Our Chocolate Pie

From Sherryl's journal:  31 March 2014

"I think it is strange how my mind works.  Paul and I seldom if ever eat chocolate pudding or pie.  But once I learned that they don’t have pudding mix down here, I determined to make a chocolate pie.  I did that during the day today and it took me most of an hour to make it.  Then this evening, I wanted to whip the remaining cream into whipped cream.  I have an electric beater so there wasn’t a problem with machinery.  I poured the cream into a bowl and whipped and whipped and whipped and it got thicker but it didn’t peak or act like whipped cream.  I finally put the vanilla and sugar in and beat it a little more and tasted it.  Ugh!  It was awful and we didn’t use it.  However, we did have a slice of our chocolate pie with graham cracker crust (from H.E.B.) and it tastes really good!  It is probably the best chocolate pie that I have ever tasted.  Traci went online to find a recipe for me and sent me “How To Make Perfect Chocolate Pudding From Scratch.”  The only change I made to the recipe was to reduce the milk required to 2 cups instead of 2 ½ since I wanted it to be thicker for a pie.

"We took photos of the pie and then had our scripture time. Hno. Briones said we will have 19 missionaries arrive for the 9:30 a.m. session tomorrow."

Why We Do What We Do.

Recently, I listened to a podcast of the 24 January 2012 BYU Forum speaker whose talk I really enjoyed.  The speaker was Mark DeMoss and his message was titled "Life's 2 Big Questions."   He is a Christian and speaks of Christian values.  He shared with us how his Dad had taught him how to put God first in his life with these few words.

We put God first in our lives by giving Him

(1) the first part of every week.

(2) the first part of every day.

(3) the first dime of every dollar.

That thought seems to give a reason for why we do what we do.  It sounds so much better than thinking:

I HAVE to go to keep the Sabbath Day holy.

I HAVE to study scriptures.

I HAVE to pay tithing.

Catedral de Tampico

We have a booklet that shows places where tourists might want to visit in Tampico and we have decided to see those sites.  Today we wanted to see the cathedral in Tampico and knew it was closed from about noon until about 3 p.m. so we arrived early.

We stepped in and I was quite overcome by how huge it was and the high and vaulted ceilings.  It has been well cared for and there was gold leafing in the designs and they had paintings of the 12 Stations of the Cross on the walls. We were first introduced to those stations at Monserratte in Bogota, Colombia.  Bruce Porter had told our Jerusalem tour group of the stations.  He said that the Catholics believe that Jesus had fallen three times  carrying his cross to Golgatha.  We saw those 12 steps on the walls with the 3 falls plus Veronica apparently had wiped his faith with a cloth which came away with an imprint of his face on it.  We saw a Jesus on a cross and someone had kindly sewn him some gold threaded white silk Bermudas to wear.  There was a life-sized statue of Mary clothed in blue and looking at Jesus.  She was surrounded by fresh flowers.   There were a people sitting on the benches and some were in an attitude of prayer.  A few in the front looked like they were having a class.  On the side, a woman was intently speaking to a priest in what we assume was the confessional box.   Paul took several photos and I asked him to stand by the back door and take a sweeping movie of the beautiful Cathedral.

Chicken Posole

This recipe was adapted from Super Fast Chicken Posole that I found online.  Since fresh tomatillos were easier to get in Mexico and I haven't seen the canned ones, I adjusted the recipe for them.  Also, I found cooked hominy in a bag here and used it instead of the canned hominy.

We served this posole to the sister missionaries on March 20, 2014 and Hna. Luque asked for the recipe and said she wants to make it for her family when she gets home off her mission.  She said she will email us and let us know when she prepares it.  Interestingly enough, she arrived here after we did for her mission and will leave for home before we do.  That's the difference between her 18 month mission and our 23 month mission.

So for this recipe, I have removed the "Super Fast" from the title but if you can find the ingredients for that recipe.  Great!

1 pound fresh tomatillos - diced
1/2 medium white onion - chopped
1 cup water

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoon minced garlic
4 cups water
2 teaspoons chicken bullion
1 (15-ounce) can white hominy, rinsed and drained
2 cups cooked chicken breasts - diced
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
cilantro leaves - chopped

1 ripe and peeled avocado - diced - served on the side.
4 radishes thinly sliced - (optional) - served on the side

Put diced tomatillos, onion and water into a medium sauce pan and cook until the tomatillos and onions are soft - about 20 minutes.

In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add oregano, cumin, chili powder and garlic and saute 2 minutes.  Add pre-cooked tomatillos and onions; cook 1 minute.  Add water, bullion and hominy; cover and bring to a boil.  Uncover and cook 8 minutes. Stir in chicken and cilantro: cook 1 minute or until heated.  Remove from heat; stir in lime juice, salt and pepper.

Serve with avocado and radishes as side dishes.

The "Stinky Water" Street

Each day on our way to the temple we walk down what we refer to as the "stinky water" street. There was always water on the street and--you guessed it--it didn't smell good.  The Days told us the street had always had water on it since they arrived several months ago.  We didn't expect things to change.  But then one day....things did change......

They did some major digging to remove the sewer line.

The cement they removed was tossed to the side of the street.

This machine tapped down the earth to prepare it for the cement.

New cement was poured and the area was barricaded.

The front loader came to pick up the pile of dirt.

We still refer to it as the "stinky water" street.

If You Want a Job Done Right.....

Get Dad to do it!

He planned ahead and decided
 that thoroughly scrubbing and cleaning the floor would be  about a 3 hour job.
"That's about what it took."

The Wells Fargo Wagon CAME!!!!

Wow! I've been singing "The Wells Fargo Wagon" all week waiting for Hermana Jordan's return from Utah!

If you don't know the tune, follow this link::  The Wells Fargo Wagon!

Hermana Jordan went to Utah and said she could bring a "few things" back for us!  Thanks to all who helped get our "wish list" completely filled!  Waaahooooo!!!!!

Look at that smile!

Here it is!
Sherryl's gray sweat shirt!
Paul's Mission Journal
Visa Card
American Express Card
Drivers' Licenses!
Wool Socks
Hawaiian Sandals
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Butterscotch chips!
Multivitamins
Fish Oil
Glucosamine Chohdroitan
Saw Palmeto

Nothing could be finer than wool socks from Costco
with Hawaiian sandals!  
Total comfort!


THANK YOU!!!!!

Our Walk At the Beach

After several weeks of cold weather, the sun came out on a Thursday morning and we decided to go to the beach.  Basically, we just wanted to get out of the house.

We went to the beach.

The man on the beach had been out snorkeling for fish.

Here is the fish that he had speared. 

Workers are pouring cement to refinish the very long pier.

These are the artisan shops being redone.

We saw a turtle shell.

This is a live jelly fish waiting for the tide.

We paid 5 pesos each for the privilege of using these "clean bathrooms."

No matter what condition the house--there is a dish attached. 

While riding the bus home, I just took shots out the open window.

The Cleaners, Veterinarian Shop and Unisex Beauty Salon all conveniently together.

Iliana's 50th Birthday Party

Iliana works with us in the temple on Thursdays.  She invited us to her 50th Birthday Party!  Iliana is married to Jorge Saldívar who is the son of Gabriel and Maria Luisa Saldívar--just older than us by a few years and Gabriel was the first president of the Tampico Temple.  Iliana is married to Jorge who is an Area Authority.  At the party,  Iliana  said “cincuenta” or "50" means “sin cuenta” or “quit counting.”  

Iliana and Jorge Saldivar

Jeanette and Vaughn Day

Enrique and Esperanza Ruiz

Gabriel & Luisa Saldivar, Vaughn Day, Iliana Saldivar, Jeanette Day

Iliana with Eliseo and Maritza Acosta and their girls.

The entertainment for the evening.  He was a good singer.

Those serving in the Tampico Temple.