las hormigas

I was thinking last night about ants. Like all red blooded Americans, I have eaten my fair share of ants. What? You've never eaten an ant? Oh yeah, I didn't eat those ants in America, I ate them in Ecuador.

We are having a small influx in ants in our house. I found one in my bed, one crawling on the couch, multiple in the kitchen (if they're gonna search for crumbs they otta' at least get the entire floor clean!) and several others in odd places like the bathroom and office. I am not sure if these are "Scout" ants looking for a good camping spot for 190,453 of their buddies or just "loners" out for a stroll. Usually I squish a few, and ignore them until they go away. There are never that many and it's never (in the past) become a problem. Although, this year there have been a lot and I am wondering if things are changing and my home is quickly converting to ANT CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS, USA. I guess time will tell.

Back to eating ants. Ecuador is a third world country. A country that excels at being a third world country. In my time there, I only knew 2 families that had a fridge. Everyone else? No fridge. Most people go to the local fly infested outdoor market every morning, buy a small handful of rice and cook it. Then they eat it morning, noon and night for the rest of the day. After the morning meal, they just leave it in the pot on their counter, basically an open invitation for the ants to come dine as well.

I wish I knew how many times we were invited to eat with an Ecuadorean family, and I was served a heaping plate of rice with ants crawling in it. At first a little shocking, I admit. But after a while, no big deal. I always managed to think to myself, "It could be worse", and believe you me, sometimes it was. "Chopped up unidentified animal intestine sauce on your rice, anyone?"

Ants can be pushed to the side and scooped around. I admit it takes a bit of social grace to eat a meal, while covertly pushing the insects away with your fork, but years of avoiding disagreeable foods has taught me a thing or two. Despite my skills, I realize that I probably ingested an ant or two in the process.

So there you have it, if the ants this year become a problem we can always eat them. I am nothing if not resourceful.

3 Comments

undefined:

OOOOO! I have the chills, now!

undefined:

Will you please come to my house and EAT my ants to?????

I just bought some grits.

Death to the ants!!!!!

**KT

undefined:

Hey Annie, that whole chewing gum thing cracked me up. Beautiful family! Let me know your shipping address if you have a minute in between all those kids!

As to the ants... Since I am the mom of four boys I doubt ants in my rice would really bother me that much. But I am still not going to put worms on the hooks!

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