Celebrating Hispanic history and culture

By Yolanda Romero
Staff reporter

It is amazing how I only think about being Latin when Hispanic Heritage month comes. I start searching in the computer for information that I can read together with my daughter on Puerto Rican history and famous Latin people. It’s like a tradition with us. From time to time we look in our cookbook of Spanish receipts and we try them out, Successfully, I might add.

I am first generation Latina born in the United States and the youngest of three. Being a Puerto Rican-American is the best. I’m also a lot of other mixtures African, Spaniard, Indian and Sicilian—I guess I’m a walking melting pot. Believe me I have been called Nuyorican, or Boricua but I am an American/Puerto Rican, And I say it with pride.

Both my parents were born and raised in Puerto Rico and arrived in New York City in 1945 and married on August 14, 1947. I have great memories of my family getting together on Sundays and of course holidays.

My uncles were always there. Either from my mother’s or my father’s side of the family They came for the food and to tell us children stories of them growing up in P.R. and how their parents were so poor. But as poor as they might of have been, the Island provided them with food from the earth.

There was one special story that my mother and uncle told us, their father’s grandfather was a sailor who came from Sicily and his name was Victorio Alberto Pardo. When he arrived in Puerto Rico, he met this beautiful African-P.R. girl named Amelia, loved her at first sight. He gave up being a sailor, married her, settled down in Puerto Rico, they had six children and lived to celebrate their 51st anniversary.

I have had the pleasure of visiting Puerto Rico, in 1968. I saw first hand how beautiful this Island is. The white sandy beaches, blue clear waters, the fields of sugar canes and tasting it and standing on the mountains of Ponce. Standing on these mountains and actually seeing rain falling a certain little towns with rainbows all over the place. Everyone knowing each other and the smell of Spanish food from each house and coffee aroma that filled the whole town all day, it was a long time ago but I still remember it as if it was yesterday.

The music, rice, beans, arroz con gandules and the smell of pernil bring back great memories. . My family has gotten smaller but the Sunday dinners with my daughters still happen.

There were hard times growing up, but these are the stories that I will tell my grandchildren. Let’s not wait to explore our culture and our history. After all, we are who we are forever.

Maybe I am little bias, but there is nothing like good Spanish food to make someone strong, okay you might get a little heavy but try it.

Mexican Frijoles

2 cups dried pinto beans

½ lb. Salt port

1 large onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 tbsp. Chili powder

¼ tsp. Chili cumin

½ tsp. Oregano (preferably Mexican oregano)

Preparation: Soak beans in water overnight. Pour off soaking water and add fresh water to cover. Add salt pork, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano; simmer on low heat at least 4 hours, until water is absorbed and mixture is thick. Correct seasonings if necessary. Serve hot with your favorite meal

Makes 4 serving.

Costa Rican Gallo Pinto

1 tbsp. Oil

2 tbsp. Onions, finely chopped

1 tbsp. Sweet bell pepper, finely chopped

2 cups cooked black beans

3 cups day old cooked rice

½ tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

½ tbsp. Tabasco sauce (or more)

2 tbsp. Cilantro finely chopped

3 strips bacon, finely chopped, cooked, drained and crumbled

Sauté onions and bell pepper in oil. Add beans and cook 2 minutes longer. Add rice and stir together, cooking 3 minutes. Add Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces and cilantro; mix well. Garnish with bacon bits. Makes 4 servings.

With the holidays coming send in your favorite family receipts and share them with us so we can enjoy them with you.