Las mamás (don't forget the accent)

We finally had our first visitors in Costa Rica. Both our moms and Hank came the last week of April and were able to stay in this beautiful house on the beach in the nearby resort. Even better, the house had a chef that we are now teaching English to, so we got to eat lots of great food while they were here. They were fantastic and each brought down an extra suitcase of stuff we had forgotten in the US or couldn't find here so now we're set here.

The first few days we just showed them around our life here in Costa Rica, our job, our old house/town, our friends, etc. We gave them a true Tico experience by taking them to the festival in 27 de Abril with bullriding, greasy food, and plenty of crazy drunks to top things off. Needless to say, they were happy we had moved to a new town.

We all took a horseback tour through Hacienda Pinilla – through the fields, up a mountain to have a great view of the ocean, through the mangroves, and finally emerging on the beach. The next day we split up, Miah and his mom taking a canopy tour through the jungle and the others going on a snorkeling/sailing trip. The canopy tour was quite a new adventure for mama wander, and though she didn't go racing through the trees hanging upside down from the cable (like Miah did), she seemed to have a fantastic time.

The sailing trip was a blast. It was a huge boat that our friend is the captain of and it's all you can eat/drink. It can hold about 75 people, but there were only nine of us that day so we had the boat practically to ourselves. Halfway through the tour we all went snorkeling and the guide was able to catch a blowfish. We got to hold it as well, which felt like a giant soft water balloon. We finished the trip at sunset at a new beach to the north and were shuttled back to Tamarindo to end the evening.

We also took everyone to our favorite restaurant here, a little thatched-roof fishing shack called Pedro's. They go fishing everyday and serve whatever they catch. The restaurant doesn't even bother serving drinks – you have to walk to the bar next door to order what you need. It is the best fish and shrimp you can find in Tamarindo eat though.

For all of you adventurous chefs out there.....

....an amazing new dessert that you should try to make. We have been performing "scientific experiments¨ here to find the best Tres Leches in Guanacaste and here it is. If you are brave enough to try to make it, let us know how it turns out.

Tres Leches (Three Milks)

Ingredients:
6 Separated Eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour

1 can evaporated milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk
8 oz. of whipping cream
1tsp. vanilla
2 capfulls of guaro (or white rum will work fine)

1/2 cup sugar
scant 1/4 cup water
3 egg whites

Using a mixer, beat the 6 egg whites until they form medium peaks. Slowly add the yolks while continuing to beat. Slowly add 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp vanilla (still beating). Once everything is thoroughly mixed, fold in 1 cup flour a bit at a time. Pour in a greased 9x13 baking dish and bake at 350degrees for about 20 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean. When the cake is finished, poke about 100 holes in the top of it to allow the milk mixture to penetrate. Also separate the edge of the cake from the dish.

In a blender, combine the three milks, vanilla, and liquor. Slowly pour mixture over the entire cake, allowing it to soak through to the bottom. Place in the fridge until cool.

In a small saucepan, combine water and 1/2 cup sugar and heat until mixture becomes thick. Beat the 3 egg whites until stiff peaks form. Slowly pour the sugar mixture into the whites while mixing then spread over the top of the cake.

Enjoy!! Stays well in the fridge (although the icing begins to deflate).
In the name of science,
Team Wander