Rancho Mastatal – Part 4
By Karen:
 This is a new house under construction — and the top of Timo’s head. |
 A cob wall roughed out. More coats of cob to go. |
 Typical Roof Mode |
 And a chandelier made from seed-pods. They always have artistic little touches. |
 A classroom, also under construction. Some of the people working for the Rancho do construction. |
 A variety of classes will be taught here, botany, Spanish, as needed, for the visitors/students who come. |
| The following day, Robin gives us a lesson in feeding all we guests – how to make seven loaves of bread and four batches of bagels. The electric mixer is a prized possession, driven down from the United States. It is expensive to obtain appliances out in the hinterlands, in part due to very high import taxes and customs regulations. Unfortunately, the mixer is beginning to wear out. | ||
 Robin at the mixer, instructing Renee and Katey. We used a large quantity of whole wheat flour, which has to be bought up in Puriscal. |
 The Rancho folks built this earthenware oven, and also one down in the village. Burn wood inside to get the bricks hot, scrape out the embers and ashes, and then the radiant heat from the bricks bakes the bread. |
 Patting out the bagel dough, and letting it all rise. |
 Bagels must be boiled before baking. |
 Renee and Kristen applying an egg wash and sesame seeds. |
 Bagels in the Oven. |