Sweet dreams from the South

We have crossed the world and are now for the next four months located in the land of "chilis", the end of the world or better known as Chile. This time we will try to explore local food culture from a new perspective: natural food, free from sugar, wheat and (mostly) milk.

That means no more Bravissimo ice creams (hubby was almost sucked into the icecream stand today when we passed through the mall to go and shop some apple cider vinagre), no marraquetas (white fluffy bread), and no manjar (caramel sauce, dulce de leche). Instead I take on the challenge to find dates and Fiber husk, introduce coconut icecream to our family and friends, make empanadas free from gluten, and make our favourite chocolate balls known in this city of 6 million people...

In return, we have the luxury of an granmother who is an expert in homecooked traditional food. Yesterday she had the bonebroth based cazuela (Chilean soup) ready as we arrived from our 24h flight. Today we have had porotos (white beans with pumpkin and rice). And in between a lot fruits and palta (avocado). Luxury!

I can tell you that the grandparents are impressed by the apetite of Kidone. Our previous trips have always presented a certain degree of challenge regarding food to our picky eater. It started with my special arrangements for breast feeding (heat wave of 38 degrees outside, four month old baby who was not particularly keen on eating), later the stage of closing the mouth at any spoon of "exotic" food approaching the mouth (having to opt for safe bets such as acovados and hard boiled eggs), and then in our third and last trip rendering to whatever would go down (meaning a diet consisting of a lot of spaghetti "cabello de angel" and always emergency cookies at hand when out and about). Needless to say that the mood was a bit more jumpy back then...

I have to admit that the beans were not well received by Kidone, but at least she ate her five spoons and then filled the plate with avocado and vegetables. Kidtwo, in contrast, despite his suspicion at first sight just loved the bean "porridge" (think it was granddad who said that it was a magic porridge...)  and ate both his plate as his sister's left overs.

Right now I am searching the web for Psyllium Husk. Chilean National Day approaching and I am planning to have my share of empanadas as well. No Psyllium at the local "green hypermarket" but I am now placing my bets at the Asian stores up at Patronato. I hope to find both dates and coconut oil it the same place. Another challenge is to locate buckwheat flour, but maybe quinoa flour with rice flour will do this time.