Holidays are always more homey with family and friends, which is why it was such a treat to have Michelle up to Cabo Delgado to celebrate Easter! You may recall the incredible banquet that was Thanksgiving at the missionaries' house in Montepuez...we did too and so when we were invited there for an Easter service and brunch we didn't need to be asked twice! Food aside, it was a really great experience and one of the highlights of the holiday was a sunrise sumitting of one of the city's mountains to have a small prayer service on top. Throughout the hike up (short walk at an above average incline) it was extremely foggy, which was well-welcomed as we were able to escape the heat of the sun. The fog finally burned off during the last 20 minutes or so on the summit, just enough time to take some photos before our decent, which was much hotter than the ascent. Having accomplished the mission, we rewarded ourselves by stuffing bacon and egg casserole, cinnamon rolls, chocolate bread, quiche and many other delights into our mouths at the house of one of the missionary families, with a short prayer service to wrap it up. We rounded the festivities off with a little volleyball before Michelle and I headed back to Metoro.
Our time together was defined by two main forms of existence: 1) basking in the close proximity that we normally don't have to each other as we passear-ed, visited my host mother, cleaned clothes and all sorts of other normal daily tasks, and 2) eating some of the most delicious food ever to grace the plates of my Metoran residence. It's hard to describe how well we ate in Metoro. Some of these magical morsels included:
- homemade ice cream WITH homemade peanut butter cups
- fish tacos/burritos - Michellle absolutely nailed the tortillas and they would have made a Mexican abuelita proud; I didn't do so shabby on my breaded and cajun seasoned fish pieces either
- fresh salads with a dressing recipe inspired by my host mother from Germany
- rice and beans (very seasoned) with an egg fried and served on top
- porridge with milk, sugar and fresh toasted cashews that were picked up on the way up from Nampula
- a macaroni hot dish that started out as going to be a soup and ended up being pasta with an almost creamy sauce, warm and perfect for the cool temperatures that Metoro has been experiencing during the evenings
- popcorn with salt and chile powder sprinkled on it
Another fun part of the trip was the peanut butter making demonstration that we did close to the market. I had previously set up a date with one of the market vendors to do this demonstration and it so happened that we had to postpone it, which led to Michelle being able to be there for it! I've dabbled in the peanut butter making business and Michelle has done more than her fair share of PB production, so together we were able to square away what I would describe as fairly solid lessons in how to make the stuff. There were roughly 15 adults involved or watching and at least 25 kids, who became quite the force to be reckoned with once they began to swarm about in numbers after receiving a peanut butter sample. In the end, many people said that they were surprised how easily peanut butter could be made and that they would give it a go at home. Additionally, the children loved it and will hopefully have the chance to benefit from the positive aspects of having access to a supply of it at home.
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| Isa and Michelle gazing out over their empire |
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| The group chatting a bit on the top of the 'mountain' after a successful ascent. Unfortunately, there was a lot of graffiti on the top; I thought this was a nice ironic shot to capture |
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| Ben (PCV in Montepuez) and Dannia (my neighbor in Ancuabe) |
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| There were some local children who made the climb with us. I caught one of them as sitting staring into the fog. It turns out he wasn't in the middle of a Zen experience, but was looking down on his partners in crime as they caused a ruckus below |
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| The whole PCV crew that made it for Easter |
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| There was a small praise and worship session on the top of the mountain led by the missionaries |
Huge thanks to Michelle for taking photos during the peanut butter demonstration...
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| The biggest challenge we would face during the peanut butter demonstration would be the weather, as this photo hints at... |
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| The three main vendors involved in the setup and execution of the peanut butter project: Vitor, Marcucheni and Antonio (from left to right) |
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Step one: After the sand has been heated (used to give peanuts an even roast), add the
peanuts and start stirring |
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| Step 2: After the peanuts are sufficiently roasted, take them out of the pan and let them cool a tad before breaking them in half to separate them from their inner husk |
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| Step 3: Toss the peanuts to get rid of the husks |
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| Step 4: Pound the peanuts into the consistency desired, adding a pinch of salt and sugar (to taste) |
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| Step 5: Share the peanut butter with all of your friends and encourage them to begin making their own! |
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| As you can see, there was a posse of children anywhere the peanut butter was, hoping for a second taste |
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| A plate of the bounty that was the Easter brunch buffet line |
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| Heaven in a bag...homemade ice cream with homemade peanut butter cups to put inside! |
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Fantastic dining...some of the best fish tacos I have ever had. It's great to have
such a culinary inspiration for a girlfriend |
