Sao Tome and Principe + Mozambique + Cape Verde + Guinea-Bissau (food so good I'll stay awake for it)

It's been a while since we had a dinner mash up.  February 29th only happens once every 4 years, so it makes sense we celebrate 4 countries right?  (I think we are getting a little desperate to get out of the African/Island nations.)

Sao Tome and Principe, Mozambique, and Cape Verde joined the UN on September 17th, 1975.  Guinea-Bissau joined September 16th, 1974.  I know, a year and 1 day before the other three but it's a LEAP day and so we're honoring that by doing a little bit of LEAPing ourselves.  Interestingly enough, all these countries were once Portuguese colonies so maybe not that much of a leap.

As I just LEAPed back form Brazil that very morning (not literally, I took a plane), I was willing to commit to mixing cornmeal with water and that's pretty much it.

Our hostess with the mostess was Jenny.  I headed over to keep her company while she was cooking something that smelt amazing.  I mixed cornmeal into hot water and created a terrible lumpy mess that I eventually gave up on fixing.  People showed up, there were conversations, eating of delicious food, 2 desserts... to be honest I was so jet lagged it was a bit of a blur.  I think my will to stay awake only lasted due to my extreme hunger, shortly after eating I was falling asleep at the table.  On my way out there were a few discussions in which I misinterpreted everything until Jenny basically told me to go home and get some sleep.  Fair.

Dinner: 43
Countries: 55, 56, 57, & 58
Celebrated: February 29th, 2020

Papua New Guinea (don't expect any guinea pigs, but long pig is available upon request)

My tiny apartment and I were having 6 other people and a pooch over to celebrate UN Dinner, Papua New Guinea, which joined the UN on October 10th, 1975.

First things first, fill in the reservations on my limited kitchen.

I found looking for recipes a little frustrating this time.  Try as I might I could only find about 4 different dishes to choose from  As 2 were already claimed, I went with the really weird dessert, which we'll get to later.

 I finish all my cooking (and hiding my tarantulas) before people show up.  I also finish dragging all the tables and chairs up from storage.  What seems like a comfortably sized apartment when I'm alone quickly turns into a very cramped space.

So, a few cooking, a few playing card games, one mixing up the cocktail du jour, and a lounging pooch.

Pretty soon dinner was ready.  I tell ya, that was a tasty meal.  I think every single person got up for second helpings, it was just that good.

 Minutes after every one finishing their second helping dessert was pulled out.  I found this surprising because most each themselves into a coma forgetting about dessert completely, but this time even after 2 helpings people were ready.

Now, my dessert is weird.  Basically a tapioca lock with a little banana mixed in, sort of off ewhite, semi translucent.  In researching Papua New Guinea I came across some information about how native tribes still practiced cannibalism.  So, to spruce this weird dessert up a bit I decided to incorporate those practices, albeit legally.

It tasted just as I expected, and though weird, it grew on me.  I was surprised to find I was not the only going back for additional limbs.

 Cutest dinner guest award goes to:

Jackipoobear.  No surprise there.

Dinner: 42
Country: 54
Celebrated: January 4th, 2020

Comoros (Happy 2nd Annual Ugly UN Xmas Sweater Dinner Party!!!)

Comoros (an island nation of Africa) joined the UN November 12th, 1975!

What better way to celebrate the Howl-idays (see what I did there?) and the last UN Dinner of the 2010s!!! than with 6 friends and 3 poochums and so much Holiday spirit it makes you want to barf?!?!

We made it to Amber's and I began chopping fruit and veggies for a salad and sandwiches.  Even better, Mike starts mixing our Santa Hat cocktails!!!


I was also very exciteded because I picked up half a Jackfruit for my salad, which I can't find very often, and also find absolutely delicious, and Thanasi got to pull it apart, not me.

I feel like the photos are doing a better job at explaining the dinner than I am, so...

So were merry and jolly all thru dinner.  Some of us more merry than others while playing Camel Up.  And after a spontaneous trip to get some froyo minutes before they close.

Dinner: 41
Country:53
Celebrated: December 14th, 2019

Suriname (UN Dinner and Cocktail Party)

Suriname joined the UN on December 4th, 1975.

I had thought that I would be fresh off the plane from VA, so I chose to keep it simple.  Roti, aka flatbread had a max of 4 ingredients, and required minimum effort.  The gestating Dack twins were feeling feisty around the time we had the dinner scheduled and ended up delaying it a week.  As I now had the time I stepped up my game and found another roti recipes stuffed with potato.  Winner!

Chris and Lola were determined to host.  Up until recently, they resided in NYC, and Lola's only participation was being my biggest blog fan, living vicariously through my poorly written posts.  With a new house and twins on the way, what a better house warming than a UN Dinner?

Due to Mike's close proximity to my own residence, Jenny, Mike, and I often carpool, and this was no exception.  Though this time didn't really go as typical, and the need to share is felt to my core:

Jenny: When are you heading to chris and lola's? Would it be possible for mike and i to snag a ride?

A dozen texts about whether I was driving or taking an Uber, and two photos of Mike, and 3 hours later...

Me: I'm just gonna drive.
Jenny: What time are you leaving?
Me: I'm going to be cooking for at least another hour
Me: Maybe 430ish?
Jenny: Ok cool. We'll prob grab a ride with you then. I'll confirm with mike when he gets off the phone
Me: K, I'll touch base when I get close

1.5 hrs later, and I'm ready at this point...

Jenny: We need like 40 mins.  Does that work for you?
Me: Yeah that's fine.  So pick you up at 445?
Jenny: Ummmm i am having casserole leaking issue so let me get back to you
Me: K.  I'm flexible.  Just give me a little forewarning.

30min later...

Jenny: We'll be ready at 5!
Me: Okeedokee!
Jenny: Nevermind, we'll meet you there
Jenny: Sorry
Jenny: <face palm emoji>
Jenny: We're at my house and just going to drive there!
Me: That would have been awkward to when I arrived at Mike's to not find you there!

To be clear, Jenny's place is nowhere near Mike's.  5 hrs of thinking they were is a different apartment, in a completely different part of town.  You can imagine the magnitude of the eye roll I performed after waiting around for them to be ready.

Last to arrive, cooking was in full swing.

Chris, being a huge fan of cocktails, has become the UN Dinner bar tender.  For the dinners instead of looking up food recipes he looks up cocktail recipes.  With the lemongrass syrup and a the coconut milk, this one was spot on.  So spot on, that even though I drove, I got a ride home.

We ate and drank.  Dessert was a mix of Suriname and not.  Amber making a her Surinamese dish while Mike opted to bake his famous family cheesecake (I have been hearing Jenny talk about Mike's promise to make it for months now).  The conversation went every direction, including one that made the boys squirm.  No details in this blog, you'll just have to use your imagination.

 

Dinner: 40
Country:52
Celebrated: November 2nd, 2019

Seychelles (Dinner in the dark!)

On September 16th, 1976, Seychelles (pronounces say-shells) joined the UN.  I don't know how many times I heard someone say Seychelles sea shells by the sea shore, or some version of.

This is our 39th dinner, and 51st country in the series.  4 years, 4 months, and 12 days since our first dinner!!!

This dinner could be described as... "electrifying".  Sense of foreboding?  No worries, no one got hurt.

Dinner was being held a Amber's, the hostess with the mostess... except for chairs.  Like me, her apartment is too small to own full time long tables, but I had plenty of folding tables and chairs to bring along to supplement for our fairly large group.

People arrive, the cooking begins, hors d'oeurves curtsy of Thanasi, and drinks curtsy of Chris, are served.  And it starts to rain.

Then it rains harder.  Then it gets dark.  Then we start to see flashes of lighting and hear the resulting thunder.  This is when Jack steps in to protect us from the dangerous thunder by barking ferociously back at the sky with every boom.

For those not familiar with Seattle/Tacoma weather, lighting and thunder is a rare occurrence, and even then only one, maybe two flashes light up the clouds, and are never really seen.  Now it was flashing and booming, for what seemed like once for twice every few minutes.  It actually got so bad that they had to postpone some sporting evens being held that evening in Seattle.

At some point during the storm, the lights begin to flicker, but I don't think anyone thought that hard about it.  Right up until the lights went out and we were left standing in the dark.  Thus begins our first UN dinner in the dark!

Thanks to it being the 21st century, everyone whipped out their smart phones and turned on the the flashlight feature.  Thanasi even went as far to McGyver our own ceiling light and ingeniously stick his phone to the ceiling.

Lucky for us, everyone was either done, or far enough to be considered done, cooking, and we were able to still enjoy our meal.  Food and conversation can be enjoyable in any venue, but only at a UN dinner can a discussion about micro-bioms... or was it macro?... degrade into discussions about Jack eating poop.

Unfortunately, the entire time I was thinking about how I planning on providing dessert, and it still sat uncooked on the counter.  I was just resigning myself to having to eat a ton of plantains tomorrow when <pop!> the lights switch back on!  I believe I jumped up with a shout of glee and ran immediately to the kitchen to get my dish on the stove.  So our dinner in the dark ended with dessert in the light.

Dinner: 39
Country:51
Celebrated: September 7th, 2019

Angola (How many nuts could a nut-shucker shuck if a nut-shucker could shuck nuts?)

Angola joined the UN December 1st, 1976.

We have done enough dinners at this point, it's getting hard to keep track, so I'm going to start a running tally of out dinners.  Did you know that this is our 38th dinner and 50th country!  Happy 50th UN Country Dinner Party!!!  Only 143 more to go!

But, more importantly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBER!!!!!!!!!!

The dinner happily landed on the birthday of one of the loveliest of ladies known to womankind, so we had more to celebrate than just Angola.  As a result we had quite a few attendees.  Jenny was the hostess with the mostest and had reserved a bungalow for the celebration.  When I arrived I could barely find any space in the fridge due to the impressive amount of beverages she had already filled it with.

Angolan cuisine was interesting because it was colonized by Portugal.  As a result, it shared a great deal of similarities to Brazilian cuisine (Brazil having also been colonized by Portugal).  Isn't it crazy that the cuisine all over Africa holds so many similarities to European countries all because they were colonized by said countries?  France, Britain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and even Spain.  It makes me wonder what food was like prior to colonization.  Traditional, 100%, zero outside influence, African food.  Probably a lot of potjies.  Mmmm.

My dishes were done, and Jenny was waiting to start, so as people trickled in we played some card games to keep up entertained.  Once everyone arrived, we played some board games to keep everyone entertained.

Amber's dish called for a salted roasted peanuts as a topper.  I'm not sure what circumstances lead to it, but she found some alright.  Fully shelled.  The result of which could only be a pre-dinner peanut shucking competition!  It wasn't too competitive, but I'll claim a higher quality shuck, while my rival had a greater quantity (but only because he had a decent head start on me).

Dinner was ready in no time and we all sat down for another delicious meal.

During these dinners, when someone says something that I think would be good for the blog I make a little note in my phone.  This time I wrote, "Would you like me to massage some peanut butter into your dish?"  Of course I wait too long and now the context for that comment!

After dinner, more board games of course, continually interrupted by phone calls wishing Amber a happy birthday.

At last our meal had settled enough to think about dessert.  I had planned on making brittle a while ago, but we also absolutely needed a cake for the birthday girl.  Jenny graciously picked up a cheesecake from Costco ahead of time, to be topped with some home made raspberry sauce curtesy of Thanasi.

So Jenny and I go sneaking off to her apartment to get the cake.  It's already getting dark at this time which was perfect, since we needed cover to sneak up on Amber who is sitting in a 360 glass walled bungalow.  We're 20 feet from the door when it opens and Amber steps out, talking to yet another well wisher on he phone.  Both Jenny and I, probably wide eyed and cringing, did as swift and subtle a 180 as possible as to not be noticed by the birthday girl.  She was 100% focused on the call so we managed to make it around a corner without her noticing.

So we're standing there.  Watching Amber talk.  She starts meandering around the bungalow.  Slowly.  Still talking.  While we wait outside.  In the dark.  Holding matches and a cheesecake.  For like, 10 minutes.

Finally she heads back inside and we don't hesitate to take the opportunity to sneak up, light the candle (barely), and get inside with the surprise unspoiled.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBER!!!

(Celebrated July 27th, 2019)

Samoa (thank you for eating my buns)

Samoa joined the UN on December 15, 1976.

This dinner started as every summer UN dinner starts: with my apartment's temperature exceeding 80degF by 10am.  And I'm hosting!  Nothing makes you a better host than treating your guess to a dinner/sweat lodge combo, but since I didn't believe that at all I whipped out my brand new AC unit and brought that crazy back down to 70.

I went with the too-much-is-better-than-too little approach and doubled that already generous serving size of the dumpling recipe.  I managed to finish readying all of those dumplings/buns for steaming just in time for people to arrive.

As usual, it smelt (and looked) AMAZING.

As I was shoveling the chop suey into my mouth, I think Jenny posed the question, "Vietnam or Samoa was better?"  Not fully aware of what I was doing my body shut down and I completely stopped moving as I internally work through the problem and thought about that previous delicious meal.  Unfortunately this was also the most critical moment of "the shovel", as I like to call it, and I froze in place with a stream of noodles flowing out of my mouth.  Since this glitch was corrected in seconds no one was able to snap a pic, but I generously obliged a re-enactment so the memory could be captured.

Once all the laughing and teasing had concluded about the relatively minor fault in my programming, I was back to shoveling, and Jenny followed up with a comment about how good those Vietnamese spring rolls were.  *Glitch* goes my brain once again.

I really enjoyed this meal.  I even got a second full helping of everything, when usually I hold off on because I usually remember the lesson learned in the "remember to leave room for nut cake" episode.

Post dinner we held our usual leftover frenzy.  As planned, I had tons of dumplings left over.  However, I did not anticipate there being more vegetarian guests than meat eaters, so the vast majority were pork.  I ended up forcing more than a few on Mike (the other meat eater), and also brought quite a few to another friend whom I visited a couple days later.  To those who, like I, ate leftover buns all week... you're welcome.

As is tradition, during the pre-dessert meal break we pulled out a card game.  This time, Wizard.  Several rounds in Amber's pooch, Jack (or Jacki-poo-bear as I like to call him) let out a whine that was a good indication that it was time for a pee break.  Amber and Thanasi headed out, and a conversation was struck up about my multitude of hats on stands and hung on the wall that I never really wear.  The conversation progress and Amber and Thanasi end coming back inside to to Mike in a stereotypical Fargo bombardier hat, Jenny in my excessively poofy white alpaca hat, and me, sporting my Chinese rice hat, shuffling for the next round.

After defeating all my rivals I celebrated (while everyone else drowned their sorrows) with some coco rice dessert.

Post dessert, Mike picked up some beer (thanks Mike!) for some Baseball-not-that-Baseball, and ended our night.early morning with a little Drawful.  I spent over half the following day regretting life's decisions, except for the one where I decided to double the dumpling recipe and ended up with leftover buns for days.  Mmmmmmm...

(Celebrated June 29th, 2019)