Bell Peppers and Braids!

I finally got to make the bell peppers – about 600 of them! Just lopping off the tops of the peppers took most of the day. I started with the smaller ones and when I ran out of them, moved on up to the bigger ones. They were definitely a success. Making the stuffing was completely off the cuff because I had no idea how to measure or estimate how much it would take to fill the little suckers! I started with a crouton-type stuffing mix (6 huge bags) and added the following: grated carrots, finely chopped tomatoes, chopped mushrooms (all we had were canned) some finely grated bell peppers from the tops, chopped onions, and something else finely chopped that now escapes me. I was hoping for some celery but we had none available. I added a buttload (yes EJ, that’s a technical measuring amount in my cookbook) of mixed, dried herbs, garlic, celery salt (the only salt I used). After mixing the stuffing mix with the hot water and adding all the other ingredients, we proceeded to fill the hulls of the peppers with teaspoons. We were conservative at first, not wanting to run out of stuffing. As we were running out of time for dinner, carefully placed spoonfuls became gobs rolled in the hands and shoved into the peppers. I took a little over half of the peppers and sprinkled grated cheese on the tops and rest I left plain. Then we broiled them.

Many of them were about the perfect sized for 2 or 3 bites. I was actually proud of the little guys. I actually can't wait to try them for a much smaller group, when I have a better choice of ingredients. I'm also the constant provider of homemade dill salad dressing for the salad bar...

On my next day off, I celebrated by walking into town and treating my elf to do something a little crazy – I’m sure many of you are shocked. I got my hair braided like the locals at a local shop (actually a shack on one of the main streets). It took about 2 hours and some Tylenol but here it is:

This actually started becoming more and more popular on the ship as time went on (it’s been about 3 weeks now). I don’t want to say I started the trend, but I was definitely one of the first. Also, many of the women on the ship are getting the hair extensions with their braids and I just stuck with my own hair. Boy, do I have a lot of forehead… and a very white scalp. Anyway, it’s been fun and very easy to deal with, especially since we (the ship) has been very low on water and were actually not allowed to shower for about  5 days by order of the Captain.

In the meantime, I’m still in the galley, doing dishes, helping with some of the actual cooking when they need me, and chopping veggies & fruits, which leads me to my next photo:

I have no idea what this is, but I found it on a tray in the local market and bought it. I’ve never seen one before and strictly guessed at it possibly being a prickly pear. It’s white inside and the consistency of mango, but tasted like a pineapple with less bite. The seeds were black, twice the size of watermelon seeds and looked like something that crawls across the floor of a seedy motel when the lights are out. I sent the seeds to Julie, like I send most of the seeds of produce I see here in the galley. It was kind of tasty. The locals in the galley had a name for it but I couldn’t possibly spell it or repeat the word if I tried.

Also trying to spend some time with the kids in the hospital downstairs and use the crayons and coloring books I brought all the way from the US to entertain them. We are not allowed to take any photos or film of the patients, but we see them. They are so sweet and just melt the heart. Their needs range from legs and arms growing incorrectly to cleft palates to eye issues to growths on their faces and bodies. I walked by one large room the other night and several kids were scooting around on their butts, casts on one or both legs, playing some kind of soccer with a soft ball on the ground of the ward room. They have beautiful smiles and they are amazing.

At this writing I have 14 more days on the ship.