Back by popular demand

I got back from Ethiopia last Saturday. It was a great trip - the food was wonderful! I really got the hang of scooping up the stew-like wats with pieces of the injera bread. Did you know that Ethiopians saying the Lord's Prayer pray "give us this day our daily injera...?" Pretty cool! I also loved the coffee. The traditional macciato of concentrated coffee poured into steamed milk. So yum! Reminded me of Peruvian style coffee. I got to attend a coffee ceremony (basically a group of people hanging out and making coffee) and they let me roast the beans. I had to consistently push back and forth with a metal tool (kind of like sauteeing) the beans on a hot sheet of metal over a coal fire until they turned a dark roasted brown color. A little tricky in the dark (the electrical power was often out)! Fortunately the true coffee bean roaster was looking over my shoulder to make sure I didn't burn them. Traditionally they crush the beans in a mortar and pestle contraption but this shop actually had an electric grinder (the power went back on). And then they boil the coffee grounds and water together in a clay pitcher over the coal fire and place it on your table when it's ready. Then a lady of the table (they chose me again for this role)pours it into the tiny cups (about 3 oz). I managed to pour at least an ounce on the table too (oops!)