Baking Group

Pizzas, breads, muffins, cakes, and now oatmeal raisin cookies. The women of Zacango who have been attending the weekly baking group since the spring would be more than happy to make any of these delicacies for you. Almost twenty women gathered in a small room, once dust covered and dilapidated, that they converted into a community bakery. Several women brought flour, sugar and other baking ingredients to restock the group’s supplies.

This week Jaime guided them through the cookie recipe that she had printed on a large poster. Several copied the recipe into a notebook for later use; even though, all the recipes are hanging on the walls. On days when the group does not meet, women pay a small fee to cover the cost of the gas to use the oven. Most women do not have an oven at home, and if they do, it is used for storage. The cost of a gas tank, about 300 pesos, is limiting for most in the community, aside from simply not being accustomed to using an oven.

Jaime guides them through the recipe, encouraging everyone to help measure the ingredients or stir the batter or grease the baking sheets. And while there are definite leaders who potentially could take over the entire process, there is good camaraderie among the women who talk and laugh together. It was a privilege to be a part of this group of women this afternoon.