We had another cooking success! It almost didn't happen, but it was indeed a success! When I heard/saw how good the mangoes here are, I got a hankering for sticky rice and mango. I had never made it at home since it's so easy to just go to a Thai restaurant to get it. So I went online, and found all the ingredients. I thought, OK... All I need is jasmine rice, and coconut milk! Easy enough right? No. I couldn't find jasmine rice, OR canned coconut milk. ugh. What I bought was the longest grain of rice I could find, and real coconuts. I thought, "of course!! I will just pour the milk out of the coconut!" Once I got into the cab, it dawned on me that coconuts aren't filled with milk, they are filled with coconut water. Duh. So I got home and scrambled around to see how one can make coconut milk from a coconut. So Johana made the milk, and was left with the pulp
(which she is going to use to make macaroons!) We had the sticky rice and mango, and it was definitely different from what I had had before, but it was still very good! YAY!!! A minute to reflect on something that I have to get used to here... Everything is always getting warm and sticky and stale! Since the house doesn't have central air, the rooms without air get very warm and sticky sometimes. This includes the kitchen, and unfortunately, the kid's room. Desitin gets everywhere each time I use it. It just drips out. At first I thought the tube was defective- but then Carlos reminded me that we were in the tropics. The kitchen also poses issues. Fruit snacks are always very sticky, and crackers get stale and soft in hours. I am not used to keeping everything in the fridge but that has become my reality. Oh well! Today has been good so far! I took Emma to school. (sad though because she still cries..) But then I went to the gym for the first time! It was hotter than hades in there. They have an a/c but for some god forsaken reason, they don't turn it on. I got motivated to go down there because Carlos told me that there is a race next weekend for his hospital. Gulp. They call it a marathon, but I think that that is a generic term for any distance race here. I want to do it, but I have definitely not had time to prepare since I have barely done anything in months. I did an easy 3 miles today, and it wasn't too difficult. A 10k would definitely be doable. I don't know about a half marathon though. Carlos is supposed to be getting the details for me today though! Either way, I am really happy that I did it! Tomorrow we are going to attempt Chipotle! I am very excited!
UPDATE: So I was under the impression that we were having macaroons, but that was not the case. She made two different things, and one resembled (kind of) a macaroon, but was certainly not one. For one thing, she browned it on the stovetop.
This one was very very unlike a macaroon. It is more like a cookie. And absolutely delicious!
Also, I was able to perfect my pasta sauce from tomato paste! The last time we had it, it was a little bitter, but according to the research I had done when I made it the first time, this is normal. I had read to try putting some sugar in it. I did it this time, and it was DELICIOUS!!!
So about this race I was gearing up for- it's a 3k. There are no t-shirts. There is absolutely no swag at all. And it's about an hour away. Maybe we will go if we get a car by then, and Carlos wants to.. But it is not really worth it to drive two hours for 15 minutes of running. We will see. On a brighter note- I had been asking Carlos to look and see if they have logo shirts or anything at the hospital that people can buy. I love the logo :)
He was able to order some for us! So I am excited about representing, especially when I am in the US!
Oh, and on a coffee note- I made a delicious discovery! I know, I am in Colombia, and I am in pretty much the best place for coffee.. But I love my coffee sweet, creamy, and preferably, flavored. I brought some coffee mate powder with me, even though I prefer the dairy kind. Two days ago, I ran out of it. I had settled on the fact that I wouldn't have any more flavored coffee but then I found this in the grocery! Yay!
(which she is going to use to make macaroons!) We had the sticky rice and mango, and it was definitely different from what I had had before, but it was still very good! YAY!!! A minute to reflect on something that I have to get used to here... Everything is always getting warm and sticky and stale! Since the house doesn't have central air, the rooms without air get very warm and sticky sometimes. This includes the kitchen, and unfortunately, the kid's room. Desitin gets everywhere each time I use it. It just drips out. At first I thought the tube was defective- but then Carlos reminded me that we were in the tropics. The kitchen also poses issues. Fruit snacks are always very sticky, and crackers get stale and soft in hours. I am not used to keeping everything in the fridge but that has become my reality. Oh well! Today has been good so far! I took Emma to school. (sad though because she still cries..) But then I went to the gym for the first time! It was hotter than hades in there. They have an a/c but for some god forsaken reason, they don't turn it on. I got motivated to go down there because Carlos told me that there is a race next weekend for his hospital. Gulp. They call it a marathon, but I think that that is a generic term for any distance race here. I want to do it, but I have definitely not had time to prepare since I have barely done anything in months. I did an easy 3 miles today, and it wasn't too difficult. A 10k would definitely be doable. I don't know about a half marathon though. Carlos is supposed to be getting the details for me today though! Either way, I am really happy that I did it! Tomorrow we are going to attempt Chipotle! I am very excited!
UPDATE: So I was under the impression that we were having macaroons, but that was not the case. She made two different things, and one resembled (kind of) a macaroon, but was certainly not one. For one thing, she browned it on the stovetop. 
This one was very very unlike a macaroon. It is more like a cookie. And absolutely delicious! 
Also, I was able to perfect my pasta sauce from tomato paste! The last time we had it, it was a little bitter, but according to the research I had done when I made it the first time, this is normal. I had read to try putting some sugar in it. I did it this time, and it was DELICIOUS!!!
So about this race I was gearing up for- it's a 3k. There are no t-shirts. There is absolutely no swag at all. And it's about an hour away. Maybe we will go if we get a car by then, and Carlos wants to.. But it is not really worth it to drive two hours for 15 minutes of running. We will see. On a brighter note- I had been asking Carlos to look and see if they have logo shirts or anything at the hospital that people can buy. I love the logo :)
He was able to order some for us! So I am excited about representing, especially when I am in the US!
Oh, and on a coffee note- I made a delicious discovery! I know, I am in Colombia, and I am in pretty much the best place for coffee.. But I love my coffee sweet, creamy, and preferably, flavored. I brought some coffee mate powder with me, even though I prefer the dairy kind. Two days ago, I ran out of it. I had settled on the fact that I wouldn't have any more flavored coffee but then I found this in the grocery! Yay! 
I loved reading about your cooking adventure! You have such a learning curve to figure out there, but it sounds like you are persevering!! Good luck training for your race! Miss you.
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