Food Adventures (Teresa)

We've had a request to share more about the food we're trying these days....good idea!

Every day we have breakfast (el desayuno) at 7-9am, depending on the schedule for the day.  Typical foods for this meal were pictured on our blog earlier:  bread rolls from a bakery; sliced fresh cheese (sort a cross between feta and munster); some type of eggs (hard/soft boiled or fried); hot milk with coffee (Nescafe); and fresh juice or a blended fruit drink.  At our current home, they add "American" breakfast options, both for us and for their 10 year old:  Nutella, PB, and cold cereal.

At 1-2pm we have lunch (el almuerzo) which is the main meal of the day.  Every main meal begins with a hearty soup, including some meat, rice or pasta, and vegetables (potatoes, yucca, carrots, onions).  Then follows a plate full of rice, meat and some type of veggie (green salad, stir fried, etc.)  Often the plate includes fried green plantain or cooked ripe/sweet plantain.  At times they vary this meal, like on Saturday when they served seafood ceviche with fresh lobster and conch meat!  (This was the meal we've had that was most 'different' for us; Luisa wasn't able to eat much!)  This meal also includes a fresh juice or blended fruit drink.  With this being the main meal of the day, most folks go home from work for an extended siesta, eat with their families, then return to work again.  Schools begin at 7am so that children are home for the main meal.

The light supper (la cena or merienda) comes at 7-8pm.  This meal varies more than the other two:  a small portion of rice, meat and veggies; tortillas verdes (with green plantain and cheese inside the homemade tortilla); and tacos (like our burritos).  This meal includes hot drinks of tea or coffee.

Most of the foods have been prepared similarly enough to our food, that they're not too strange for any of us.  And, they don't eat spicy foods at all.  For us, it can be hard to eat the full servings at the main meal, and then wait until later evening to eat again.  But, I think our stomachs and minds are starting to adjust to these schedule differences.

Last night was a special evening, since it was the anniversary (11 yrs) since a grandfather's death.  So, a special mass was held at the church, and afterwards (8:30pm or so) a lot of family came to the house to have hot chocolate and homemade empanadas de queso (sweet pies filled with cheese).  A lovely tradition, and another new event for us!