Everything you ever wanted to know about Bulgarian Soup

...but were afraid to ask!

  

So many of you have asked us how best to take care of the Banovs during their visit to your church, and for that reason we have created this special site.  Thank you in advance for your Holy Ghost hospitality, it is such a blessing to the Banovs and so greatly appreciated. 

 

In 1995 their lives were greatly impacted by Revival, and ever since they have been running strong. Of course there are some healthy breaks scheduled here and there, but pretty much this has translated into holding daily meetings and a "life on the road" for well over a decade!  As the Lord has steadily opened more doors for third-world missions, the intensity of their schedule has actually increased and some have even referred to them as ‘long distance runners.’

Here is a short check list for you as you prepare for their arrival, as well as a recipe for Georgian’s favorite ‘Bulgarian Soup.’  Attention to these special little details truly helps Georgian and Winnie stay fit and keep pace with life on the road ‘for the long haul’:

+ Water (*Super Human Amounts):

Georgian and Winnie drink a lot of water!  If at all possible, they would like to have 2 medium sized bottles of Evian water on hand for them during each service, as well as water for their room.  (Thanks, they each drink one gallon of water per day, and are usually seen with a water bottle in their hands wherever they go.)

+ Daily Schedule:

Georgian and Winnie would like to request uninterupted private time for their personal devotions in the morning, followed by several hours of office work.

By 1:00 pm they will eagerly look forward to having some fellowship with you, and a meal together if your schedule allows.

By 3:30 they will need to return to their hotel room to freshen up for the evening service.  Because Georgian often leads worship, he will need to be at the church 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to the start of service for sound check.  

+ Daily Meals (*Low Fat):

The Banovs follow an extremely low-fat diet.  Given the choice between a non-fat item and a low-fat item, they will choose the non-fat item.

 

A good majority of the restaurants have menus that the Banovs can easily choose from and if you tell them what the choices are in your area, they will be able to pick something that works for both of you. 

Lunch is the biggest meal for Georgian and Winnie, and usually they prefer to eat grilled fish. Besides seafood restaurants, many other restaurants (including steak houses) serve fish that can be grilled over an open flame, without creamy sauces or butter.

Generally, the Banovs eat a very light supper after the meeting.  *This is generally their smallest meal of the day, and they tend to gravitate towards soup and or salad.

~~~

(*) If you desire to cook for them instead of going to a restaurant, here is a general outline of their daily regimen, plus our recipe for Georgian’s infamous “Bulgarian Soup”.

 

Breakfast:

• Nonfat Plain Yogurt
• Assorted Fresh Fruit + Fresh Raw Vegetables (*Suggestions?  Whatever is in season, such as: fresh berries, figs and/or banannas + green peppers, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, hot house 'European' cucumbers and/or green beans)
• Rice Cakes (Brown Rice)

Lunch:

• Grilled Fish (Talapia or Salmon is always a good choice) – no butter or fats or sauces
• A handful of raw jalapeno peppers
• Green Leafy Salad (preferably Romaine lettuce, or Mixed Greens/Spring Greens) + Tomatoes and European (Hothouse) Cucumbers
• Red Wine Vinegar or Balsamic Vinegar with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

 

Dinner:

• Green Leafy Salad (preferably Romaine lettuce, or Mixed Greens/Spring Greens) + Tomatoes and European (Hothouse) Cucumbers
• Red Wine Vinegar or Balsamic Vinegar with Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Whole Wheat homemade bread (hard crust), or, the newly popular Artesan breads
• A handful of raw jalapeno peppers
• Lentil Soup, or… the very infamous ‘Bulgarian Soup’ (see below for recipes).

 

                                     Recipe for Bulgarian Soup:

1. Heat low-fat or non-fat Chicken Broth 

           (5 people = 5 cans)

2.  Add to broth:

4.  Add 1 small can diced tomotoes.

5. When potatoes are soft, TURN OFF soup and add one bunch of fresh Italian Flat Parsley finely chopped, along with some veggies (in whatever combination, using any additional veggies that you might prefer).  Here are some possibilities:

 

6.  Sprinkle w/ salt and pepper.

 

                                     Recipe for Lentil Soup:

2 cup lentils
1 large Idaho baking potato, peeled and diced
2 large onions, thinly sliced

½ celery bunch chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced

1 small can diced tomatoes
5 cups chicken broth (low-fat or non-fat)
3 cups water
1 full head of garlic - crushed
3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried thyme

Sort the lentils, discarding any damaged lentils or stones. Wash the lentils in a sieve held under cold tap water.

Place the broth, water, lentils, potato, onion, carrot, garlic, thyme and salt in a pot and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Stir well, reduce the heat to very low, cover and boil gently for 50 minutes. 

 

 

Thanks for blessing the Banovs and helping them to “Go the Distance.”

 

Have any additional questions?
Feel free to contact Marcia, she will be happy to help you: