Wednesday, March 18, 2009

A "recipe"

Since I still don't have NYC pictures to post, I thought I would post one of my favorite "recipes".

I put "recipe" in quotes because I don't really know if this is worthy of that title.

I make this all the time. I don't really like salsa or spicy foods at all, so I can make this and leave out the heat that usually comes with salsa.

The recipe:

1 can diced tomatoes
1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chiles
1 can black beans
1 can corn
2 tablespoons cumin (gradually add more to taste)
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 bag of Tostitos Scoops

Mix together! Yum! Yum!

I'm not kidding! This will be one of the best things you have ever ate!!

I promise.

Thank you Jennifer for this recipe several years ago!!!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Amazing Week

My dang memory card isn't working!!!! I have a zillion pictures to post, but can't get to them yet. I'll have much more interesting pictures to follow.

In the meantime, here's some great pictures from working at God's Love We Deliver.

Anyone living in the NYC area or visiting there should really check into volunteering! I can't describe how amazing it was.

This was defiantly one of the best experiences of my life!


We worked our butts off too!!

I would be so thankful to finally make it through chopping 200 lbs. of potatoes only to watch the chef drop about 200 lbs. of hamburger meat in front of me to mix with ingredients for meatloaf, then only to realize after that I would need to chop about 100 lbs. of onions!

No kidding...this is how everyday, all day was.

I met the most amazing people.

One of the guys I volunteered with had an amazing story. He was from Somalia and has lived in NYC for 8 years. I asked him why he volunteered and he said that he felt a strong desire to give back to NYC because he felt so blessed to be there. Here is his story:

After his entire family was killed, (mother, father, brothers, & sisters) he escaped Somalia with nothing but the clothes on his back.

He came straight to NYC without knowing one word of English and no money. He came all alone. He said he didn't know where to go for help or how to even ask anyone.

Eventually he found some help. He made friends with a man that starting trying to teach him English. The man mentioned that he should learn to do something with his hands to help with his nervousness and extreme depression.

He learned how to cook and is now a chef for an upscale private elementary school in Brooklyn. He recently found out his mom is still alive in Africa, but is struggling with breast cancer.

He was a little nervous talking to me, but I could tell he really enjoyed it. I think he was probably in his early 30's.

Can you imagine??? Talk about courage. I can't imagine being able to survive that. And now thousands of people are benefiting from his contribution every day through God's Love We Deliver. He said the only thing he couldn't do was help deliver the food because it was way to emotional for him. He has been there...starving and helpless.

And...he feels the need to volunteer his time each week to "give back"?? Most people would feel so cheated and that the world owes him not vice versa.

Not this man. What an amazing person! My life may be better from meeting him.

I could have spent the entire day with him listening to his stories.

Amazing...truly.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Just a few snapshots of NYC!

I'm having great time and can't wait to tell everyone more about it when I get back to Kentucky!

Thanks to all my friends for the text messages checking in on me!!!

On the Brooklyn Bridge...

Central Park...
Times Square...The great group of people I'm enjoying NYC with! (minus me, the photographer.)

To be continued...

Friday, March 6, 2009

Gods Love We Deliver

Tomorrow morning I am heading to NYC for the entire week.

I am going with another co-worker and six EKU students to volunteer for Gods Love We Deliver. We will be working for them everyday from 8am - 4pm. I'm super excited about this experience. I'll be in a kitchen all day, which as most know I'm pretty cool with that.

From Gods Love We Deliver website:

God's Love We Deliver's mission is to improve the health and well-being of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses by alleviating hunger and malnutrition. We prepare and deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to people who, because of their illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves.
We also provide illness-specific nutrition education and counseling to our clients, families, care providers and other service organizations.


Please view this entire video to see more about the mission of Gods Love We Deliver.




I'm also pretty excited about the house that we will be staying in, The Menno House.


Top of my list of places to visit in NYC???

Max Brenner for sure!! Check out their menu!!!

I can't wait to report back about my week and show off great pics!!

Keep us in your prayers! I hope this experience is as amazing as I am anticipating!

Sweets

Just wanted to post some recent sweets that I have enjoyed.

This is my mom's amazing homemade Coconut Cream Pie. Ummm...I'm lucky!!


I made these cupcakes twice this week. The second batch was better, just no pics of them. I got the idea from Omnomicon. You should really check her out! Amazing pictures!

Ok...maybe this isn't a sweet to eat, but sweet none the less. I made these for my friend Donya's baby boy, Brody. I need to research some more boy items to make!


Monday, March 2, 2009

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!


This is what Google's nameplate looked like today:

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss
PlushYou! featured an etsy store called Olive.

Man, I'm in love with their pillows! How cute are these?!!!


Also, Allsorts posted pictures of her "Creative Space".

I have never been more jealous of anyone in my life!!!!

Imagine all the creative possibilities in a space like this.
I'm in love with this "creative space"!!!!!!!!!!!!


All my dreams would come true with a room like this!!! Sigh...