Gomen Wat (Ethiopian Greens)

ORIGINALLY POSTED BY HUBBY ON OUR UPSTATE LIFE

So far on this blog, we have passed along a great recipe for Injera, the traditional Ethiopian bread. Injera tastes a little strange and sour and, so, there are 3 amazing recipes that you can cook to dump on top of it. We've also given you the first of the 3 recipes, Doro (Chicken) Wat. The other 2 recipes are Gomen Wat (Ethiopian Greens), and >Kik Pea Alecha (Chick Peas/Garbanzo Beans Stew). We're going to tackle the Gomen Wat this week and, coming up in the next few weeks, we've got some Latin American recipes as well as a great FettuciniAlfredo recipe for you. Enjoy!

Gomen Wat (Ethiopian Greens)

Ingredients:

1 lb. Green Kale, chopped fine
1 Medium Onion, finely minced
1/2-1 tsp. Garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp. Ginger, ground
1/2 tsp. Tumeric
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
1 Jalapeno Pepper, chopped
1/2 cup Water
1/3 cup Vegetable Oil

Steps:
1) Saute onion in oil until clear.
2) Add garlic and spices.
3) Cook 3 minutes.
4) Add chopped kale.
5) Add water.
6) Cover and cook kale until tender (about 30 min.)
7) Add jalapenos and cook for 5 min. on low heat.
8) Add more salt to taste (serves 6).

Thanks so much to betumi.com for providing lots of parts of this recipe!

Attachment and Bonding

ORIGINALLY POSTED BY DAISYJ AT THE WAYFARER

Attachment is a real issue. It is as real for infants and toddlers as it is for older kids. There is so much information out there there is no reason to not arm yourself with information, tactics, strategies and ideas so that you have a warehouse of information when you get your child home at long last. You will know what to look for and what to do to help him or her and yourself. This is by no means an exhaustive list, nor even a really very good one. But, it is what I have found to be helpful for us and what I have posted on this blog. Happy bonding!

Here I will post some of my posts and links on attachment, as a matter of consolidation for those of you searching:

I am not going to advocate for any certain style of attachment therapy. I don't know anything about it. I am just listing resources that have been helpful for us. :)

From a general list on adoption resources:

Attachment:
Attachment Disorder Nancy Thomas Parenting Attachment.org Reactive Attachment Disorder
"Attaching in Adoption" by Deborah Gray
This is an important topic. Read all you can while you are waiting for your child referral and court date.

From a post on book recommendations:
Adoption and race for parents:
Toddler adoption the weaver's craft by Hopkins-Best
Taming the tiger while it is still a kitten by Nancy Thomas (the book is not particularly focused on Christians but I hear she is a Christian) I found this book to be a complimentary (to the Deborah Gray's book) list of attachment signs to look for and practical ideas for attachment. It is more of a booklet. I do not know anything about her particular theory's as this book does not address that.
Attaching in adoption by Deborah Grey
I'm chocolate you're vanilla by Marguerite A. Wright
Before You were mine (on making a Christian life book)*
Twenty Things Adopted Kids wish their parents knew by Sherrie Eldridge

Saturday Snapshots

Enjoy more amazing IAN families and adorable kiddos!

Affording Adoption

ORIGINALLY POSTED BY DAISYJ ON THE WAYFARER

Few who desire to adopt can pay for it out of pocket. If you can not take a second loan or adoption loan here are some ideas for you.

Many a church will be willing to donate from the deacons or mercy fund for orphans. More will be willing to allow you to hold a fund raising event at your church. Get with your Sunday School or small group and have a dinner or garage sale.

Here are some resources for funding an adoption.
Financing Adoption:

Adoption Financing on Squidoo
Affording Adoption a list
Adoption Assistance - Cadman Foundation
adoption funding - adoption source mortgage adoption loans, credit based adoption loans
Adoption Fundraising - Raising Money to Pay for Adoption Costs and Expenses
Adoption Grant-Loan Application
Available Resources To Help Defray The Cost of Adoption
Gift of Adoption Fund
His Kids, Too! - A Christian Charity Impacting Ukrainian Orphans
Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries - Home Page
Shaohannah's Hope
The Adoption Guide The Cost of Adoption
Ethiopia Adoption Blog, Ethiopia Adoption Blog - The cost of an adoption
Wiley, Morgan Parker Fund giving grants for international adoptions, out of date site but still funding.
Sea Of Faces Foundation grants for international adoptions
Both Hands Foundation
The ABBA fund
Lifesong for Orphans
Project Hopeful resources for families adopting HIV+ kids.
147 million

Recipe for Doro Wat (Chicken)

ORIGINALLY POSTED BY HUBBY ON OUR UPSTATE LIFE

Last week, I passed along a great recipe for Injera, the traditional Ethiopian bread, eaten at many, many Ethiopian meals. Once you've got the Injera made (or if you're looking for a unique and very yummy tasting chicken dish), it's time to make the wat, the stuff that goes on the injera. There are 3 recipes that my family and I ate while we were in Ethiopia: Doro Wat (Chicken), Gomen Wat (Ethiopian Greens), and Kik Pea Alecha (Chick Peas/Garbanzo Beans Stew). They are all placed on the table together so diners can pick and choose how much or how little they want of each. So good! While injera itself takes kind of sour and, well, strange, these recipes bring out the best and truly make it an amazing meal. In upcoming weeks, I hit up the other recipes, as well as some of our favorite Latin American recipes, and, for toppers, a great Fettucini Alfredo recipe. But, right now, here is the recipe for Doro Wat. Enjoy!

Doro (Chicken) Wat

Ingredients:

2 lbs Chicken Pieces
2 Tbs Lemon Juice
1 tsp Salt
4 Tbs Vegetable Oil
2 cups Onion, finely chopped
1 Tbs Minced Garlic
1/2 tsp Ginger (ground)
1/4 tsp Fenugreek, (crushed)
1/2 tsp Cardamom (ground)
1/8 tsp Nutmeg (ground)
2 Tbs Berbere
4 Tbs Paprika
(for a spicier Wat, use 4 Tbs Berbere and 2 Tbs Paprika)
2 Tbs Tomato Paste
1 cup Water (or more, as needed)
2 Tbs Butter

Steps:
1) Traditionally, a whole Chicken is cut into 8 pieces.
2) Sprinkle chicken with Lemon Juice and Salt
3) Let Chicken stand while preparing other ingredients
4) Heat Vegetable Oil
5) To Oil, add Onions, Minced Garlic, and Ginger.
6) Cover and cook on low heat until Onions are just browned
7) Add Fenugreek, Cardamom, and Nutmeg and stir well
8) Add Berbere, Paprika, Tomato Paste, and Water
9) Bring to a boil and cook slowly, stirring often for about 45 minutes (should be the consistency of heavy cream) - add a small amount of water if necessary
10) Add Chicken pieces to the sauce, turning to coat
11) Add Butter
12) Lower heat and cook chicken for about 1 hour, turning often to prevent sticking and to cook evenly
13) Serve with injera and enjoy!

Thanks so much to betumi.com for providing lots of parts of this recipe!

Sensory Processing Disorder

Recommendations from IAN families -

Books for parents:

• The Out of Sync Child
• The Out of Sync Child Has Fun
• Raising a Sensory Smart Child
• Sensational Kids

Books for kids:

• The Goodenoughs Get in Sync: 5 Ways SPD Can Affect You and Me!
• The Goodenoughs Get in Sync: A Story for Kids about the Tough Day When Filibuster Grabbed Darwin's Rabbit's Foot and the Whole Family Ended Up in the Doghouse--An Introduction to Sensory Processing Disorder

From The Center for Adoption Medicine:
Sensory integration dysfunction (DSI), or as it is currently known, sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a complicated, somewhat controversial disorder of "sensory processing" - the ability to take in, filter, and respond appropriately to sensory input (touch, movement, vision, hearing, taste, and smell). Some children are felt to be "sensory-avoiding", or "sensory-defensive" - feeling bombarded by overly intense experiences of touch, lights, sound, and so on. Some children are "sensory-seeking", or "sensory under-responsive" - seeking intense stimulation, bashing and crashing around, and seeming less aware of pain and touch. Some children have trouble using sensory inputs to plan and perform gross and fine motor tasks ("dyspraxia", or motor planning disorder).

SPD is one of those diagnoses where definitive research on prevalence, validation of diagnostic tools, and effective therapy is lacking. It's especially hard to know when normal developmental, temperamental, and other individual differences in sensory responsiveness becomes a "disorder". It's underdiagnosed in many arenas, and overdiagnosed in others, just like any disorder where convenient but unvalidated checklists proliferate on the web, and where "cottage industries" marketing products and treatments are competing for your parental attention and money.

Having worked with a lot of post-institutionalized and alcohol-exposed children (two populations that are at higher risk for SPD), I am convinced that there are many such children for whom SPD is a real disorder - one that significantly impairs their function in home, social, and school environments. And I've seen children respond well to occupational therapy (OT) sensory interventions, especially functional approaches that integrate sensory work with the child's needs in motor skills and social interactions.

Even if your child's issues are more reflective of developmental immaturity or individual temperament than a definitive disorder, the sensory approaches can be fun, stimulating, and helpful with self-regulation and self-soothing. It's still hard to convince insurers and schools to fund such interventions, and depending on your situation, sensory-based therapy may not be the most pressing use of your time and money ... but here are some good resources on the topic. A lot of interventions are ones that you can do at home, and while there are scads of nifty products marketed for SPD, you can get a lot done with simple, cheap, or home-made tools and toys.

Sensory Processing Disorder Resources:

• SPD Network
• SensorySmarts.com
• The Out-of-Sync-Child website and books (The Out-of-Sync Child andThe Out-of-Sync Child has Fun)
• Building Bridges through Sensory Integration, Second Edition by Ellen Yack, et al
• Sensory Processing Disorder Resources from Auer Therapeutic Services - Links, email newsletter, and information on their upcoming book.
• Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World by Sharon Heller (an adult perspective on these issues)
  
• Sensory Toolchest Workbooks for Parents and Teachers
• Movement With a Purpose: Perceptual Motor-Lesson Plans for Young Children - a sequential activities program for developing gross motor skills in children 2 1/2 to 6 years old
• How Does Your Engine Run? - the "Alert program" for helping kids with self-regulation, and maintaining appropriate levels of alertness
  
• Ye Olde Therapy Shoppe ... one-stop shopping for sensory-motor and learning books, chewies, fidgets, weights, balls, and more ... see alsoAbilitations, Integrations, and others
• Seamfree socks, snug undies, flat-seamed clothes, and other items are available from SensoryComfort.com

Valentine's Day Gift Guide - Part 2

I hope you enjoyed part 1 of the Valentine's Day gift guide. I've since found some additional adoption and/or Ethiopian inspired items that I thought I'd share.

J Studio - beautiful digital archival prints created from original pen and watercolor drawings of multicultural families and Ethiopian landscapes. A portion of her proceeds go to the Kolfe Orphanage in Addis Ababa. Visit her blog to enter a giveaway of three 8"x10" prints.

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EthioPAP - a cute fabric applique (for only $1!) that could be put on babies, girls or women's clothes or framed.

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Shirts for Shoes - Charity left a comment on the last gift guide about this great opportunity. For every t-shirt (which come in children, men and women's sizes) sold, a t-shirt and pair of shoes will be donated to an orphan in Ethiopia.

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vyz123's shop - Cute necklace with a pendant showing a child's handprint, the continent of Africa and a heart over Ethiopia. 100% of the proceeds go to humanitarian work in the village of Aleta Wondo.

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Caitlin Kleiboer Photography - Matted photos of Ethiopian daily life and landscapes

Please feel free to let me know in the comments section of any other cool products you've seen. Thanks and happy shopping!