Ever since we got to Zambia, I have struggled with cooking…especially breakfast. I was happy today when a friend from our home church, who is here adopting, said that cooking is just a totally different game here than in the States.
Why? Zambia is not really into the prepackaged, processed, easy-to-use, fix-it-in-a-hurry, non-expensive kind of foods like America is. (I understand that this is a much healthier way to eat. But the fact of the matter is…healthy = time-consuming).
How does that affect daily life, you ask? Cheese. It only comes in blocks. Beans. The affordable kind come dry in bags. Cereal. A small box of Multi-Grain Cheerios costs about $5. Bagels or English Muffins. They are rare or don’t exist.
After 8 months of living here, I finally found 2 foods that are easy to fix, healthy, delicious, and make my mornings and afternoons simply delightful.
#1: 100% Whole Wheat Bagels (like the kind Thomas’ makes in the States). I had honestly forgotten how wonderful morning can be when I don’t have to figure out if I’ll be making eggs and toast, pancakes, oatmeal pancakes, oatmeal, panakeuken, French toast, expensive cereal, breakfast burritos, frittatas, coffeecake, etc. Doesn’t that all sound like a stressful way to wake up?! Now, all I have to do is slice my bagel, pop it in the toaster, slather it with peanut butter, and grab my coffee to swish it down. Wonderful.
#2: Granola Bars. Who would have thought that granola bars were so easy to make and really do wonders for that mid-afternoon craving?!
So, I am especially thankful this month for these 2 wonders that will most likely become staple foods in this Dearth household!
Derek and Kristin Dearth 
Can you share your bagel recipe. I have made them a few times, but mine always fall, and turn into doughy, dense, discs. I think my recipe is overly complicated. Yours look lovely!