December Filers

[Piefre 15]

Please don't wait 60 days to call. When I called the NVC to check as our case was overdue, the lady told me please call back in 2 weeks. What? 2 weeks? I was very polite, said "have a good day and I will talk to you tomorrow."

This is probably what I will do, pester them until someone gets something done. Does anyone have the number to call? I'm at VSC.

[Mariye & Ky 172]

Question for Decemberites:

You have just picked up your Sweetheart from the POE. You were so nervous and excited to see them, you forgot to stock up at the grocery. Because you two are so happy to see one another, you RUSH home for a romantic evening alone. Since it's your first night alone and he/she is starving from their travel, you lovingly say you will make them food.

So....

1). What's in your pantry right NOW?

2). What can you creatively make from that (that is edible) and can be considered cuisine from your Beneficiary's country??

** Rules***

A. You must not go outside house for more groceries or order take out.

B. You may add any other ingredients to incorporate their culture that is in the house, subject and not limited to anything toxic or poisonous.

C. You would be willing to eat it yourself when plated for the table!

D. Looks and presentation count. (you may include pic of said cuisine from random pics on the net)

@ Bec, Nea and Nicola: LOL See what you started??? LOL LOL

Have fun with this!

Mari

[Bec_Dipu 103]

haha i was thinking the same thing! I don't even think I have that much on hand.. looking in my fridge I see yogurt and some cocoa puffs..

You keep cocoa puffs in the fridge?

For all you beneficiaries...milk goes in the fridge, cocoa puffs go in the cabinet.

Ha ha ha...you're cracking me up!

[Bec_Dipu 103]

Question for Decemberites:

You have just picked up your Sweetheart from the POE. You were so nervous and excited to see them, you forgot to stock up at the grocery. Because you two are so happy to see one another, you RUSH home for a romantic evening alone. Since it's your first night alone and he/she is starving from their travel, you lovingly say you will make them food.

So....

1). What's in your pantry right NOW?

2). What can you creatively make from that (that is edible) and can be considered cuisine from your Beneficiary's country??

** Rules***

A. You must not go outside house for more groceries or order take out.

B. You may add any other ingredients to incorporate their culture that is in the house, subject and not limited to anything toxic or poisonous.

C. You would be willing to eat it yourself when plated for the table!

D. Looks and presentation count. (you may include pic of said cuisine from random pics on the net)

@ Bec, Nea and Nicola: LOL See what you started??? LOL LOL

Have fun with this!

Mari

Not playing by your rules!

I've already promised Dipu to show up at the airport with a Five Guys burger in the car. First a kiss for me, then a bite of the burger, then another kiss for me, then two bites of the burger, then I yell, "Hey, what about me?" Then another kiss for me. Then the rest of the burger. The Dipu asks if I brought another one.

I'm pretty sure that's how it's going to go...that man LOVES beef. He's probably the least Indian Indian I've ever met

[Gsummit 14]

Not playing by your rules!

I've already promised Dipu to show up at the airport with a Five Guys burger in the car. First a kiss for me, then a bite of the burger, then another kiss for me, then two bites of the burger, then I yell, "Hey, what about me?" Then another kiss for me. Then the rest of the burger. The Dipu asks if I brought another one.

I'm pretty sure that's how it's going to go...that man LOVES beef. He's probably the least Indian Indian I've ever met

Haha...love Five Guys! Im not feeling Mari's rules either. She is the one who keeps all of Fresh Market in her cabinets on a given day lol.

[April&Adam 5]

Oh, I didn't know I could call too. Does it count as a long distance call? What's the number anyway? Lol. I will start calling when I hit 30 days until I get that approval. Seriously, 60 days for a missed checkbox is really dumb. I know it was dumb of us to miss it in the first place but still 60 days is just ridiculous.

I believe it's long distance, but if you have a gmail account you can call using that for free. Number is 1-202-663-1225 then press 1 and then press 0 (if you use gmail, leave the 1 off). Then just make sure that you have your receipt number for your NOA1, and you're basic security question info.

[Gsummit 14]

Ok Mari, you made me think and rummage through my cupboards as if Ola was landing any minute. I have decided to play along with your rules just for kicks and giggles but in reality I don't see me pulling out the Martha Stewart treatment and impress him so early. Gotta work my way up to that (lol). Anyway, based on what I have in my kitchen I chose to prepare Nigerian Chicken Stew. I have the chicken, the chillies, tomatoes, onions, garlic, thyme, curry, salt and groundnut oil. I dont have partminger leaves but I bet I can find a substitute for that and figure it out by taste. Hope he enjoys it or we have to break the rules and head to McDonalds lol.

Ps...dont let the plantains in the picture fool you. I dont have those at home right now

[Mariye & Ky 172]

LOL Nea!!

Now we're talking..... WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You get an A+

[nikolacolada 21]

You keep cocoa puffs in the fridge?

For all you beneficiaries...milk goes in the fridge, cocoa puffs go in the cabinet.

Ha ha ha...you're cracking me up!

lmao yes I keep EVERYTHING in the fridge--- mostly because I live in a tropical climate and somehow the ants seem to find anything and everything that isn't like vacuum sealed or canned lol.

one more reason to add to the list of reasons why we want this visa so badly--- no more ants!

[lee&jeniebee 23]

Question for Decemberites:

You have just picked up your Sweetheart from the POE. You were so nervous and excited to see them, you forgot to stock up at the grocery. Because you two are so happy to see one another, you RUSH home for a romantic evening alone. Since it's your first night alone and he/she is starving from their travel, you lovingly say you will make them food.

So....

1). What's in your pantry right NOW?

2). What can you creatively make from that (that is edible) and can be considered cuisine from your Beneficiary's country??

** Rules***

A. You must not go outside house for more groceries or order take out.

B. You may add any other ingredients to incorporate their culture that is in the house, subject and not limited to anything toxic or poisonous.

C. You would be willing to eat it yourself when plated for the table!

D. Looks and presentation count. (you may include pic of said cuisine from random pics on the net)

@ Bec, Nea and Nicola: LOL See what you started??? LOL LOL

Have fun with this!

Mari

Ok, confession time, I am cold busted! The truth is I have only German Sausage, eggs, milk, 2 week old pizza (with green stuff growing) not much.

I am both excited about meeting Jenie Bee at the POE and nervous. I have not seen her in real life since 9/14/2010. To be honest I will have the master bedroom all made up for her arrival, and the guest room all made up for me. I didn't really think of having food ready, I will reevaluate the situation..

Rex

[Mariye & Ky 172]

Ok, confession time, I am cold busted! The truth is I have only German Sausage, eggs, milk, 2 week old pizza (with green stuff growing) not much.

I am both excited about meeting Jenie Bee at the POE and nervous. I have not seen her in real life since 9/14/2010. To be honest I will have the master bedroom all made up for her arrival, and the guest room all made up for me. I didn't really think of having food ready, I will reevaluate the situation..

Rex

LOL....... and now what Flip thing can you make with those (sans 2 wk old pizza with green things)? I haven't seen K either bc when we thought I'd be back over (Feb or Mar), he was still on base and out of the country!

Um.... at least keep a 50 lbs bag of rice and soy sauce in that house! You're gonna need that for sure. LOL This way the poor girl won't starve because Rice goes with everything as far as Flips are concerned. Rice with Eggs and sausage for breakfast.... rice with tuna for lunch.... rice with chicken adobo for dinner.... rice, brown sugar and milk for dessert! Now you see? I just helped you figure out the game plan for POE! You're a cheater cuz you didn't try and make a "Bene's menu" with the ingredients in your house.

<hands on hula hips>

Tita Mari LOL

[Christine + Blake 18]

Question for Decemberites:

You have just picked up your Sweetheart from the POE. You were so nervous and excited to see them, you forgot to stock up at the grocery. Because you two are so happy to see one another, you RUSH home for a romantic evening alone. Since it's your first night alone and he/she is starving from their travel, you lovingly say you will make them food.

So....

1). What's in your pantry right NOW?

2). What can you creatively make from that (that is edible) and can be considered cuisine from your Beneficiary's country??

** Rules***

A. You must not go outside house for more groceries or order take out.

B. You may add any other ingredients to incorporate their culture that is in the house, subject and not limited to anything toxic or poisonous.

C. You would be willing to eat it yourself when plated for the table!

D. Looks and presentation count. (you may include pic of said cuisine from random pics on the net)

@ Bec, Nea and Nicola: LOL See what you started??? LOL LOL

Have fun with this!

Mari

Jeez Mari that's a tough challenge! We have no meat in the house at all really, so that is a challenge since Blake won't eat many veggies (I'm pretending I live here and Blake is coming here). I have milk, cheese, noodles, breadcrumbs, a few spices.. so I will make Blake some good old macaroni and cheese! He loves that and I just started eating cheese recently so I would even eat it too. Oh we also have some leftover cooked chicken in the fridge so he could have some chicken and green beans too - a full meal!

[Mariye & Ky 172]

Jeez Mari that's a tough challenge! We have no meat in the house at all really, so that is a challenge since Blake won't eat many veggies (I'm pretending I live here and Blake is coming here). I have milk, cheese, noodles, breadcrumbs, a few spices.. so I will make Blake some good old macaroni and cheese! He loves that and I just started eating cheese recently so I would even eat it too. Oh we also have some leftover cooked chicken in the fridge so he could have some chicken and green beans too - a full meal!

LOL there you go!!!!!!!!!! This challenge is something like what it's like when the honeymoon is over and we're living our daily lives. Sometimes stuff gets in the way of our routines like cleaning, or grocery shopping, and learning to make them comfortable with ideas that will help them assimilate.

Christine: Nice Job!!

Mari

[phyxsius 1]

Hey guys,

update from my side I guess.

I called the embassy 3 weeks ago and asked them how they are looking on interview dates. the lady told me that they are scheduling late june at that time, which was fine. I went ahead and booked my medical etc.

Week after that I received packet 3. I sent it back the same day as well!

Then I called them on Friday afternoon to check if they received my mail. the lady then told me that they had not opened it yet, so its not in the system if its received or not... AND that they are now scheduling interviews late july early august and to not make any plans -.-

I asked them if its possible to schedule an interview for me now since i did send off packet 3 and its pending on their side.. but i could not

sigh... on the 20th of may i told my work that i would most likely be leaving "soon" end of june, since they kept on asking me for a date.. Now I just look plain stupid

In regards to mari's new question!

Well.. urm damn Mari! you caught me on my shopping day..

I have.. meatballs, potatoes and lingonberry sauce ..

I guess that I could make a Swedish classic

meatballs with potatoes with brown gravy and lingonberry sauce..

simple enough

Meatballs you can make yourselves !

Minced meat

Egg so that the meat wont fall apart when you fry it

spices, I like mine with a bit of kick so I use chili and some garlic powder in mine

make them into round balls and fry them

Potatoes, boil them!

Gravy

Well, sometimes since I am not in Sweden anymore, I just use the premade gravy mixture that you can buy from IKEA! "dear god.. such a fob "

And if i don't have that then you can just make one yourself

Water / milk depends on how thick you want it

meat stock

some butter

salt

pepper

and if you dont get a brown color on it.. then you can cheat and add some soy sauce

and the lingonberry sauce is something that I don't make myself. in Sweden you buy it in a can and that's it.

I got mine at IKEA once again

There you go!

Take care :]

[Lise+Michael 13]

Hey guys,

update from my side I guess.

I called the embassy 3 weeks ago and asked them how they are looking on interview dates. the lady told me that they are scheduling late june at that time, which was fine. I went ahead and booked my medical etc.

Week after that I received packet 3. I sent it back the same day as well!

Then I called them on Friday afternoon to check if they received my mail. the lady then told me that they had not opened it yet, so its not in the system if its received or not... AND that they are now scheduling interviews late july early august and to not make any plans -.-

I asked them if its possible to schedule an interview for me now since i did send off packet 3 and its pending on their side.. but i could not

sigh... on the 20th of may i told my work that i would most likely be leaving "soon" end of june, since they kept on asking me for a date.. Now I just look plain stupid

In regards to mari's new question!

Well.. urm damn Mari! you caught me on my shopping day..

I have.. meatballs, potatoes and lingonberry sauce ..

I guess that I could make a Swedish classic

meatballs with potatoes with brown gravy and lingonberry sauce..

simple enough

Meatballs you can make yourselves !

Minced meat

Egg so that the meat wont fall apart when you fry it

spices, I like mine with a bit of kick so I use chili and some garlic powder in mine

make them into round balls and fry them

Potatoes, boil them!

Gravy

Well, sometimes since I am not in Sweden anymore, I just use the premade gravy mixture that you can buy from IKEA! "dear god.. such a fob "

And if i don't have that then you can just make one yourself

Water / milk depends on how thick you want it

meat stock

some butter

salt

pepper

and if you dont get a brown color on it.. then you can cheat and add some soy sauce

and the lingonberry sauce is something that I don't make myself. in Sweden you buy it in a can and that's it.

I got mine at IKEA once again

There you go!

Take care :]

Sorry to hear about the interview dates Anita and Rob, it is definitely frustrating at this point!

I went on to the Montreal, Canada consulate site and they have no appointments availabe for three days now. I have mine booked, was going to reschedule if any cancellations came up. Montreal is booked up to the end of September and are taking 12-14 days to print the visas!

I suppose it is human nature for people to ask us "when are you going" but in the end that decision is not up to us and just causes us more anxiety! Here usually you give two weeks notice to leave a job, have you officially given your notice? I am have to make a choice of letting my apartment go, I have to give 2 months notice. My interview is Aug 23, I have no desire of staying here until November which I would have to do if I wait until visa is in hand.

We have made it this far....we can't give up now!

Mari...for your game, Michael and I will be driving together for my POE...maybe I can get him to stop at one of the Diners, Drive Ins and Dives locations in Duluth??? I am scared to see what he would have on hand when I get there. Then we can shop together the next day. It would be a whole different story if he was coming here!

Have a great day everyone,

Lise