Daily life in paradise...the Kitchen

Beautiful beaches and lush jungle vegetation aside, daily life in paradise is not that different from daily life in Arizona or anywhere else. Although the appliances may be different the tasks are the same -- cooking, cleaning and laundry. So let’s start by taking a look in the kitchen. Our kitchen is about 9-1/2 feet x 8-1/2 feet. The main area is U-shaped, compact but efficient (see photo). On the opposite wall we have recently built a pantry shelf (see photo) for extra storage. There is no glass on the windows only wood lattice which allows for great ventilation and also makes a convenient place to hang mugs. There is no oven. Ovens are rare in homes around here so our main cooking appliance is a 4-burner propane stovetop (made by Mabe) that sits on a cupboard (see photo). The cupboard keeps the propane tank out of sight and gives us extra room for storage – something there is never enough of no matter where you live. This is a very economical way to cook -- our first tank fill up cost less than $20 and lasted 7 months. Since moving here we have accumulated numerous recipes using just the stovetop such as meatloaf and pizza pie. Backup appliances for cooking include a microwave and a toaster oven. The no-brand toaster oven runs for 15 minutes at a time and has only one temperature – not sure what that temperature is but we have been able to adapt recipes through trial and error. And, yes, we’ve even made bread in the toaster oven. Other models of toaster ovens are available that feature temperature and clock options; however, as with all appliances in Costa Rica, they are more expensive than the equivalent model in the US. The one I purchased was about $35. This same model would probably cost $15-20 during a holiday special at WalMart. Our refrigerator, an Atlas brand, is a bit smaller than found in most US homes but operates the same way. The sink is a different story. Ours is in the traditional style -- cast concrete divided into 3 sections. The two side sections drain into the center main section. Since there is no hot water the plumbing is very simple -- a PVC spigot for the faucet that comes in directly from the waterline on the house. Often people will tile their sinks – we painted ours bright green (see photo).