Rick and I are doing well and are settling in nicely.
Last week, the week leading up to Valentine's Day, was a somewhat special week according to Ukrainian tradition. It is the week where winter and spring meet. The best part is that, to celebrate this week, they eat pancakes! They eat crepes, American-style pancakes and everything in between. While Rick and I did not learn of this tradition until Valentine's Day, the last day of the week, our flat mates made a delicious-looking chocolate crepe/tortilla and with it made a strawberry ice cream burrito. Next year, I will certainly take advantage of this interesting, but delectable tradition. :D
Valentine's Day for Rick and I was simple. As neither he nor I get too excited about it, we did not plan anything except a good meal. I tried a new tilapia recipe courtesy of Martha. It was fantastic --- so much so that we are eating it again tonight!
I also made my favourite broccoli-spinach soup. The process of making it was more eventful than other times I have tried it, however. To put it simply, when I put the ingredients in the blender to liquify them, I did two really dumb things: 1) I put too much soup in the blender and 2) I did not ensure that the top was on snugly. I am sure you can put these mistakes together to deduce what color I painted the walls moments later. Everything ended up being ok, although I burnt myself and spent a while cleaning up the mess. Probably the biggest victim in the whole ordeal was Rick --- he was so worried when I was crying with my arm under the faucet, trying to explain that I just wanted him to clean the broccoli juice off the fridge so as to not destroy our flat mates' pictures. Poor guy. When I offered to make the soup again today at the store, he replied meekly: "I dunno, I don't want you to get hurt." My broccoli soup has slightly traumatised him!
Other than that, everything is going well, especially because --- judging by today's weather --- spring really did meet winter last week!
I hope all is well back stateside!
P.S.
As a cultural exchange, I celebrated Valentine's Day with my Saturday Conversation Clubs, in typical American fashion --- treats for everyone, not just the sweetheart. I baked a new type of cookie, Chocolate Charms (also from Martha).
These crumbly, dark-chocolate, shortbread morsels were huge hit. And, they are delicious :D. Try the recipe, as they are easy to make. Also, I substituted half the butter for olive oil and served them rolled in raw sugar as I had no good way of sifting the cocoa over the cookies. A antioxidant rich and (with olive oil) a heart healthy indulgence!
