Of Tortillas and Love

One of the great joys –and challenges—of writing Dying for Revenge was giving voice to Isa and her companions.  I’ve had a love for Hispanic culture ever since Mrs. Mildred Hankemeyer came to our second grade class to teach us Spanish—something almost unheard of in those days, even in Florida.  She not only taught us the rudiments of the language (sadly, I still speak it rather like a toddler) but also stimulated an interest in Mexico, where she went every summer to study.  She brought back all sorts of exotic memorabilia, fascinating to those of us who had never left the US, most of us having spent our young lives in our home state, some of us all in the city of Jacksonville.

Isa is the more prominent character but Pilar is probably my favorite.  I went to college in Arizona and was mothered by more than one woman like Pilar who took pity on lonely college students, in part to fill up a space in their own generous hearts.  More often than not, they did so by filling up spaces in our perpetually empty stomachs.

I’m passing on Pilar’s recipe for Tortilla de Papas.  Forgive her, she doesn’t measure much!

Eggs
Potatoes
Onions (yellow ones, the hot Spanish kind, not the sweet kind)
Olive oil (Pilar would say the Spanish kind is better—who am I to argue?)
Salt and pepper
Grated cheese 




Cut potatoes and onions into thin slices.  Put enough oil to cover the bottom of a fry pan; heat and then add potatoes and onions.  Fry until tender and a little brown.  You can add a little water and cover the pan to steam if needed.

When the potatoes and onions are soft, beat the desired number of eggs together, season with salt and pepper, and pour on top of the onions and potatoes.  Either finish on the stove (covering helps) or put in the oven (350 degrees) and bake until set and fluffy.  If desired, top with cheese and melt before serving, though cheese is not traditional.

Turn out onto a plate, potato side up.  Cut into wedges and serve with warm flour tortillas (or good bread and butter if you insist), and coffee.

By the way, Pilar would tell you that your grandmother’s cast iron pan works best.