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LOCAL Friday 6 September 2024

A quick snack for the road: Learn how to make the Aruban Pastechi!

(Oranjestad)—If you ever been to bowl you are using or on a clean
Aruba before, you probably heard of surface with some flour lightly dust-
(and even tried) the Aruban Pastechi. ed until its surface is smooth. You'll
Beloved by young and old, this tasty know your dough is ready when it
treat is a staple for party snacks, a doesn’t stick to your hands or the
quick lunch or even breakfast! surface on which you’re kneading
it. Let your dough rest covered for
Here’s how to make the Pastechi 15-20 minutes.
dough.
After resting, divide your dough
Ingredients: into approximately 100 gram balls
4 cups of wheat flour and roll it flat with a rolling pin. The
1 tbsp baking powder (if using self- thickness of the pastechi depends
rising flour, omit baking powder) on your taste, but the average thin-
1 tsp salt ness would be around ¼ inch or so.
1 tbsp sugar
0.5 cup of melted butter Filling for the pastechis varies ac-
1 cup water cording to your taste. The easiest
1 egg and most common filling you’ll find use it for this process. Your pastechi Here in Aruba we enjoy pastechi
in Aruba is a simple cheese filling. For is ready for the fryer! at any time of the day, but it has
Directions: this, we usually use shredded Gouda, become almost tradition to eat
Sift your flour into a bowl and add all but feel free to use any cheese that If you want to store some pastechis pastechis for breakfast on the way
the dry ingredients before giving it a melts well when frying the pastry. for later use, you can freeze them. A to work. Many roadside snack trucks
quick mix. Next add the butter, water good tip is to place a piece of wax sell pastechi from early morning to
and egg and mix until thoroughly Place the filling on your rolled out paper in between each pastechi if noon, and offer a variety of fillings like
combined. At this point, your dough piece of dough, fold it in half and you are to store them on top of one cheese; ham and cheese; ground
will start to get sticky; time for an arm pinch the sides shut with a fork. If another. This way the pastechis don’t beef and pulled chicken to name

workout. Knead your dough into the you have a folding tool, feel free to stick to each other when defrosting. a few.q
Best spots to view the sunset

Manchebo Beach or at great spot to view the sun- and enjoy a beautiful view
Eagle Beach, which stretch set. Arashi Beach is the last of the sunset and the island
along the entire western beach you will find along as a little reward. Climb on
coast of the island starting the western coast line, just top the 587-step stairs and
from behind Bucuti & Tara before you drive up the reach the top to enjoy this
(Oranjestad)—Today we sible to locals and tourists, Beach Resort up to the hill to the California Light incredible scenery.
celebrate Valentine ’s Day, the California Light House Amsterdam Manor round- House. A favorite for surf-
and what can be more ro- hill not only offers a tremen- about. The sunset on these ers and body boarders, the Casibari Rock Formation
mantic than surprising your dous view of the sunset, but beaches is truly breathtak- Arashi sky stretches out for If you’re a rock climber, you
partner with a date watch- also a breath taking scen- ing; the sky and ocean look miles, lending a spectacu- might enjoy watching the
ing the sunset. Aruba’s sun- ery of most of the island. In so big and spacious, and lar canvas for the sun to sunset on top of the Casi-
set leave many speechless, the distance you can spot paired with the orange/ create a masterpiece of bari Rock Formation. It’s no
and luckily, the best spots all the hotels, the west- pink hue of the sunset, the orange, pink and purple Yosemite, but it does offer
to view the sunset are en- ern shoreline and the wild white sandy beaches and hue. a fun little exercise to get
tirely accessible and easy waves that crash on the the soft sounds of waves to the top. But if you pre-
to find. Here are some of northern side of the island. crashing—it can only be Hooiberg Hill fer not to get your hands a
the best places to view the described as an experi- These last two options are little dirty, you can always
sunset on the island. Manchebo & Eagle Beach ence!* for more active couples. If use the stairs in the back.
Speaking of the western you and your partner like to
California Light House shoreline, the best spots Arashi Beach hike, the Hooiberg Hill may Editor’s note: This spot may be
Of course, being one of the for viewing the sunset on Another beach that has to be a great place for you to my personal favorite, if you
highest point easily acces- the beach has to be either be considered as another get your daily workout in couldn’t already tell…q