I’ve been meaning to write a Monday morning post for a few weeks, but somehow I keep sleeping far later than I plan. I often wake up well past the time I expected, and by then my day is already full of things that make it hard to find a quiet moment to write. Sleep can be tricky that way.
This morning was no different—I woke up later than intended—but I decided to sit down and type an update no matter what. I set Monday mornings aside for these “pen speaking” posts, and even though I haven’t been consistent, I want to establish the habit.
We’re settling into life in California, and everything feels different in so many good ways.
One change I’m really enjoying is the church we found. The people there are warm and welcoming; almost every Sunday we meet new families who love Jesus. For a place that feels a bit like a megachurch, it’s remarkable how intentional people are about connecting. I had thought a megachurch might feel impersonal, but this one has surprised us—and we’re grateful.
We’ve also connected with a few homeschooling families. I even have a mom’s night out with other homeschool moms tomorrow, which I’m really looking forward to.
Another relief is not facing the long, relentless winters we had in Minnesota. I never looked forward to winter there—it felt like a dark season we couldn’t escape. Driving and walking through snow was never fun. Leaving that behind has been a welcome change.
One thing I’m not thrilled about here: lizards. It’s odd that they unsettle me because I grew up around large lizards. After years in Minnesota with hardly any reptiles in daily life, I’d forgotten what it felt like to share a walkway with them. I know they’re part of God’s creation and I should get used to them, but I’m still working on it.
I’ve been cooking a lot—because cooking makes a house feel like home. Here are some of the meals I’ve been enjoying and sharing on my Instagram page:
Plantain Porridge
I’m craving one-pot meals with palm oil right now, so yam porridge and plantain porridge are favorites. West African “porridge” dishes differ from porridge elsewhere: they typically combine a starchy ingredient cooked in one pot and aren’t always mushy. My plantain porridge, for example, has chewy pieces of plantain—comforting and filling.
I’ve also been making a lot of omelettes—often served with sweet fried plantains. That pairing is a true classic in our house.
Another favorite is an omelette with fried African sweet potatoes and avocado on the side. Avocado somehow elevates the whole meal.
I bought African-style sweet potatoes at an Asian market; they’re purple-skinned where the varieties I remember had yellow skins, but the flavor is the same. They’re sometimes labeled as Thai sweet potatoes here. An African-style omelette is incredibly flavorful—if you want a visual, I shared a video demonstrating the method.
I’ve been enjoying stewed pinto beans a lot lately (recipe coming soon). I think I’ve eaten more pinto beans since moving to California than I did in the rest of my time in the U.S. combined. Pinto beans with fried plantains is a life-giving combination.
I’m also in love with a hearty potato hotpot—comfort food at its best. Russet potatoes make a wonderful base for this dish.
One-pot, 30-minute pasta meals have been lifesavers. Recently I made a simple macaroni boiled then sautéed in tomato sauce with canned sardines in oil—easy, quick, and the kids loved it.
There’s more stewed pinto beans—this time served with garri, the cassava granules that are soaked in cold water, sweetened, and eaten alongside the beans. It’s a casual, nostalgic meal I enjoyed often while growing up.
On a personal note: someone here is very pregnant.
I’m enjoying the small oddities of pregnancy—unexpected sleepiness in the middle of tasks, moments of forgetting the year, feeling the baby kick, and the quiet thrill of new life growing inside.
May your week be full of love and good food. Thank you for reading.