Lindsey brought a little piece of home to our little house in Anloga. I washed my clothes by hand this morning, watched the power go out again during the workday, and worked on a new strategy for combating the mice and the mosquitoes. This place is definitely Africa.
When I came home tonight, Lindsey was rolling out dough for tortillas. As the aroma of guacamole and refried beans started spreading through the house, I found myself creeping into the kitchen, where I would ask repeatedly if I could help cook, though really I was just mesmerized by the thought of Mexican food in Ghana.
Market days happen every four days here in Anloga. I usually spend a couple hours wandering among the 30+ acres of stands, goods, vegetables, and vendors. I’m always looking for anything American, and I pounce when I find it. Recent finds include ketchup, powdered milk, crackers, and quasi-hot dogs. Mostly we buy rice, beans, tomatoes, eggplant, and plantains. And eggs. We go through more than 2 dozen eggs per week between the seven of us. So we eat a lot of Ghanaian dishes, with their wonderfully heavy corn, beans, rice, and tomato stew. But rarely authentic American food.
The tortillas were just thick enough to taste homemade. I slowly chewed on a plain tortilla, and felt like I was sitting in a certain homestyle Mexican restaurant in Bainbridge Island. A squirt of lime made the guacamole irresistible, and fresh lettuce and tomatoes were as comforting as any food has ever been. Two thumbs way up to Lindsey Engh for the most amazing dinner of the summer (so far) and to all of you out there who have yet to begin your Ghanaian adventures, I highly recommend including some homemade tortillas.