Food Adventures in Korea

We have been enjoying different Korean dishes on our Friday night "date night".  It is a little overwhelming as we try to figure out what is on the menu.  One night we thought we would try Italian.  We stood outside of the Resturant and looked at the menu.  We started to sound out the words...it went like this-- toe ma toe, OH, tomato, spa get e, OH, Spaghetti.  It must be spaghetti with a tomato sauce.  So we had some spaghetti with tomato sauce.  We are finding that there are Konglish or loan words.  Once you sound them out they are just English written in Korean.  

This is kimbop.  It is seaweed on the outside, rice with veggies and meat.  It is very  good dipped in some soysauce mixed with sesame oil.

We were treated to some walnut cake by our real estate agent, Brother Kim.  They are really very good when served warm.  As you can see they are shaped like a walnut.  In the middle is some red bean paste and a piece of walnut.  

This was a lunch that was prepared by a family for the missionaries.  There was a variety of good food. Everyone ate very well and were so grateful the generiousty of this good family.

Here is a close up of some of the dishes.

Of course there was kimchee and some greens in a vinager dressing.  The yellow dish is rolled egg and very good.  The chicken was in a spicy red sauce.  In the upper right corner is some chop-chay.  It is very good and we really like it.  They had also made a very good potato salad.   Koreans use metal chop sticks.  We feel they are a little more challenging that wooden ones. 

Below are some really good apples and grapes that were given to us at Choosauk, a big Korean holiday in September.  The grapes are very sweet and the apples just plain delicious.

When doing our grocery shopping we try some new veggies.  This one reminds me of a  zucchini and it tastes like one.

 

We buy our eggs in a pack of 2 and one half dozen.

This is a sweet little treat.  It is a very dense cake and has a buttery taste. We really enjoy all the different varieties of crackers.  They come in small packages.  The cookies are really nice because they are not overly sweet.  (they also sell Oreos)  

We have tried some differnet kinds of soups and found them very good.  We went to a place we thought was a chinese resturant. It wasn't, but we had a good portion of noodles in a broth that you could spice up with some red sauce.  Occasionally we go to Burger King for a whopper and fries. Nothing like a good hamburger.  The fries are less salty than in the US. Korean pizza is good and that is served quite often at Zone Conferences.  We've had some new combinations on our pizzas. One had potato slices and some corn. Another good one has sweet potato with cheese.  They also get spicy chicken pizza's.

Our local grocery stores are great for getting veggies.  We have a couple just a 5 minute walk from our apartment.  You take your own bag. The store is not very big so it does not take very long to get your groceries.  They have a large selection of fish and other sea food, veggies, fruit, dairy, laundy soaps, large bags of rice and frozen dinner foods.  No frozen veggies or fruit, but they do have ice cream.

Our missionaries are working hard.  They have had some amazing experiences finding people.   One set of elders were out on the street and felt impressed to cross to the other side of the street.  When they did a man tapped them on the shoulder and said he was interested in learning about their church.  He had seen an older couple walking in the morning ( that is us on our morning walks) and felt good when he saw the "older missionary couple."  He said he was feeling the same while talking with them.  He then offered to buy them a soda and afterwards wanted to see the church.  Since it was a block away they went and sat in the chapel and again he said he felt the spirit.  They have his phone number and are trying to make an appointment with him.   The sisters were out looking for members who have not attended a meeting in a long time.  They went 14 stops too far and had to go back.  When they got to the apartment building they had a hard time finding it and asked a woman for help.  She showed them the building and it turned out she was the person they were trying to contact.  They felt if they hadn't gotten lost they would not have found her. 

Jackie has been able to teach with the sister missionaries and has had some good experiences.  Many Koreans speak english very well and they like to talk with Americans.

We are grateful to be in Korea serving The Lord.  We know that His gospel is important for all people to hear and come to understand if they choose.  The Lord forces no one; everyone can choose for himself.  Jackie has been reflecting  on being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  November 11 marked 40 years since she heard the gospel & joined the church.   It has made all the difference in her life.  The Lord's Plan of Happiness gives real direction and purpose to living.  It lets you know where you came from & what will happen after death. If you live according to the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ you can share the eternities with those you love and cherish most, your family.