Me making tomato sauce from scratch! Susie Homemaker, I know...This morning I got up around 9:30 am, took a shower, and ate breakfast at the hostel. We had made plans with Mike last night to walk around and explore the city a little and go to the huge artisan fair / farmer’s market in the middle of the city. Monique, a girl from Holland, decided to come with us. We bought homemade pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fresh bread so that we could cook dinner together that night. It was really fun – probably seven blocks or more of little booths, plus it spilled over into every side street with four or five booths on either side.
When we had walked to the end of the street, we decided to find a little cafe for lunch. After we ate, we walked over to the Parliament building. It was really beautiful from the outside, but we didn’t get to go in because it was closed on Sundays.
Then we caught a bus to the hipódromo – the racetrack! We bought tickets to get in, and we went and watched five or six horse races! Monique’s father owns racehorses in Holland, and Mike’s dad loves the races, so they explained everything to me. It was really interesting.
After the racetrack, we went back to the hostel and hung out until dinner. When we finally decided to start cooking, there were some kids from France already using the kitchen, so Mike and I walked to the supermarket to buy some cream (to make tomato sauce, and just for something to do that was reasonably productive).
When we got back, we started cooking! I was in charge of making the spaghetti sauce – scary, I know. But would you believe, I must have some of those cook-from-scratch genes from my grandparents, because it turned out amazing. Mike chopped up some fresh garlic, Monique and I cut up fresh tomatoes, and Shino chopped up a fresh onion. I cooked the garlic and the onions together with some dried spices – garlic salt, oregano and red pepper. Then I added the tomatoes, put a lid on and let them cook down. While that was cooking, we heated water for the pasta – homemade tortellini full of spinach and mushroom. Once the tomatoes had cooked down, I added the cream very slowly until I got a nice, thick tomato cream sauce. I cannot tell you how good that tasted with fresh bread and homemade tortellini. It was a real experience.
Monique made fruit salad, so we ate that for dessert with some red wine. Oh, I love Latin America.
We didn’t really feel like going out, so we stayed at the hostel and relaxed. Dinner lasted until like midnight, and then Shino and Mike and I watched “The Illusionist.” I love that movie. It’s so twisted...
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