Day 306: Water Taxi Drivers

6 Feb

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Today was our last full day in Mexico and we wanted to make the most of it… and for me, that means spending time on the beach.  As the weather was a bit overcast, instead of playing in the ocean, we decided to walk along the beach to Melaque.  It is a nice walk albeit a bit difficult as there is a slope to the sand and it seems that you are walking a bit lopsided most of the way.  Nonetheless, it was delightful.

When we arrived in Melaque, my husband chose to explore a bit more of the beach while I sat and watched the pelicans and the frigatebirds.  The area was chock full of them and I was mesmerized by the sight of the pelicans as they dove into the water, because it seemed that each time one bird dove, four or five others would follow right after in the same place.  It was quite the spectacle!

After a brief repast at one of the restaurants on the beach we decided to walk “home” as well.  By the time we arrived, we were hot and tired and hungry!  But before we could eat I needed to deliver a pie!  We quickly headed to the malecon (the harbor wall) and looked for the vendors that are always there.  However by the time we got there this evening, they had all gone home.

As I wondered who I might gift with a pie I saw a young woman who was busy working at the water taxi desk.  The water taxis take passengers back and forth across the lagoon between Barra de Navidad and the Isla de Navidad.  We have been on the water taxi many times this week and really appreciate the quick and convenient service they offer.

As I approached the young woman,  I could tell that she was apprehensive.  I explained that I was a baker and that I have been making pies every day for over 300 days and giving them away.  Then I asked if there were many taxi drivers still out on their boats and she said yes.  I then set the pie on her desk and asked if she would please share it with them when they came back to the dock.  Still apprehensive, she asked if I was selling the pie.  No, I explained, it is a gift… to show gratitude to God, the universe, etc.  In Spanish she said this type of thing was, “muy rara.”  Perhaps she is right… but maybe someday that will change.  Here’s hoping!

What we are is God’s gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
 Eleanor Powell

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Day 305: Michaela

5 Feb

At Isla de Navidad

This morning we met up with David and his family near our apartment.  We walked up the street to the church dedicated to St. Anthony and I told them about the “miracle” that occurred there about 40 years ago.  Seems there was a hurricane in September of 1971 and the townspeople were in the church praying for assistance when suddenly the storm abated.  At the same time that that happened, the outstretched arms of Christ on the cross suddenly fell and hung at his side.  This was deemed a miracle and the arms have remained in that position ever since.

After we had everyone organized and all details handled, we  only had an hour or so to spend together before David and family had to head back to Guadalajara.  With so little time to spend, we decided to take  the short drive to Colamilla.  We eventually found ourselves on a beautiful beach where we took some photos, found some pretty shells,  and then we had to say our goodbyes.

After bidding farewell, my husband and I walked along the beach for hours and then walked along the beautiful, and private, golf course which is part of the Grand Bay Hotel.  Finally we found our way to Mary’s  – a restaurant along the beach on the other side of the island where we had a refreshing cerveza while we waited for the boat to take us back to Barra.

Once we were back in town, I was happy to find a local grocer selling strawberries because I wanted to use them to decorate the top of my custard pie.  This pie was made for Michaela, a woman who lives a few doors down from where we are staying in Barra, and she is very good friends with the owners of our apartment. Michaela has been friendly and helpful during our stay and we enjoy stopping by her shop.  Each morning as we pass, Michaela smiles broadly and  greets us saying,  “Buenos Dias.”  In the evening she offers a “Buenos Noches” as we head home to bed.

For her gracious hospitality and warm welcome to Barra de Navidad, tonight I gave Michaela a Vanilla Custard Pie garnished with strawberries.  A simple gift for a simply lovely lady.

Day 304: David, Rosalba,and Family

4 Feb

Rosalba and David

We met David and his family many years ago when he worked with us as a line cook.  If you know anything about working in a kitchen you’ll know what I mean when I say that one of the reasons that we loved having David on our team was because he was not easily upset.  The heat of the kitchen can do crazy things to a person but somehow David’s temperament was such that he was able to maintain an even keel no matter what happened.  That’s a rare trait in a line cook… heck, that’s a rare trait in most any profession!

David is now living outside of Guadalajara with his wife, Rosalba, and his daughter Miriam.  Since he knew we would be in Mexico, he made arrangements to visit us here in Barra de Navidad this weekend and in addition to Miriam and Rosalba he brought his older daughter, Maria, and her baby, Jasmine.

David, Rosalba, Jasmine, Miriam, Maria, Karen

This morning we went to Melaque, which is located about 5 miles south of Barra.  We sat under an umbrella at one of the restaurants on the beach and spent the day swimming in the surf and enjoying the amazingly beautiful weather.

This evening we let David select the place for us all to eat and he chose a taco stand near the jardin (central garden).  After a sumptuous meal, I asked the waiter to please bring out the Coconut Cream pie I had given him when we arrived.  It was in celebration of seeing David and his family once again – and honoring friendships that can cross cultures and and transcend language barriers.  I am very grateful for the gifts that they bring.

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” — Anais Nin

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Day 303: El Caballo

3 Feb

Pelicans along the shores

Today we awoke to a beautiful sunny morning and before we went anywhere I wanted to prepare my pie.  Today’s pie was for our friend Dale, who is known by a nickname here in Barra de Navidad.  Somewhere along the line someone mentioned that he looked a bit like the famous Mexican actor named Alberto Rojas who is affectionately referred to as “el caballo.”  Ever since then Dale became “el caballo” to his friends in Barra.

The pie that I was making for “our” el caballo was a version of a pie made in Ashland, Oregon.  It is called Dick Hay Pie in honor of Richard Hay who is the principal theater and scenic designer for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  Dick Hay Pie is made with three main ingredients: peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate.  Since I had brought peanut butter and chocolate with me,  I went out to purchase some ice cream at one of the local shops.  Once I got back to the apartment I made a chocolate cookie crust and let it cool while the ice cream softened up a bit.  Then it was simply a matter of sandwiching one thin layer of peanut butter between two layers of vanilla ice cream in the crust.  It was topped with a heavy drizzle of chocolate and then the pie went back into the freezer for about 8 hours.

With the pie taken care of, we decided to take a walk along the shoreline.   We saw more of the damage from the recent hurricane.  We also saw hundreds of pelicans in the area.  Watching them fly, dive, and land on the water made me think that’s what birds must have looked like in the age of the dinosaurs.

After our walk we met up with our friends and took a boat across the water to Colamilla for lunch at one of the restaurants along the shore.  I love that these restaurants are built on the beach, the floors are the sand,  and that the ocean laps on the shore just a few feet from the tables.  It is so relaxing!  This restaurant even had a few hammocks installed should someone need to take a short nap before the boat ride back to town.

Alberto Rojas, El Caballo

This evening we all met up and had an impromptu celebration at the hotel for el caballo’s birthday.   We sang Feliz Cumpleanos and toasted his health.  As we cut up the pie we found that it was so rich that one nine-inch pie was more than enough for 14 people!   I encourage you to make one of these pies for your next special occasion… it is easy to make and so delicious… and definitely worth it!

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons. Ruth Ann Schabacker

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Day 302: Linda’s Birthday

2 Feb

Two years ago, at about this time, we arrived in Barra de Navidad during what seemed like a stormy season.  The sky was filled with clouds and rain fell for the first couple of days.  On one of those nights, Marie invited us to the Hotel Sands to celebrate her friend Linda’s birthday.

Tonight we were once again invited to celebrate Linda’s birthday but this time the celebration was being held at Lucy’s restaurant.  The event was a pot luck and so it was only fitting that I bring a pie as my contribution to the meal.

To help me put the finishing touches on the pie, I brought Marie’s grandsons, Ke’ale and Pueo, to my apartment.  They waited patiently as I whipped the cream and coated the banana slices for the top of the pie.  When it was finally done, I asked them to pose with the pie.  This is what that looked like:

Tonight’s Chocolate Banana Cream Pie recognizes friends who are like family and the tender threads that hold us all together.  And to Linda, Feliz Cumpleanos!

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Day 301: Construction Crew

1 Feb

Yesterday I mentioned how the hurricane caused damage to some of the buildings along the shoreline in Barra de Navidad.  Last night we saw some of the workers building retaining walls, pouring concrete, etc., but they were doing it without the benefit of a pump or a concrete mixing truck to facilitate the work.   Instead the men had a small machine that mixed the concrete and then they carried it by the bucketful to the backhoe which in turn put it where it was needed.  Backbreaking labor to say the least.

Last night when  I saw them working so hard I thought I surely must bring them a pie.  This morning I put together a chocolate peanut butter pie and placed it in the fridge to set.  Then we took a launch to the island across from Barra de Navidad so that we could explore the island.

Being on that island – especially on the side of the island with the Grand Bay Hotel is in a way surreal.  There is so much money invested in the hotel while a short boat ride away there is a great need for that capital infusion.   The word “opulence” only begins to describe it.  We took a few photos.

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When we got back to our apartment, I quickly added melted chocolate to the top of the pie and popped it into the freezer to set up quickly.  After a much-needed shower we took the pie to the men who were working on a hotel property by the shore.  We waited until the cement mixer stopped and then I approached them with my pie.  I told them I’d been making pies and giving them away for 300 days… and then I thanked  them for their work and told them I appreciated their efforts.   While most of the men looked on in what I assume was confusion, one of the men spoke English and thanked me.  I handed him the pie and some forks and plates and we said goodbye before they saw me crying.  How can something as simple as giving a pie feel so overwhelming?

Presenting the pie to the men working at the construction site.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.  ~Thomas Edison

 

 

Presenting the pie to the workers

 

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Day 300: Lucy

31 Jan

Lucy and her Dolphins

Before we left the apartment today I put together a Chocolate Cream Pie using the same basic custard recipe that I followed yesterday except in today’s batch I added about 4 ounces of chocolate.  Later I tried making whipped cream with what I thought was whipping cream but eventually I figured out that it was closer to half and half (which will never hold a soft peak no matter how long you whip it!).  So until I had whipping cream, I just let the pie set up in the fridge.

Then we took a walk along the beach of Barra de Navidad for the first time since we arrived.  We had heard others mention that in the last week or so there had been an underground (under sea?) earthquake that released some toxic levels of gas which caused thousands of fish to die.   This disaster followed the hurricane that occurred last fall in Barra and caused quite a bit of damage to many of the buildings along the shoreline.

It is hard to understand why some regions experience so much devastation and others seem to go unscathed.  And yet we did not see people complaining at all.  Instead the waiters beckoned us to eat and the vendors set up their wares to sell and somehow the people just carry on as best they can.

After our walk we found a grocer who sold whipping cream and once home I whipped it up and spread it atop the pie.  Finally I found a chocolate bar and grated some of it for the garnish and then we were off to deliver the pie to Lucy.

Lucy runs a restaurant in Barra named appropriately, Lucy’s.  We first met her on our last visit to Barra.  We were introduced to her by our friends Marie and Dale and have enjoyed several cold drinks and the occasional hot meal there.

Lucy has a way of drawing people to her.  She has had guests from around the globe and she has displayed flags from those countries on her wall.  In addition, we saw  she had posted hand-lettered welcome signs to returning visitors.   It’s that kind of thing that keeps her guests coming back year after year – a warm welcome and the knowledge that they have been remembered.

To recognize her for her warmth and hospitality, tonight I brought Lucy the Chocolate Cream Pie.  There is no doubt in my mind that she will share it with her many friends.

I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.  Nancie J. Carmody

 

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Day 299: Cynthia

30 Jan

Today we woke up in Barra de Navidad which is a lovely town in the state of Jalisco.  My husband did some research online and found a studio apartment for us to rent which would enable me to make pies while we are on vacation.  Until I find an oven that is available these pies will not be baked but rather “cooked.”

For my first pie in Mexico I chose to make a simple custard pie with shredded coconut.  To begin, we headed to a little store (tienda) and purchased butter, eggs, cream, flour, and vanilla (mantequilla, juevos, crema, harina, y vanilla).  I had brought with me crushed graham cracker crumbs for the crust and shredded coconut for the filling.

We were in a hurry to catch a bus so I asked my husband to assemble the crust.  He did this by using a small saute pan to melt the butter and then he added the graham cracker crumbs and toasted them lightly.  Once that was done, he pressed the crumbs into a pie tin and put it in the fridge to set.

Meanwhile I made coconut custard on the two burner stove that we are lucky to have available.  In mere moments it was thickened and smelled heavenly.  I poured the warm custard into the crust and covered it with plastic (to prevent a skin from forming) and then put it into the fridge.  But before I did that, we snapped a few photos.

Coconut Custard Pie and ingredients

Pie with a View

The View

The finished Pie topped with Toasted Coconut

After a day trip to La Manzanilla (where we saw crocodiles!) and a bus ride home that included a man serenading the passengers with songs like “Besa Me Mucho” we came back to our apartment to find the pie had set up nicely.  I toasted some coconut to decorate the top and brought the pie to Cynthia, the woman who oversees this apartment for the owner.  I tried to explain the pie project to her family in my best Spanish and I think they understood the message – it’s all about showing gratitude.

Jose, Cynthia, and Patty

Hasta manana….

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Day 298: Bruce and Jae

29 Jan


Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Pie

Yesterday I mentioned that I made two pies.  The reason for making the second pie yesterday was because we were leaving for Mexico at 5:00 this morning.  It was certain that I would have  no time to bake before I left, and once I arrived I would be too tired to move, no less bake.

Now that you know that, I want to tell you that I gave the pie (actually my daughter delivered it for me) to Bruce and Jae, a couple of  our neighbors.  They live on the block behind us, our careers are completely different, and their son is a bit younger than our kids. What all of this means is that our paths don’t cross very often and we have a different perspective from which to view the neighborhood and the world really.  But Jae and Bruce are friendly and funny and we enjoy the little time that we do spend with them and that is more than enough of a reason to gift them with a pie.

As I said, we are now in Mexico in a studio apartment without an oven, but with a two burner stove and a refrigerator.  I have brought a few ingredients with me and I have pie recipients in mind.  I just need to open my mind to new pie ideas and ask around to see if I might “rent” an oven when I need one.  A few friends have suggested I take a week off because this might “be too much work”.  But this is a gratitude project after all… and I am so very grateful to have the chance to be here that I will find a way to make pies happen.

Barra de Navidad, Mexico

Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible. Claire Goldberg Moses

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Day 297: Eric and Barbie

28 Jan

Today has been a hectic day around my house.  One member of the household was under the weather due toa missing wisdom tooth.  Another was busy at work trying to get ahead.   Still another went to play in the snow.  Then there was me.  My list of chores needed to be tackled and of course, I had a  pie to make.  Actually, I made two.  The second one is for tomorrow.  And I promise to tell you more about that then.

For now, let me just say that I made a lovely Apple Pie for our friends Eric and Barbie.  We were introduced to them by our neighbors and have enjoyed spending time with them and getting to know them over the years.

Barbie has one of the greenest thumbs around and her garden is amazing.  She has thrown together beautiful bouquets in a flash so that I would have flowers for an event.  Eric is a doctor who occasionally performs colonoscopies.

Perhaps you think you have a funny question for him about that test.  Well, I can tell you that you’re not alone.  Everyone asks it… but no, he’s never found a head up there.

For the graceful beauty she brings to all things, and for his wry sense of humor, I made Barbie and Eric an Apple Pie with Heart.  Enjoy!

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