Yogurt breakfast from the EcoStoof

Ecostoof on Aruba

This morning, my first thought was: is it raining again? Today the sky is grey, and the clouds seem to have decided that they want to turn our little country into a real swimming pool. On these drizzly late winter days, there is only one thing I want to do: escape to a sunny, dry, and preferably also warm place, even if only in my mind. How wonderful that I am starting this blog today! Let's dream and talk about the Ecostoof on an island in the sun. An Ecostoof on Aruba, a wonderful place where I had the privilege of conducting research for my thesis on the socio-ecological significance of mangroves.

Breakfast on the beach

Imagine: you wake up, and the first thing you hear is the rustling of the palm trees. The sun shines on your swimwear. You hung it up to dry overnight, but now it almost seems to look at you questioningly: when are we going again? When will you be sitting with your toes in the sand, with your Dushi next to you, looking out at the sea? Perhaps you can have breakfast on the beach... a picnic and an early morning swim, is there a better way to start the day?

My secret ingredient is peanut butter in yoghurt

Yes, breakfast! Now we're getting to the heart of the matter. That is, we're going to add some flavours to that delicious dream. For me, breakfast is the best meal of the day. I have a favourite breakfast, and it's truly sacred to me in some way. My favourite breakfast is yoghurt with granola, nuts, fruit, and (call me crazy or brilliant) a little peanut butter.

Everything is expensive here, so I make my own yoghurt

All these ingredients can be found in the supermarkets on the island, but because Aruba has to import most of its food, prices can sometimes be quite high. I looked it up, and a litre of quark costs seven euros! In contrast, you can get a litre of milk for less than two euros. That's why I can recommend to anyone living on Aruba (and anyone who loves yoghurt, cooking, experimenting, and of course the Ecostoof) to make your own yoghurt from your milk in the Ecostoof! (Hmm, yoghurt from the Ecostoof? Yes, certainly! Did I surprise you or not?)

You can find the recipe for the yoghurt here

Combine your yoghurt with granola, nuts, seeds, (Aruban) honey, papaya, (fried) banana, pineapple, the beach, the top of the hayrick, your Dushi, a batido (smoothie) or, if you're staring at the grey Dutch skies like me, with sunny summer dreams!

Were you surprised that you can make yoghurt in the Ecostoof? And would you like to know if your favourite breakfast can also be prepared in the Ecostoof? Let me know, because I love to stew, write about your ideas, tips, and challenges!