Dinner Drivel

Just your average dinner conversation:

Kiki: "I'm so thirsty I feel like Jesus after 40 days in the desert."

Carly: "Jesus was in the desert for 40 days?"

Kiki: "That's what lent is all about."

Carly: "Oh! Well, the Jews were there for 40 years, I guess it just takes us a little longer sometimes....     Regardless, you stole our story."

Kiki: "My bible is your bible."

Carly: "Mi casa es su casa."

Thankful Thursday

The whole concept of hosting Thanksgiving started about a week before, when I found out that Kiki had never celebrated it.  Despite Brad resisting to partake in a holiday that inadvertently celebrated the exploitation of native americans, we finally convinced him to join in on the grounds that we were all thankful for surviving x number of months in Laos. 

After days of clicking around vegan foodie blogs, I finally decided on the menu for the evening (recipes have already been posted). I invited anyone who was interested to join in on the basis that it was going to be potluck, not because I didn't want to cook that much food, but because I only have one cook top in the apartment.  In the end, Laura came over with an amazing pumpkin bar dessert and a roasted pumpkin to serve the chili in.  Kiki, who helped me cook all week, ducked out of work early to assist and pick up some much needed Spy Wine.  Brad was held up until 9 pm, the latest ever, on a reporter who was taking his sweet old time writing the front page article.  We tried waiting for Brad, but eventually gave up.  With promises of chilled Beerlao upon his return he arrived in good spirits.

Nothing particularly noteworthy happened during our meal and it was a perfect night of friends and good food.  Being here constantly reminds me of how thankful I am for everyone in my life, but it was nice to slow down and actually celebrate it.

These were the only turkeys at our vegan feast!

Spuds 101

After debating whether or not to prepare mashed potatoes the day before thanksgiving (I only had 2 hours to cook, clean etc after work on thursday), I decided to start cooking them at 9 pm on wednesday night.  It was a good decision because the whole process took over three hours and by 1, I was exhausted but relieved that one more menu item was out of the way.  This recipe was really simple but the rate limiting step (science nerd?) was boiling the water.  All in all, these turned out great and microwaved to perfection in time for feasting on Thursday.

Very simple vegan mashed potatoes

Potatoes (approximately 2 per person)

Water

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

Scallions or roasted garlic (optional)

1. Wash, peel and quarter the potatoes.

2. Place segments in a pot of water and bring to a boil.

3. Cook for 25 minutes or until a knife can easy slide through each piece.

4. Drain water from the pot and allow potatoes to steam for 5 minutes

5. Using a knife, slice the potatoes until they have a mashed consistency. This would be easier with a masher (or mixer), but if the potatoes are soft enough it should not be a problem.

6. Add a few tablespoons of oil and work it in to the potatoes.

7. Add salt and pepper to taste.  You can also mix in scallions or roasted garlic!

Smile and Nod

By the last day of the conference I didn't know how many more times I could stand to hear the phrase theoretical regional exchange.  It wasn't because I wasn't enjoying the conference, and in fact I found the whole thing very interesting, but because it was completely and utterly theoretical.  After spending the morning planning out a potential exchange involving a trip of Lao people to do a field visit in Sri Lanka, I felt as if we had completely wasted our time.  The Sri Lankan delegation even openly admitted that they didn't want to come to Laos.

Our booth setup with the posters I designed last week!

After being told on Wednesday that the conference would end on Thursday after lunch with donors, the time schedule was switched again and people were asked to stay for the afternoon.  People, especially those who had used the time to plan some tourist visits in Vientiane, were clearly upset, but no one said anything.  In addition, only four donors showed up to hear the proposals despite coordinators promising lots of time with many donating bodies.  A minister from the office of the minister (someone high up according to Barbara), was brought in to address the group and almost immediately shuffled out with his accompanying entourage or cameramen and reporters.  It was in that brief 5 minutes that Barbara reminded me not to pick my nose because it would surely end up on Lao television... thanks for the heads up!

Groups split up by country met again in the afternoon and it was clear that some people had ducked out to enjoy shopping and sightseeing.  The Lao delegation was paired with that of Thailand and Vietnam. Thailand was uninterested in meeting with any other country, which makes sense because it is significantly more developed than any other at the conference and its hard to imagine that they could learn anything from little Laos.  (They didn't have to act like jerks about it though!)

Having lost most of our group, I was asked to present as the Lao representative.  Unlike the asian women who presented, I at least spoke loud enough for people to nod in recognition.  Barbara snapped this great picture of me in full "sustainable livelihood discussion mode." 

Public speaking is just another thing I get to practice.  Jane of all trades.

Although it was just another day in Laos, I wasn't going to let thanksgiving be brushed aside.  Rushing home to finish up the cooking, clean the apartment and set the table, I left the conference, hopped on the bike (heels and all), and sped across town to assume my role as hostess.  Two hours until guests arrived and I was ready to roll!

Sauce without the Cranberries

Who knew one of the hardest things to find in Laos would be cranberries? Not having bought a can of cranberry sauce before the grocery store sold out, I was left hanging.  I needed to figure it out.  Using the only cranberries I found, I set off to make cranberry sauce with dried cranberries.  It's not the same thing, but when in Laos, bor pen nyang!

Ingredients:

1 cup Cranberry juice (not cranberry cocktail, I read that cran/pom works too!)

36 oz. Dried cranberries

1 cup Orange juice

Orange zest

1/4 cup Orange marmalade

1/4 cup Sugar

Corn starch

1/2 cup Water

1. Add cranberries and juices to a pot and bring to a boil.  The cranberries should plump up in the liquid.

2. Add orange marmalade, sugar and more water.  Bring to a boil.

3. Allow the sauce to simmer for approximately 20 minutes.  This might be too long if you're cooktop actually gets hot.

4. Add a few tablespoons of corn starch, one at a time, until the sauce begins to thicken.  Remove clumps and stir continuously.

5. Remove from heat and refrigerate overnight.

Things to keep in mind if you try and repeat this recipe:

- I do not own measuring cups, so everything is a guesstimate

- Do not attempt to make this if you are hoping for something resembling cranberry sauce, it is a sweet orange cran medley that tastes good with mashed potatoes, but certainly is not the real thing

- In the end, it was very sweet, so start out with a little sugar and keep tasting it along the way

Ban For Hope

After the conference on Wednesday, all the participants were invited to the French Institute for the world premier film screening of a documentary on the Handicap International Ban Advocate program.  Please take the next 24 minutes to watch this very moving video.  I work with Thoummy, and have met all of the ban advocates.  Their voices need to be heard and through their hard work, UXO survivors worldwide are given the chance to speak up and tell their stories.

Minimalist Cooking: Vegan Pumpkin Chili

This recipe was a joint collaboration between myself and my vegan expert, Kiki P.  Feel free to add/modify/remove any ingredients you wish.  I have to say though that it was delicious!

Serves: A lot of people!

1 Head of Garlic

3 Onions

1 Pumpkin, pureed

4 cups Kidney Beans soaked overnight ***

10 Tomatoes

4 Ears of corn

1 Can Tomato Paste

Chili Powder

Peanut Butter

Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

*** Prepare the night before

1. Boil water in a large pot and add the tomatoes for one minute.  Remove from the water and cool.  Peel off skin and dice.  Set aside.

2. Cut pumpkin in quarters and clean out the seeds.  Microwave on high for 15 minutes or until soft.  Scoop softened pumpkin away from the skin and mash until it reaches a puree consistency.

3. Cut corn away from the cob. Set aside.

4. Dice onion and garlic.  Set aside.

5. Add a little oil to a large pot and heat.  Sautee onions and garlic until they soften.

6.  Add diced tomato, corn, tomato puree and 4 cups of water to the pot. Stir. Bring to a boil.

7.  Add Kidney beans, a heaping spoonful of peanut butter and pumpkin puree to the pot.  Throw in a dash of chili powder, salt and pepper.

8. Simmer for 3 hours.

For a little special touch, serve in a roasted pumpkin!