There is a metate in use in this ranch kitchen. Metates, of course, are the traditional method of grinding grain into flour, dating to pre-Columbian time. Costa Rican metates can differ from Mexican metates because often they do not have a rim on the edges. Despite the facts that the indigenous people of Costa Rica were nearly wiped out in Spanish colonial times, and Costa Rica is the most prosperous country in Central America, with literacy and health care comparable to the USA, and with an average income triple that of Nicaragua, our northern neighbor, this ranch family makes bread using some of the same methods that have been used for 1,000 or more years. I love these traditions.
This week we have photos of a mussel ranch in Nova Scotia on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.
This whole unit/theme set of photos has been a wonderful educational experience. Love it!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard enough to bake bread when just buy the flour at the supermarket. I can't imagine actually grinding the wheat into flour!
ReplyDeleteMe to Dave, maintaining some traditions is very comforting and actually I think bread making may be one of them
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying this view into the kitchen of this farm family. The metate is quite different from others I've seen.
ReplyDeleteI bought a terracota replica of an ancient metate with some amazing figures in San Jose. Now you have brought many memories of my stay in Costa Rica. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I can just buy my bread already made.
ReplyDeleteGreat picture, Dave. It would be so interesting to see this process.
ReplyDeleteinteresting
ReplyDeletein india too we have something like this and is called paat in maharashtra