Goudy Straight Trippin'

Author: deandragoudy

  • Looks can be deceiving…

    When we first arrived in Bahrain, we spent our first week in a hotel which I was determined to get out of quickly. Two reasons, the first being we pay out of pocket and then get reimbursed and second, I wanted a place that was ours and to give the shipping company a final address. So while Stephen was off to work making the money, I set out in our rental car to find a place to live. Thankfully, I had a friend to tag along with me. I drove around calling all the numbers posted for rent to see what was available. I have since learned that if the sign is up permanently you might want to rethink signing a lease there. Just food for thought. We thought we wanted to stay in Juffair, the city in which the base is located, as it makes it easier to walk to base and you are close to American Alley (restaurants). So when Yvonne and I found this one flat, we thought it was perfect – remember the title of this blog? Looks can be deceiving well they are! It was on the 1st floor (which means 2nd in the US) as ground floor is the true 1st floor here. BUT there is an elevator so on those days you have too many groceries or you worked out and your legs ache too much – take the elevator built for one (at least it isn’t the box of death – a story for later). I took Stephen back to the flat to see if he liked it or not. And again, it seemed absolutely perfect. Three bedrooms all en-suite, living room and dining room combined with a table to seat 10! The downside in the spacious kitchen was the European style electric stove – that alone should have told me NO! And I have since learned I will not settle for a small stove when I know there are much bigger and better out there. It was nice and quiet and close to base – a 20 minute walk, and the landlord agreed to leave or take out any furniture that we did not need or want once ours arrived.

    The first night we were there I woke up to a strange sound. At first I thought a baby was crying, then after completely waking up I then realized what that all too familiar noise was – a ROOSTER CROWING! Did I mention it was 4 am??? Apparently, one thing they failed to mention was they had a rooster downstairs. You get used to it eventually, or at least you tell yourself you do, not sure I ever did. Then came the noises. Apparently when they built this flat they failed to properly insulate. You could hear everything from a pin drop to a chair being moved across the entire room (they did this several times a day)…. it was unnerving! After having quite enough, I got our lease and looked it over AHA! There was a 30 day termination clause by either the landlord or us. All we had to do was give a 30 day notice and we were out of the contract. Hallelujah, we are out of here! Stephen told me to find a place and then we could give our notice, which I then expressed NO, give our notice and rest assured I WILL find us a place! We had time before our household goods were to arrive.

    So I contacted two realtors because they only show you the ones they have agreements with and got to work. We realized that staying in Juffair was going to difficult if we wanted a villa. My want list was simple – a big oven, American washer and dryer, two master bedrooms, and a little garden. You see, we decided to go in with another family here and share a villa, getting more for our money. So I got busy and set up appointments. We looked at villas – all over the island and could not find one that suited everything on our list. One day I just so happened to be poking around on Facebook and found a post by a military family on base about a villa that was available. We made arrangements to drive out to see it that evening and fell in love! All bedrooms are en-suites (bathroom in the bedroom), two kitchens, big and spacious, a nice size pool and a garden area with a two car garage! Did I mention two kitchens?? If you know me or Celeste, we love to cook and bake – this house was perfect!

    We have been living here now for two months and love it! It has two living areas and enough room for their furniture and ours. The laundry room is on the third floor but it isn’t too bad. And everyone delivers to us, even our favorite little Turkish restaurant in A’ali at Ramli Mall. Even the drive to work is not terrible and we are only about 20 minutes away!

  • Wonderful Cake

    Wonderful Cake

    This cake is simple and true to it’s name! You can serve it either with nuts or without and it will sure to be everyone’s favorite!

    Ingredients:

    • 1 3/4 cups flour
    • 1 3/4 cups sugar
    • 2 tsp baking soda
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 tsp vanilla

    • 1 20-oz can crushed pineapple with juice

    Directions

    Mix ingredients together and pour into a 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 min or until done.

    Icing:

    • 8 oz cream cheese
    • 1/2 cup of butter, softened
    • 2 1/2 Cup of powdered sugar, sifted
    • 3/4 Cup of nuts, optional

    Blend ingredients in food processor or mixer until smooth.

    Pour over hot cake. Allow it to cool and set, then serve!

  • You know you’ve been in the Middle East too long when…

    • You’re not surprised to see a goat in the passenger seat or tied up to a post outside your flat building

    • You think the uncut version of “Little House on the Prairie” is provocative 

    • You need a sweater when it’s 80 degrees Fahrenheit 

    • Your idea of housework is leaving a list for the houseboy 

    • You believe that speed limits are only advisory 

    • You believe that the definition of a nanosecond is the time interval between the time the light turns green and the time that the guy behind you begins to blow his horn 

    • You can’t buy anything without asking for a discount 

    • You expect all stores to stay open till midnight 

    • You understand that ‘wadi bashing’ isn’t a criminal act 

    • You make left turns from the far right lane 

    • You send friends a map instead of your address 

    • You understand why huge 4×4’s must slow down to a snail’s pace whilst crossing a speed bump yet hurtle through a wadi at 100 kph 

    • You think that “Howareyou” is one word. So is “Mamsir” 

    • You think it perfectly normal to have a picnic in the middle of a roundabout at 11 p.m. 

    • You know exactly how much alcohol allowance you have left for the month 

    • You have a moon phase predictor on your computer 

    • You never say Saturday instead of Friday or Sunday instead of Saturday anymore 

    • You accept that there is no point in asking why you are not allowed to do something 

    • You expect queues to be 1 person deep and 40 people wide 

    • You realize that the black and white stripes in the road are not a zebra crossing, just bait to get tourists into the firing line 

    • You carry 12 passport size photos around with you just in case 

    • You can tell the time by listening to the local mosque 

    • You think its a good night if there are fewer than 10 men for every woman in a bar

    • Phrases like ‘potato peeler’, ‘dish washer’, ‘coffee maker’ and ‘fly swatter’ are no longer household items but are actually job titles 

    • You overtake a police car at 130KM/HRA 

    • Problem with your car AC or horn is more serious to you than a problem with the brakes

     and yes they do this all the time!

  • Bahraini Farmers Market

    When I told the guys that they needed to be up and ready to go by 8 AM on their day off, they looked a little puzzled, well Stephen actually scowled at me. I know what he was thinking, this is my one true day that I am able to sleep late and you are going to make me get up early! You see every Saturday from 8-noon there is a Farmers Market at the Gardens here in Bahrain where you can buy local fruits and vegetables. And if there is one thing that I love it is a Farmers Market, because you never know exactly what you will find! Living on an island, we rely heavily on imports and local produce is very limited unless you know where to look, and this is our chance to support the local farmers!

    We were out of the house by 8:15 and on our way. We met our friends, Helen, Lance, Mollie, and her friend Mercia at the market and off we went for our early morning adventure. On one side of the venue there are food vendors – omelets, hash browns, samosas, and other yummy foods all made while you wait! Oh and did I mention? They also had my favorite tea! All of this for a mere 2 BD, which converted is $5.30 – breakfast for two! It was delicious!

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    Seating was a little tricky, as we had one table with five chairs, so we took turns eating. Other families who were there had obviously done this before and brought blankets to sit on – must make note and do that next time!

    Next, we were off to buy our veggies. Luckily I had brought my list, otherwise, I would have been so distracted by the abundance of items that I would have forgotten what I went there to buy.

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    While most of the stands sold vegetables, fruits and herbs, some stands only sold fresh herbs. A few had actual potted herbs to buy. I bought basil, parsley, cilantro and mint plants. So far as of this writing, they are still alive, tho it may have to do with my gardener transferring them into a bigger pot for me and I quote, “little pot no good!”

    Nothing beats the fresh smell of herbs!

    The cauliflower shown here in this picture is 400 fils which is equivalent to $1.06 in the states. However, as always just because it has a price on it does not mean that is what you pay, you bargain for everything here!

    They also sell fresh eggs – chicken, duck and quail eggs. We did not buy any eggs this trip. 

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    There was a section of the market dedicated to local artists. Young and old were there painting and even had some of their paintings for sale. We did not have enough BD with us or we would have come home with one of the beautiful paintings. 

    I cannot wait to go back this upcoming weekend for some fresh vegetables and perhaps this time we will take home a local painting!

  • Chicken Salad Sandwich

    Chicken Salad Sandwich

    Chicken Salad sandwiches are among my favorite! This recipe is quick and easy and really takes no time at all. It is also very hard to give exact measurements of the ingredients used in this recipe, as you can add or subtract according to you and your family’s tastes. Mine changes all the time depending on what I have in the kitchen.

    Ingredients:

    • 2-3 chicken breasts, cooked
    • 2 stalks of celery, diced
    • A handful of seedless red grapes, sliced
    • A dollup of mustard
    • About 1-2 cups of mayonnaise (use less or more depending on dryness and taste preference)
    • Salt and pepper to taste  

    Directions:

    Boil the chicken with onions, garlic and a celery stalk. I take the broth and freeze it for later use (i.e. soup or chicken and dumplings).

    In a food processor, place the cooked chicken and chop until it is the consistency you desire (I prefer mine to be finely shredded). Next blend in the celery, mustard, and mayo together with the chicken. Next, add salt and pepper to taste. Fold in the grapes. Cover and place prepared chicken salad in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before serving.

    Different variations: 

    • Chopped green onion also works well with the sweetness of the grapes.
    • If you don’t have grapes, you could try adding raisins or dried cranberries.
    • Walnuts are a great addition as well, however, you could substitute pecans, or cashews or actually any nut for the walnuts. 

    If you do not have a food processor, shred the chicken using forks then continue with directions as above.

  • Crack Biscuits

    Crack Biscuits

    This recipe is not your typical biscuit recipe. It only has THREE ingredients (five, if you do not have self-rising flour on hand), however, it is so delicious and easy you will find yourself making this several times a week. I have made this with Chicken and Dumplings, shrimp and grits, fried pork chops – the list of possibilities is endless. The hardest part about this recipe is knowing ahead of time that you want to make them, as it requires at least 30 minutes of refrigeration before cooking. Do not worry if your biscuits come out looking like hockey pucks or if they did not rise very much, they will melt in your mouth – I promise!

    Ingredients:

    • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened

    • 1 1/3 cup of butter, softened

    • 2 cup of self-rising flour*

    Directions:

    In a mixer, mix together the cream cheese, butter and flour until it blends together well and acquires an elastic texture. Split the dough in half, form into a ball, and flatten. Wrap the doughs wax paper or foil if you do not have any wax paper on hand, separately. Refrigerate for at least 30 min.

    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly sprinkle your surface with flour. With floured hands or a floured rolling pin, roll out one portion of the dough at a time to about 1/2 inch thick.  Cut out the biscuits and place on to your pan.  The scraps may be combined to make additional biscuits. Place the biscuits in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.

    Bake the biscuits on the top rack of the oven for a total of 12 to 14 minutes until light golden brown. Serve hot. You can also half the recipe if you want to make a smaller amount of biscuits.

    * If you do not have self-rising flour, you can make your own. For 1 cup of all purpose flour, add 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

  • Chicken and Dumplings

    Chicken and Dumplings

    Valentine’s Day in Bahrain means cooking a dinner at home and not going out because February 14 has a different meaning in Bahrain.  While some call this uprising, others have named it Revolution Day, and let’s just say it is safer to stay home than go out. It may sound a little scary to those of you back in the US, however, rest assured it is not too bad. So for this Valentine’s Day, I decided to make Chicken and Dumplings which taste just like my Mamaw’s, some crack biscuits and brownies. The guys love my crack biscuits! You can find the crack biscuits here. The brownie recipe was a new Pinterest recipe that FAILED and will not be posted. So gather up your ingredients and let’s get started!

    Ingredients:

    • dumplings:

      • 4 cups of self-rising flour*

      • 2/3 cup of oil

      • 2 eggs

      • black pepper

    • CHICKEN AND BROTH

      • salt

      • garlic

      • 2 cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup

      • 4 cups of chicken broth (saved from chicken)

      • 1 cup of celery, diced

      • 1 small onion, diced

    Directions:

    Boil the chicken, celery, onion with garlic, salt and pepper until the chicken is tender and cooked completely. Debone the chicken preserving the broth, add the chicken and soups back into the pot. 

    You can also use precooked chicken and chicken broth from a can or box, whatever works for you!

    * If you do not have self-rising flour, you can make your own. For 1 cup of all purpose flour, add 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

    In a medium size bowl, mix flour, oil, eggs and pepper, adding water until doughy. Next, on a floured surface, roll out the dough until it is very thin and using a butter knife cut into long strips. Repeat until all of your dough is cut into strips. Bring your broth to a slow boil. Next, add your dumplings one at a time into the broth, keep on a slow boil until done, making sure to stir so that it does not stick or burn. Depending on how big of a batch you made, this process could take anywhere to 25-30 minutes. Enjoy!

  • Back in the Land of Sand

    First I would like to apologize for the lack of updates. Last year I was working a lot at the video store and did not have a lot of down time to sit and write. I have posted our pictures from our vacation to Thailand last April. I have to say it is one of my favorite places! One of the most relaxing times I have had in a long while. The water was such a vibrant color of blue and just beautiful! One of my most favorite meals while we were there was Thai Basil Chicken made right on the beach! 

    In June of last year, Stephen took a job with a different company and we left Bahrain. I went home to set up house in Texas and Stephen went to Afghanistan. His job there was for a year tour with an expected vacation around Christmas. However, the company he was working for lost the contract bid and we decided he would not stay, which meant instead of a vacation in December he would be transitioning to a new job. A long story short, he went back to work for his previous company in Bahrain. Stephen came home to Texas the weekend after Thanksgiving and right before the big ice storm that shut the state down for over a week. Craziness! We were able to spend time with family, although less than desired. Tuesday, before our departure, we had dinner with friends and family to celebrate Stephen’s safe arrival home and our departure for Bahrain that upcoming Saturday. It was truly wonderful getting to spend that time together. We braved the cold and snow/ice on the roads and had dinner with Stephen’s brother and 3 out of the 5 of our children in Benbrook. 

    Getting out of Texas, however, almost did not happen. Ice and snow. For most places in America this would not be a problem, however, the Dallas/Fort Worth area is not equipped to handle this type of weather and basically shut the airport down. Although our flight had been canceled, we were able to switch airlines and get out of Texas. Because it took so long to de-ice the plane in Texas we were over two hours late and missed our connection in London.  Two security checks and three different counters, two buses and the train – we were ready for bed! Thankfully we made it safely as did our luggage, which surprised the heck out of me!

    We have been settling in nicely in Bahrain, almost as if we never left. Stephen of course is busy with work and I have joined the FRG on base which I am enjoying thus far. We also get together with friends once a week for game night – where we all bring a dish and then play games together. It is quite nice! Our household goods have arrived and we have moved in to a fabulous villa which I will write about later this week.

    Blessings,

    The Goudy’s

  • Sausage and Tortellini Soup

    Sausage and Tortellini Soup

    The weather has been cooler here in Bahrain which is a perfect time for soup! I personally prefer homemade soups versus the canned variety. Soups are also one of my ‘go to meals’ when I am feeling under the weather and this one will definitely be added to the list.

    Sausage & Tortellini Soup

    Ingredients:

    1 package Italian sausage, chopped not crumbled

    1 small onion

    1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped

    1/4 cup broad pepper, chopped

    1/4 cup sliced mushrooms

    slivers of carrot

    2 cloves garlic, minced

    3 cups tortellini, cooked

    4 cups water

    3 chicken boullion cubes

    1 cup Half & Half

    1/2 cup fresh spinach leaves, torn up

    red pepper flakes to taste

    2 T Herbs de Provence

    salt & pepper to taste

    parmesan cheese

    Directions:

    Cook tortellini per package instructions, drain, and set aside. Remove the casing from the sausage. I personally do not crumble the sausage as I like it chopped up almost like tiny meatballs. Cook sausage, onion, mushrooms, slivers of carrot (as many as you would like), and both peppers till done. Dissolve boullion cubes in water then combine dissolved cubes, water and Half & Half into a soup pot. Next, add spices, spinach leaves, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste. Next, add sausage and tortellini and allow to simmer for 15 minutes. 

    Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve.

  • Texas Taco Platter

    This recipe is wonderful for a big crowd or family get together and has a beautiful presentation. I typically use my large bar pan which is 15 1/2″ x 10″.

    Ingredients

    • 2lbs ground beef
    • 1 large onion, chopped
    • 14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes, with liquid
    • 12 oz can tomato paste
    • 15 oz can tomato puree
    • 2 T chili powder
    • 2 tsp Cumin
    • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
    • 2 tsp salt
    • 28 oz can Ranch Style Beans (or pinto beans, see recipe here)
    • 1 pkg of corn chips
    • 2 cups rice, cooked
    • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
    • 1 medium onion, chopped
    • 1 head lettuce, shredded
    • 3 medium tomatoes, chopped
    • 1 cup picante sauce or hot sauce, optional

    Directions

    In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown ground beef and large onion; drain. Add diced tomatoes, paste and puree, chili powder, Cumin, garlic powder and salt. Simmer for 1 hour. Add beans and heat through.
    On the large bar pan, layer the corn chips, rice, meat mixture, cheese, onion, lettuce and tomatoes. Serve with picante or hot sauce, if desired!
    This can be doubled if you are feeding a bigger crowd! A family favorite!
    Variations:
    • Several times I have omitted the tomato sauce, puree, and can of tomatoes and instead added two cans of Ro-tel in their place, and it has become my preferred choice.