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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 makes 12
Arepas con Queso (ah-RAY-pas kohn KAY-soh)
Grind until smooth in blender or
food processor:
1 ½ cups canned hominy and ¼ cups liquid from can
Transfer to mixing bowl and add:
¾ cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup cheese, grated or crumbled (cheddar, jack, or colby)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
¼ 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 serves 6
to 8
Papas Chorreadas (PAH-pahss choh-ray-AH-dahss) 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
½ 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: ½
cup cream
1 teaspoon cilantro, finely chopped
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
pinch of ground cumin
½ 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. |
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