Humus

Humus

Humus is one of those middle-east dips, very popular is Cyprus, that are so yummy and so easy to make.

These are all the ingredients you need:

• A tin of chick peas (unless you want to boil your own of course)
• 5 table-spoons of Tahini
• 1/2 large lemon (or a whole small)
• 3 cloves of garlic
• Approximately 1/3 glass of water
• Salt according to taste

If you've got a food processor just crush the garlic and then stick everything in. If you've got a mortar and pestle just follow the same process, and enjoy it with pitta bread or just the normal bread that you like.

Soon to hit the road

Only about 10 days left before we get back on the road, this time to travel north.
Our destination this time is Scandinavia.
There is always some uncertainty and a sense of the unknown before every trip we are to take. This may be in part due to life experiences that teach us that things don't always turn out the way we expect them to.

This is what happened to us in the summer of 2007 as we were setting off on a very much anticipated sailing holiday. The boat trailer snaked, I've lost control, and all our plans for a fantastic sailing trip in the Aegean just ended on day one. This has taught us the valuable lesson that there is always some uncertainty in regards to the future.
In many ways, this makes us to draw closer to God asking for his blessing on the trip that we are to embark upon. We are not the masters of our fate. God is.

The van has just recently been MOT tested and the two front tyres were replaced.
Some DIY saved a few pennies as I changed the oil, oil filter and air filter, fixed a bit of rust under the body and painted it with underbody sealant.
I've also changed the door rubber seals as the old ones had some cracks and water was coming in when it rained. I found that an old bicycle tube works quite well in sealing doors. The rear door seals could not be replaced with any universal seals, they needed specially made rubber seals for the particular model. Instead at no cost at all, an inner bicycle tube stuck with contact adhesive works just fine.

Anyway, keep us in you thoughts and prayers as we set off on the 10th of June aiming in this trip, God willing, to cross the Arctic circle and watch the midnight sun. We'll keep you posted

Dandelion

Dandelion

Have you got some dandelions in your garden and you are thinking of going to the store to buy some chemical poison to get rid of them so that it doesn't spoil your lovely lawn?
Why don't you eat them instead? You will find dandelions growing everywhere in spring and throughout the summer and early autumn. So if you are camping and you go for a walk in the fields, have a look and see if there are some dandelions around.

The leaves are edible and tasty with a slight bitter taste to them!!

I normally take a knife and cut it near the root. I leave the root in, so that I could get another crop. By leaving the root in, the plant remains alive. (Of course if you want to clear your lawn from them, pluck them by the root).
If they have flowered, throw the flowers away but if they have already seeded, take care so that  the hundreds of little seeds will not spread everywhere. You want leaves that are big enough and still tender. Note: the older the leaves are, the more bitter they are.

Boil them for 10 minutes and then change the water. Boil them for another 10-15 minutes, adding some salt in the water, and they are ready. You must change the water to get rid of the bitterness.

Dress them with olive oil and lemon and serve as a side dish. They are a great companion to fried or BBQ fish.

Simple Living. What is it?

According to Wikipedia:
Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. These may include reducing one's possessions or increasing self-sufficiency, for example. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they need rather than want. Although asceticism generally promotes living simply and refraining from luxury and indulgence, not all proponents of simple living are ascetics. Simple living is distinct from those living in forced poverty, as it is a voluntary lifestyle choice.
Adherents may choose simple living for a variety of personal reasons, such as spirituality, health, increase in quality time for family and friends, work–life balance, personal taste, frugality, or reducing personal ecological footprint and stress. Simple living can also be a reaction to materialism and conspicuous consumption.
For the full article visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living

Simple living and Christian spirituality

For me, simplicity is one of the joys of the Christian faith.

"Look at the birds of the air" Jesus said, "they don't sow or reap and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?" "See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon (the richest king of Israel) in all his splendour was dressed like one of these."


How many people in world history built palaces and castles which in the end became their prisons. For all the comforts material possessions can afford they can never buy happiness. We struggle through life, spending our days on trying to get more and better things and all the while we neglect the simple things in life. Yet it is as if God is saying, "Look I've given you so much to make you happy and it's all free."  Take time to watch a sunset, a flower, a tree, a river, a beach, Spend time to have a conversation with someone you love.


St Francis of Assisi sat down to eat some dry bread with his friend Masseo next to a stream. A large rock served as a table. They had been walking through villages telling with words and actions of their love for Jesus. As they sat down, Francis seemed to be in rapture; "brother Masseo, we don't deserve such kindness". He said it again and again:  "brother Masseo, we don't deserve such kindness".  At long last Masseo turned and said to his friend: "We've got no table, no table cloth, no servants to serve us, no silver and only this dry bread for food". "Brother Masseo" said Francis, "all that we have was given to us by no human hand but by God".


The Bishop of Assisi once said to Francis, “I think your life is too hard, too rough. You don’t possess anything in this world.” And Francis replied, “If we had possessions, we would need weapons to defend them. They are frequently a source of quarrels and lawsuits. Possessions usually prove to be an obstacle in one’s search for God. That is why we do not desire temporal goods.”

Melitzanosalata

Melitzanosalata
(Aubergine or Egg-plant Salad)

Here is another one of those great meze to dip your bread.

Ingredients:

2 large Bell Aubergines (Egg Plants)

3 cloves of garlic

3 or 4 tablespoons of olive oil

half a lemon

a pinch of salt

Ideal for when you have a BBQ. When you light the coals or your wood and you are waiting for the coals to get ready, then just place the aubergine's on the flame. When soft and can be squeezed with a spoon, take them off the fire and let them cool down. Cut them in half and with a spoon scoop out the inside of the aubergines. Crash the garlic and add it with the rest of the ingredients. Mix well and serve.

You can try different variations by adding one of the following: Paprika, feta cheese, walnuts. 

Fish Soup

Fish Soup

Here is another great soup for the winter

Ingredients:

½ Kg of boneless fish

2 Carrots

1 Onion

2 Potatoes

5 medium size celery leaves with stems

½ cup of Rice

Olive oil

Lemon

1 teaspoon of Salt

Method:

Boil the fish in half a pot of water with the salt for 2 or 3 minutes. Fish doesn't take long to cook, but please do make sure that it's cooked

Take the fish out and in the broth now place the potatoes and carrots (cut in small pieces) and a whole onion. Wash the rice and add it. Let them boil until the potatoes and rice is cooked.

Add the fish and let everything boil for another 2 or 3 minutes

After it's cooked add a bit of olive oil and black pepper for taste.

Serve with freshly squeezed lemon juice.