.... A RELAXING WEEKEND .....

    Saturday morning was just gorgeous and a perfect day to eat casually outside with our neighbors Geovani, Bertha, daughter Dominica Cristina (Titi) and Bertha's father Rogerio -- whom Rick has named "THE CHIEF"....

 I had told Geovani I was craving Chancho from the little place he took us to -- kind of a driveway set up serving only on Saturdays roasted pig with all the trimmings,  Cuenca style....
We arrived about noon worried that she (the owner/cook) might have already sold out,  but we were in luck!   We ordered these plates of chancho for $2.50 ea....

 

We had chancho  (roast pig), mote, yapingachos  (potato cakes) and a little salad on the plates...very generous servings for only $2.50 each...

 

Behind "the Chief" and Geovani you can see up the driveway to the street side "kitchen" which is basically a bar-b-que set up with the roast pig, etc.....She has a lot of TO GO customers with a steady stream loading up on pork and trimmings to take home.

Ricardo asked the name of the place -- it has no name,  it's on a side street outside,  you just kind of have to know where it is and how to get there... a secret no name outdoor cafe with great food.

As we left I ordered a pound of the pork,  4 yapingachos, and some roasted corn = $9 .... delicious treat .....to put in our frig or freezer...


Then we went to the Italian bread & cheese maker who is only open on Saturdays....
 

Geovani was impressed and got some whole wheat bread & cheese with Aji peppers....

We went home to their house and Bertha made coffee so we could taste the bread and cheeses.... most delicious!!!

 

 

SUNDAY was pretty much our usual Sunday with Mass at the beautiful cathedral...

 

 

Lunch afterwards at Don Colon for $4....

And here's Don Colon getting ready to enjoy some of his own food....He's quite a character...always ready with a wise crack and a smile....We chose the chicken soup - yummy!,  the Italian spaghetti with heavy meat sauce,  juice,  and dessert of mixed fruits.....It was all VERY good,  and when you consider it was only $4 each including tax and tip it was a great bargain!!

 

Next a stop at the Mercado de Flores - I can't resist - but I only bought a small pot of pansies for $1.....

 

In the late afternoon I decided to make

 

 CHOCOLATE FUDGE with SEA SALT:

2 CUPS SEMI SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS

1 CAN CONDENSED MILK

1 1/2 TEASPOONS VANILLA

1/4 TEASPOON SEA SALT

I added walnuts.....

Just melt together the choc chips and milk, remove from heat and add vanilla...sprinkle sea salt over fudge or add to melted choc mixture...

Line a 8 x8 baking dish with alum foil and put in the choc --- refrigerate for 2 hours, and then enjoy!

 

This is good and different as the sea salt gives a twist to the very sweet fudge.....

 

So that was our relaxing weekend in Cuenca.....