Category Archives: The family that plays with its food together stays together

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Serving Italian to South Africa

Our friend, Elaine, and her little ones came over for dinner yesterday. Her DH was out of town so we’ll have him over another day. Elaine is from South Africa and she’s here for the year due to her husband’s job bringing them over here for a long stint. He’s been here before but for only short spells, like 6 weeks at a time. We are SO thankful he was brought over for a year so we could get to know him and his family but it seems ironic that they come from exotic South Africa to Hagerstown, IN. They have been here since the fall and their little ones, who didn’t speak a bit of English, are so funny! (They know some, now, though). The little girls play with ours and they have a grand time despite the language barrier. They have learned enough to get by and I find it absolutely hilarious to hear the younger one speak Afrikaans with a Hoosier accent! As if that would make her language understandable to us! Too cute! I have no idea what she’s saying but there’s no doubt she’s replaced the beautiful South African accent with our drab Midwestern modulation in hopes of being understood or, at least, mistaken for a local resident. Not gonna happen, sweetie!

We enjoyed fascinating conversation and learned much about her home. A political leader there was recently brutally murdered and the country is in an emotional state right now. Elaine has been told by family that they couldn’t have picked a better time to come to America. We think we have it bad here but it’s still the best country to live in (at least for now!) We’re kind of hoping that Elaine and her family end up moving here…we’re greedy, we know.

So, we served:

Spring Mix Greens with Avocado (Lenae with Jillian chopping up the Avocado)
Bruschetta (Momma made the marinade, Ben chopped the tomatoes, Jillian sliced and sautéed baguettes & assembled – love the team work)
Italian Bread with Garlic Butter (as in, NOT frozen garlic bread but Italian bread sliced and buttered – much better) (Lenae)
Lasagna Deliciousa (Momma & Benjamin with 4 y.o. reminding me just now that she stirred the egg and, yep, she said it, ricotta)
Tiramisu made with homemade CHOCOLATE ladyfingers. I cannot tell you how yummy this was but I will try…THIS WAS AMAZING! (Natalie)

That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:13

What’s not shared is lost,

Michelle

Posted in The family that plays with its food together stays together, Zookeeper & the F-Troop