Skip to main content

Christmas Gifts and Flautas

Yesterday, the English class had a little party. It seems we are always having a little party for one occasion or another, but yesterday was specifically about Christmas.

We played a party game, the kind you play at miserable baby showers, that left everyone with a small gift of homemade bread, and we played Uno. One of the women at my table wasn't sure of the colors in English, so we went back and forth in English and Spanish to help keep her straight.

Just as a fresher: yellow=amarillo; red=rojo; blue=azul; green=verde. I didn't win, but then I never win, so I wasn't disappointed. I gave each student a bag of cookies, and they gave me a pretty Christmas mug filled with chocolate and a card they had each signed. Then we ate, which is always the highlight because the students bring in the food.

We had chicken and rice, flautas filled with potatoes, and tostadas, which are called enchiladas in Guatemala. You can make them with almost anything apparently, because at each meal I have had with these people, the elements are always different. You start with a crisp, flat corn tortilla and then layer it with tons of stuff—seasoned meat, shredded lettuce, cheese, salsa... Yesterday, the tostadas were layered with shredded and pickled carrots, pickled beats, chicken, cheese and salsa. Always wonderful if a little messy.

It was a lovely party, and in honor of the season, I give you one last Christmas song at the piano (from last year because I don't think I could play this thing any better).

Comments

dive said…
Thank you, Robyn.
A mouthwateringly delicious post and my favourite Christmas song, too.
Scout said…
You're welcome, Dive. Merry Christmas to the biggest Scrooge your side of the Atlantic. (and you aren't really fooling anyone, hee hee)
Gorgeous. What a fun party you had. :)
Madame DeFarge said…
Sounds like a fun time was had by all, especially on the food front. Great song too.

Popular posts from this blog

Classic Green Bean Bake

In anticipation of Thanksgiving, I feel I must post a recipe with plenty of good old American tradition. The classic Green Bean Bake was invented in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly, a home economist who worked for the Campbell's Soup Company. A study was done determining that 50% of all Americans have eaten the classic Green Bean Bake, and 38% of those believe it is best served during the holidays, mainly Thanksgiving. So, for the other 50% and for those in other countries where this dish may be unfamiliar--my treat: The Classic Green Bean Bake serves 6 to 8 1 can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon soy sauce Dash of fresh pepper 1 20-oz. bag frozen cut green beans, thawed* 1 2.8 oz can French-fried onions -Preheat the oven to 350 F -In a casserole dish, combine the soup, milk, soy sauce and pepper. Stir in the green beans and half of the onions. -Bake until bubbling, about 25 minutes. Top with the remaining onions and bake for 5 more minutes. Serve hot. *Or cook 1 ...

Bring On the Bombs

In today's edition : I generally try to keep on top of cultural trends even if I don’t adopt them, but there is a growing movement that I have only just discovered. Not long ago, I was walking along in Berkeley, California while visiting my daughter, and I saw a signpost that had been covered with yarn, like someone had sewn a knitted scarf to it. It was colorful and randomly striped, and I pointed it out as if it were the most unusual thing in the world. That’s when my daughter explained the nature of what is known as yarn bombing. It’s when knitters attach something they’ve created to a public object, most often doing their deed stealthily and anonymously. They leave a “bomb,” so to speak, for no other purpose than to brighten up the place and to bring a little cheer to those passing by. Their work has been equated with graffiti, except that the woven yarn is not permanently installed and does no damage to the object it covers. And instead of signifying the territory of a street ...

Cindy Loo Who In October

What is it with people and Cindy Loo Who? Of my last one hundred blog hits, forty have been direct visits from regular readers, and fifteen have been as a result of people searching for "Cindy Loo Who," the little pixie from Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas . A couple of years ago, I posted an image of the original Seuss illustration as compared to the TV cartoon image, and for some reason, that post is bringing in the crowds, relatively. Maybe it's the weather. It isn't even November yet, and already we've had frost and have had to dust off our winter coats. When it gets cold like this, I start to think about Christmasy things like listening to Nat King Cole and decorating the tree. It's ironic because I am offended when retailers start pushing holiday stuff early, but I don't mind my own private celebrations. When my sister and I were much younger and still living with our parents, we would pick a day in July, close the curtains to darken the ...