30 Things That Make Me Happy!

Today is a rainy day in Paraguay and on rainy days nothing really gets done, and that's ok. Kids don't go to school, some adults don't go to work and its perfectly acceptable to sleep in a couple extra hours in the morning. So, in honor of getting to sleep in more, here is a list of 29 other things that make me happy. Thirty in all to celebrate the 30th and last day of April.

2. Finding legitimate Oreos at the local despensa 

3. The weather cooling down so I can wear scarves again.

4. Cool weather also means drinking hot tea with out breaking into a sweat

5. A nicely made bed in the morning

6. Babies laughing -- when I'm in a bad mood I look up videos on YouTube, here is my favorite

7. Whatsapp -- a phone app that lets me text message friends and family around the world for free with an internet connection

8. On that note I also love skyping with friends and family. Sometimes it just helps to see their faces.

9. Guacamole

10. How inexpensive fruit is in Paraguay

11. A new pedicure

12. Reading a book that is so good you can't put it down

13. Dr. Pepper

14.  Elephants

15. Iced Coffee

16. Acquiring every season of Friends on my hard drive

17. Headbands

18. Soccer -- watching and playing

19. Trying out a new recipe and it being successful a la my Chicken Curry recipe 

20. The view from my "office"

21. Traveling to new exciting places

22. The number 22 (Hint: that's when my birthday is)

23. Making lists

24. Airports -- It means I'm probably traveling somewhere and its great for people watching

25. That I can get a good bottle of Argentine Malbec for the equivalent of 4 American dollars

26. Taking pictures of strangers (not in a creepy way, I promise.)

27. Puppy friends (Penelope -- as I named her -- visits everyday)

28. Dancing

29. Blowing Bubbles

30. This guy

Super Easy Chicken Curry Recipe!

If you have ever lived abroad before you know that feeling when you crave a special dish or food and then you realize that getting it or making it will be a difficult task. I've come to realize too, that for me, missing food from the USA or the easiness of getting food is one of the hardest parts of living in another country. However, it has also been an eye-opener too.

The other night I was craving Curry some kind of bad. So I decided to give it a try and make some myself, which I'd never actually done before. I went on a search for coconut milk (which you can occasionally find in Paraguay) but, with no luck. I also thought I had curry powder before I started ... which I didn't. But, that is one thing I've learned from cooking here is that it no need to worry it will usually all work out. So if you ever want to make Chicken Curry and don't have all the ingredients here is the recipe for you!

Ingredients:

- Chicken ( I used 2 thigh/breasts, but if you have access to boneless chicken breasts 3 or 4)

- 1 or 2 diced onions

- 1 potato cubed

- 4 cloves of garlic

- 2 tablespoons of butter

- 1 cup coconut flavored yogurt

- 3 tablespoons of peanut butter

- Cumin, red pepper flakes, ground ginger, ground coriander (if you have tumeric or mustard seed add that)

-  I included "condimento de pollo" because it had some curry in it

First cube potato (and chicken), dice onion and garlic.

Next, melt the butter and add curry (or other spices)

Then add the coconut yogurt and peanut butter.

Set aside the sauce and cook onions and garlic on a low heat until onions are transparent.

Then add the chicken and once it is cooked lightly add mixture to the sauce along with the potatoes on high heat until it simmers, then turn heat on low and cover. Let sit for 30 minutes or until potatoes are soft.

Finally, when finished serve over rice. (And add a little Argentine wine to your taste!)

Hope you all enjoy! I sure did!