Papas con queso, a la puneña -- Potatoes and cheese, Puno style

Special potatoes had been the Ñañas' request when I asked what they wanted me to bring back for them from Puno, so Alex and I stopped by the local market before leaving town and went from stall to stall asking the caseritas -- an affectionate term used for the ladies who sell their produce in the market -- for recommendations.

There are literally thousands of varieties of potatoes in Peru and the selection in this tiny market alone was a little overwhelming, but eventually we settled on the imilla negra, a small, softer potato with a beautiful purple skin. 

Back at the workshop, the puneñas (women from Puno) of the group approved of our choice and soon had the potatoes boiling away while Andrea cut up the cheese Alex had sent along from La Joya.

No knife to cut the cheese?  No problem.  Always resourceful, Andrea found a clean knitting needle and went to work.   Here, Maria Luz helps herself to a potato while Andrea doles out the cheese.