you say potato and I say papa

Since I seem to have been on a food thing over the last few weeks thought it might be time to look at the humble potato and its 4000 types just in Peru. In 1976 they found potatoes that were 8000 years old south of Lima adn they are now one of the most important foods in the world.

Being from Scotland I am quite the lover of potatoes which is a good thing as here in Peru you generally get either rice (not a fan, actually don't eat atall except in rice pudding) or potatoes.

When you go to the market it is not a case of picking up a bag of tatties you are given a whole choice, normally at least 15 different varieties. Now I am a great believer in just normal white potatoes as you can do everything with them, boil, fry, roast and make mash, however here in Peru they believe that each potato has a purpose, if you want to make mash you must use yellow potatoes, you want boiled you use canchan, you want chips white potato.

However I have discovered some wonderful purple potatoes that make great fries and are also really good boiled.

How can you not want to eat these?

One of my other favourite potatoes is from the town of Cocha Moco in Q'eros where they have tiny little potatoes that are eaten for breakfast lunch and dinner and that they also make bread out of. One of my preffered things is sitting in their town eating these boiled potatoes with salt and cheese. 

I guess thats enough news about potatoes as I have to run out of the door and buy some, but I must say I still miss my Ayrshire new potatoes. 

For more info about tatties contact www.tikatrek.com and www.tikasoapperu.com 

Corn, maize or choclo

Today I went for a walk with some friends around and after feeling a wee bit hungry decided to get some choclo con queso (corn and cheese) at the market. Most of the year I dont bother but as they are in season they are delicious. I though it might be interesting to have a look at some of the history of maize in Peru.

Maize can be found up to 10000 years ago in history and has been fundamental in both the Inca and Aztec history currently in Peru it is grown in 550,000 heactares and is one of the largest produced crops in Peru.

Corn of which there are approximately 50 different varieties in Peru alone,  is used in everything here, cake, salads, on its own, soups, ceviche and one of my favourites in chicha morada a cordial not unsimliar to vimto.

There is another well known corn in Cusco which is the GIANT CORN, which the farming method has been named a cultural heritage, this is also partly due to the fact that it is only grown in a 70km long valley by only 5000 farmers. 

So if you want to learn a bit more about corn visit us at www.tikatrek.com and www.tikasoapperu.com come eat some Peruvian corn. 

Trekking and stuff

Good afternoon everyone, its been an interesting week so far here at Tika Trek and Tika Soap. I have been applying for a government grant which needs a lot of back up paperwork, so thats been high on the list of priorities and I have also been trying to organise a 6 day trek which everyone should be able to see here

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0Dm9IA7tRdXCMNDGgh6sqklEGFNqqjBZH

Now I personally am very excited by this as it will give exact coordinates every 10 mins, our lovely client from Bolder has organised this, I guess so his family and friends can see what he is upto, so yes I am blown away by the technology.

However getting this trip organised is a bit challenging, horseman is driving me nuts and the trip hasn't even begun. Its another one of those cases of being a gringa in Cusco whereby they try to charge you more. I call it the blue eye tax, so thinking that maybe in the future will not be doing that route again, ahhh c'est la vie. Fortunately everything else is coming together, got entrance tickets, train tickets, guide, cook and food.

Another little thing that has happened in the last 3 weeks is that I have been doing some time keeping and have realised that in not even 3 weeks I have lost close to 16 hours of work because of lateness and well whatever excuse. Not made me the happiest of bunnies, but getting over it.

In amongst all this work I actually had an afternoon of fun yesterday as my godson was on his own so we went shopping so we could have mince and tatties and bought some glittery glue to do some painting. Perfect way to spend the afternoon.

On the soap front still waiting for coco oil, the rains are making it hard to harvest and process but here is hoping that they send it out to us tomorrow. Good news is that we have passed some samples to be tested so that they might be used in flavoured water, lemon grass, wild mint, lets see what happens, as that would be a fun thing to happen.

Think that all my news for today, tune in soon for some more fun with www.tikatrek.com and www.tikasoapperu.com

A Lovely Day

Today we have had quite a productive day, up early in the morning to sort out my partners pension as he had been signed up to the governmebt one which is apparently a bit naff, so we went and signed him up with one of the private companies, which was nice and easy.

I also went and bought a belated Christmas present for Sebastian one of my god kids, although I have had godkid No 1´s gift here since Xmas eve, woops. I got Sebastian a drawing pad, paints, crayons and good old plasticine. I hope he likes it. No 1 god son is getting fireworks, just small ones, sparklers and crackers and the like.

I also managed to make it to the South American Explorers where I am on the board of directors to return some books to their fabulous book exchange, I managed to get all this done, buy some yummy blue cheese and bread and be home (back in the office) for 11am. Not bad for a mornings work I think.

Upon return we have been doing our inventory as we need to give this to the tax department as part of our end of year balance, how much soap and stuff do we have. The other good news is that we got another new client today called Aysana Organics, you can find them in Pisac close to the main square.


We have also been in discussions today to supply the flavour to a new flavoured water we just have to wait and see what happens.

If all this is not enough we got a visit from our dear friend Benito Machaca from the village of Cocha Moco always a pleasure to see him.

 

Benito

If that is not enough for one day also seem to be having internet issues so ,lets see when that all works out. 

Hope everyone is having a great day from www.tikatrek.com and www.tikasoapperu.com

January

Good afternoon to everyone, I have been out of the office for a few days. My dear friend from the US was here so was hanging out with him and of course Miguels widow, had a few different things to do with them, and he will be back to visit in July where we will go with him adn his wife to do a trek from HUancacalle to Machu Picchu which I am really looking forward to.

Then it is the normal catch up on all the emails that back up when you take time away from the computer.

As it is the season we have been eating a lot of Kapchi de Zetas a yummy veggie dish that people make at this time of year. I have taken this recipe from Taste of Peru website.

INGREDIENTS:

For seasoning: ½ Tablespoon Peruvian yellow aji chilies paste ½ Tablespoon Aji Panca paste 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 tablespoon garlic paste 1 bunch black mint 1 bunch lemon grass 1 big red onion Peruvian hot pepper Salt & pepper to taste 1 ¾ 2.2 ¾ 0.55 2 cup fresh andean mushrooms cup green lima beans lb. potatoes cup evaporated milk lb. fresh cheese eggs

..........................................................................................................................................

In a large frying pan, add the onion, pepper, salt, garlic paste, "aji panca" and chilies. Then add the mushrooms previously washed, the black mint, lemon grass and the Peruvian hot chili and cook for 15 minutes. Add a cup of water, the milk, eggs and finally the shredded cheese. When ready, add the green lima beans and the potatoes, which have to be boiled in advance. Finally boil all this mix for 10 minutes more. It can be served with rice or "waro" bread (Cusquenian typical bread).

In addition we have had a few problems with our soap production as our coco oil has not arrived apparently due to torrential rain in San Martin, hopefully by Friday as our coffee and chocolate soaps have become really popular, so we need to keep on top of that.

It is also holiday time of year so we are taking it in turns to have our 2 weeks off, I get mine last in March when I will be running off to the jungle to stay in the lodge that Mick Jagger stayed in.

Thats all for today lovelies, hope everyone is well and happy. Remember we are always here at www.tikatrek.com and www.tikasoapperu.com

First proper week back at work

It is Monday again and at last I almost feel human. Vitamin C and hot toddies helped. We have a busy start to the week with an order from Hatun Inti a hotel in Aguas Calientes and a tour booking for Miguel, in addition we are awaiting confirmation on a few other things, they should come during the week.

The weekend was rather dull, the other half was away and I was loaded with the cold, had to even cancel a few different plans, making pizza, meet and greet with the South American Explorers, and a few beers with the girls, maybe make it this week.

Now that I am feeling better I am looking forward to hopefully getting some trekking in, havent been for a while and I am worrying how I will get on, so maybe at the end of the month.
In the mean while still have my dear friend here so will be hanging out with him a bit, maybe he will want to go for a wee trip somewhere lets see. In case its not happening I do have a trip organised in March to go to the Hacienda Concepcion in Tambopata (where Mick Jagger went).

Thats all for today folks as I have to go and have Caldo de Gallina for lunch.

Remember  www.tikatrek.com  and www.tikasoapperu.com 

Organising trips

This week has been altogether interesting. After a week of complete rest adn relaxation woke up Monday morning with the starts of a cold and well I am sitting here now surrounded by hankies, vitamin C and ginger tea. 

I haven´t really been able to take to bed as a dear friend arrived on Wednesday and I have been with him, although today I am having an on the couch day, all plans cancelled. 

In addition I have been busy trying to firm up a few reservations for this month which seem to be coming together. this involves running about buying train tickets, bus tickets, arranging guides, cooks, horsemen etc, etc. 

I have managed to get some of it done this week, but yes today is a me day. Hope everyone has a great weekend. 

If anyone needs a trip to Machu Picchu or some soap contact us on.

www.tikatrek.com or www.tikasoapperu.com  

Life

So I am beginning to think that people want a more real life blog, I can start from the Christmas market, I stayed up 2 hours more trying to put together the tent for the Xmas market, its 1.5ms by 1.5ms it cost us 400 soles about 100GBP but worth it, in case of rain in the market we are dry.

So I am beginning to think that people want a more real life blog, I can start from the Christmas market, I stayed up 2 hours more trying to put together the tent for the Xmas market, its 1.5ms by 1.5ms it cost us 400 soles about 100GBP but worth it, in case of rain in the market we are dry.
So getting there at 5.30am the forst thing I want is a bucket the Plaza is covered in urine, and I mean covered, after the 2 hours of practice the night before well we are good at it.
I ran off to have coffee after we had set up to Sally´s place at the REAL MCCOY in Plateros Street. To be base camp for the day as it is only a block from the stand. The morning was great, we had lots of visitors Jane, Natalie, Sally, Javier and so many more, thanks all for coming, although not ONE of you took advantage as being a BLOG reader and getting a free gift.
After the market (we finished at 7pm although a lot go on to 11.30pm). we went home had a 25 min problem with the alarm, went shopping to the supermarket (definately not Tesco's) and eventually got on a bus. We arrived at Jeff,s house, he picked us up about 2k's from his house and were welcomed with turkey. Excellent, we were woken at 8am to have brekkie with his godson and family and then went back to bed until almost 4pm, got up made turkey and sacred valley corn and watched the PF version of Wizard of OZ, was a good thing. in bed by 10pm in our gorgeous little bungalow way above Maras that will one day up for rent.
The following morning Boxing day work had to be done so we headed back to Cusco to do a bit of that and make sure that the house is ready for the New Year.

I went shopping prior to returning to our friend's until New Years Day. Lamb for a nice dinner, pizza cause its easy, quinua for breakfast. ciggies and a bottle of wine, there are no shops, basically nothing close by.

We spent the following few days doing his garden, planting grass to make the  lawn, filled in the land, shoveled shit, watchied worms, and enjoying being outside for a few days, not to mention bedtime at 9pm and up at 8am, for 4 days, excelente.
We also watched a few of chaska108's videos, saw the building and everything.

In addition to being in the middle of nowhere there is a crazy rooster that chases and kicks you and a massive dog, tomatoes, lettuces and a full on farm.

We also went and chose our dinner at the trout farm, excellent, this is them getting hit over the head. Sorry anyone I am offending, delicious.

New Year was the quietest in history ever, was asleep by 10pm, also a good thing, next morning up to go back to Cusco, just missing the rain.

I got sick as hell, got a fluey thing, on lots of tea, not much food and the odd toddy, but not with whisky.

A truly wonderful New Year and things are looking up business wise. Check us out. www.tikartrek.com www.tikasoapperu.com

Happy New Year from Cusco

Happy New Year to one and all may it be a happy and healthy one, special happy wishes to my parents and family, hope it is wonderful one.

So after our successful Christmas fair that seems so long ago we took a week off which was wonderful. We spent the time just above Maras in our friends house where we had lots of naps and good food, enjoyed the nice weather and also went to see the worm beds where they are making organic hummous so that the Sacred Valley can return to be an organic paradise once again.
We spent 2 days doing the garden, planting new grass and different flowers, was truly a real break, a bit strange to be back at work and making soap again.
We have to get on and see what the new year brings us, but we wish everyone a wonderful New Year.