The Rocking Chef | thoughts on cooking, travel, music and life

Meet Rob Morris – Love 146

March 1, 2011 in community, Compassion, Dreams, family, inspiration, Social Justice, Tattoo, The Church with 2 Comments

Sometimes in life you hear story that that changes apart of who you are; it’s like a virus engrains it way into your core and changes you at a DNA level. Exactly two years ago on a trip to Lake J i heard such a story. A story about a man in south east Asia investigating sex trafficking of young girls. This man and his team would go in to brothels posing as “Johns” to gather information, having to hide their horror and anger so as not to endanger the lives of the girls. In one brothel they came across a glassed room filled with young girls and cartoons playing on a TV. All these girls had been numbered, no names, just numbers. All of them were glassy eyed and glued to the TV, all but one. The little girl wearing 146, she was staring back through the window at the men as they walked through to pick out their…Slave for the night. This one girl still had a light in her eyes, she still had fight left in her. This young girl, labeled 146, left a mark on this man’s life.

Meet Rob Morris of Love146, co-founder and President. It was after his trip to south east Asia, when he came across the girl with 146 on her, that he knew he couldn’t turn back and decided to fight sex trafficking of children and orphans.

This last weekend in North West Arkansas during an IC//Orphan conference were we gathered to discuss holistic orphan care around the world. I was given the opportunity to hear Rob speak for the first time in person while he led a discussion group about sex trafficking and orphan care. There was a lot of thoughts which you may want to read about HERE.

For those of you who don’t know me, tattoos draw my attention, but more so the stories behind them. During Rob’s break out session Rob took his jacket off and the first thing that caught my eye was this picture of a young girl with wings.

Having never spoken with Rob before all i could think about was the young girl behind the glass with 146 on her. I took the first chance I could to ask Rob about his art work. He told me about a street girl he met on the same trip, one he was able talk to and get a photo of. I can’t imagine how many of these girls he came across who were being held as sex slaves at such a young age. Rob asked me if i remembered that scene in Forest Gump where Jenny is running through the field away from her abusive father, out of breath she finally crouches in the tall grass repeating “Dear God make me a bird so I can fly far far away. Dear God Make me a bird so that I can fly far far away.” Rob told me how that scene influenced him and Love 146, because Jenny was willing to do anything to get away from the abuse and pain – much like the girls stuck in brothels. The lettering around the winged girl reads “do justice, love Mercy” – words we as christians should not take lightly.

On Rob’s other forearm is this celtic design he pointed out to me. He said, “this is my tribe, the names of all my kids.” His tribe, his family made up of many different parts but all apart of the same. One arm is a reminder of what he has seen and one arm is a reminder of what he has done in the light of what he has seen. Do justice, love Mercy.

I think too many people picture Christians as those annoying people picketing and yelling, or of the jelly spine breed that don’t want to get involved. But, God calls us to action, to fight and care for the Orphans and Widows. Rob is an excellent example of doing just that. During Rob’s session he reminded us that the “Victims of injustice do not need our spasm of passion but our legs and lungs of endurance ”

What are you willing to do to fight injustice?

Quinoa and Fennel Stuffed Cornish Game Hens

February 5, 2011 in Cooking with 2 Comments

It has been a few weeks now since I finished the Green Room Appreciation dinner for Austin Stone and I am finally putting up how-to pictures for the main dish.

That week in January was a busy. With a wedding meal for 50 on Monday and turning around that night to start shopping for the private dinner on Friday, I worked 18 hour days. Regardless, I never felt like I accomplished more than I at the end of Friday night.

The First course was a Butternut Squash Soup with Candied Pecans. Since it’s the middle of winter I felt this bright heart warming soup was a great way to kick off the night.

The main dish was a Quinoa stuff Cornish game hen with Chimay Glazed Brussel Sprouts – my nod to classical cooking with winter poultry and vegetables. The hens I was able to pick up weighed right at 1 1/2 pounds a piece which made half a bird a hearty meal for almost anyone. To make the process of eating easier and more enjoyable I de-boned the rib cage out from each bird, which made it easier to eat and allowed me to stuff the bird in a way that held its shape. I am posting a few how-to photos of this process. Do not fear, I accepted the help of Rex who never boned a hen but was interested in learning. After three birds he was confident in what he was doing and with every bird that passed through his hands his speed increased.

Step 1: Lay your bird out breast side down, and draw your boning knife down the spine from head to tail. Using short strokes with the tip of the knife, run the blade down the back, angled toward the ribs – taking care to remove as much meat as possible. When you come across the shoulder-blade of the hen, make sure to stay on top of it, placing the shoulder-blade between your blade and the rib cage.

Step 2 :When you hit the “hip” of the bird, grab the leg quarter and bend it towards the back until it pops out of joint. Do the same with the wing. This is a little gruesome but makes it easier to cut through the joint. Continue working around the rib cage till you hit the keel bone. If you have done this correctly you will have in one piece a wing, leg quarter, and breast with tender intact attached to the skin. Now is the time to celebrate take a breath and do the other side.

When you are finished with this, save the ribs and wing tips for stock! Everything is useful.

Step 3: Make sure to season the inside of the bird with salt and pepper. (for the dinner it seasoned over night) Take your stuffing and fill the rib cage cavity using the stuffing as a space and giving it shape. Pull the flaps of the back skin closed, and sew it back together using butchers twine and a needle or as I have done with a bamboo skewers.

Step 4: Now its time to start cooking. Make sure the skin’s dry by wiping it down with a paper towel. Rub all the skin with butter or olive oil (I used the olive oil for the dinner) season the skin with salt and pepper. Place on breast side up on a baking rack (for my test run I placed butter cubes on top). Most of it will melt off. If you’re using the olive oil method you don’t need to do this. Place the pan in a 375° oven and add liquid to the pan, such as white wine, stock, or water. I roasted these birds for at least 45 mins, but due to variations in oven, use a thermometer in the stuffing. You are looking for an internal temperature of 160°.

Step 5:When you have reached 160°, pull the hen out, taking care of the hot liquid in the pan. Cover it with foil or a towel and let it sit for 10 – 15 minutes. This allows the juices to stabilize in the meat and allows for carry over cooking. Pull the skewer out and draw a chef’s knife down between the breast of the bird, it should slice easily since you won’t hit any bones.

This whole process is a little time-consuming but its a great way to add wow factor to your next dinner. All food gets better with a little love and care.

(photo credit for the finished plate at the top goes to Roberta Cobb, our fearless Green Room Leader. The finish product photo is different from the step by step photos as the latter were taken during my test runs.)

A little help and prayer can go a long way!

January 24, 2011 in Uncategorized with 2 Comments

Friends and Family,

There have been a handful of moments in our marriage where we knew, without a shadow of a doubt, God was behind the events unfolding around us. One was our trip to Kenya this past summer. While there, we fell in love with the people of Kibera – a slum that makes up a little over a square mile. In this tiny area of Nairobi, 1.5 million people call home. Leaving those who showed us true joy was heartbreaking – before the plane even landed in Houston, we knew the land of Africa grew deep in our bones – we’d be going back.

Skip forward a few months, and you’ll see Russ and me in Starbucks, heads bent low and talking feverishly. It’s November 5, 2010. We’ve just decided to start the adoption process. “I don’t care where we adopt from – as long as we’re doing it,” Russ says. And for some reason, my hearts leans towards Ethiopia. We jump head first and immediately begin to see God provide – and the enemy come against us. Within weeks of our decision, we meet some friends at a restaurant. Before we even order our meal, our friend looks at us and asks, “would you guys be interested in taking a trip to the Horn of Africa in March?”

I felt the tears form as I looked at Russ. For those of you who don’t know, the Horn of Africa makes up the countries of Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, Uganda, Kenya and Djibuti – for the second time within a year, we were going back to Africa – and to the very area of our future child. Dumbfounded, we let our friends know about our decision to adopt and their own eyes filled with tears. It wasn’t until recently our friend told us he didn’t even know to ask until he pulled in the parking lot with his wife. Once again, God revealed to us His goodness. The moment we felt surrounded and overwhelmed with obstacles concerning adoption, He came in and reminded us of His purpose.

While in the Horn, we’ll be assisting a partner of the Austin Stone who currently serves through medical assistance, fitness, and women’s development. We will also be visiting an orphanage that recently opened. Although we may not know specifics, we’re anxious to see what God has and the connections we will build with the people. Our desire is to build relationships that will provide a firm foundation for future trips through Austin Stone and return home with a better idea of how we can fit the Horn of Africa into the current mission of ministering to unreached people groups.

There are a few ways you can join us on this trip. First and foremost, we request prayer. We will be gone a week: March 11-20. We need prayers for health, safety, wisdom, and provision and for the Lord to use us. We are building a team of at least 20 people to pray for our team every day we are there. If you feel led to join us in prayer, please indicate on the card provided.

Also, this trip will cost approximately 5000 dollars. We need this money by March 1. We believe, from personal experience, God will provide. We never anticipated returning to Africa so quickly, but we feel led and can’t wait to see what God has for us while there. If you want to join with us by supporting us financially, please indicate on the card provided, making checks payable to Austin Stone Community Church.

In Ephesians, it says “God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” [3:20]. There have been countless moments within the past few months where Russ and I distinctly feel His Spirit gently and deeply within us – moving us to a place far beyond anything we ever anticipated. Please continue to pray for our hearts, that we’d be pliable and open to His leading. More than anything, this is what we aim for – and we can’t wait to see Him bend our hearts closer to Him through this trip.

Penda,
Russ & Elora