September

September is here, and it’s a time of rebirth and gratitude.  Tricia and I are on our feet again after Damien and Natalya’s departure.  The Super Summer is over, and we are changed people.  Damien and Natalya’s influence appears in the books we read, the food we cook and the way we handle our money.  They gave us a useful tool in managing our money – The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey: http://www.totalmoneymakeover.com/ 

Instead of the autopilot existence of consumerism, we are re-training our minds to enjoy what we already have.  Instead of engaging our cars’ autopilot feature of driving us to the “maul”, we are using our bikes for more fun – and refreshingly less expensive – ventures.

Impressed by Damien and Natalya’s goal of eating out only once a week, I’ve enjoyed more time in the kitchen.  Tricia is a willing taste-tester for new recipes.  Thanks to Natalya, we can have homemade pizzas and delicious raspberry brownies (that are allegedly low in fat) in the comfort of our newly minted dining room.  Cafe Colbert is by far our favorite dining spot.  Except for the occasional barking from the canine patrons, it is blissfully quiet.  And tips are optional.

I tried a new Indian recipe this week that we just loved called Chili Coconut Chicken, created by Monica Bhide:

http://books.google.com/books?id=2f5RaHunKK0C&lpg=PT98&ots=P6Zd_BKfAx&dq=chili%20coconut%20chicken%20monica%20bhide&pg=PT117#v=onepage&q=&f=false

If you are interested in cooking Indian dishes, this is a wonderful book.  There are several other recpies by Ms. Bhide that are now family favorites at Cafe Colbert.

The New Orleans influence is making an appearance in Provo as well.  Damien and Natalya hosted a New Orleans party for their friends.  Their guests were treated to delicious New Orleans cuisine, and games where contestants were asked to pronounce certain words in the proper N’Awlins style.  Oh, to be there to hear their attempt to reduce their crisp and properly pronounced “R” to the smooth crawl (not drawl) of the New Orleanian “Awe”!  Or the courageous attempt at ”Tchoupitoulas”.  As MawMaw predicted, Damien and Natalya drank the KoolAid and have fallen in love with NOLA.  I think the bug bit Damien 20 years ago, but he’d never hear that from me…

I am overjoyed to report that our “home teachers”, a.k.a. Damien and Natalya, are making a return appearance at Thanksgiving!  Gratitude indeed!

test Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (1)