When I first moved to South Africa, there were foods I missed, dishes I couldn't prepare and things I couldn't find that left a "hole" in my cuisine. I was happy to discover a host of new flavours, dishes and food items, but I still missed things from America: fresh cranberries, Starbucks coffee and chocolate peanut butter ice cream. Queso cotijo, tomatillos, and boysenberries.
Over the past four years I've learned to adapt my cooking. I set aside my American dishes and learned how to cook South African dishes. I learned what the local ingredients were and how to use them. I developed a sort of American/African fusion cooking (ostrich chili, lemon and passionfruit meringue tart, and curried pumpkin and apple soup). I even learned what works as a substitute when the original ingredient can't be found.
But I still miss the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. So today, instead of complaining (of which I've done my fair share), I began brainstorming. How can I make something that I can't buy here? And what can I use in place of the ingredients I can't find? I planned, worked, substituted and got crazily creative. It was a huge risk - would my food substitutions work?
I am happy to say that my experiment was a success, which brings me to my point (for today's post is not about my cooking skills): I wonder what it would be like if I applied the same creativity, diligence and stubborn persistence to other areas of my life that have "holes"? How would that change difficult situations? My work and ministry? My marriage?
I know one thing for sure: there would be a lot less complaining and a lot more joy in the journey.
Over the past four years I've learned to adapt my cooking. I set aside my American dishes and learned how to cook South African dishes. I learned what the local ingredients were and how to use them. I developed a sort of American/African fusion cooking (ostrich chili, lemon and passionfruit meringue tart, and curried pumpkin and apple soup). I even learned what works as a substitute when the original ingredient can't be found.
But I still miss the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. So today, instead of complaining (of which I've done my fair share), I began brainstorming. How can I make something that I can't buy here? And what can I use in place of the ingredients I can't find? I planned, worked, substituted and got crazily creative. It was a huge risk - would my food substitutions work?
I am happy to say that my experiment was a success, which brings me to my point (for today's post is not about my cooking skills): I wonder what it would be like if I applied the same creativity, diligence and stubborn persistence to other areas of my life that have "holes"? How would that change difficult situations? My work and ministry? My marriage?
I know one thing for sure: there would be a lot less complaining and a lot more joy in the journey.
1 comment:
Now that I live back in America, I sorely miss our Ecuadorean food...homesickness sets in.
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