Some books from my past....

While I organized our children's bookshelf, I stumbled across these old Spanish books that I've had since I was a kid. My dad is Puerto Rican and although my mom is not, she lived in P.R. as a teen and learned the language very well. I grew up in a bilingual home and I learned how to speak, read and write in Spanish. Of course, the speaking came easier when I was very young, but even as an elementary school kid, I learned how to read the language by using these books--the El Monstruo series! 

"El monstruo" means "the monster", but this tall and smiling purple guy doesn't fit the typical monster characteristics. Each book shares a new adventure that he takes with children. The pictures are great and the stories are delightful. I've been reading them again and it's brought back some awesome memories.

I almost lost this set of books a few years ago. When I moved to Colorado 12 years ago, I loaned them to the Spanish teacher to use with her high school students. After she left the school, I forgot about getting them back. Then, one day I thought of them and went looking everywhere for them. No one seemed to know where they were. Then, just a few years ago, they were found by a school staff member who saw my name inside the covers of these books. I was so glad! I know that material things don't last and I won't be able to take them to Heaven, but I wanted these not only for a memory, but to share with my children someday. It's part of my Spanish heritage.

I thoroughly enjoyed teaching a bit of Spanish each year to my elementary and kindergarten students. If you're thinking about having your children learn a second language, Spanish is an excellent choice! Not only is it easy (no crazy phonics rules like English), but you never know how God can use it in their lives. There are many opportunities to witness to Hispanics--even in the United States! It's also a great asset to businesses, and the pay may even be better if you know a second language. So--go for it! Get some curriculum or DVD's, and you may even be learning alongside, too.

A hidden treasure

I had forgotten about an old recipe tin that was given to us until I was packing for a bit yesterday. It comes from my mother-in-law's side of the family. It is such a treasure!

It is old--and I mean really old! There's rust all over it, but it is a fine addition to my collection because I love antiques!

Inside the tin I found some recipes. I don't remember ever seeing them before, and if I did, never thought much about them.

It was time to take a little packing break and look through them. Some of the cards were typed out, others were handwritten. All of the recipes were unique in their own way. It wasn't that they had strange ingredients; it was that they were dated to a certain time in our nation's history. Only one card had a name on it. It was my mother-in-law's maiden name--Greeno. I figured out that this collection must have come from her parents. These recipes and clippings dated back to the 1940's when everyone was using what they had from their "victory" gardens to supplement their meals.

This "Empty-Sugar-Bin Desserts" article was fascinating, as it focused on how to make sweet treats with little or no sugar. This one was published in 1943.

Another clipping with the date May, 1946, had another food article, plus some unique advertisements. I didn't realize that the "Kerr" canning company has been around for such a long time. Everyone was encouraged to can their food to make it through the tough war time.

This hidden treasure is a keeper. It's such a neat peek into our history, as well as my husband's family's history. I can't wait to talk to his mom more about it. They might know what the best recipe in that stash is...and then of course, I will have to make it....and then, perhaps, I'll have to share it with all of you!

Heritage Fair

Q and I had a wonderful time at the Heritage Fair with our friends, Jonathan and Ruth. They have four young girls: Abigail (6), Hannah (5), Deborah (2) and Mary (1). They have been to this fair before and liked it a lot. So, they invited us to tag along this year. It was held in Fort Lupton, CO and is hosted by the Historical Society. I'll briefly share some of the activities we enjoyed, but if you want to know more about it, go here.

We thought it was neat when these young soldiers started marching around a field, carrying guns and flags. A couple of them even played a battle song with penny whistles.

There were many interactive things you could do at this fair. Here Q is grinding corn the old-fashioned way. It makes me think about how challenging it must have been to do everything from scratch. Other areas included the following: how to tan a hide, how to make lace, how to fence, and how to make your own set of silverware. There were even Indian dancers and colonial girls that made the event much more realistic.

The three older girls, Abigail, Hannah, and Deborah loved going inside this tepee. I couldn't believe how well this picture came out--all of them smiling and looking so pretty! I love them all, but Deborah and I seem to have a unique bond. She's my little buddy.

Here the girls are learning how to weave a basket. Hannah got to try it out herself, too. I was able to try writing using a quill dipped in ink. After I wrote my name, the gentleman asked me if I had done any calligraphy before. I said, "yes--I addressed all my wedding invitations (about 150 of them!) with calligraphy." It was lots of work, but I'm glad I did it. 

I hope we get to go to something like this again in the future. It is a fun way to learn about our nation's history. It also is inspiring to think about ways that we can create things from scratch. It's still possible to do many things with our hands these days. It is rewarding and beneficial to those around us. Kinda makes me think of the Proverbs 31 woman--"she worketh willingly with her hands...."

How to make surrillitos (Puerto Rican corn fritters)

Mom made us another Puerto Rican appetizer called surrillitos (soo-rri-yi-tos). It's basically a cheese-filled corn fritter.  I remember helping my mom make these when I was a kid.  They are a crunchy and yummy treat!  I will describe the way she made them this time, but I wanted to let you know of an alternate method.  You can omit the cheese in the cornmeal mixture, and instead, add a small cube of cheese by placing it inside the unfried fritter. Here's the recipe and the method with the grated cheese mixed in:

Surrillitos   

1 cup water

1/2 cup milk

2 teaspoons butter or margarine

dash salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup cornmeal

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

vegetable oil

Yield: 1 dozen corn fritters

Step 1:  Pour the water, milk, butter, salt, sugar and cornmeal into a small saucepan.  Mix well on medium-low heat.  Add the shredded cheese and mix again.

Step 2:  Keep stirring the batter until it thickens.

Step 3:  Spread the thick batter onto a plate and let it cool for a few minutes.

Step 4:  Pour oil into your pan and set the stove temperature to medium heat.  Form the cornmeal batter into 3-4 inch long fritters.  They'll look like mini hot dogs!  Carefully place them into the pan and watch them sizzle.

Step 5:  Cook them for a few minutes until they turn a golden brown.  You'll have to turn them over once or twice to get them crispy all the way around.

Eat them warm as a snack or as a part of a meal.  Believe me--they will disappear fast off the table!  Enjoy!

How to make fried plantain chips (amarillos)

For part of our dinner today, Mom made an easy appetizer called amarillos (meaning "yellows"). They are basically fried plantain chips that are a treat in Puerto Rico.  My dad is a native Puerto Rican. My mother was born in the states, but when she was a young teen, moved to the island with her mom and siblings.  She met my dad and began dating him during high school. They moved to California where they came to know the Lord. They were married soon after being saved and have lived there ever since.

So many people think my mom is Puerto Rican and I can see why.  She speaks Spanish fluently, knows the culture and can cook the food without a recipe!  She thought it was a neat idea for me to post this tutorial on how to make plantain chips.  They are very good--sweet and salty at the same time.  Wouldn't this be a fun thing to make when you have friends over?  I think my teen gals would love learning how to make some thing like this.

Okay, so here goes...enjoy!

Fried Plantain Chips

2 plantains

canola or vegetable oil

salt 

Step 1:  Peel the plantains and slice them diagonally about a 1/2 inch thick.

Step 2:  Pour oil into a frying pan until it's about an inch deep.  Get it nice and hot for a few minutes on medium heat.  You may even want to start this while you finish up your slicing.

Step 3:  Place each slice one at a time into the pan to avoid splashing the hot oil.  Cook the plantain until it turns golden brown.  Turn over the slices to cook the other side. Depending on the size of your pan, you may have to cook it in a couple batches.

Step 4:  Place golden brown plantain chips on a plate covered with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt.  You'll want to let it cool just a bit because they taste awesome warm!