Mac and Cheese

If you know me well or if you read this blog, you know that I don't LOVE to cook. It doesn't bring me joy or make me feel relaxed to make something from scratch. However, because I like to eat healthy and because we live in the Czech Republic, often I need to make things from scratch. I'm beginning to embrace it.

I love mac and cheese, not Kraft, actually, but Velveeta Shells and Cheese. One summer, when I was an intern in Poland, my mom sent care-packages with me. One for every month. What did I find in the August package? Velveeta Shells and Cheese. I could have cried; I was so excited!

Velveeta Shells and Cheese is not healthy. When I lived in the states, I would have it once every few months, but I always eat green beans with it! (I don't like sweets, at all really, so it is like my chocolate cake.) Well. Cece loves mac and cheese too. I made some for her when we were at Brian's parents house (homemade, but with Velveeta). She just kept asking for more.

Well. We are back in the Czech Republic, and there is no Velveeta to be found. Maybe that's a good thing. So, today, I made homemade, like the kind where you make a cheese sauce with flour, using cheeses that are very easy to find here--Edam and Gouda. Here are the results!








Yes! I had some too!


Living cross-culturally is a funny thing. It gives you this feeling of conquering the world when you do simple things like make mac and cheese. I love it!!!

Back Home from the States

This past month, we were in the states. Brian's parents had their 50th wedding anniversary, so we went to celebrate with them (a special thanks to Brian's siblings for making that possible). In addition, Brian also attended the Josiah Venture board meeting, we spent some time in Minnesota with my family, and Cece and I went to Charlotte and saw her birth family.

We are working on our November Update email that includes more about our trip to the states, and what it is like for us to be back home in Czech (and pictures:)). If you are not receiving our update mails, but you would like to, please email me: astephens@josiahventure.com. What is the difference between our blog and our update emails? Because the blog is viewable to "the world", our update emails are a little more personal and focus on our life and ministry here in Czech as we serve with Josiah Venture.

Too Much Fun with Grandma

We are in the states for Brian's parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Before heading to Tampa, we stopped in Minnesota to see my family. Cece went grocery shopping with Grandma Gaalswyk today. Enough said:)!

Apple Juice Making in Poland

Eight years ago I met the Eiflings (Daniel and Iwona) while serving as a summer intern in Poland. That same summer, I met Brian. Back then, we were all just serving short-term. Fast forward eight years: the Eiflings serve as full-time missionaries in Poland, and we are here in Czech. Today, we went to the farm where Iwona grew up to make apple juice "Polski style" (as Brian keeps saying)!

The apples:


Washing the apples:


Putting the apples in this Polish man's home-made apple juice contraption:


Waiting with anticipation:


The awesome Polish man at work with his home-made apple juice contraption:


The other home-made contraption that makes the apples into juice:


Cece being awesome:


Cece tasting the juice; it is AMAZING:


Cece trying to help:


Canning the apple juice (I have NEVER canned in my life, until today):


Me with sweet Iwona:


Brian and Daniel:


Look at all that juice (and that's not even all of it)!!


Just think, if you were ever here short-term or if you ever come short-term, you could end up living here one day making some "Polski style" apple juice of your own! At least come visit us because I'll make you the best apple cider you've ever tasted!