Indian Food

I love to cook. I love to learn new things to cook and I love to try new food..Mate and Attis are good tasters and friends to help cook..well Attis is.. So one night when we were all getting together I cooked Chicken Curry and Tandoori Chicken. It involves a lot of spices but it is soo worth it and so delicious. I didn't make it too spicey but it was yummy spicey :)

Here are the recipies:

Tandoori Chicken

1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 tablespoons water
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

DIRECTIONS
Preheat grill for high heat.
In a medium bowl, mix curry powder, red pepper flakes, salt, ginger, paprika, cinnamon, and turmeric with water to form a smooth paste. Rub paste into chicken breasts, and place them on a plate. Cover, and allow to marinate for 20 minutes.
Brush grate with oil. Place chicken on the grill, and cook 6 to 8 minutes on each side, until juices run clear when pierced with a fork.

Chicken Curry
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon paprika
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
salt to taste
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until lightly browned. Stir in garlic, curry powder, cinnamon, paprika, bay leaf, ginger, sugar and salt. Continue stirring for 2 minutes. Add chicken pieces, tomato paste, yogurt, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
Remove bay leaf, and stir in lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Simmer 5 more minutes.

Back in Buda

Back in Buda.

The train strike still continues..
There was a bus that went from the Westbaunhof Train Station in Vienna to Keleti P.U in Budapest. Non-stop. 45 passengers.

It was a mad rush to get on. I had befriended 2 families from Australia or New Zealand..I dont remember.. and they were waiting for the train. I warned them .. when the doors open for the bus..push on.. dont worry about the older, younger, pregnant..just get on the bus :)

Okay, so it wasn't that dramatic but sometimes that's how I feel ...that it is like that here.

There is a airport strike but as of today things are better so hopefully I'll be able to get home just fine!!

Laundry is running.. christmas music is on and the cookie baking process is about to begin ;)

Christmas Markets Gallore

Vienna is my favorite city at Christmas hands down, even over Paris. I love it.  I was able to spend an extra night here because there is a train strike in Hungary so I'm unable to go back. Hopefully, things will get resloved and I'll be able to ride the train tomorrow or take a bus. 

Anyways, I was able to go to three different Christmas Markets and hang out with lots of good friends. I've had a restful weekend but also productive 

because I finished my Master's Class! :) Yippie!! 

Here's some beautiful pictures! 

OneIshy Personality Test

I'm working on my RD (residency director) application and we are required to take this test. Here are my results.. its made me think.. You can take the tests HERE
Your personality is Choleric Melancholy.
28%Melancholy Strength:6 Weakness:5
40%Choleric Strength:7 Weakness:9
So what's this mean..

The Choleric Strengths are:
The Extrovert The Doer The Optimist

The Choleric's Emotions
Born leader
Dynamic and active
Compulsive need for change
Must correct wrongs
Strong-willed and decisive
Unemotional
Not easily discouraged
Independent and self sufficient
Exudes confidence
Can run anything

The Choleric As A Parent
Exerts sound leadership
Establishes Goals
Motivates family to action
Knows the right answer
Organizes household

The Choleric At Work
Goal oriented
Sees the whole picture
Organizes well
Seeks practical solutions
Moves quickly to action
Delegates work
Insists on production
Makes the goal
Stimulates activity
Thrives on opposition

The Choleric As a Friend
Has little need for friends
Will work for group activity
Will lead and organize
Is usually right
Excels in emergencies

Melancholist The Introvert The Thinker The Pessimist
Melancholy's Emotions
Deep and thoughtfully
Analytical
Serious and purposeful
Genius prone
Talented and creative
Artistic or musical
Philosophical and poetic
appreciative of beauty
Sensitive to others
Self-sacrificing
Conscientious
Idealistic

The Melancholy As A Parent
Sets high standards
Wants everything done right
Keeps home in good order
Picks up after children
Sacrifices own will for others
Encourages scholarship and talent

The Melancholy At Work
Schedule oriented
Perfectionist, high standards
Detail conscious
Persistent and thorough
Orderly and organized
Neat and tidy
Economical
Sees the problems
Finds creative solutions
Needs to finish what he starts
Likes charts, graphs, figures, lists

The Melancholy As a Friend
Makes friends cautiously
Content to stay in background
Avoids causing attention
Faithful and devoted
Will listen to complaints
Can solve other's problems
Deep concern for other people
Moved to tears with compassion
Seeks ideal mate

So many of these are so true.. these are the strengths..the weaknesses aren't so pretty and unfortunately they are so true as well.

A new hobby

of mine is painting pottery. I found this great shop in downtown Budapest. Its called Made by You


They have a few shops throughout Central Europe. I've gone a few times to make presents. I just finished a jewelry making class which was a blast.

I don't know why that was all underlined..

Anyways, so the first cute girl is Catherine who is an ESI teacher here. I get to hang out with her sometimes and its always fun! The next girl is Gerda. She is Hungarian and is a new friend. She is the one who taught our glass jewelery class. I loved learning and she hosts her own classes which I am going to go to with some friends sometime.

She has her shop on ETSY which is an amazing website. I hope to get to know her better!

The cool thing about painting pottery is that I have to go back a few times just to finish my products. The girls there are sisters and they opened this franchise. I've gotten to know them and we are
on a first name basis!

I'd post some pictures of my finished products..but they are Christmas presents so I can't!

The last few pics are of Emeshea and her beautiful pottery. Emeshea and I are close friends and I always love hanging out with her!

A PACKAGE!

I love getting packages :) Yesterday was a hard day of teaching and I came home to a slip of paper..aka a package was waiting for me.. My cousin Lori sent me all of these oh so yummy goodies!! THANK YOU LORI! I was craving some sweet tea! And no.. the Xbox was not for me but it is an excellent packaging box :)

Sugar Cookies

Flora and I got together and made sugar cookies. I was stressed and one thing I do love to do is bake when I'm stressed. So, we made sugar cookies. I bought some Crisco from "America" (Cullinaris) and made some amazing icing. Then after making the icing, I realized my food coloring is at someone else's house!

So, Flora went to the store to buy food coloring and came back with Writing Icing.. which was AWESOME! So here's some of our creations!

I was able to have dinner with an old colleague and a current colleague and their wives. We had a blast talking and enjoying yummy snacks and these cookies and an amazing dinner.

It was wonderful to be with them and get to know them more!

In Christ Alone

This is what's speaking to my heart.. a reoccuring theme..

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand'
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
--In Christ Alone (Newsboys)

I love this....

Frauline..aka Leslie

One of my college roomates came to visit me for Thanksgiving. She arrived on the train from Vienna at 8:53pm..and the fun began. Leslie and I love watching movies and laying around..so when we weren't cooking for Thanksgivng for 35 people we were watching The Office or some other movie.
Its so nice to have someone so close (3hours by train) . She is a true gem and its truly like having a sister around.
I was glad to show her Budapest and let her get a feel for the former USSR :)
I will see her in Vienna soon when I visit to go to some Christmas Markets!!


Eating at Arriba's for Lunch! YUM

I went on a Women's Retreat two weeks ago. We talked about the season of life. I figured that I'm in a Winter almost into Spring in my life. I'm starting to see change in my life and big change will happen soon when I move back to America.

In the Ministry side of life, I'm in a summer..bearing fruit, looking at life through fresh eyes. Of course there are hard times and I have my off days but God sees me through those if I ask him through it..and graciously he does so.
One of the coolest parts of living in Hungary is being around old friends. Samm, pictures here smiling and taking notes..is a friend from my first time in Hungary. We've stayed in touch since and she lived with me last year. It was great to be there with her and support one another.

It was an incredible weekend for me and I'm very greatful to Donna who organized it all!