From: "Cory Morningstar"
Subject: The Story Of Nica Rice pudding
Date: 19-Mar-02 21:35
Memories of Nicaragua (Recipe below)
While in the mountains of Miraflor in Nicaragua I had the most incredible rice pudding made by a woman named Corinna. As everything is grown right on the land...there are no grocery stores...the food was alive with the beauty & spirit of Nicaragua & it truly danced in your mouth. When I came home I played with ingredients until I came up with what seems to be as close to Corinna's dish as I can get for the time being. Corinna was a wild woman for sure. A real ball of fire exuding warmth & happiness. She was a brazen woman who left her husband (although still married) to live exactly the way she wished. She was a sought after artist in her youth who turned down many offers to paint murals in other countries...this she now regrets, but at the time she did not possess the confidence to leave her country. She has never been out of the mountains of Miraflor. She conveyed to me that she believes everything must be beautiful in life. She brings to her community a strength these woman have yet to possess...but are learning from this woman of aspiration. She is a brilliant leader & mind in her community. She told me one morning over breakfast how she can change any man to see her way of thinking. With the wind howling around us I asked her how she did this. As she laughed wildly she explained to me you do this with love... you give your love freely to the gardener... to the farmer...etc. Always give them love but always leave them wanting more. Corinna has also started community social programs. She teaches the community of HIV & the use of condoms. Men are unaware of the term 'monogamous in Nicaragua. She helps women with cancer. 30% of the women in Miraflor have cervical cancer from pesticides introduced by foreign countries for use on their coffee plantations. Coffee is the only crop /export produced in Miraflor. Since this discovery these plantations have become totally organic. Unfortunately these women have no chances as recovery as there are no medical facilities in Miraflor. A Doctor from Esteli comes to Miraflor twice a month. Buy purchasing fair trade, organic coffee you help the warm, gentle people in these mountains have a better quality of life. They use any profits obtained by their crops to attempt to implement education programs & medical resources. The children of Miraflor run barefoot & carefree in the mountains & fields of Miraflor. It is at times so very cold at night but the children do not seem to notice. They are so very beautiful. Full of life. At the time there is no education in Miraflor for any children. Most adults cannot read, however a little building is now used on Saturdays for adult classes. The first class of women graduated from high school last year. This makes it impossible for farmers to certify their coffee organic (even though it is) as they cannot fill out the required daily forms. This is sad because if they were able they could get a higher price for their coffee beans. There are 800 families whom live in the Miraflor community. They all depend on coffee as their livelihood. I have never been met with such warmth of spirit as these people possess. Their appreciation for life & each other. The deep respect shown to their land. Their unwavering determination & integrity. I have never been so humbled before this. Within this poverty I saw people with such abundant riches... perhaps unbeknownst to them. Riches that perhaps only a person coming from 'The western world' could recognize. Riches of living a truly 'simple, beautiful life.'
Nicaraguan Rice pudding
1/3 cup jasmine rice
1 tin coconut milk (no sulphates or additives/pure coconut milk)
3 cups vanilla soy milk (or milk-preferably organic)
1/2 cup sugar
pinch sea salt
1 teaspoon real vanilla or vanilla bean specks (real from the bean)
1 cup coconut (optional) (you can buy this fresh, pressed into a box in the specialty or baking section of grocery store-it is real & unsweetened)
Mix rice, coconut milk, soy milk, sugar, & pinch salt in a saucepan. Bring to a slow boil stirring continuously & then slowly simmer on low heat for approx. 40 minutes until creamy. Stir frequently. Stir in vanilla & coconut. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
Add some all spice or cloves (fresh if you can-you have to grate it) to your beautiful dessert. Let cool for at least 30 minutes as the longer it cools, the thicker it becomes.
Optional: Serve warm with mango coulis & shredded coconut. You can toast the coconut in oven if you wish it to be brown.
Coulis-Puree two ripe mangos with 2 tablespoons sugar or honey.
Give thanks & enjoy.
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