TinRooftopia

Last Monday, the entire Filipino population that we've befriended in the past few months was at our doorstep... it was Moving Day for the Americanos!
We started at 9:00 in the morning and with all hands on deck, we were completely moved in by noon! The typhoon off the coast had drenched Manila in heavy rains and floods for the previous 2 weeks, but not a single drop fell to the ground on Monday.... instead, the Lord gave us a crisp blue sky and lots of brilliant sunshine!

We've been in our new house just one week, and it already feels like home. We're next door to the clinic and if we peek off our porch, we can see the birthroom just across the way!Roosters compete all day for the loudest cock-a-doodle-doo, and the smoke of cooking fires drifts through our windows, reminding us of the simplicity of life. I could go on and on, but instead of making a futile attempt at describing every last detail, I will give you a virtual tour through my new little home...

Our kitchen & dining room:

If you can spot the colorful mugs hanging from the cabinet,
you will see my favorite part of the kitchen...

The little white door leads to the CR (Comfort Room):

This shot is from the front door into the house; the kitchen is on your
right, and the living room is in the back of the room...

Behind the little white door:

We have running water from noon through the night,
but the sewage system still requires bucket flushing...

A book shelf to keep us studious:

Required reading, book reports, textbooks, workbooks...
... and the clock, our faithful challenger

Our Bedroom:

Oh the delight of crawling into my mosquito-netted cocoon each night,
with the cool evening breeze floating into my room... I'm on the top bunk

Dinner Time:

Here is our little stove-top, with a view that inspires culinary
excellence; and our dining table... no, it's never really this clean :)

And finally, our lovely view:

Tin roofs, palm trees, smoke and clouds... We now live in the slums of Pingki-an, a small village that most of the women we serve call home.
In the last picture, you can see our front door on the right, and the birthroom
window on the left... it doesn't get any better!


My New Address:
Deborah Kay Lohnes
#26 Pingki-an I
Tandang Sora, Pasong Tamo
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1107

Gastronomical Coincidence

This entry marks the beginning of a new blog 'trend' for me. Instead of the lengthy, infrequent entries I have previously been inclined to writing, I have resolved to offer you the more day-to-day anecdotes of my life. Not only will it be more favorable to my sporadic schedule, but I am hopeful that it will also paint a more colorful picture of daily life here in Manila. With that said, I will inaugurate the occasion with this simple but delightful little incident…

It all started last Sunday, when our program director, Vicki, treated us to a movie in an enormous, A/C-ed movie theater. We arrived at the mall right in time to take our seats in the dark room and quickly got comfortable for the ‘Feature Presentation:’ Ratatouille. The story itself was somewhat of a paradox of emotion for me: the Parisian setting making me slightly homesick for a nice stroll through the Quartier Latin; the theme of a rat infestation making me home-sick in a very literal way for what could easily become a reality here in my new home …:)

But that’s beside the point. Remy, the hero of the movie, is a dreamy little rat with high hopes… his taste buds are refined, his sense of smell superior, and when opportunity knocks, he is quick to become a gourmet chef in a 5 star restaurant! For those of you who have seen it, you can understand how easily this little guy’s fairytale inspirations became my own. You see, Hannah and I have the great pleasure of both choosing menus and cooking meals each night. Instantly, we were both craving a good Ratatouille… but how to make the best without an oven?

A couple days later, I was browsing online for the best ‘stove-top Ratatouille’ recipe in the book (…or on the world-wide-web in this case). Nothing seemed quite right, but I hadn’t given up completely. As I opened yet another promising page, up popped a chat window – it was Rebecca, my very own sister, saying ‘hi.’ I explained to her my dilemma, and to my delight, she answered that she always makes Ratatouille on the stove. Perfect! I jotted down the recipe, tips included… the perfect interactive recipe, at last! But the fun didn’t end there. Becca, who had been looking for a stove-top recipe to make in her own ovenless home was equally inspired… and it all started last Sunday.

That night, Vicki and her husband, Scott, came back for dinner. The vegetables simmered, the rice boiled, and the fish browned into a most satisfying Ratatouille. But the best part of the story is this: On August 8^th, 2007, 2 sisters, separated by miles of vast ocean, were brought together around a gastronomical coincidence, a culinary delight. A simple, provincial dish, though delectable in its own essence, bridged the gaping expanse between us.

Ratatouille à la Lohnes

2 Large Zucchinis – thinly sliced
2 Large Eggplants - thinly sliced
2 Medium Red Peppers
2 Cans Stewed Tomatoes, drained
Fresh Basil, chopped
Fresh Oregano, chopped
Fresh Rosemary
3 Cloves Garlic
3 Medium Red Onions – sliced
1 TBsp. Butter
2 TBsp. Olive Oil
1 Can Artichoke Hearts
Salt & Pepper to taste

1. Slice all the vegetables into rounds. Place aside.
2. Place the eggplant in a strainer, salt it, and let it drain.
3. On medium heat, simmer the onions, garlic, fresh spices and butter together until soft and fragrant.
4. Layer the zucchini, eggplant, peppers and stewed tomatoes on top of the onion & spice mix.
5. Drizzle the olive oil on top of vegetables, adding a dash of salt & pepper.
6. On low heat, cover to let steam and simmer approx. 20-25 minutes (until all vegetables are tender), mixing every now and then to prevent burning or sticking.
7. Serve with rice and fish.

Bon Appetit!
I love you Becca Joy-of-my-life...