Politics and Applesauce

This has been a strange sort of week. Even Tunisia feels moody. The Mediterranean which is usually a turquoise bathtub of calm has even had it's moments of stormy waves and blue-grey waters.

My heart is feeling a little heavy. My friend flew back to the states for a medical procedure, my sister in law lost her brother very suddenly, my husband is traveling for work, my elderly Aunt had a heart attack, and the elections are being held this weekend here in Tunisia.

All through out the day my emotions flip flop over what to fret about, what to pray about, what to be grateful for and what to just let go. And then I got home, the sun was out and I could hear the waves gently lapping on the beach. I sat and watched a few sets of waves roll in. Ahhh, peace.

My friend will be just fine, she is young, (yes, J you are) and healthy, and she is in good hands. My sister in law and her family are grieving and lost in that surreal fog that envelopes you when you so recently lose someone. My Aunt had surgery and is recuperating nicely. When something happens to family, being on the other side of the world is so very, very hard. My husband will only be gone a few days and he'll be bringing back goodies from Barcelona.  I guess that leaves us with the unknown of the elections here in Tunisia.

The lead up to this weekend has put me on edge at times.  We've been told to stock up on water and groceries, but then the government started rationing how much water and milk you can purchase.  Stores are routinely out of stock of both items, although strangely enough there was ample supply of bublegum flavored milk. We're fine, we have plenty of food, water, milk, and even chocolate chips.

Everything points to the election being a peaceful event.  It's afterward, when the announcement is made about who wins that makes me a little edgy. That's when there is potential for friction, protesting, violence. But instead of focusing on that, I'm choosing to believe in the Tunisian people who have worked so hard and have come so far for this moment.

If you're interested in following along here are a few sites you can read.

Tunisia Live News and events.

Tunisia Security Update  this is a blog written by the security director at our school.

Out of the Box My friend Paula's blog. She wrote a nice post on recent events.

You can also get info on the BBC or the International Herald Tribune.

If you're looking for a recipe, I shall not disappoint. To go along with a pork roast we had the other night I made an applesauce scented with honey and rosemary. I think it turned out nicely, the kids gave it their seal of approval and it makes for an easy side dish.

Applesauce with Honey and Rosemary

5 medium apples peeled, quartered and cored

½ water

3 tablespoons honey

Rosemary to your taste, chopped fine

Thinly slice the apples and place them in a large saucepan.  Pour over the water and honey, add the rosemary. I used 2 teaspoons.

Bring to a simmer and let cook covered for 15-20 minutes or until the apples are very soft and can be smashed with the back of a spoon.

Mash the apples with a potato masher or puree with an immersion blender depending on the consistency you want.  Reduce the heat to medium low and let the apples cook uncovered another 8-10 minutes or until all the liquid evaporates and the applesauce thickens.

Cool and refrigerate.