Pupusas 'n stuff

A Trip to La Molineda: Making Dulce de Panela or Atado

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Today I went to an artisanal “molienda” where they extract the juice from sugar cane to make a form of unrefined sugar. You’ve probably seen these cones of sweetness at the grocery store in the Latin American foods section. This is the first time I’ve seen the process start to finish. It was pretty cool, and oh so sweet!

La molienda is where cut field cane is brought to be extracted, heated, beaten, and cooled into molds ready to be wrapped and shipped all over the world. The sugar cane is cut and brought in ox pulled carts to the molienda or press. Modern machines are run by a diesel or gasoline motor. Once the cane has been pressed they light fires with the dried, bundled cane stalk.

The juice is run from the press into the giant heating pots. The syrup is then heated through several “foam” stages. The “tester” is in charge of monitoring the foam and the syrup to determine when it’s time to change the heat of the fire or remove it completely from the fire.

Once it is removed from the heat, the syrup is beat with a  large wooden paddle until it reaches the turning point at which point it is poured in molds, or holes punched in a large wooden log. After about 15 minutes, the syrup has cooled and the molds are turned upside down and beat until the “panela” or sugar falls out.

Finally, nets lined with dried cane stalk are filled with the panelas. The panelas are transported in these bags and are later wraped in corn husks or plantain stalks for sale in your local market.

It’s pretty sweet to see the process and try sugar cane at its different stages along the way.

 

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"Tramites"

“Tramite “in english can be translated “processing” as in: we are processing your residency, we are processing your drivers license, we are processing...  Changing countries requires lots of processing. Heading out to take care of a few “tramites” almost always means long lines, lots of waiting, and being told to go back and start over once you have ALL of the right documents. This week I completed my drivers license “tramite”. I am now legally empowered to drive in El Salvador for the next five years...
.... not yet sure if that is good news or bad news :)

Just getting started

It’s 8:02 on Sat. morning. It’s been quite a morning.

5:41 am I woke up to text from my sister Amy. The baby is on the way. Hooray!
6:07am I went for a walk. Saw a beautiful sunrise & 3 cows camped out in someone’s very short driveway
6:17am My mom called. They’re on their way to CA to meet the baby when it arrives
6:45am Took a shower
7:03am Ate breakfast. Granola and papaya. Thanks for the granola Shelley :)
7:10am Sent other sister a text. We’re going to be aunties soon!
7:41am Walked to the church. Saw 8 cow pies in the driveway and an old man sitting on the sidewalk brushing his dentures.
7:52am Connected to the internet. Brother-in-law had already sent a pic of my sis in her hospital gown. Whoever created the iphone was brilliant!

8:02am Really wishing I had a camera to have recorded this all.

El Salvador Situation

This week has started off with a little rain, the tail of Hurricane Ida, but we’ve all been shocked to see just how much damage the tail of a hurricane can do in this tiny country.

For those of you who are following the situation here in El Salvador, as of this evening there are 130 deaths officially registered, over 13,000 people are without homes, and the numbers are still coming in on how many folks are missing. Everyone is still reeling at how much damage could be done in less than 24 hours of rain. Several very localized areas of the country were affected by extreme flooding or mudslides, but the after affects will be much greater.

The news today has focused on two main points.

    How will the new president and the country respond to the emergency? El Salvador exists in a state of permanent crisis, and there simply aren’t excess resources available to respond to the intense and instantaneous needs. The government is trying to work out the fine points of an emergency response plan. It has been encouraging to see folks who have next to nothing find ways to give food, clothing, and bedding to neighbors who have been left with nothing.
  • There as been a lot of commentary and criticism of how this situation could have been prevented in the first place. Some suggest that better environmental education policies should be in place in the schools. Others suggest that city governments should not authorize building permits in high risk zones. At the end of the day, it’s much more complicated that these symptoms. Population density here is 9 times that of the USA, and in a country of volcanoes and craters, it is a challenge to find suitable land  everyone to build. The poverty situation complicates matters when one takes into consideration that a family may spend 20 years purchasing a small piece of land on the edge of a hillside because it is the most they can afford. These are the individuals who are most deeply affected in moments like this.

    This week marked the beginning of the high peak of bean harvest, a staple food in El Salvador. For those not affected by flooding or landslides, the loss of crops and their staple food supply for the year will be devastating as well.

    I am thankful that the area I am visiting this week has been for the most part unaffected, but appreciate your prayers as we try to find solutions to a new multitude of problems.