Happy Valentines Day!

St Valentine’s Day is not just a special day for us for the usual reasons. It was on 14th February 2017 that we met each other’s parents in person for the first time, and then, 2 days later, Ryan proposed with all 4 of them with us, so mid-February holds very special memories.

Ordinarily, living in the remote bush community of Telefomin, we would dream of going out to a restaurant to celebrate, but the closest thing we can get to “eating-out” here is a “flour ball” (a popular kind of doughnut, sometimes with pink frosting on top) from the market. Several local ladies fry flour balls at home over a wood-burning fire, pack them in a plastic box and carry them to the market on their heads for people to enjoy for breakfast, lunch or a snack, usually just 1 Kina each. They are extremely greasy but very popular.

However, this year, we imagine most of you are celebrating like us, with a home-cooked meal, as many places still have restaurants closed or only open for take-out. On Saturday evening, Shiv made Butter Chicken with cheesy Naan bread and Lemon Meringue Pie. On Sunday evening, it was Ryan’s turn, he did pasta baked in a parcel and served with heart-shaped balloons and leftover Lemon Meringue Pie! :-D

Butter Chicken, a recipe from an Indian MAF PNG friend, served with home-made cheesy Naan bread.

The balloons Ryan secretly brought all the way from Canada.

Pasta with salami & mushrooms, baked in a pocket.