cooking again, and of course, eating

 (I wrote this last week sometime and am finally getting it posted!)

the end of our first full week back. i'm glad to say that we are doing/feeling better than a week ago...beginning to feel a little more ourselves and slowly make the transition back into the lives we left at the end of February. still lots of room for healing, but definitely, the hurt and disappointment doesn't feel so raw.

and though we've enjoyed several wonderful meals brought by friends (in fact, just finished eating some wonderful lasagna--thanks connie) i have started cooking again after my hiatus in k-stan. on wednesday i found myself craving some of the yummy cabbage/carrot slaw-type salads we had at the breakfast buffet in kaz. they really do make the most of cabbage and carrots, and though some of their concoctions were better than others, i have found myself missing having some veggies with my breakfast.

i've looked up some kaz recipes and haven't actually found any salad type recipe yet, though i copied a recipe for sauteed lamb, onion, and carrot that looks really good. i did however find a nice asian salad recipe, which i made and added peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, cilantro, pinto beans, and grilled chicken. we really liked it, and rob actually asked "is it repeatable?" (he's learned to ask this b/c i have a habit of changing recipes and experimenting--which is great, until you want to recreate something that turned out well and you don't know how. ;-p)

 

ait actually tasted better than it looks here. if any of you former kaz travelers have any suggestions for a good carrot or slaw salad, let me know. there was a particarly tasty savory one on one of our last days at the shiny river...wish i could figure out what was in it.)

now these flat bread pizzas actually look as good as they tasted, i think.  yummy! and a good way to use up flatbread that's been in the freezer too long.

yesterday i made a crockpot full of ham and bean soup. it was good, but not stellar, which is a little disappointing. the problem is, too, that there's a lot of it --and it stays with you longer than you like in other ways as well, if you know what i mean.;-p

by far the best little comfort we've afforded ourselves in this past week has been milkshakes. yes, we've had way too many of them, justifying our over-indulgence after a tough last month...but they are soooooooo good... i'm just sure God meant them to be enjoyed. and i'm pretty sure i have gained a few pounds since getting back last week. ;-[

mmmm need i say more????