Showing posts with label Nicaragua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nicaragua. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 April 2012

Sopa de Queso

On Holy Friday, no meat is allowed to be consumed and since Nicaraguans love to eat, they have created a delicious dish called:  Sopa de Queso.

Sopa de Queso (literally translates to Cheese Soup) is a simple yet delicious dish. 
It consists of a broth with fried dumplings,  I am using dumpling on a loose sense for you to get an idea. The fried dumplings, some are shaped like a donuts (rosquillas) or circular shaped.  


Ingredients: 

Rosquillas y tortitas (fried dumplings)

Soup  (broth)
4 cups of tortilla flour (maseca)
2 cups of cheese
   (since I'm not in Nicaragua, I use feta)
1 cup of mashed potatoes 

   (around 4 potatoes)
2 eggs
3 cups of water
To your taste: salt, achiote. 


Oil (vegetable) to fry the rosquillas. 
2 liters of water
3 Vegetables bouillon cube/stock cubes
 (cubitos Maggie)
3 eggs,
To your taste:
Salt, onions, sweet pepper, tomatoes, cilantro or mint (Hierba Buena) 


Recado (soup thickener)
1 cup of tortilla flour (maseca) + 1/2 cup of water + achiote. 

Preparation: 

Let's do the easiest and delicious thing first. The Rosquillas. 






















Mix all the rosquillas (dumplings)  ingredients until you form a malleable dough.  In other words, until you can use the dough and make different shapes with it. 
Take a bit of the dough and start making rosquillas (donuts) shape or dumplings. 
Heat oil in a pan and fry the rosquillas & tortitas. 
Once cooked, set aside.   

Let's do another easy thing:  The Broth or actual soup. 

In a big pot, add water, dissolved the vegetable bouillons cubes, add cilantro, salt and let simmer (boil slowly).


In a shallow pan, sautee, the onions, sweet pepper and tomatoes with a bit of vegetable oil or butter.  Once they are all friends, place them in the pot. Add the recado, then add the fried dumplings, beat the eggs and add to the pot.  






Let it all simmmer and voila, you've made Sopa de Queso, Nicaraguan style. 












Note:  You don't have to add eggs at the end. In my family we do, but I know that some people in Nicaragua don't add eggs to their soup. 



The following video reminds me of my mother land, specially my grandmother. 
God bless the lovely woman making Sopa de Queso typical Nicaraguan style: Link: http://youtu.be/S_gKjiFH2MA

Thursday, 22 March 2012

La Cuneta Son Machin, Nicaragua

I just discovered the music of La Cuneta Son Machin and I love them. What makes them fantastic?  They blend traditional Latin sounds with a sprinkle of rock, punk, pop, jazz, funk, polka, and Marimba. 

The following popular song, '' Entre Ritmos y Palmeras '' by Los Hermanos Cortez, starts off normally and within few seconds, you will hear the flavor of La Cuneta Son Machín.
(Listen to the Marimba bit, it’s just wonderful) http://youtu.be/kpPRtatgWuE




La Cuneta Son Machin was created August 9, 2009 in Managua (Barrio Ciudad Jardin), Nicaragua, in front of Santo Domingo de Guzman.
Santo Domingo de Guzman is the patron saint of Managua.   


The group’s objective is to promote Nicaraguan traditional music and create a sense of national pride as well as generate awareness and interest of Nicaragua's rich culture in the new generation. Also, they purposely mix the music chinameras-metaleras so their listeners can identify with their favorites sound. 

I also love the fact that they are not pretentious and their energy is raw, unique and sincere. They make their own videos and during their performance wear chinelas Rolter, (flip flops Rolter). I super love the integration of the Marimba sound in all their songs.

They are mainly known as La Cuneta.  The word “cuneta” literally means curb as in the end of the street. 

Members:

CARLOS LUIS "LA BUJILLA" MEJÍA (Marimba, timbales)
CARLOS "FRIJOL" GUILLEN
 (Voz lider) Lead voice
FABIO "FABRIZZIO" BUITRAGO
 (Batería, timbales, coros) Drums, chorus
OMAR "EL PROFESOR" SUAZO
 (Guitarras) Guitar
CÉSAR "EL PUMA" RODRÍGUEZ (Teclados) Key board
AUGUSTO "EL NEGRO" MEJÍA
 (Bajo, coros) Chorus
JEMAX ROJAS LUNA (VJ)
ERICK REYES
  (Técnico de audio) Sound Engineer
"JUANCITO"
 (Asistente de escenario) Assistant to


Upcoming performances: 

USA California, May 2012  

(exact date and location will be posted)


Costa Rica's International Art Festival 2012.  festivaldelasartes.go.cr/


Thursday March 22:La Sabana, Tarima Kolbi  10pm
Friday March 23: La Sabana, Tarima Fidel Gamboa  5pm
Saturday March 24: Parque La Libertad  6pm 


Their Official site: http://www.lacunetasonmachin.com/ 
There is a section called La Rockonola and you can listen to a number of their songs.

La Cuneta Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/LA-CUNETA-SON-MACHIN/151999317951


Song: Catalina -- the video was recorded during their live performance in the feast of Santo Domingo de Guzman. http://youtu.be/8BxwLrHgIk8






Que onza balanza by La cuneta Son Machine.http://youtu.be/kpPRtatgWuE



 Song: El Santo Cachon. Link: http://youtu.be/5iUEmVahycQ



Saturday, 17 March 2012

Miss Nicaragua 2012

Miss Nicaragua 2012

The most important beauty pageant in Nicaragua will be taking place Saturday March 17 at Ruben Dario National Theater, starting at 8 pm Nicaraguan time,10 pm Pacific Time. 

12 gorgeous Misses will be competing for the coveted title of Miss Nicaragua.
The winner will represent Nicaragua in Miss Universe 2012 and Miss International 2012. 

Hosted by: Cindi Regidor and Ivan Peña. 

Participants:
Alejandra Borge, 26 years,  Diriamba.
http://www.missnicaragua.com/candidatas/379-alejandra-borge


Katherin Salinas, 19 years, Chinandega
http://www.missnicaragua.com/candidatas/375-katherin-salinas



 


Who will be Miss Nicaragua 2012?
 
Farah Eslaquit from Masaya is Miss Nicaragua 2012. 
Congratulations!  










Farah's youtube interview (Spanish)  http://youtu.be/XU-dUKrkrUc