When I was a kid, the smell of
platanos fritos (fried plantains) told me it was
breakfast time. Today in the morning as I made my own (not quite as tasty as the ones my mother makes), I thought about those breakfasts a long time ago.
My mother worked I don't know how many hours as a nurse and she would still find time to cook. If I'm not mistaken, she was still in her nurse's uniform when I found her cooking in the kitchen. She looked tired, but happy.
My dad liked to help around the house and my sisters did their chores as I "did" mine. I say "did" because I am not sure just how much I actually got done at that age. I remember literally
climbing on the bed in order to pull and stretch the comforter. Anyhow, back to the platanos fritos. Next to them, you had your
huevos (either revueltos/scrambled or estrellados/over easy). Then you had a serving of
frijoles negros (black beans). Of course, you had a bunch of tortillas waiting for you all nice and hot...and let's not forget about the
cafe con leche (coffee with milk).
My dad would say a prayer, I still remember how it went. My dad came from a pretty religious family and this prayer is older than time, I would venture to say. Okay, not really, but it was passed down from generation to generation. After we were done praying, we began to eat.
I remember I did not make the taquitos I now make. That I learned from my Mexican-American friends. I make taquitos without thinking now, it is something automatic. I see a piece of chicken, I get it and put it in the tortilla. Back then, I would tear off a little piece of the tortilla and I would dip it into the black beans, eating slowly and savoring each bite. I was usually the last one to finish and my mom did not mind. I was also a chatter box. I'm not quite sure what I talked about or what was there to talk about at an age where my feet did not touch the floor when sitting down.
As we had breakfast, as we talked and shared, as I went on and on about I don't know what we all got close as a family. Although I did not realize it then, we were making memories that I now cherish as an adult.
Comments (16)
My fried plantains have never come out that great. What's the trick?
I have some memories like that...and sometimes I wish I could go back for a little while.
I lovetostones...are they the same?
In the winter my mom made us homemade tomato soup,odd but we loved it!
my mom's fried plantains come out pretty good. she also makes the best homemade tortillas!!!
I could live off of those and some frijoles...I prefer pinto. Smashed and fried. I don't understand why they call it refried. we only fry them once.
@seedsower - tostones are deliciousness! hmm...there are too types of fried plantains. the tostones which are smashed and the ones that aren't...carmen are you referring to tostones or the maduros...crap I always forget.
I have discovered the fried plantains from my Cuban friends and totally love them!!! There is a Cuban restaurant that adds a few to each of their entres and I eat everyone's at our table...(jeje, maybe that is why I have letters in my dress size?!?). I didn't know that the plantian is eaten by so many more countries than Cuba and Puerto Rico...that's interesting.
@TheSecretLifeOfPandas - I am referring to the maduros.@seedsower - Hi Beth. I've had tostones, but it is not customary in Guatemala, well, from the part I'm from. I have had tostones in Cuban plates as well as Puerto Rican.
@Amarisa - My mother says it's the ripeness factor and I have yet to learned to tell when they are ripe *just right*. E says that his mother did not discard the peelings from the plantains and she would use them later as a "bed" to put the fried plantains on...thus, adding to the flavor and getting rid of excess grease in one step. E makes the plantains likes his mom..and I, I am in limbo, I guess.
@mawmspage - Yeah! That was my reaction when I had Moros y Cristianos at a Cuban place. What??? You mean you folks like black beans too???
I think most Latin American countries have some type of plate that involves one or all of the ingredients I have mentioned in this post, especially the plantains.
@CarmenDeBizet - okay that's what I thought.
yep those are the ones my mom makes.
I don't know any of the food you mentioned.
But I like the way you wrote about it.
I ate a lot of fried and boiled plantain in honduras,they were so good! I make tostones and a garlic dipping sauce.
We always sat around the table to eat,I think it is so sad when families do not do the regularly.
There is a new South American restaurant not far from here that has the best fried plantains. This paints such a rich wonderful picture. I have many of my own traditions with my family that I remember fondly, but... breakfast was always cornflakes before running out the door, lol.
I don't get that many chores done now. :P
@seedsower - My mother loves, Loves tomatoes. Hence, my picture the other day. My sister and her husband have become quite the vegetable people. Wait. That came out wrong. Anywho. My parents' house has a lot of fresh and interesting vegetables...and fruits.
ever since the last couple of years. nothing reminds me of my loving years
When you come to visit me you'll have to make me some of this breakfast...if you can find plantains here in PA. I'll make the grape leaves and A will make the hummus.
@Bricker59 - Your comment made me smile and laugh. I highly recommend eating fried plantains when you get the chance (not sure if you'll be able to get plantains where you live).
@seedsower - I'm like that character in Forrest Gump with plantains. You can make plantains in atol(e), my mom boils them in water, you can have them with beans, with sour cream, with meat, with rice. Oh my. :) I've had patacones (hopefully I'm saying it right), that's a Cuban way of doing plantains and I liked it as well.
@MooncatBlue - Well, those mornings were when my mom was going to be spending the day with us. I also remember our corn flakes mornings. I remember staring at the rooster on the box (there was a rooster on the box when I was a kid, is there still one now? Who knows). I would look at the cereal box for jokes, riddles, and such in Spanish.
@VaultESL - I think you're getting more chores done now.
@sky_gel - Thank you.
@mr_faust - Faust, I think you can find some memories. It may depend in the mood one is in.
@caminante@momaroo - Hmm. I don't know Tammy. Whenever I read that you're now in PA, I immediately think "Mr. Belvedere's town!" and I picture snow and so yeah, hmmm, no plantains, I think.