So far it has been quite a busy week, both personally and publicly on steemit. Despite the drop in SBD/Steem price, I like so many others have not given up and persisted with contributions.   

I am still moving forward on the “Upvote a tree” project I started in early February. I have only been on this platform for less than 3 months, but the growth I have seen is phenomenal. We have planted 32 native trees so far in Lobitos, Peru. The next step is to plant 100 trees in one specific area  and create our forest.   

But first, in order to do any work, one must eat and eat well at that. Whilst I was picking away at the local soil here, under the summer sun, sweat beading down my body... all I could think about was making a bucket of pasta and eating it.   

An hour after finishing up for the day with my Upvote a tree project, I had showered all the dust off me and was in the kitchen.   

Everyone has their own take on making their pasta and is usually dependant what is on hand to cook  with. Lucky for me I had quite a bit to use and a few luxury ingredients.... cheese and bacon!!

The ingredients I used today: 

•  Generic brand pasta (I so wish I had durum wheat pasta, but it is 4 times the price here) 
• Two small packets of tomato sauce (I do make my own, but today I was impatient) 
• Red onion 
• Red chilli 
• Molasses 
• Garlic 
• More garlic 
• Bacon 
• Fresh basil  
• Locally sourced honey (tastes of flowers) 
• Mantecoso Cheese 
• Black olive 
• Salt & pepper    

The pan on the right is to be used for my sauce. The pot on the left will be for cooking my pasta. Turn on both hobs at the same time. Whilst the salted water takes it's time to boil, you can brown your onions.   

 
I generally use red onions as this is the most commonly available onion in the markets. Ironically red onion is cheaper than white onion here in Peru.   

 
As I brown the onion, I tend to throw in some chopped chili with the browning onions. I do this to extract the chili flavor but reduce it's heat.   
 

 
Just noticed that the water is nearly boiling. I need to speed things up with the onion. Out comes the  molasses. I use just a small about of molasses shavings. I add these to the onions and they brown up so quickly.   

 
Oh yes! I am so stoked to have some left over bacon. I only add these once the onions are browned. Stir in for a few minutes.

 
There is never enough garlic in my view. I have yet to eat something “too garlicky”. I also salt my chopped garlic before adding to the rest in the pot.  

  
 
 
A dash of locally sourced honey. Not too much or the pasta dish will be too sweet.   
 
 

Add the packets of tomato sauce. Tip: When you add the sauce, try your best not to stir it around. Initially you will get a few big boiling bubbles coming through. Cover with a lid, still un-stirred and wait until there are loads of smaller bubbles, bubbling all over. For some reason, I swear this makes the sauce so much better.  Throw in a couple leaves of basil.
 
 
 

 Water has boiled and the pasta is in. 11 minutes until it gets drained and mixed into the sauce.   
 
 
 
I also have a nice chunk of cheese. This particular cheese is very creamy and melts well. Don't forget to add a few olives too.   

 
Nearly there. I just need to mix in the pasta.   
 

 
Ideally you should let this cool down for about 5 minutes, but hunger has taken me over and I am off to demolish this pasta dish.   
 
 

 

Hey everyone. I hope you liked this sandwich. I would like  share another video:

Video: Upvote a tree- Charity starts with Steemit. Your upvote will plant trees in Peru. 30 planted to date

Yes, I plant trees for your upvote. It is that simple. 30 trees  planted since the 1st of February and all with your simple upvote.

(Usage with permission. This art work and owner of such, is courtesy of @artwatch and usage requires permission )

It all started with the Steemit Sandwich Contest.

If you would like to read my posts, then find me here @intrepidsurfer