Hamanasi's Sausage Soup is a Guest Favorite & Frequently Requested Recipe...

Hamanasi’s Sweet Potato & Sausage Soup
(8 servings)

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 10-11 oz fully cooked smoked Italian sausage cut crosswise into ¼ inch thick slices
2 medium onions, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 lbs sweet potato, peeled quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into ¼ inch thick slices
1 lb potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into ¼ inch thick slices
6 cups chicken broth
1 9-oz bag fresh spinach

Method:
1. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage; cook until brown, stirring often, about 8 minutes.
2. Transfer sausage to paper towels to drain. Add onions and garlic to pot and cook until translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add all potatoes and cook until beginning to soften, stirring often about 12 minutes.
3. Add broth; bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until potatoes are soft, stirring occassionaly, about 20 minutes.
4. Using potato masher, mash some of potatoes in pot. Add browned sausage to soup. Stir in spinach and simmer until just wilted, about 5 minutes.
5. Stir in remaining 1 Tbsp. oil. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls and serve.

Happy Cooking & Eating from Hamanasi’s Kitchen Staff!

BIRDING IN BELIZE!

Hamanasi guides, "Golden" Miranda and Pedro Ical, recently participated in Part I of a new Birding Ecology course offered in Belize! TIDE Tours is presenting a Certificate Program in Bird Ecology Mass Audubon, the first ever course of its kind to be held in Southern Belize. Part I was held on November 14-16, a 3-day intensive session covering various aspects of: Anatomy and Physiology, Orientation and Systematics, Evolution and Speciation, Flight and Migration, and Bird Conservation. Part II will be a 3-day session to be held on the 24th -26th of May 2010, and will include aspects of: Breeding Biology, Feeding Ecology, and Leadership Skills. The program also included early morning bird walks and a self-study assignment to be completed between the two formal sessions. The purpose of the program is to enhance the ornithology (study of birds) knowledge base of naturalist guides, teachers, and others with a strong interest in the birds of Belize. Golden and Pedro are very excited to expand their already extensive knowledge about the local and regional birds. Hamanasi has an early-morning Birding Tour every Thursday!

Unsung Heroes Award In Belize!

Two very special Belizeans have been selected as national finalists in the 2009 First Caribbean International Bank’s Unsung Heroes Competition. Nurse Judith Cuellar-Krieg and Paul Bradley were recognized at a ceremony held Wednesday , October 21, 2009at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel, Belize City.

"Nurse Judy", as she is affectionately known, runs the Equity House Clinic in Hopkins Village. She was born and raised in Belize City but moved to the USA to make a life for herself in the field of nursing. Five years ago, the Registered Critical Care Nurse moved to Hopkins along with her husband and young daughter to retire... but duty called. There was a need for medical care in the area and that is when Nurse Judy sprang into action and opened Equity House which provides healthcare to residents of Hopkins and the surrounding villages. Nurse Judy doesn’t have working hours; she is on call all day and all night. She is the "go to" person for us here at Hamanasi Resort! But Judith says that doesn’t make her a hero. She says she is just doing what comes naturally and what her mom, who also was a nurse, taught her. She also works closely with the doctors and nurses at the Southern Regional Hospital, the Ministry of Health and the community she serves.

The two local finalists will now compete in the Regional Unsung Heroes Competition against finalists in all the other countries and territories in which the bank operates. The region winner will be announced in December.

Congratulations and Good Luck to our very own Nurse Judy!!!

HAMANASI & NEW SUSTAINABILITY PRODUCTS

Eco News

Environmentally-friendly plastic bags and straws are now available! We just received our first order! That's an exciting "green" step forward for Belize! The products are made from recylced sugar cane WOW and once thrown away, will begin decomposition in 150 days. Excellent!