Mango Rains

Okay, it seems I jumped the gun yesterday . . .  it isn’t the rainy season yet.  James told me this soon after I posted yesterday, and it was confirmed when I asked a friend of ours who has been living in SE asia for 30 years. He said in Thailand, they call this “the mango rains” – something about the mango trees needing a little rain at this time of year. So during February and March, it might rain occaisionally, but it’s not really the rainy season.  How silly of me! I guess I’m still learning since I’ve only been here for the start of 1 rainy season!

The Rainy Season

Yay! It’s the beginning of the rainy season! The rainy season in Laos isn’t very predictable and it’s not going to rain non-stop now that it’s started.  But I’m pretty sure that today is the day because it has rained about 2 or 3 hours already. 2 nights ago there was a short drizzle and there was a light rain about 3 weeks ago. Before that it had been months since it rained!

The reason I’m glad it’s raining is that it’s been so dry, dusty, and smoggy recently. On my bikerides I’ve barely been able to see the hills around the city and my throat has been sore from all the stuff in the air. People burn their fields before the rainy season to get rid of weeds, and the smoke has made the sky so dreary! I’m looking forward to beautiful mountains and clear air tomorrow.

Also, we started a vegetable garden about a month ago and some of it is doing quite well! I hope to post some pictures of it soon.

Snow Pea Stir-fry

I love snow peas – raw or cooked.  I also love the flavors that are on them in this stir-fry: garlic, sesame, and soy sauce.  When I made this and took the picture, I left the snow peas whole because I think they’re pretty that way. After eating it though, I think it’s a good idea to cut them into bite-sized pieces so they can fit on your spoon!

Chile Peanuts

This has become a favorite snack in the last year. Peanuts are grown locally and they’re best if you roast them yourself. Otherwise they lose some of their crunch (and they’re more expensive). You can remove the garlic cloves after cooking or leave them in. I leave them in because I love eating a whole soft clove covered in chile and salt.

Sweet Potato and Squash Bake

Okay, “Sweet Potato and Squash Bake” doesn’t sound as good as it actually is. I just couldn’t think of a better name for it. This dish is so good because baking squash and sweet potatoes this way caramelizes the sugars and there’s goat cheese on top! I made this dish for a dinner at my parents house and my mom taught me that you can actually peel a butternut squash with a potato peeler. I didn’t believer her at first, but it does work – give it a try. In Laos, we don’t have butternut squash, sweet potatoes, red onions, or goat cheese, so I won’t be making this for a while and I’m slightly jealous of anyone who will