Day 19 - lessons taught, lessons learned.

Hello

A short blog tonight as I am full of momos and rakshi!

School was good. I taught lessons on multiplication, problem solving, being British, Hansel and Gretel and animation.In return I learned how to knit and heard children read in Nepali.

Knitting was fun! The children all came into the library and got on. I was tutored by Sina who was excellent and taught me how to cast on for the first time in my life. I gave the children the camera and the following resulted...

First cast on...

The teachers were learning too!

After school chilled for a while then went for a Nepalese cooking lesson. Much fun was had by all kneading the dough, shaping it, stuffing it with marinaded buffalo ("buff") meat and spices and trying very hard to form the correct shape (after needing to redo our first attempts and declaring it "disaster limitation" Prakesh was proud of our efforts). Momo making is a very social affair. You make, they cook and then as they are ready in batches you take turns to eat then make some more. Rakshi, the local rice and millet spirit, is served liberally. I also sampled a sweet momo - a first! - and it was truly delicious. We then tried to think of other fillings such as nutella momos, vegetable momos, fruit momos and maybe beef. It is possible to freeze them so I foresee an afternoon with the radio on making loads for the freezer as they can be cooked straight from frozen, either steamed or boiled.

Ingredients - herbs, spices, buff meat, onions, garlic. Squidge together with hands and leave to marinate for about 3 hours.

Roll out dough (flour and water kneaded together and rested for 2 hours)

This is half a potato on a stick. Used as a brush to grease the pan! Genius.

Add filling

Shape - we learned 3 different ones.

Arrange in steamer and steam for 7 to 8 minutes.

Eat....

Eat more...

...and more...

...and drink liberal amounts of rakshi.

Had to say goodbye to Anastasia this evening as she flies home tomorrow. It's been a real pleasure getting to know her and sharing adventures and I will miss her. Everest beer, while good, isn't the same on your own!!

Off to bed to sleep off the rakshi....goodnight!