Here is an update picture of my container garden. We have already had a lettuce, radish and onion salad from it, and I now have fresh Italian parsley, cilantro and mint at my beck and call.
Today was another celebration, of sorts. Bob has had his last radiation treatment. We'll know after he gets the HOSE (scope) on July 8th if he'll have to have any more done. It is red and raw and sore. He has lost all the hair in the radiation area, as well. But he's on some heavy-duty pain meds, so he's tolerating it as best as he can...I love him and his strength!!
Yesterday, I could not believe how hard it was raining! I was trying to listen to the TV, but, when you live in a tin can with a tarp over the roof, it's near impossible!
Today was all about discovery...such as this honey bee nest...see the honeycomb there? I'm going to attempt to get me some of that in a couple of days...
This is what is growing in the neighbors tree. This basically happened overnight! Yes, those are bees!!
On the menu tonight was Ethiopian Chicken Wings http://ethiopianrecipes.net/eithiopian-chicken-wings Ethiopian Chickpea Wat http://ethiopianrecipes.net/ethiopian-chickpea-wat Easy Chapatis (Flatbread) http://ethiopianrecipes.net/easy-chapati-flatbread and Ethiopian Spiced Cottage Cheese http://allrecipes.com/recipe/ethiopian-spiced-cottage-cheese
Here is the Chapatis...this is a rustic type bread made of wheat and was actually really enjoyable to make.
Ethiopia is a landlocked state in the Horn of Africa. It's capitol is Addis Ababa. It's the second most populus nation in Africa. It's bordered by Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, Sudan to the west and Eritra to the north. 
Ethiopians migrate to urbans areas because they are motivated by the hope of better living conditions. In rural areas, daily life is a struggle to survive. About 16% of the population is living on less than $1 per day, according to a 2008 study. Only 65% of the households consume the World Health Organization's minimum standard of food per day (2200 kilocalories), with 42% of children under age 5 being underweight. 75% of poor families share their sleeping quarters with livestock and 40% of children sleep on the floor. The average family size is 6-7 people, living in 30 square meter hut made of mud and thatch. The family usually has less than 2 hectacres of land to cultivate. Since land holdings are so small, farmers cannot let the land lie fallow, which reduces soil fertility. This land degradation reduces the amount of fodder needed for livestock, which causes low milk yields. Since communities burn manure for fuel, rather than plowing it back into the ground for fertilizer, crop production is reduced. Low productivity of agriculture leads to inadequate incomes for farmers, therefore, hunger, malnutrition and disease run rampant. When the farmers are unhealthy, they have a hard time working the land and productivity drops even mroe. It's a vicious cycle.
Ethiopian cuisine usually consists of spicy vegetables and the meat dishes, usually in the form of a wat, a thick stew, are served on top of injera, a large piece of sourdough flatbread, which is about 20 inches in diameter and is made of fermented teff flour. 
An Ethiopian feast...
Writing this blog and researching this country has made me aware of just how bad it is in other parts of the world, and also here in this country. I'd like to start mentioning a different charity each week in hopes of raising awareness. If you can donate, that's awesome, if you can't, that's cool, too...this week I was reading about a charity called Charity Water. What they do there is dig wells in African villages so the people can have clean drinking water. The website is http://www.charitywater.org and they have a toll free number 888-707-6466. Just something to think about!
Ethiopia is a landlocked state in the Horn of Africa. It's capitol is Addis Ababa. It's the second most populus nation in Africa. It's bordered by Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, Sudan to the west and Eritra to the north.
Although most African nations are, in their modern form, less than a century old, Ethiopia has been an independent state since ancient times, being one of the oldest countries in the world. It's a land of natural contrasts, with magnificent waterfalls and volcanic hot springs. Ethiopia is home to some of Africa's highest mountains, as well as some of the world's lowest points below sea level. Africa's largest cave is located at Sof Omar and Ethiopia's northernmost area at Dallol is one of the hottest places year-round on Earth.
The biggest export commodity is coffee beans. It is tenth in the world for producing livestock and other main commodities are: khat (I'm not sure what that is), gold, leather products and oilseeds.
Here is a picture of the chickpea wat...I can't say that I was in love with this dish. I didn't dislike it either...it just wasn't one of my favorites! Let me tell you a little gripe I have: I needed cardamom for a couple of these dishes and when I went to the store, it was over $9 a jar...ridiculously expensive!! I went to Winco this morning because they have a great bulk food selection and found it, finally! There is was over $16 a pound!! I bought 28 cents worth....I just can't get over the price! It's wonderful with a citrusy scent and flavor, yet, it's also earthy! Fantastic!
Ethiopians migrate to urbans areas because they are motivated by the hope of better living conditions. In rural areas, daily life is a struggle to survive. About 16% of the population is living on less than $1 per day, according to a 2008 study. Only 65% of the households consume the World Health Organization's minimum standard of food per day (2200 kilocalories), with 42% of children under age 5 being underweight. 75% of poor families share their sleeping quarters with livestock and 40% of children sleep on the floor. The average family size is 6-7 people, living in 30 square meter hut made of mud and thatch. The family usually has less than 2 hectacres of land to cultivate. Since land holdings are so small, farmers cannot let the land lie fallow, which reduces soil fertility. This land degradation reduces the amount of fodder needed for livestock, which causes low milk yields. Since communities burn manure for fuel, rather than plowing it back into the ground for fertilizer, crop production is reduced. Low productivity of agriculture leads to inadequate incomes for farmers, therefore, hunger, malnutrition and disease run rampant. When the farmers are unhealthy, they have a hard time working the land and productivity drops even mroe. It's a vicious cycle.
Although conditions are drastically better in the cities, all of Ethiopia suffers from poverty and poor sanitation. In Addis Ababa, 55% of the population lives in slums. Although there are some wealthy neighborhoods with mansions, most people make their houses with whatever materials are available with walls made of mud or wood. Only 12% of homes have cement or tile floors.
Ethiopia sorely lacks in waste treatment facilities, and this is the major contributor to the spread of illness though the water supply.
Ethiopian Chicken Wings should be their own food group...DELICIOUS!! And a much healthier alternative to deep frying. First you boil the wings, then toss with the sauce and bake...OMG!! Here is my other gripe! When I first started making chicken wings in the late 80's, they practically gave the suckers away...now for just under 2 pounds, I paid almost $6...RIDICULOUS!!!
Ethiopian Chicken Wings should be their own food group...DELICIOUS!! And a much healthier alternative to deep frying. First you boil the wings, then toss with the sauce and bake...OMG!! Here is my other gripe! When I first started making chicken wings in the late 80's, they practically gave the suckers away...now for just under 2 pounds, I paid almost $6...RIDICULOUS!!!
Ethiopian cuisine usually consists of spicy vegetables and the meat dishes, usually in the form of a wat, a thick stew, are served on top of injera, a large piece of sourdough flatbread, which is about 20 inches in diameter and is made of fermented teff flour.
Ethiopians eat with their right hands, the reason should be obvious, using pieces of injura to pick up bites of entrees and side dishes. No utensils are used.
Traditional cuisine uses no pork of any kind, as most of the population are Orthodox Christians, Muslims or Jews and are thus prohibited from eating pork.
Coffee (buna) originates from Ethiopia and is a central part of Ethiopian beverages. Equally important is the ceremony that goes along with the serving of buna, which is served from a jebena, a clay coffee pot in which the buna has been boiled. In most homes, there is a dedicated coffee area surrounded by fresh grass with special furniturefor the coffee maker. A complete ceremony has three rounds of coffee accompanied by burning of frankincense.
A mesob is a tabletop on which food is served. A mesob is usually woven from straw. It has a lid that is kept on until it's time to eat. Just before the food is ready, a basin of water and soap is brought out for hand washing. When the food is ready, the top is taken off the mesob and the food is placed inside. When the meal is finished, the basin of water and soap is brought back out for the hands to be washed again.
Ethiopian Spiced Cottage Cheese...this is fantastic! I didn't use collard greens, I couldn't find them...I used frozen spinach instead and I had to leave out the hot pepper for Bob's sake. He could actually eat and enjoy the cottage cheese, which was nice!
An Ethiopian feast...
Writing this blog and researching this country has made me aware of just how bad it is in other parts of the world, and also here in this country. I'd like to start mentioning a different charity each week in hopes of raising awareness. If you can donate, that's awesome, if you can't, that's cool, too...this week I was reading about a charity called Charity Water. What they do there is dig wells in African villages so the people can have clean drinking water. The website is http://www.charitywater.org and they have a toll free number 888-707-6466. Just something to think about!
I'd like to take a minute just to reflect on a lost life this week. Little Benjamin Ricketts put up a fight, but, ultimately, God chose to take this little boy back to Him and maybe you could just pause for a minute and send thoughts and prayers to his parents, Dave and Steph, for peace of mind in this hard time. It's a sad situation. Please make sure your mini-blind cords are up, up, up! Little Benjamin is in my thoughts and prayers tonight.
Groceries for tonight's meal cost me $19.24 which left just 76 cents to go into the Beach Bag. This is week 21 folks...5 more weeks and I'm halfway done with this project. The Beach Bag total is $126.61.
This week, DeCafinNW picked Kenya and chi_phx_singer picked China. This was quite the close vote, majority rules! China is next week. So, until we meet up in China...pick a random person and say or do something nice for them! There is already enough hate and discontent in this world, let's try to change that!! Peace!!
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