Page 14 - AHATA

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local Monday 13 January 2025

Birds of Aruba

ORANJESTAD — On May 11th, 2010, the Aruba descriptions from the foundations Facebook Our Canadian friends know exactly where they
Birdlife Conservation was founded with the aim page. can do so best. A Greater Yellowlegs rediscov-
of protecting the biodiversity in general and ering Aruba’s Bubali Wetlands.
birds in and around Aruba in particular. The Great Egret
Serenity in Aruba’s National Park, a Great Egret Cabochon
Among other things, the foundation will focus flying in peace. When it is peaceful and quite, In its living form of so much more value than
on increasing the survival chances of species beautiful things start happening in nature. any gemstone. Aruba’s smallest and most mas-
of wild birds by promoting their preservation ter of flight. A top pollinator. A hovering Blenchi
and conservation. The foundation publishes the Canadian in the house inspecting the human who just entered his ter-
most beautiful pictures of local birds on their so- The breeding season is over and it’s getting ritory.
cial media that show us the beauty of Aruba’s pretty cold in North America. Shore birds have English: Blue-tailed Emerald (male) Dutch: Blau-
birds and nature in general. Aruba Today gives started moving southwards as early as July. This wstaartsmaragdkolibrie (mannetje).
you a little peek with the following pictures and wetland beauty wants to keep its toes warm. Aruba’s to enjoy. Aruba’s to protect.q

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

(Oranjestad)—If you ever been time for an arm workout. Knead
to Aruba before, you probably your dough into the bowl you are
heard of (and even tried) the Aru- using or on a clean surface with
ban Pastechi. Beloved by young some flour lightly dusted until its
and old, this tasty treat is a staple surface is smooth. You’ll know your
for party snacks, a quick lunch or dough is ready when it doesn’t
even breakfast! stick to your hands or the surface
on which you’re kneading it. Let
Here’s how to make the Pastechi your dough rest covered for 15-20
dough. minutes.

Ingredients: After resting, divide your dough
4 cups of wheat flour into approximately 100 gram balls
1 tbsp baking powder (if using self- and roll it flat with a rolling pin. The
rising flour, omit baking powder) thickness of the pastechi depends
1 tsp salt on your taste, but the average thin- piece of dough, fold it in half and when defrosting.
1 tbsp sugar ness would be around ¼ inch or so. pinch the sides shut with a fork. If

0.5 cup of melted butter you have a folding tool, feel free to Here in Aruba we enjoy pastechi at
1 cup water Filling for the pastechis varies ac- use it for this process. Your pastechi any time of the day, but it has be-
1 egg cording to your taste. The easiest is ready for the fryer! come almost tradition to eat paste-
and most common filling you’ll find chis for breakfast on the way to
Directions: in Aruba is a simple cheese filling. If you want to store some pastechis work. Many roadside snack trucks
Sift your flour into a bowl and add For this, we usually use shredded for later use, you can freeze them. sell pastechi from early morning
all the dry ingredients before giving Gouda, but feel free to use any A good tip is to place a piece to noon, and offer a variety of fill-
it a quick mix. Next add the butter, cheese that melts well when frying of wax paper in between each ings like cheese; ham and cheese;
water and egg and mix until thor- the pastry. pastechi if you are to store them ground beef and pulled chicken to
oughly combined. At this point, on top of one another. This way the name a few.q
your dough will start to get sticky; Place the filling on your rolled out pastechis don’t stick to each other