CQ is Puerto Rican

Puerto Rico

CQ is Puerto Rican. He was born there and spent a few years growing up there, NY, Chicago and than back to Puerto Rico. He is so lucky that his parents insisted that he and his sister speak only Spanish at home. English was only spoken at school and with his non-Spanish speaking friends. Thus his Spanish both spoken and written is excellent. However he does have a non-Spanish speaking wife....me! It's not that I haven't tried. My skill at languages is abysmal. After 4 years of high school french I could hardly conjugate a verb and I really struggled!

Puerto Rican Plate

  However I do cook Puerto Rican! Arroz con pollo, arroz con gandules, mofongo, and many other comida criolla specialties. Many of our latino friends and family say that some of my dishes are better than many Puerto Rican cooks! In December I experienced makeshift Puerto Rican cooking when we stayed at our house in Merida. I brought with me some Sazon, a seasoning. I was able to buy in Merida some of the other spices/flavorings like Achiote, (which luckily is used throughout the Yucatan), garlic, onion, cilantro, sour orange and to also find some pink beans (rosada) which worked for our rice and beans. As we were just one step above camping I did not have my food processor with me so I was not able to make 'sofrito' which is what gives Puerto Rican cooking the extra aroma and savory taste! The avocados and plantains were plentiful as well as flavorful. Almost all the familiar fruits are available, papaya, mango, mamay, banana, soursop and more!

I know I can continue to cook familiar foods .... so maybe my Puerto Rican can survive in the Yucatan. And not to forget, today is our 36th wedding anniversary! Here's to 36 more years!

CQ (appreciates fine Puerto Rican Cuisine)