The other night Tammy and I went shopping in Nappanee with some friends of ours.  As we walked out of one of the stores we decided to get a few impromptu memory shots.  Tam and I rarely get pictures taken together so we’re glad to have one to share with you now.  Which do you like better – the black and white or the color?  And by the way – the texture on the picture is the newest fabric by 3 Sisters…  Etchings  Fun!

Visit us at Three Sisters Fabric.
To see the digital quilting patterns click here.

We're totally attached to this little miss!

She’s growing up fast. One of her favorite things to do when she come to our place is hold onto the handles on our longarm while it is quilting. I think she really thinks she’s making it go! So much fun….

Using wide backing fabrics on the back of your quilt is already less expensive and easier than piecing 45″ wide fabrics to fit. Now you have the opportunity to enjoy the ease at a discount. Starting today and running through August 15th all wide fabrics are 10% off on our website. Stock up and enjoy!

Check out our wide backing fabrics here: http://www.threesistersfabric.com/fabric-2/backings-and-muslins-9/

By far – of  everything I ate in Ghana, Light Soup was my favorite.  I’ve made it quite a few times since returning home and I never tire of it.  While in Ghana I did learn to really enjoy fufu as well.  Fufu is dough-like and is served with soups.  It is to the Ghanaian’s what potatoes are to us – their staple and favorite starch.  In America I make a mock fufu with instant potato flakes.  It’s close enough to the real thing and I enjoy it….  But I’m the only one who has acquired a taste for fufu, so I usually just opt for making rice – something everyone in my family enjoys with their Light Soup!

Ghanaian Light Soup

4 chicken leg quarters, skin removed
2 – 3 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
2-3 cloves garlic, peel  & crushed
1 Magi chicken bullion cube (Magi cubes are larger than your typical bullion)
Seasoned salt to taste
1 onion, chopped
6-8 cups water, divided
6-8 oz eggplant, peeled and quartered
opt. – 1 medium zucchini (4 oz) cut in half (I usually skip the zucchini and use more eggplant because my eggplants are usually larger than 6-8 oz.)
6 oz tomato paste
½ tsp cayenne pepper

Put the leg quarters in a pot with 2 cups of water.  On top of the chicken sprinkle the fresh grated ginger, garlic, Magi cube, seasoned salt and onion.  Cover and allow chicken to steam for 2 hours, adding more water as needed.

When chicken is sufficiently tender and seasoned add remaining 4 cups of water and bring to a boil.  (I often add more water if too much has evaporated while steaming or if I want to stretch my soup.)  Add eggplant and zucchini, if using.  Allow to cook for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Remove vegetables from soup and place in blender.  Add some broth and blend until smooth.  Return to pot.  Add the tomato paste and cayenne pepper.

Traditionally, the soup is served over fufu or rice balls with a piece of chicken added to the side of eat person’s bowl.  In America, we have found it most practical to de-bone the chicken into the soup before serving over a plate of rice.  Use plenty of soup with the rice and eat with a spoon.    So good!

Optionally you can use smoked fish.  If using fish instead of chicken don’t add it to the soup until you put it in each person’s bowl.  It will make the soup too “fishy”.)

Light Soup served in Ghana with smoked fish and fufu - Yes, you eat it with your fingers.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that batiks are hand made in Ghana. One day I was driving through Elmina with Conrad and some other SALT to Ghana workers. Through my window I spotted a beautiful display of batik fabrics. I was immediately excited and told Conrad to remember this spot because one day I wanted to come back and see those fabrics. He said, “I’ll drop you off right now and be back in 15 minutes after I run my other errand.” Wow! What a deal. I was totally surprised to walk into that little shack and find a lady in the back of it stamping the batiks RIGHT THERE! I had so much fun visiting with her. When Conrad found out that I enjoyed it, he told me that one of the micro loans the mission gave out helped start a batik business. He was sure that Sister Martha (in Ghana they often refer to each other as “sister”, “brother”, “aunt”, or “uncle” regardless of relation) would be glad to show me the entire process start to finish. Indeed she was! Sister Martha and her crew were wonderful and gave me an excellent education.

They drew their water from a hand dug well.

What you see is NOT what you get…. I declared that they “dyed by faith”! Notice the color of the fabric when they first put it on the line to dry. Then notice the color of the fabric when it is finally almost dry.