping I’d suggest doubling it. Cook at 200 Celsius for about 20-25 minutes or until the apples are cooked and the topping golden brown.

It would have been perfect to serve with vanilla ice-cream but we used 2liters of heavy whipping cream mixed with some icing sugar and it was a great substitute.

I brought a couple liters of milk and we also made some hot chocolate that we served in little Indian Chai cups. The group started playing some card games and we all visited with each other around the Thomas’ amazing wood burning stove!

Everyone began to play “Lick-It and Stick-It” where they put names of famous people (even though Isaac Rudolph somehow got himself) on a piece of paper and put it on your forehead. Then by asking yes or no questions, you try and find out who you are.

I had some catch up time with Mrs. Rudolph and got excited about this week assisting her with Deliverance Class. In preparation for the class, God has been speaking to me so much out of Psalms 51 especially in verse 10: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Not only is there a desire to have more layers of freedom, but I want to be prepared by fasting and praying for the 2^nd year students. To set an atmosphere that is conducive for the Lord to move in our lives that we can become more and more like Him.

There are so many scriptures that encourage us to purify and restore our lives to what the Lord intended through the blood of Jesus but the one that we’ve been really focused on in class is Ephesians 4. The unity of the body is ultimately a result of getting ourselves right with God. In the end of the chapter Paul says how to get rid of all the ugly things in us (bitterness, rage and anger, etc) and how to treat one another verse 32: be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. It’s SO good!!!

I am so provoked to see us fulfill Yeshua’s commission in Mark 16:15-18 and to do it ALL. Not pick and choose what is convenient for me. Let’s just say week 1 has been very exciting for me!

Along with assisting Mrs. Rudolph in her deliverance class I have been attending to my administrative duties in the office and trying my best to keep up with all the birthday festivities.

We celebrated with Julia Tuesday night at Matt and Serah’s for her 22^nd birthday. After a day of shopping for all 4 birthdays this week, I helped Serah cook queso and get her house ready for the party. Along with the queso we made sangria’s and Isaac took the opportunity to cut David’s hair.

Other than my washer machine being broken since we’ve moved in, icy village roads and waiting for Cytanet to set up the internet in my office I have been trying to make business as usual and its been hard to have a presence in the office everyday. Since the base moved and the “main office” is across the street from the Fraktis building, it feels a bit funny sitting there alone, without a phone. But by Friday we had internet up with the phones running and quickly all the work stations were full of interns and staff working on their responsibilities!

Office hours are supposed to be 10-4 on Fridays but as usual it didn’t close until about 6PM! I ran to Shabbat late and frazzled but enjoyed Remi’s beautiful Middle Eastern spread with his perfectly toasted croutons, flavorful mushrooms and rich Israeli cheesecake.


Today Julia and I woke up early to have a nice Shabbat breakfast with our girls. The menu was the following: chocolate chip pancakes, fried eggs, hot chocolate, honey and halloumi that was left over from lunch on Thursday. Around 10AM Sandra picked us up and took us over to the Heidel’s where we babysat Yahron, Aviel and Rebekah while their parents took a well deserved weekend getaway in town. During nap time we took the opportunity to watch a few episodes of Lost Season 5. I can’t wait to get caught up so we can join everyone in watching the FINAL season that’s on right now.

Total random fact: I think it’s hilarious that one of the only English shows I’ve ever watched here on TV in Cyprus is Ugly Betty…I haven’t even ever seen it in the States! So weird.

First Community Shabbat!

Other than keeping up blogging and journaling while I'm here in Cyprus, I also would like to continue working out. Before leaving Katho and I bought a bunch of these Latin "Dancing With the Stars" workout DvDs. Thursday night Ray and I tried one that focuses on toning your body with chacha, tango, and freestyle. We had a good time and took a few self portraits. HAHA

Well unfortunately I wasn’t able to steal Mrs. Rudolph’s infamous Moroccan chicken recipe (Sorry Jerri!) but I DID manage to memorize Serah’s delicious “Lemon Poppy Seed Cake” recipe.

3 eggs

½ cup sugar

½ cup butter

2 ½ cups flour

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup plain yogurt

2 tbsp lemon zest

2 tbsp lemon juice

¼ cup poppy seed

Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs 1 at a time.

In separate bowl mix dry ingredients. Gradually add to wet mixture. Alternate with yogurt. Add lemon zest and juice. I did twice as much zest and juice than the recipe called for (so about 4 tbsp of each and some!) Serah normally cooks it as a bunt cake but we made cupcakes for Shabbat! Cook at 200 Celsius for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. (Totally stole the pic but they looked a lot like this!)

Glaze

2 cups powder sugar

¼ cup butter (melted)

2 tbsp lemon zest

¼ cup lemon juice

Immediately puncture each cupcake and glaze the top. The puncture allows the glaze to seep in. When cooled, remove cupcakes from pan and glaze generously!

We made 4 batches of this tonight. Abigail zested about 100 lemons and Julia made the awesome glaze that really makes the whole dessert work! Without the glaze the cake is so heavy and not very sweet.

Serah did a fabulous job with the Moroccan Chicken over cous cous. She got a standing ovation for her hard work and cooking skills. I am always so honored that she depends on me in the kitchen. She makes me feel like I am somewhat in her league when it comes to her culinary expertise! It also goes along with the theme that we are so much alike and both need moral support and someone to bounce ideas off of! Thanks again Serah for all your hard work and not only what you do in the kitchen but the life that you pour out for us. It’s such an amazing example of servant leadership. =) I love you dear friend!

I think Shabbat was a hit not only food wise but the whole night was full of great encouragement from Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph and inspiration by Matt. After a few hours of table fellowship the dance party began with “All My Single Ladies” off of my bachelorette mix and I danced with little Maddo and Liel as Sarah and Kes did some more mature dancing with students.

Tony, David, Matti, and Joel did a Romans rap that was hilarious and had the whole room in an uproar. It made me really miss Corin and his talented prophetic rapping back when he was in Cyprus!

Everyone began to leave so the last of us were putting things back in order when Matt broke out Chandy’s accordion out of nowhere. For some reason that’s one of my favorite instruments. I think its incredibly romantic and always reminds me of my outreach in the FIGS (France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland). Matt brought his newly learned instrument into the kitchen and Hannah began to “sing” along. It was pretty amazing so I caught it on video for all of you to see:

Let the orientation's begin!

It's official! I have permanently moved into my house where I will be for the next 6 months with the 3 students in GTS II and Julia! Its a beautifully renovated house that is the house closest to the base! For all of you that haven't experienced a European lifestyle or I should say GTS lifestyle, where you walk EVERYWHERE! I need to take pictures during the day because our lighting is weird.

One of my favorite decorations in the house is a picture mounted on my wall. This is probably one of those funny GTS jokes as well because we of our rules against dating and students pairing off. When I first saw this picture Julia told me we had to take it down but I told her this would keep up with Susanna Hipple's tradition of praying and interceding for him who will surely come. ;)

While all my bags and things were strewn all across my bedroom floor I was getting ready for the day and threw my straightener along with its converter back into my bag. Next thing I know my shaving cream is going off like a bomb and my whole room, bag and outfit is getting covered in shaving cream. I quickly grabbed the bag and threw it in the sink! I found shaving cream dried up in the strangest places for days...

Culinary Corner

Thaddaeus and I were excited for GTS II orientation and baked some cookies for the meeting at the Thomas'. Note too much butter really makes a drastic difference...and so does missing ingredients like almond extract and vanilla. ;)

I made Raspberry Jam cookies
1/4 sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 egg
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup Raspberry Jam
(Not my cookies on the tray in the picture on the right...the white things with pink jam)
Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit. Cream the egg, butter and sugar together. The recipe said to put the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and then slowly combine the two, but I always just gradually add flour and the other ingredients as I mix. Divide the batter into 4 evenish parts. Roll each individual parts into a log about 12 inches long and 3/4 inch wide. Place on 2 ungreased cookie sheets. I used my finger into the logs to make room for the jam. I cooked them for 20 minutes and let them cool. When I cut them half of 'em were extremely crumbly and didn't look very presentational. They tasted awesome though and were almost completely consumed by the 2nd year team!

I am super duper excited about GTS II!!! Chandy and Sarah are so awesome and have made me feel very comfortable to be on their team. I not only look forward to getting to know the Thomas family better but to serve and learn from them! Some of my duties with GTS II include being an RA, small group leader, admin, assisting Sarah with planning on the Israel trip, and helping with the Roman's Bible study. A new challenge for me is to teach a class on organizational management and I am kinda nervous about it and can't wait to start preparing! I am also hoping to share about blogging and digital networking in a class Chandy is teaching on "Newsletter and Correspondence."





Today Tabitha and I went down to town to do some birthday shopping. We hitched a ride with the Benko's who were going down to do lots of errands. It was fun having a copilot and I really enjoyed spending time with Tabby at Starbucks and taking pictures around Limassol. We made friends with the Starbucks employees who helped us use my ipod touch to get online. Going to town is a real privilege! Its about 30 minutes away and not everyone gets the honor to shop at 5-ways, visit Starbucks and (sometimes) grab some yummy thai food! Hint, hint Serah! ;)





I came home to internet set up in the GTS I offices and the worship building. Norman promises my internet will be set up soon so keep your fingers crossed! Tomorrow is a full day of orientation and helping Serah cook for the community Shabbat. I hope to post a recipe of Mrs. Rudolph's Moroccan Chicken next! Expect lots of pictures of everyone all cleaned up and lookin' their best!
(my mouth is totally full in that pic)