Gotcha Day

It's a bit surreal to believe that we just celebrated Eden's Gotcha Day, especially when I remember (I do still remember) the time waiting and preparing for her to come home!  It is two years now that she has been in our home.  Can I add two LONG years?!!  (smile, wink!)  It amazes me what we have been through with her in TWO years... and so I have been remembering...looking through pictures....yes, it does my heart good!  This girl has come such a LONG, LONG ways!!!

As you would maybe guess by now, we didn't talk about the upcoming event of the 2 year anniversary and we didn't make big party plans for her.  Her actual day was on Sunday and I even tossed up some thoughts about celebrating with friends and family but decided against it for her benefit.  Instead, I surprised her after school to an Ethiopian tea party.  The family table was set all nice (I had planned to have it outside but it was too chilly) and I had the Ethiopian traditional dresses and wear on my bed for the kids to go get "prepared" for the tea party.  We drank Ethiopian tea (with milk and sugar) and ate Yemarina Yewotet Dabo (Ethiopian Spiced Honey Bread.)  The kids were thrilled and felt special with a time out of chores and with Mom around the table and Eden felt remembered and loved as well as uniquely happy with the surprise!  A win-win for sure!

Eden didn't know I still had more surprises up my sleeve.  Dinner rolled around and I served doro wat (Ethiopian traditional meal) with injera (I ordered from an Ethiopian bakery!)!  I urged the kids to all use their hands and eat Ethiopian way, which was such a delight to Eden!!  Bereket had the hardest time with this!!  One...er..slight downside was that I got a bit too much spice in the doro wat and EVERYONE commented on the spice.  In fact, the little ones had a hard time getting it down...!  woops!

Eden wearing her Ethiopia shirt to school on Monday.

A table prepared..

Eden's Gotcha Day with a special day from Ethiopia.



Putting the special baskets that were made and bought in Ethiopia to use.

Ready for the tea party.

enjoying...

yumm

He LOVES bread!!

Katreese being proper!!

time for tea

Eden is the queen of dipping and mixing, after all it is the Ethiopian way!

look at us!

What a crew!

What a different Eden than the one that is in the pict she is holding!!



Katreese snapped a picture of me with my Ethiopian scarf, sipping my tea.

Doro wat

Enjoying the injera and using her hands!!  It is still natural to her!

Ethiopian Tea

4-5 black tea bags
8-15 whole cloves
5-8 whole cardamom - the green variety (I have not found these yet but have heard to find them @ an Indian Shop but I used instead cardamom seeds)
1 cinnamon stick
sugar to taste
kettle full of water
Put all ingredients into a kettle.  Bring to boil.  Let sit for 3 minutes.  Pour into cups, add sugar (and milk if desired).  Serve hot.

P.s. - The kids all enjoyed the tea.  It is spicy and reminds me of a fall tea so I have made it a few times in the past while!


Yemarina Yewotet Dabo (Ethiopian Spiced Honey Bread)

Active dry yeast (1 packet 1/4 oz.)
lukewarm water - 1/4 cup
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup honey
1 T ground coriander
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp salt
1 cup warm milk
6 Tbs melted butter
4-5 cups flour

In a small bowl, stir together yeast, 1/4 cup warm water.  Set aside for about 10 min.
In large bowl, beat together egg, honey, spices, and salt until smooth.  Stir in yeast mixture, milk, and melted butter.
Stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing to form a soft dough.  Do not add flour if it's too stiff. 
Knead for about 10 min
Cover and rise
Punch dough down and knead for about 1 minute.  Form dough into round shape and place on oiled baking sheet (I made 2 loaves.)  Rise for another 30-45 minutes. 
Preheat over to 325 degrees and bake 45min-1 hour.

This bread is very yummy and very good for French toast as well!!