Hello Fresh: Cheesy Chorizo Orzo

For the latest edition of the Hello Fresh meal service trial, we have the cheesy chorizo orzo dish.

This dish has chorizo (pork sausage) along with orzo pasta and roasted tomatoes seasoned with garlic and thyme. 

The refrigerated ingredients came packaged in a labeled brown bag. The sausage was in a chilled section of the box. 

Unwrapping the contents of the brown bag revealed all the ingredients necessary in the portion needed for the recipe. 

The only exception is the can of tomato paste. Luckily, we use tomato paste as a base to many stews so I had the few spoonfuls needed already. 

Since my husband is not a meat eater and I am on occasion, I separated the chorizo sausage from the rest. Following the directions to a point, I then separated the pot of orzo goodness into another pot that had the cooked sausage. 

My husband likes everything hot and spicy which is customary in Africa. I cooked my portion with the sausage. I cooked his portion with a Scotch bonnet pepper. 

The finished product was delicious! Fairly easy to prepare. Exceptionally easy to eat!

African Yuca (Cassava)

Africans tend to call yuca "cassava" or "manioc." My husband refers to it as cassava in English and as manioc in French. 

While he enjoyed the Cuban style yuca that I made recently, he wanted to have it an African way. Simple enough! Boil a few peeled pieces and drain it. Serve it with palm oil and salt.

It was nice and easy. Palm oil has a different taste to it and made the yuca flavorful. 

Mail Call

My husband has certain comforts from home that are either difficult to find in the US or far more expensive. 

After nearly a year of trial and error, we have categorized which items are cheaper to buy in Africa and shipped to the US. Since my husband has a large network in both Africa and the US, we have channels for making this happen. 

One such package arrived this week which took 11 days shipping. Not bad considering it is coming from the other side of the ocean. Some of my US purchases take that long or more. 

It is always fun getting a package in the mail. Especially when it is filled with goodies!

Tapioca

I grew up with tapioca pudding and never knew what tapioca actually was. Tapioca comes from cassava, a plant and root that grows in warm tropical climates. 

We bought some at the African market to have on hand. It does not have much of a taste and once boiled it is gelatinous. 

Here is a closer look.

We boiled it with some ground nutmeg.

Once done, we added condensed milk to make it creamy.

Prepared tapioca is a filling snack or breakfast. We don't eat it often but enjoy it when we do. 

Red Beans and Oil

A very simple African dish called haricot (French) or veyi (pronounced vay-ee in Ewe) entails red beans and palm oil.

I am using dry red beans and boil them until soft. Salt can be used if desired. 

Once the beans are soft, dish some into a bowl with palm oil (seen below). 

My husband adds gari (read more here) which adds a nice crunch to the beans. Ultimately, I added some, too. 

The hardest part about this dish is the wait time for the beans to boil. Other than that this is a very easy dish to prepare. Being in a meat-free zone, this is a great way for us to get protein. 

Bathing Differences

My husband's family introduced me to a bathing net that exfoliates the skin in an amazing way. My husband always has such soft skin. The length lends itself to reaching all surfaces of the skin. 

Unlike bath scrunchies in the US, these are a long net and a harder texture. They come in nylon (hardest) and cotton (softest). 

We purchased mine in the general open air market in Lomé, Togo. We paid about 1000 CFA (local currency) which equates $1.75 (depending on the exchange rate). 

It is a worthwhile purchase because it lasts a few years. Mine was purchased in 2015. My husband has one that he purchased in 2014 and it still does the job. 

Here is a video of a vendor in West Africa who calls it éponge in French and akusa in Ewe. 

Hot Peppercorns

One of my husband's relatives went back to Africa to visit recently. Upon his return, comforts from home were brought to our house. 

One of these comforts was a package of hot peppercorns that is sure to spice up anything. 

I was advised that the best way to use it and store it is by making a paste. I ground the peppercorns and then added water. Soon a paste was made and stored in the fridge. 

We've been able to add it to sauces and other food to kick it up a notch (read: several notches). 

It is amazing what you find out in God's big world!

Ridged Cherries

I have never seen these cherries before now. 

A South American woman who attended the Easter dinner hosted by our small group brought these in a large quantity. They're pretty tasty but somewhat tart. 

My husband saw them and said that his father has a large cherry tree of this variety at his house. He enjoyed seeing them since they are so familiar. 

You learn something new every day!

Dental Differences

When I first met my husband, we had a quiet afternoon one day watching a movie at his apartment. I looked over and he was chewing on a stick. Without showing alarm, I resumed watching the movie. 

Later, I was quietly looking at the scene wondering if he, in fact, ate the stick. Come to find out, he was cleaning his teeth and discarding the chewed wood. 

Bundles of these sticks are sold for 20¢ and are a common tool in Africa to clean teeth. Meanwhile, we have all these tools to clean teeth. We tend to overcomplicate things here. Ask my husband, he'll tell you all about it!

Not Your Everyday Rice

Before I married an African, I would buy a 1 pound bag of rice and keep it for half a year or longer. Now, we buy a 20 pound bag of rice which lasts us less than 6 months. 

Before I was introduced to African culture, I ate plain white rice, rice pilaf, or wild rice. Nothing too complicated or fancy, just plain.

Once I started attending African events, I noticed that rice is the base of the actual dinner. A sauce is made and poured over the top of the rice. Here is an African sauce over rice I have made.

My world has forever been changed...for the better!

Here is a rice dish I made recently. I chopped onion and tomato and then grated ginger root. I set aside a scotch bonnet pepper, a high ranking heated pepper on the Scoville scale (there's a ranking system for everything!). 

I use a small container to measure: 1 part rice, 2 parts water. Bring the rice to a boil, lower the heat and then cover. Let it simmer for another 15 minutes. 

Add the vegetables to the rice and cover it again letting it simmer another 10 minutes. 

Boil dry beans then drain. 

Add beans to the rice mixture and serve. 

Compassion International Experience

If you have any interest in world events, living conditions, and travel, the Compassion International Experience is for you! 

Compassion International is a non-profit organization that focuses on poverty alleviation and disaster relief worldwide. The current effort, aside from worldwide presence, is a traveling exhibit circulating the US. This is a FREE event that is coming to a city near you (find your locale here)!

Once you arrive, you are given an iPod touch and headphones. These devices will provide a commentary as you walk through the exhibit. The exhibit is set up in a tractor trailer and is divided into 2 tracks: the life of a boy from the Dominican Republic and a girl from the Philippines. 

The exhibit allows you to have a view into a child's environment and world. 

Leaving the exhibit offers an opportunity to speak with Compassion International volunteers and to sponsor a child. 

The slogan says it all: experience the world without leaving yours. 

Attiéké For Dinner

We found a local African woman who sells African dry goods (mostly). We purchased a couple boxes of attiéké (among other things).

Fermented cassava likened to couscous.

Add water enough to moisten the grains.

Season the fish and cover the grains to keep them moist. Chop raw onions and tomatoes or other vegetables to mix with the grains.

Heat water and place a strainer over the hot water. Place the grains in the strainer and allow it to steam enough to soak in the water. 

Dinner is served!

Another Round of African Groceries

Being married to an African, I like to keep some of the home comforts around the house for him. We grocery shop at places like Publix (great for couponing) for staples. 

The challenge of finding specific products that are African is that we're not in a major city where these items are more easily found. The little shop I have been going to for African products closed. Epic disappointment!

A colleague from Ivory Coast informed me that a Nigerian in the area has an online African grocery shop. Perfect!

I typically purchase a lot of fufu (see our fufu dinner post here). This time I purchased attiéké, dried cassava. 

We'll have delicious dinners!

Superbowl Sunday

As the US gathered to watch the culmination of the football season to see the game and commercials of the Superbowl, we were watching a final game, also. The Africa Cup of Nations championship game was on Sunday afternoon in hosting country Gabon.  

Since we have Sling International Sports on our Roku (read more about the tv saga here), my husband can watch as much worldwide soccer to his heart's delight. 

Our team is obviously Togo who only went as far as the original group games (Group C). My husband is happy with anyone in Western Africa winning which leaves a lot of choices. Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana were all playing. 

Cutting The Cord

Historically, I am not a tv watcher. There were a few years that I did not have a tv or any of the required accessories. I am out of the loop when it comes to all the traditional connections i.e. dish, cable and the new streaming devices as tv alternatives (this cutting the cord trend).

In preparation for my husband to arrive and live in our marital home, I was told by my husband's brother that men need tv. Therefore, I had to purchase a television for him. I fact checked this with my father who supported my brother in law. 

It was time for me to explore televisions in addition to cable, dish, and streaming devices. I was lost. Too many choices is wonderful but has its own challenges. 

I explored the Amazon firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku. I have a MacBook, iPod, iPad, and iPhone, so my natural inclination was to stay int he family. The other devices offered many features. I was still lost. 

I started talking with my African and Haitian friends and colleagues to get their opinion. Perhaps, they watched channels from their home that would be available on a certain device. They all said that for shows in French and soccer games, I would need Roku. 

Decision made!

I acquired a 50" Westinghouse flat screen when I leased a new Ford Escape. $0 flat screen fits well within my budget considering I was thinking I was looking at a big investment. My parents gave me a Roku for Christmas. Another budget friendly way to get the tv equipment I was told my husband needed.  

WIN-WIN!

African Children's Choir

The Watoto Children's Choir is a dynamic group of kids from Uganda. Watoto means "children" in Swahili. They are in a village built for orphans that also work with adults to provide vocational training. 

One of the ministries Watoto provides is a worldwide concert tour. These children sing and dance to an African choreography that is sure to get you energized. They bring African instruments, song, costumes, and rhythm with them. 

It's free! See them in a nearby venue soon!

An Office With A View

Doesn't that sound nice?

Instead of a corner office or one with a view, I have a cubicle that I share with a wonderful coworker. I could not ask for a nicer person to share space with at work. 

Since I do not have a view, I add things to my space to inspire me. I like my environment to be colorful (this is not a prerequisite to marrying an African, but it helps!)

Below is a photo of my work area and here is a list of things I keep around: 

• A miniature Haitian painting
• Quotes about travel
• Wicker cup holder
• A Bible
• My coffee cup
• Post-its
• Antique world map mouse pad
• Arc binder

Homecoming

When my husband was coming from Togo, Western Africa to the US, I wanted to make sure he felt at home. Well, as much as one can leaving home and family behind for an unknown land. 

I thought for a long time about how to make his homecoming special and welcoming. It wasn't easy. 

After awhile, I thought of having a clock of his hometown, Lomé, on the wall always on local time. I decided to add my own hometown to the wall. 

Once inspired, I went to Ikea to buy clocks for $1.99 each. I hung them on the wall and printed then laminated signs of our hometowns. 

The day my husband arrived, he came bearing gifts of his African country for our home. He offered a clock with the shape of Togo (like minds). 

He brought with him wooden keychains. I chose the one in the shape of Togo. 

In addition to all of this, he brought paintings on canvas to decorate our home. Being a smart man, he brought jewelry and purses for me. 

Such lovely additions to our home that I enjoy. I think, in a way, they provide the comforts of home in a foreign land. 

Winter Wonderland

Living in Florida for the last few years has been delightful for the most part. There are certain seasonal signs that elude me (read more here). Living in a tropical location does not create a Winter Wonderland type of atmosphere. That is not necessarily a complaint, by the way.

Wintertime up north was the picture of "walking in a winter wonderland." Even in Florida, people hang icicle lights and snow-themed decorations on and in their homes. It is not quite the same.

If I were to play a word association game and the word was "winter," I would blurt out "snow." 

Once in awhile I start to think about my hometown of Rochester, NY and reminisce about all the fun we had in the snow: sledding, skiing, snow shoeing, making snow angels, building snowmen, polar bear swimming, etc.

My husband has not yet experienced snow. He has experienced somewhat cool temperatures which is cold to him. It's all relative! I bought him a Snuggie for Christmas this year. He loves it!

This year for Christmas Eve, we spent the afternoon at the beach. This was our first Christmas in Florida together.

Despite the warm weather, I turned to my husband and asked him Ana's famous question: do you want to build a snowman?  He had little idea what I was inferring and went on to jump waves in the ocean. I grabbed my ice scraper in the back of the car and got to work.

Here is what I came up with:

Read more about a spiritual meaning I found from the song, "Winter Wonderland" here. 

German Chocolate Cake

Yum!!!

Living in Florida, we are regularly in contact with people that have coconut trees, avocado trees, and mango trees. One of my coworkers brought in shopping bags full of coconuts. I took one and took it home. This is always a nice addition to our home because my husband ate them regularly growing up in Africa. 

The tricky part about coconut is getting through the thick green shell and then the rock hard brown shell. Not having a power saw or machete in the house, I asked my husband to crack the mysterious code of opening this coconut without spilling the milk. 

He was able to drain the milk and then open the coconut completely. I set the milk aside and started grating the coconut with a hand grater. 

What can I do with this grated coconut? GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE FROSTING!!! This frosting is so good, I could eat it alone. Goes along nicely with the Christmas / New Years season of decadence. 

I happened to have these Duncan Hines Perfect Size cakes I purchased at Publix. They are reasonable sized cakes if you don't want a lot of sweets laying around after serving. Ideal for 2-6 people depending on how it is sliced. 

The price is $3.19 but they were BOGO. I had a $1 off 2 MQ. I, then, added 2 ($1 off 1 box) Publix coupon. That makes the total price 60¢ each!

The cake calls for eggs and also contains a chocolate frosting packet. I needed to substitute the eggs for my husband. I was looking to make German chocolate cake so I set the frosting packet aside for future use. Since coconut was involved in the recipe, I used coconut oil instead of eggs. 

It was difficult to find a frosting recipe without eggs. I took to researching and found a vegan recipe that does not use eggs.  I found this blog with great recipes including the German chocolate frosting using soy milk and coconut milk. I substituted the soy milk for almond milk. 

 The difficult thing about this recipe was that the frosting did not stick well on the sides of the cakes. 

I decided to not fight it falling and offer a non-traditional cake with loads of frosting on top and in between layers. Not a bad concession prize!

Maybe next time, I'll use evaporated milk instead of almond milk; canned coconut milk instead of fresh coconut milk; and less coconut oil.