Paradise Awaits Newsletter - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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December 24 , 2010

FEATURE VIDEO
Merry Christmas Discovery Beach House Guests!

GUEST VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
Connie and Brenda

WHAT'S COOKIN' IN PARADISE?
Lettuce Cups with Green Papaya Slaw

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Paradise Awaits!
Dedicated to Keeping You Connected to Paradise

Hola Amigos,

Merry Christmas to everyone who has graced my life this year with friendship, generosity of spirit, love and support. This is a big shout out to you for making 2010 such an incredible year for our Discovery Beach House.

Mentors played a major role. Rob Schultz and Lou Bortone's sage advice, "Done is Better than Perfect" got me past my writing, video and editing phobias, the fruits of which you see here every month. Nancy Marmolejo and Sandy Martini coached me into brave new directions and now, Maria A. Andros is taking my videos to a whole new level. Stay tuned…

Meanwhile, our phenomenal guests made sharing our private nature reserve a joy. To name a few - Chuck, Ardis and Paul Zander, Adrienne Knoll, Beth and Sel Unite, Jim and Martha Wood, Sean and Iram Ray, Eric Torina, Laura Brown, Elissa and Maynard Johnson, Rebecca Stowe and Ryan Alekman. Check out our Christmas video below for more.

Speaking of phenomenal, I couldn't wish for a better staff. Lilliam, your personalized, artistic towel origami creations bring smiles and joy to our guests every day. Juan, Cesar and Roberto, "Los Tres Hermanos," you keep our gardens green, the pool and Jacuzzi pristine, our haven safe, everything in working order and you point out the wonders of nature to our guests so they can fully appreciate our piece of paradise. Thank you, Julio, for working Sundays so everyone else can have a day of rest. Susan, you're the best Concierge anyone could hope for. Your personal touch shines on every guest. Chef Desiree, your cuisine has become famous! Paul, you're the left brain of this newsletter operation and it wouldn't exist without you. But what I appreciate most about each of you is that you put your heart, pride and love into all you do. You're the best!

As for friends, we're blessed with friends both near and far. Peter and Louise – thank you for taking the road less traveled, building a home and moving in next door. It's such a treat to watch the monkeys and other wildlife cross through our nature sanctuary together. Manuel Antonio is a far cry from Westport, Washington but David and I are here for you every step of the way.

And speaking of my husband David - I appreciate every task you take on, every gentle gesture and every sweet compliment. Even after 36 years, you've managed to make me fall in love with you all over again.

Dawn, my baby girl all grown up - I'll miss you and La Familia in California this Christmas. Give each one of them a hug for me and linger just a moment longer. Hurry home, mi amor.

Yes, I've gotten sappy and teary-eyed but I'm just so filled with gratitude for all these wonderful blessings I'm compelled to shout them out into the universe. Happy holidays everyone. May your lives be filled with love, joy and abundance in 2011 and may all the creatures who enrich our lives be safe.

Paradise Awaits!

Evelyn

P.S. A warm PURA VIDA welcome to each new reader since our last issue and a huge GRACIAS to all of our faithful readers - you make this fun!

FEATURE VIDEO:
Merry Christmas Discovery Beach House Guests!

(Top of page)

GUEST VIDEO SPOTLIGHT:
Connie and Brenda

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WHAT'S COOKIN' IN PARADISE?:
Lettuce Cups with Green Papaya Slaw

By Chef Desiree Brassert

Sometimes you just don't feel like cooking on a hot summer day. That's when a refreshing salad tastes especially delicious. You can serve these Lettuce Cups with Green Papaya Slaw as finger food or as a salad course for an Asian dinner.

This is my own spin off of two of my favorite appetizers: The Thai "som tam" and the famously delicious lettuce cups served at PF Chang's restaurant all across the United States! This recipe is completely vegetarian apart from the fish sauce (see footnote) which may be substituted with a nice low-sodium soy sauce** if you want to make this a vegan dish.

Ingredients
2 cups of shredded green papaya*
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 cup of blanched green beans cut into small lengths
1 small bunch of chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
2 tablespoons of nam pla fish sauce**
2 tablespoons of plain sugar
Juice of 1 lime
Chopped red chili to taste
Small leaves of butter lettuce rinsed and dried
Chopped unsalted peanuts

Combine the shredded papaya carrots, green beans and cilantro. Mix sauce ingredients until sugar is dissolved and chili is well mixed-in. Pour sauce over slaw and mix well. Place little spoonfuls on top of lettuce leaves and top with chopped peanuts.

*Green papayas can be bought whole at your Asian Specialty stores or picked right off the tree if you live in the tropics!

**Fish sauce or Nam Pla is a unique Southeast Asian condiment now found in most well-stocked supermarkets. It is made from anchovies and can be loosely substituted by Soy sauce but with very differing results.

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