I am having so much fun!

As I have mentioned, Emilio is very talented and going to university for graphic design and website design. Since I will be bringing a lot of jelly back with me I wanted a label so they would look a little more professional. So, I went to my friend, Emilio, to see if he could print me out something since I don't yet have a printer here. I figured something simple that I could cut out and could use wide tape to attach to the jars. And, it had to be this week.

His first question was what do I want it to say. I wrote it out and sent it off to him and his answer was no, too much. So I whittled it down and I now have 4 of the loveliest stickers to attach to the jars. I told him I would pay in colones for any supplies and pay him in Kind bars for the design. I will have to have half a suitcase full of kind bars.

This morning I sent my red bag full of things with Gerardo to Dora's house and this afternoon I carried the rest with me to her house. I made a big loaf of Peasant Bread and had a jar of each of the jellies with me. I definitely need to make more of the Papaya Pineapple as it is a big hit. They questioned me if there was butter in the bread but it is just on the outside from greasing the bowl I bake it in. After coffee we started with the chocolate coconut balls. I had everyone wash their hands because once I - or Johana actually - mixed the coconut and sweetened condensed milk I gave everyone spoons and sheets of parchment to make the balls. Into the freezer they went. Next was chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a bowl into the microwave. They were very impressed with my 72 oz. bag of chocolate chips. There were just 3 cups leftover, which is what it takes for a batch of fudge so I left it for Dora to make another batch. I stirred it really good and added vanilla and chopped pecans. I had prepared a container and put that in the refrigerator after giving each person a little taste. Wash the bowl and put the melting chocolate in it over a pan of water on the stove. When the chocolate was melted I got the coconut part out and showed them to roll them into hard balls. We had a little trouble because the balls were sitting too long in the hot chocolate so I popped the finished product into the freezer again. I got out the fudge and cut each person a piece. Gerardo had his hand out the whole time so I gave him two. I asked how the pickles were and they were telling me all the different ways they were eating them. Johana brought her 12 year old son, Thomas, along and he participated in everything.

I was telling Dora to get a container for the melting chocolate when they said they were going to do marshmallows. I realized Thomas wasn't there. He went to the store to get them and even after that there was still melting chocolate left so she did put it in a container and washed my bowl. 

Gerardo was there with a big truck from the hardware store so all my bags and I got a ride home.  It really was great fun and they are all great about helping me with Spanish. Johana loves to cook so she was like a right hand, doing all the work. 

A really, really good day!

I think Gerardo was picking fruit.