Betty's bread-baking bash!

Once upon a time in a land far, far away named Moche (a tiny pueblo about 7 minutes from the orphanage) monkeys in dresses claim the middle of the sidewalk (true story with picture as proof) while AMAZING bread makers adorn the corners.


Betty the bread maker has such a sweet smile and spirit that it seems as if it soaks into the already-delicious breads and makes them sweeter. I faithfully cross her bread path on my way to aerobics a few times a week (oh, the irony) stopping for "pudding", a combo between "monkey bread" and bread pudding. One day my friend Curiosity asked Betty the bread maker if she would teach a bunch of gringas her delicious bread ways and she said YES!

Last Saturday morning, 6 of us ventured out, with literally not much clue as to our destination ("get off the bus here, walk 3 blocks(she didn't write which way, and ask for Nicholas in the bakery.") Good thing it's a small town. Everyone knows Nicholas. Everyone is curious as to why 6 gringas are looking for him.


THE Nicholas



Sweet Betty

She taught us how to make "pudding" and we got to help make "galletitas", or little cookies. After that process, I am aware that I am a eating a little bit of cookie with my large amount of sugar and lard. She put us through the baking ropes: we kneaded, we pressed, we sprinkled, we tasted. Such a cool experience-very rich, very local. Just what I was going for. She let us take all 75 cookies home to give to the kids and then later delivered the "pudding" when it was done baking in the wood-burning oven. We plan to go back to teach her how to make pizza in the wood-burning oven.



The "pudding" on it's way into the oven




I'm a kneading fool.




All the girls in the bakery dungeon.




I would be totally fine being locked in here.




The wood-burning oven




Oh for LARD's sake



Ashley admiring the finished product.




Betty really IS a happy person.