Eat your way around the world
Hi Friends! This week we're trying something new with our weekly video, combining Ava's Corner with a brief review from me. I'm a little camera shy, so I thought I'd do something a little silly, like sit in a green chair, in my kitchen. Just because. Special thanks to my dear husband, Keith (a.k.a. Mr. Picky), for editing our video, as always. I'd love to hear what you think of this new format in the comments. Enjoy: httpv://youtu.be/kgGJTeaS7Eg xo Sasha & family THE … [Read more...]
"WE YU YεRI PIKIN SE "MAMA DE KUK כKRכ", PAPA BIN DכN TכK AM. If you hear a child say "Mama is cooking okra," it's because Papa said it."* When I read this old proverb from Sierra Leone, I get goosebumps. The truth is, children pick up everything from their parents, from what's for dinner to more serious considerations, like world views, either loaded with prejudice or full of grace. While sipping soup or nibbling rolls, they overhear snippets of conversation; verbal jabs … [Read more...]
Next time you see someone doing or experiencing something especially grand (or perhaps even showing off a bit), say with wide eyes: "The salt has climbed the hill." It's the way people in Sierra Leone express amazement over something they weren't quite expecting. Like how we had two days in the 70's in January. Totally unexpected. Or when I found out I'd secured a book deal with National Geographic. The salt and the pepper both climbed the hill on that one. As for this menu? She's … [Read more...]
I recently watched a video from the BBC about Sierra Leone in preparation for today, which asks the question "Is the Global Media too negative about Africa"? Great question. I have my answer, and if you've been around this blog for more than five minutes, you can probably guess what it is. My mission is to build up the positive stories, for every country, no matter what. Please note, you should not ignore the negative. We need to be aware. To do our part. This is vital. But you'll just … [Read more...]
Every once in a while we need chow down on good, ol' fashioned home cooking. The kind that reminds us of mom, checkered aprons, and creaky kitchen chairs. We all need this edible comfort, especially when the wind chill drops down into the single digits. Keith informed me that, against all odds, I happened upon one such recipe when I selected Potato Musaka for our Serbian Global Table. "This is kind of like my mom's 'Hobo dinner,'" Mr Picky said, after his first taste. "Hobo what?" I … [Read more...]
In the Balkan nation of Serbia you'll find sleeping giants. They lounge under thick forested coverings, along murmuring streams and shimmering lakes, with nothing but winding roads and wildflowers upon them. In flatter areas, carefully stacked stone walls, forgotten castles, and sagging huts live happily shackled to sunflower fields and lush grasses. Places like this will find a permanent home in your dreams... In this cool, sometimes foggy land - this is where you'll find hearty … [Read more...]
httpv://youtu.be/gDHzFphWAgw THE SCENE Pleasure is spread throughout the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find. (William Wordsworth) I spend hours daydreaming about other countries - about how beautiful they are, about the incredible food they eat. Every week I take my family to one of these countries via stovetop travel and we imagine the joy we'd have living life in those countries. But I'm increasingly uneasy with this set up. I've had trouble pinpointing my … [Read more...]
Let's talk enlightenment. When it comes to packing up the family, driving deep into the woods, and taking a little time to "get away from it all," there's still good reason to set a Global Table. In fact, when there's nothing but you, trees, and a few muffin tins worth of family members, it's the perfect time to try out something new. That's what we did this week, when we ate Paraguay ... in Beaver's Bend State Park (way, way Southeast Oklahoma). There aren't as many distractions when you're … [Read more...]
