Raymonde’s famous ‘Poul ak Sòs’ Recipe

The much awaited Chicken and sauce recipe of Raymonde's that we all loved so much from our 2009 Solar Oven Partners trip. I was blessed to stay with Montas and Raymonde in May and again in June when I was in Haiti this summer. Raymonde was delighted to help show someone how to cook. This is what she does for work for the Solar Oven Partners and this hasn't been able to happen yet this year due to the Earthquake. So I stood by patiently, listened, and added ingredients and stirred when I was asked to. And of course – Finally wrote down the recipe. J …so enjoy – you may have to make some substitutes because we don't have some of the things they do in Haiti. Also, I have this as it is made in the Solar Oven – adjust as necessary.

Beans – 2 pots

2 Cups – Red mixed beans

¼ cup oil

3 cups coconut juice – strained from 2 grated coconuts

¾ green pepper diced

Mince and mash the following (in wooden grinder if you have it)

Divide into 3 parts – one for each pan of beans and 1 for chicken sauce

4 green onions

1 full garlic bundle

Hot pepper with garlic cloves stuck in it

'tri tri' one package (?? Dried sardines – very small – not sure if you can find it in US)

Chicken and Sauce

½ green pepper diced

Small can tomato paste

Parsley buddle

2 bouillon cubes

1pkg – (bullion)

1 regular white onion diced

½ squeezed lime

¼ cup oil

1 Tbsp worcheshire sauce

1 Tbsp hot sauce

1 tsp salt

3 small potatoes

1 carrot sliced

10 Chicken legs jut rinsed in a citrus juice/hot water or vinegar

STIR

Add little more hot sauce

About 2 spoons of garlic onion mixture – left over from Beans

Onion on top

¼ of hot green pepper – not sliced stick cloves in –See picture

Splash of water to rinse of goodness still on spoon

Put in Preheated Solar Oven – 350

After 2 ½ hours add Rice to Beans

2 ½ cups of rice for each pot of beans

2 Tbsp of 'ti malice – Beurre de cuisine ' = (vegetable shortening or margarine)

Then cook all until done
= HAPPINESS!

 

Say a prayer for Raymonde and her dear family

Haitian Flag Day

May 18th -- Another beautiful day in Haiti. I am writing this in the evening and it is puring down rain. Pouring! - blessings, blessings it will fill our sistern. I awoke early this morning as always. We went the Artisan Coop this morning and met with all the artisans. We didnt actually work it was a meeting to talk about the new buisness model approach we will begin to use. It seemed to go ok. They have talked about it before and there has been a variety of responses to it. Then we went back to Paul's house to wait for the motocycles. We rode down to the school for Flag Day! I wasn't sure what to expect. When we got to the school yard the place was packed. People were everywhere surrounding a small square that was blocked off in the middle. The kids from all different schools in the area were competing against each other in a dance compitition. It was straight up like 'Stomp the yard' It rocked! Thos Haitian kids can move like nobodys buisness. We had video of the dancing but it is down in Haiti. But here are some pictures.

A house with a spectacular view – not what you would expect

May 17th
We went for a long walk to the lake. We visited many people along the way as that what we do when we walk. There are always many people to visit. We visited one woman who had a baby in February when the team was there. She was excited to see everyone and the baby was doing well. As we were walking along I glanced over my shoulder and there was the most spectacular view. Amazing! We arrived at one of the most beautiful views in the world. There was a tent there and I thought how incredible, I would love to vacation here. Then we walked closer and talked to the man. This was his home. He lived in Jacmel and his house was destroyed in the earthquake. He has no job, even though he speaks some English and is trained as an air conditioning tech. Now he is just trying to survive and provide for his family. Jean Pierre was a very gracious host. We sat down outside of his tent on the ground. He handed us card board sheets to sit on and jokingly apologized for not having chairs for us to sit on. His tent sits on the land of his Aunt's grave. But in spite of all these things he was happy. He has since been working on building a more stable home for him and his boys.

True Meaning of Peace

This passage reigns true in Haiti. Now more then ever. The people had a hard life before the earthquake but they managed. Now their suffering is very much being tested. Many, many Haitians are displaced throughout the county side, with no homes or jobs – they are living with family or lucky to have a tent on the side of the mountain top. But still they love life. They praise God for what they have. They enjoy visits from family and friends and strangers and welcome them.

I was joking about how many people can ride a tap-tap (a joke told to me from a friend); the answer – 1 more. How many people will we visit on the country side on our walk to the lake; the answer – just 1 more. And how many people do we feed when we have food; one more. Isn't this the way Jesus fed the thousands with so very little food. He just kept sharing and said one more. All those who are weary come to me and I will give you shelter – HOPE – Truly Isaiah's words in 40:31 are never more true than in Haiti. God bring them refuge – let them soar on eagles wings so finally, finally they may live in a world where they are not weary, they will not be faint and they will have peace. This peace, the true peace and meaning of Shalom. Peace in and through you our eternal Savior. And when, when they feel the true peace of your Shalom - They will know love and they will share it with just one more, maybe one more American, one more Sri Lankan, one more Korean. And that suffering of the Haitians will lead to the salvation of the world.

Experiening The World Cup for the first time in Haiti

Experiencing The World Cup in Haiti was an incredible experience. First of all let me just say I have never watched a foutbòl (soccer for the few in the US) game in my life. Honestly I am not sure I was real aware at how big a deal this event is. Sadly, but in the United States, not such a big deal. Not the case in Haiti or really for the rest of the world - apparently.
First of all there was the buzz the days before the games would start. Everyone had to get there little brochures with the info about the games, teams, so they could keep track of the brackets.
Then the games began - something came over Haiti. Everywhere you turned you heard radios and televisions set to the games. You also heard these 2 theme songs I have attached -ALL the Time! When I hear them now it takes me right back to Haiti, and brings back so many memories.
One more thing to share about the games - when Brazil would play - This is Haiti's team. I asked around as to why and I guess they play similar in style to the Haitians. So we watched the Brazil game at a friends, cousin's house. When Brazil would score everyone would be up out of their chairs screaming and cheering. Then they would run outside. (which I found very strange) So the 2nd or 3rd time this happened I followed them outside and you could hear from many different distances the Haitian people cheering! The whole neighborhood would erupt when Brazil scored a goal. :) It was so fun. It showed me the playfulness and joy of the Haitian people - I soaked it in and wanted to share it with you.

Visiting in Hait - May 16th

We went to visit the home of a gentleman that was built by H.A.P.I. On the way to the house we met some people on the road and everyone greeted each other. We stopped by one woman's house that was sick. She had a fever and some aches. We prayed with her. We all held hands and prayed. First Pastor Paul, then Tamara, then they all said the Lord's prayer and Psalm 23 in Creole. Then everyone shook everyone hands and I think said "God bless you". It was very personal and a great connection with one another and God. Then we were headed off again walking on the narrow red, rocky, road. There was beautiful scenery all along the way but you had to watch your feet. Then we arrived in the home a small 2 room place. It was a nice place - stone, stucco, just 2 rooms. But very small comparative to United States. But enough - How much space do we really need. A gentleman was sitting on his bed. Then after I was there a moment I realized he was bed bound - he had no legs. I don't know if this is a result of the earthquake or not. But it was hard to see this man sitting there in bed knowing in Haiti your life is hard enough. I had been watching men and women all day working in their gardens, cooking, everything done by hand. And here was a man living in middle of the country side with no legs. What is he supposed to do. He just has to depend on God and rely on others. Isn't that the way we should do it. It was nice to be able to visit his house and bring a smile, along with some protein that had been donated to us. I look forward to visiting him again.

May 27th - going to Port-au-Prince

We awoke at 4:00am to a down pour of rain, and decided to wait until 4:30 to see if the rain would cancel our trip. We checked to see if Paul was awake, there was no sound so we attempted to go back to sleep. Next I was startled awake to the sound of a truck in the distance. We headed out despite the rain, we had four wheel drive. When we got to the clearing area the sun was just rising. It was an amazing view over the mountains, breathtaking. I thought to myself this must be what heaven looks like. As we knew we were nearing the city because of the smell and the traffic picked up. Once you start seeing the new tent cities you know you are closer and the reality of the situation in Haiti hits you like a knife to your heart. But we do what we can and hope and pray; its all we can do.
The scene in Port au Prince is just heartbreaking. Everywhere you look you see dirt, distruction, trash, water, just devestation. But then there are beautiful people, dressed well, determination on there face going on with their daily lives. My mind finds it difficult to comprehend how we can allow people to live like this. People are sleeping with there babies in 'shelters' made of scraps of metal, wood, sheets, anything they can find. The size of these shelters for a family of 4 or more is the size of many peoples bathrooms in the US. And bathrooms - how do people go, where is the waste ending up? How do they continue to stay clean when it appears there isn't a place to get water. People gathered in line with buckets for water, who knows how far they travel just to get a little water so their family would have something to drink or some way to bathe.
The whole situation in Haiti is beyond overwhelming. But we do what we can and hope and pray, its all we can do.