Delectable Dining

Meet Shanique (the 13 year old that I mentor this summer)

Hello friends! Now as you may know, one of my main passions is food: I love to cook, am addicted to the Food Channel, read cookbooks for leisure (weird, I know), and of course, I find great fun in trying new foods whenever possible. You will understand my sheer excitement then when I can say that I was able to eat at the homes of two of my Jamaican friends this past Saturday. God has blessed me with so many friends here that are willing to open up their homes to me and the other summer staffers for a delicious meal now and again.
Sunday afternoon, our friend Opal had the entire summer staff over for an authentic Jamaican meal. She made the national dish of saltfish and ackee, which consists of cured cod and a local fruit cooked just right... in fact, unless it is prepared correctly, ackee is poisonous. We also enjoyed yams and dumplings. The menu was amazing, yet the best part about the afternoon was hanging out with Opal and her children. We played dominoes, played with various animals, and were able to enjoy each others company. Opal was so loving to open her kitchen to us, and I praise God for the glorious woman that she is.
As if I wasn't lucky enough already, Shanique (the girl in the picture) and her mother invited my friend John and I to dinner that night. Not only was the chicken, rice, and vegetable gravy insanely good, but we didn't stop laughing for the entire meal. Whether Shanique was singing, her mother was pulling us into some dinner table games ("smash the finger, don't cry" anyone?), or we were doing handclaps, the evening was festive. I am truly fortunate to have these friends down here. I hope that you keep the locals in your prayers whenever you think of us down here in Harmons.
~Stay classy.