Recipes
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia
Most of the people of
Colombia live in the mountainous west, which has rich volcanic soil that provides fertile farmland. There, the farmers grow corn, potatoes, bananas and coffee, a major cash crop. In the higher elevations, they can even grow wheat and barley. In the lower coastal regions, farmers grow sugar cane as well. Farmers try to grow enough for their families, but they also must grow cash crops. Increasingly, farm land is being used to grow flowers for export to wealthier nations. While this brings in cash income, it raises questions about the relationship between choices people in "developing" nations make with their land, and consumer choices those of us in "developed" nations make with our disposable income. Is it better to grow food that might provide improved nutrition for Colombian children in poor areas, or is it better to grow pink carnations for your Valentine’s Day bouquet?
As an activity with children, talk with them about coffee. While it can be a lucrative crop to grow, it is also risky as prices on the world market fluctuate a great deal. Have some coffee beans, ground coffee and instant coffee for the children to touch and smell. Explain that coffee originally came from Ethiopia, where herders thousands of years ago discovered you could make a bitter drink from the beans of a plant. Arabian traders learned of coffee, and its consumption spread to the Middle East, Europe and eventually to South America, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Today, coffee is grown as a cash crop around the world.
Hominy Cheese Patties
Arepas con Queso (ah-RAY-pas kohn KAY-soh)
Makes 12
Grind until smooth in blender or food processor:
1-1/2 cups canned hominy
1/4cups liquid from can
Transfer to mixing bowl and add:
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup cheese, grated or crumbled (cheddar, jack, or colby)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix well. Form into 12 small balls and carefully flatten into 2 to 3-inch patties. Fry on lightly greased griddle over medium-high heat, or roast on grill, turning as first side begins to brown. The cheese will make arepas chewy. Serve in place of bread as a meal or snack. |
Potatoes with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Papas Chorreadas (PAH-pahss choh-ray-AH-dahss)
Serves 6 to 8
This works well as a meatless entree.
Scrub and boil, but do not peel:
8 large potatoes, set aside and keep warm.
In a frying pan, melt:
2 tablespoons margarine
Add and fry:
6 green onions, cut in 1 -inch lengths
1/2 cup onion, diced
5 tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are soft and transparent, about 5 minutes.
Lower heat and add:
1/2 cup cream
1 teaspoon cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
pinch of ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly. Add:
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
Continue stirring and cook until cheese melts.
Pour sauce over boiled potatoes. If you prefer, slice the potatoes before serving, or you can pour over the whole potato. A fruit salad of bananas and orange segments, or a green salad, would go well with this. |