Tastes from Ukraine

 

When thinking of Ukrainian food, this may not be the first thing that comes to mind.  In fact, it may not come to mind at all.  But for us, we remember mayonnaise chicken.  I'm sure it came about just from the creativity of the Ukrainian housewives.  They use a little of everything they have with delicious results.  Whenever they could afford it, this is what Kristina usually fed us.  Because my husband was craving it, I decided to fix some the other day...and a few more days after that as well.

Ingredients:

Mayo (1-1/2 cups)

1 egg

juice from 1/2 a lemon

some or all of the following (onion, green onion, garlic, salt, pepper)

Spices/fresh herbs (I used rosemary this time because I was craving the flavor, but you can use whatever you have...dill, oregano, basil...)

Mix all of the ingredients together.  Spread over chicken pieces in pan.

Cover with tinfoil and bake at about 325-350 for about 45-1 hr.

Any additional cooking, I usually cook at 425.

Ukrainians usually use chicken with the skins and bones.  I've done both skinless and with skins.

Moms ~ Making Memories

 Isn't he getting so big?  His cheeks are just as soft and kissable as they look!

A mom...growing up, that's what I wanted to be, just like my mom.  

She made the job look so fun!

Yeah, some may have criticizes her when there were dishes in the sink,

but while others were doing dishes,

she was cuddling and giving kisses.

 'Cause dishes, they will last,

but time soon will past.

You put up with imperfect jobs done, so that we would learn to do it too.

Now that I am a mom, I know how hard it is to not just 'do it yourself'.

You sat on my bed with me and listened to my worries.

You had warm cocoa waiting on winter days

and blankets warmed in the dryer to cuddle with on the couch.

You always told me

"When you are hurting, sad or lonely, reach out to help someone else."

You were always ready to play a game of cops and robbers or baseball.

Even though other moms had "successful" careers,

you were there for us...

and we knew

you'd rather be a mom to us 

than the most influential woman in the world.

 

One of my most precious memories of you

is waking in the middle of the night (or at least it seemed that way)

to see you praying.  I knew it was for us.

Thank you for teaching us God's Word.

Thank you for teaching me to make memories with my children

and I can't wait to share them with you.

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU LOVE ME!

(Text on pictures from the book "Guess How Much I Love You" by Sam McBratney...our bedtime book.  This post does not contain entire text from book.)

Flutter Brain of an Inactive Missionary

 AHH!  Where to begin?  I have so many things I want to write about and share with you but my mind draws a complete blank as soon as I actually have time to sit down and write!  We have been riding in the car SO much that it might be nice to not have a vehicle when we get back to Ukraine.....I take that back.  We will be returning right when it's starting to get cold.  I do still miss my more active lifestyle in Ukraine.  It seems like all I do is sit now.
 

Only 1 1/2 months until we get to see my parents!  We are all getting excited.  For some (Sammy and Daniel) it will be the first time meeting their grandparents...though the girls were still quite small last time we saw them (Lydia was about 9 months and Anna was 2).  We enjoyed watching videos that Grampy made over the years, so I'm sure it won't take them long to warm up and start having fun.  After that, we will head up to Maryland for a month, visit with some old friends (looking forward to seeing you, Tiffany!); then it's back up to Maine.  The kids all said it's been too long since we've been to Grampy and Grammy Curtis' house and I know they are looking forward to destroying  .. helping in the garden.  I'm just going to be the bunny who sneaks in and nibbles off of everything.  One of the things I miss from Ukraine are the fresh herbs - ESPECIALLY the fresh dill.  The kids and I could eat a ton of that.  When I first arrived in Ukraine, I greatly missed all of the American salad dressings (ranch, blue cheese..).  But as long as you have dill, you don't need any of those.  In fact, it is better with the dill and a little apple cider vinegar or oil.  Mmmm.  I can smell and taste that fresh dill now.  Looking forward to a BIG bowl of borsch with freshly chopped dill sprinkled on top and a piece, no a LOAF, of black bread. :)

Even with nothing to say, I have managed to ramble my time away.  The kids are just starting to wake up and we are going to head outside.  They need to run as much as they can whenever they get an opportunity.  Because I've been having quite a few breathing/coughing problems, Eric left us here at our home church while he went to the meeting tonight.  I am enjoying a little break, um...with 4 kids.   I would appreciate your prayers concerning my health.  Not sure exactly what it is, but I am back on steroids for a short period of time.  It has also been recommended that I see a lung specialist.  I am hating that because they will probably just tell me it is nothing and to stay on steroids or something.  If so, I can probably just control it by monitoring what I eat - which I haven't been doing to well lately.  Too much good American junk. :)

Guess I need to get going.  The kids are all antsy to get outside...and so am I. 

(The pictures were taken when we went to the Richmond park with our Pastor on just a fun outing.)

Around Tennessee - part 3

It has been so long since our visit to Tennessee that I considered just skipping this post and moving on.  Until I saw this guys face...

 Haha!

When we first pulled up to the little petting zoo, we were greeted by this guy strutting his feathers around.  Isn't he beautiful?!

Eric decided not to bring the stroller out this time, so Lydia actually interacted...in fact, she was the bravest one!

This zebra did not want us petting him.  He would grab the food we offered then quickly turn away.

Anna and I went into the deer kennel, but we didn't stay long as they were a little overwhelming.  We didn't think we were going to make it out!  (Maybe that's why Anna was nervous about the other animals.)  They were a little too friendly for her.

The llama was very willing to pose for me and even waited for me to switch my camera batteries. :)

I had to snap pictures quick when the kids sat down on this little bench not only because my batteries were dead (again), but also because I thought the bench might collapse!

The peacock came out to say goodbye when we were leaving.  The kids had so much fun!

Around Tennesse - part 2

After the aquarium, we went to Parrot Mountain...again - AMAZING!  There were verses everywhere, reminding us of our Great Creator.  Anna and Sammy loved it, but Lydia just wanted to stay in the stroller.  (Another blessing.  A sweet friend gave me a double stroller for Daniel and Sammy, but Lydia gets in it every chance she gets.)

The birds were BEAUTIFUL and the kids were amazed that they could talk. :)

 

We walked through the beautiful, peaceful garden...

and played by the falls.

Sammy is always ready to give kisses and I LOVE it.

Saw this and thought it would be perfect behind my house in Ukraine with my grape vines growing over it...

They had a section with a stable, 3 crosses and an empty tomb.  I had wanted to do something with this picture for Resurrection Sunday, but didn't have time.

The kids weren't brave enough to feed the birds, but they enjoyed watching Daddy do it.

They even had birds for sale, but it didn't look like this guy wanted to be sold.

Don't we have an Awesome Creator?!