My first American wedding

Any wedding that rounds off the reception meal by serving a glass of milk and an Oreo cookie is top notch in my book!

It was such a great day. The Bride was beautiful, the Groom was handsome, and the wine was served on silver platters (I felt like a movie star). I witnessed the 'smooshing' of the cake, when the Bride and Groom feed each other a slice of cake and end up with most of it in their eyebrows, the lighting of the Unity candle to symbolise two families coming together, and a short game of Mr and Mrs, where the happy couple are quizzed with questions such as 'who's the best cook?' which they answer by raising his or her shoe.

The big moment for me occurred when the country music came on and my husband AGREED TO TWO-STEP with me!!!!!!! It finally happened! I feel like I've been truly initiated now. I am a two-stepping Texan, albeit with two left feet and lanky arms. And the best thing of all - my hubby enjoyed it!  

   

Toad in the Hole origin...

Google has informed me that one disputed origin for the name 'Toad in the Hole' is that the dish resembles toads poking their heads out of holes. I really hope this is true, because it's HILARIOUS and just makes good, old-fashioned, no-nonsense, British sense. 

Toad in the Hole!

For Valentines Day this year (our first one together in 4D - last year's was spent on Skype) Hubby and I made Toad in the Hole. No, this is not rude, please don't sign off in disgust! It's a British dish consisting of sausages, Yorkshire pudding and vegetables (we chose cabbage and broccoli with lashings of brown gravy). I have no idea why it is called Toad in the Hole, as at no point are toads required, harmed and/or dropped down holes. 

Basically, you lay sausages in a baking dish and cover them with Yorkshire pudding batter (made by whisking flour, milk and eggs together) and cook until the batter has risen and is a golden brown colour, like this:

We wrapped our sausages in bacon (aka, the British version of Pigs in Blankets) as it was a special occasion and we were feeling the need for extra meat. 

It tastes so good! Just look at the excitement on Hubby's face:

Yorkshire puddings (mini versions) are traditionally served with a roast dinner. One of my childhood memories is eating the left-over Yorkshire puddings with golden syrup. It's a diverse food! Main and desert in one! Yorkshire lads and lasses definitely know how to be practical. 

A glimpse of the future...

As I was perusing the delicacies at the British Emporium (ginger nut biscuits and Jaffa Cakes - YUM!) my ears caught the accent of my homeland. A young mum (a regular, as the shop assistant knew her by name) was popping her favourites into a shopping trolley and chatting away to her little girl in a southern (probably London/Surrey) accent. Her child answered in a thick Texan voice and I thought 'that could be me in a few years, training my American child to crave Branston pickle and a decent pouring teapot' (which are hard to come by, believe me). But then it got weird. The young mum switched into an American accent and, to my untrained ears, sounded so local I would never have guessed her origins. She continued to switch back and forth between England and America so that I found myself signalling to my mother-in-law to listen in. There was no smooth transition, no English words mixed in with American. It was either one accent or the other. It makes me wonder what I'll sound like in the future. 

According to the shop assistant (who is also British and has been living in Texas since the early seventies) I'll need to work at keeping my accent. I have to make a conscience decision to maintain it. I can completely understand that. Already I find myself drifting into American intonations or phrases. Don't get me wrong, I love the Texas accent! It's so friendly and makes me smile. But I would like to keep my own as much as possible. Or even make it posher! I might start playing Downton Abbey while I sleep and discover my inner Mary.    
   

A wonderful gift from my mother-in-law...

I know I fit the stereotype but I just don't care! When I opened the box, I felt the cups and saucers call and my pinkie finger twitch in anticipation.

How do I know our kitten's reached her teenage years?

She nibbled my freshly baked scone, pooped on the carpet, then walked around all nonchalant with a look on her face that said 'squirt me with that water bottle one more time and I'll do it again.' 

Homesickness

It's is a sneaky little blighter. You don’t realise you have it until your conscience reminds you that it’s probably crazy to blow up in your husband’s face for leaving a cupboard door open or a lone sock on the floor (granted it was centimetres away from the laundry basket and that just baffles me). It comes out after arguments:

‘Why are you crying? You can’t be that bothered about mildew on the shower curtain!’

‘I…miss…England.’

‘Oh. Come here.’

 It comes out when the doctor’s receptionist doesn’t understand your accent over the phone. It comes out when you discover that your cat plays fetch like a dog and you used to have a dog in England who also played fetch. It just comes out, however and wherever it pleases. But with deep breaths, planned trips back and the friendly faces of Texas people, you get over it every time.  

Hallelujah, amen!

I have discovered that we live on the big fat shiny buckle of the bible belt (try saying that fast! You did, didn't you? Me too. I love how connected we are!).  

Stereotypically, everything in Texas is big: hats, belt buckles, hair, apples...but churches are in a whole different league! 

The church we attend is relatively small (!) compared to others. The congregation is a couple thousand, there are three services every Sunday and missions happening left, right and centre, both local and national (The Philippines, The Horn of Africa, Honduras and Mongolia are just a few happening this year). Here is a photo:

Pretty big, and this is only the main part. There are extensions on the back and sides. I get lost quite frequently. It has two car parks for Pete's sake! (sorry Pete, I don't mean to blame you)

But that's nothing...

One of the super churches over here has 4 campuses, that's 4 BUILDINGS, and 4 services every Sunday at EACH VENUE, and they still have to turn people away due to overcrowding! It's insane!  

Coming from a past where, in my earlier days, I felt that church was dead and for people of an older generation, to then finding Jesus and getting stuck into a great church in England of around 400 people, my initial response to church in Texas was 'whoa' and 'I feel like an ant'.

But, I'm pleased to say that, despite being one of a thousand faces at our church, we're already connected and building family. We even got asked to be the candle lighters at the carol concert, AND we got given the central isle, prime spot! I'm not boasting. Not at all. (The carol concert consisted of a full blown orchestra, choir and soloists with amazing talent) 

Here are some more photos of super churches out here in Dallas. Oh, and did I mention they're spaced only seconds apart - there are churches EVERYWHERE! 

   

This last one is the chapel at Dallas Baptist University. 

Praise Jesus, y'all! Hallelujah, amen! 

Yet another food post...

I love the tradition of going out for dessert in America. Pie at the Pie Emporium, ice cream, cake...that's my kind of trip out! My personal favourite at the moment has to be frozen yoghurt at Pinkberry's. You choose a flavour, which seem to differ from store to store, the size and the toppings which can be naughty or good (aka fresh fruit or chocolate in a variety of forms). Here is my recent Pinkberry masterpiece:

Mango flavour with more mango and chocolate balls (haha) in a medium cup. I have yet to tackle a large without the help of my husband (who inhales food so I have to be nimble and sneaky to get my fair share - it's all about distraction!)

A frozen yoghurt outing is definitely on my list of things to do with visitors!