I’ve passed the halfway mark of the A to Z Challenge. Yay me!
Today’s letter is O. O is for Olla.
An olla (hoy-ya) is a cooking pot. The pot can be any of the sizes above.
In my house, when Mom asked me to get her olla, the conversation was some version of this:
“Small olla, big olla, the medium one?
“The one for the beans.”
“Big olla then. Just say the olla for beans.”
“You’ve sat at that table cleaning beans for ten minutes, which other olla did you think?”
On a cold evening when Mom had more days in the week left before her next check, we feasted on frijoles de olla and hot tortillas.
The recipe is simple but not quick*:
1 lb. pinto beans, soaked for two hours. Rinse first.
6 cups water
2 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno
1/4 yellow onion
2 tablespoons salt
Combine all in a large olla, add the water. When it boils, cover and reduce flame to simmer. Check after an hour; salt to taste. When they’re soft they’re ready.
Cumin is also used but I hate the smell so no cumin in my recipe. Salt pork or bacon can be added.
If I’m making chile beans, like I am tonight, I add cooked soy chorizo, “beefless ground” (Trader Joe’s) and powdered New Mexican chile. The no meat recipe is for the vegans in my family.
The simple dish looks like this:
Buen provecho! (Bon Appetit).
Here are a few A to Z Challenges that I’ve enjoyed reading:
For funny and weird French expressions see Evelyne’s blog.
Margo’s View: that little voice.
A blog of great DorkyMom doodles.
Short-short stories from Trina Balaka Looks Back.
alvaradofrazier.com 