Kitchen Ranch

Super Nosara and the Farmer's Market

This is a got-to breakfast, snack or lunch for me these days.  Toast with cream cheese, avocado, tomato and farmer's cheese.

Before arriving in Costa Rica I experienced a lot of anxiety about what might be available in the grocery store.  I wondered, will I find Asiago cheese?  Can I buy a bottle of Aperol in a small town in Central America?  What about pine nuts?  Tahini?

To my great relief, all of the above are available.  There is good and plenty here as it turns out.  The produce selection and variety rivals that of California's.

For produce, I purchase in advance from Rainbow Organic.  Rainbow Organic offers a locally sourced menu from which one can order in advance.  I pick up my deliciousness at the Farmer's Market every Tuesday morning.  This really works for me because I love to support local farms.  The concept of the prepaid CSA box has not always been good for me because I like to menu plan in advance.  

If for some reason I cannot order ahead or make it to the Farmer's Market, there are vegetable trucks that come to Playa Guiones and sell beautiful produce and eggs.  The trucks come in every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for about an hour at 11 A.M. 

Lastly, the Super Nosara is super indeed.  I find myself very impressed with their selection (including produce).

Not to mention, one can purchase a Pepsi as well as their farm feed at the grocery (I love that).

These plums were the best plums I have ever had.   

Pie for dinner and pie for dessert.  So far, no one is complaining about the food.

Delicious, Delightful and Dangerous

Every Thursday afternoon, a truck rumbles up the driveway and honks.  Meet Jose and Diego (not pictured) of Panderia Alemana.

Like the ice cream truck, but better.   

 

It is so easy and so inviting.  A dangerous Thursday habit we LOVE.  

Caramel Donuts!  

My favorite is the apple cake, it is the best ever. 

A House!

I am so excited to kick off my shoes at the doorstep tomorrow.  We found a super house to rent.  That lovely open porch up there wraps around the entire house minus the kitchen which is part of the porch in essence. 

Above is the section of the wrap around porch off of the kitchen.

That is the view!  Less than ten minutes by foot and there you are: Feet in sand, happy.

The kitchen looks out on that superb view of the sea and jungle.

The porch offers so many nooks with its wrap around goodness.  There is a living space, dining space and bedrooms BUT I imagine all the living will take place on that covered porch right off the kitchen!

The property offers my favorite things ever: Tile, wood, an ocean breeze and view, bougainvillea, a huge mango tree as well as papaya trees, an orange tree, edible banana trees . . .   

So this is where I'll be until further notice!  

Yoga in School and a Recipe for Carrot Muffins

While the kids were in school, Beckett and I made these spiced carrot muffins.  We dropped a chunk of chocolate into the middle of each muffin (just for fun).  

When Pixel walked into the kitchen to grab her fourth muffin, she was singing, "So Hum, So Hum, So Hum, So Hum..."  Pixel has a lovely singing voice so I told her so.  I asked where she learned that tune.  She mentioned that she learned it in Yoga class (the kids do yoga at school three mornings a week).  While yoga is in Spanish, elements of traditional yoga, such as chanting, are worked in.  She then informed me that "So Hum" means: I am grateful for who I am.

I too am grateful for who is she is.  I am also grateful that the kids are attending a school that encourages the students to be grateful for who they are.  

In regards to yoga in school, this Encinitas news story recently came to my attention: Parents Demand Removal of School Yoga Class.  

Then I told her she could not have that fourth muffin.

Playa Pelada at Dusk

I live in Nosara which is three neighborhoods: Nosara (inland a couple miles), Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada.  

Playa Pelada is the neighborhood we live in.  At dusk, the air cools and the beach is a popular gathering place for locals and tourists.  There are tire swings hanging from the trees for children, sometimes a soccer game is in action, there are tide pools to explore, there are dogs, chickens, horses, there is a beach bar that dishes out cheap beer and reggae music, there are picnics, . . .and more.  It is quite the lovely and bustling scene. 

This is our favorite restaurant in Pelada which is a soda.  A soda is a Costa Rican cafe that is often connected to someone's house.  In this case, Maielos cooks right from her kitchen and serves you on her front patio.  She is a superb cook and has done the setting up nicely.

The entrance to her soda is one block from the beach.

Enjoy your weekend!   

Pixel and Robert go to school in Nosara

These cuties started school today.  We all enjoyed a tour of the school last Thursday and at first glance we love it.

Their school is located in two neighboring houses.  In one home, there is a library and two class rooms.  The other home has another class room and a large space (formally a living room) which is where the kids do yoga every day.  There is a pool in the backyard of one of the homes and PE occasionally happens on the beach with surfboards!     

There is a kitchen and dining room.  A traditional Costa Rican meal is prepared for the kids every day at lunch.  

There are three other students in Pixel's class.  Pixel, having experienced stress in regards to the cliques at her previous school, is so excited about a small class in such an intimate setting.  

Robert, never having attended school before, is thrilled at the thought of school.  Robert's class has ten kids in it. 

Both kids are excited about the fact that they have different teachers for each subject.  The school is bilingual so Spanish is taught and yoga is completely in Spanish.  Pixel's social studies class is also taught completely in Spanish.      

Here is the road in which we drive to get to their school:

It is presently the dry season here so the roads are extra dusty.  Adjacent to the school is this large lot which acts as a playground, garden and football (as in soccer) field:

I didn't get a photo of it, but to the right of the field there is a Rancho (shady palapa-like structure) with tables and chairs that acts as an out door class room.  I like the idea very much of the children learning outside while monkeys swing in the trees and roosters crow in the distance.

I am so happy for them both but the house is so very quiet.