Fresh Homemade Chapati

When we lived in Ethiopia, I was unable to bake (something I enjoy) because we didn't have an oven.  Well, the Amare family had an oven, and I headed up the Ayyám-i-Há cookie baking team during the holiday season as well as made an attempt at making my mom's yummy zucchini bread (although, I forgot to take into account the altitude so they were more like glazed-sugary-goodness zucchini bread - I think Kyle actually preferred these to the one we make here).  Anyway, I was oven-less in my apartment with some pots and pans (one of which was a non-stick I brought back from the States over Winter Break).  I had a little Moleskine notebook that I kept important information in - contact information of friends and family in the area, flight information, U.S. Embassy & Consulate addresses & phone numbers, grocery lists, packing lists, travel information, to-do lists, and recipes.  The internet was very slow and who knew when the power would go out, so I'd find some recipes that looked worth trying, have them open in different tabs, disconnect from the internet (to save money), and handwrite them into my little notebook - directly copying every detail.

It was tedious, but my life after school was very relaxing and quiet.  There was no TV to watch, no books to read besides the few I borrowed from the school, no iPad to play on, no smartphone to procrastinate with, no car to drive away in.  My afternoons were filled with listening to the CDs Jaleh sent us with the most up-to-date popular music in the States, writing in my journal, attempting to keep up with my blog, and spending every evening with Kyle.  Making dinner, watching every episode of Lost (all seasons), watching movies he had on his computer or we'd rent the shady copies from the guy down the street...  Our life was so simple.  I miss it.

Anyway, I often yearn to be back in Ethiopia.  This week, I started thinking of the bread I used to make on my non-stick pot/pan (just found out it's called a "jumbo cooker", and now you can forgive me for not knowing whether to call it a pot or a pan).  It was so yummy and easy to make.  So last night I got out my little black notebook, noted that we had all of the ingredients, and proceeded to make it while our rice cooked for dinner.

Kyle remembers this bread and likes it very much.  He actually told me last night that I did a great job making it again.

Today I brought out two chapati, spread some of Willy's Famous Salsa on each of them, sprinkled shredded mozzarella cheese on each, and then topped them with mini turkey pepperoni.  Popped them in the microwave for 45 seconds and they were ready to go!

Pizza Chapati

Ethiopia, I miss you.  And all of the smiling faces.

My little reminder of life in Ethiopia.