Life in Peoria

It's been a while!

I had somewhat forgotten about this blog, but I was just thinking recently I should try and go back to it.

Since the last time I posted, I moved from Urbana to Peoria, Illinois, and I've been loving it.

I am currently engaged to, ironically, the first friend I made here (how's that for fate!?), working at the local community college, and we just recently moved into this amazing new condo (after a series of unfortunate events and unhappy living situations, and then finally it just fell into our laps! B"H, or Alhamdulillah as we say in Arabic!)

This presents both an opportunity to cook more (a reaaaaaaaaaaaal kitchen for once!!!) but also some interesting kosher issues, as we have decided to let a friend move into our spare bedroom so he can improve his living situation (we didn't like where he was living before and we finally had an opportunity to help).

So, we have portioned out the kitchen into Môrgan's and The Guys'. The oven is self-cleaning (PRAISE THE LORD ALMIGHTY!!!!!OMG), and we don't have a dishwasher (aside for roommate Mikail, who says he really likes doing dishes), so it shouldn't be too difficult. Plus, lets be honest, Cherry Garden Chinese is RIGHT across the street and the only gluten is what they use for the fried food, so I've become a fully Jewish cliche...

I've always loved labeling my drawers with these little color coded electrical tape pieces. Though, you can see, I haven't exactly unpacked yet.

We'll have a full house for dinner tonight. I'm thinking of cooking mujaddara, perhaps with a little chicken for the boys, since I'm not sure how they'll feel about eating vegetarian.

B'vracha!!