Just like home

 The other week I received a package. I looked and it was from home! I was so excited, I opened it right up, well took some time to saviour the moment. But I opened it. It was a box of brownie mix. I was so happy, I've been meaning to cook some American food, but I didn't know what to make. It was perfect. So the box had been sitting in the kitchen for a little while and my family kept asking "When are you going to make them?" I know I was holding it off, but they started to think I didn't know how to bake, which I mean I don't really but anyways. So one day when my sister was home I decided to make them. I thought it would be fun, and fun it was! Sayuri (my sister), Pare (my house keeper), and I started making them. I soon realized that they didn't have the right measurements as I needed, major problem. I got by with converting cups to mL on my computer. So the next step was to put it in the pan and bake it. They didn't have a regular square pan so I made them in what they had, which was an O type pan (you'll see what I mean when you scroll down to the pictures) After they were done, we obviously ate them. The first time they have eaten brownies and they loved them! I even brought a slice to all of my friends and they were in love. Everyone wants to know the recipe. The thing is, I made it out of a pre-made mix. oops. I found a recipe online that I will try to make again and teach them though.
 This past weekend I decided to man up and bake a little more. I made panquecas (pancakes). I had only made them once before and I didn't want to get my family sick, so I was a little nervous. My sister and I started out, reading the card my mom wrote for me with the recipe on it, that I translated to Portuguese so  she could understand. I had found a measuring cup in the kitchen that were 'cups'. Pare told me that they were bought in the USA, that sure helped out a lot. But as for teaspoons and tablespoons, I just had to eyeball it on an actual tea and table spoon. As we were making them I remember how my mom taught me, the batter had to be thick but not too thick, and thin but not too thin. It was tough. A lot of trial and error! I finally got it...or I thought. I put the first spoonful on the stove. Tsssz it burnt and I knew something went wrong. The batter spread to a thin layer on the entire pan, I knew it was wrong. I added more flour and tried again. My sister had doubted me, she thought I had no idea what I was doing, I kind of didn't, but I made it work! After the first couple burnt, we started getting the hang of it. I even made a few mickey mouse ones. While making them I had a flashback to back at home. I was picturing myself, a crisp fall day in the Berkshires. Everything full of colorful, fall leaves, and plaid clothing. I pictured myself sitting on Manny's (my grandmother) couch facing that big open window in front of me, waiting to see who would be the next to pass by. Obviously it was Gabey (my little cousin) as usual he was so excited to see us "the cousins!" and to show us all of his new toys. Along followed Pam, Tom, Harry, and Jax. Aroura and Henry were in the basement and ran up when everyone final arrived. I was not sure where we were going but we all geared up. Put out cute little fall mittens, hats, and coats on, and left. Beepa was last to leave, made sure all the lights were off, except for one above the table, and that the doors were locked. Another flashback to every morning while at Manny's house you wake up to freshly cooked pancakes and warm maple syrup. Walking down the stairs and seeing it already there for you, Thank you Manny, I love you. AH I miss home a lot and for all of you who can picture the exact picture I was thinking of, you would miss it too! But just like Manny I made the pancakes as she would. I had her in mind the whole time. I was so proud when setting the table, and most of all I was so proud to be sharing my traditions with my new family. They were so excited to eat pancakes, they have also never eaten before. I set the table with the little bottle of Maple Syrup and put the plate of pancakes in the middle of the table. They were unsure of how to begin eating such a foreign food so they watched as I placed a pancake on my plate, cut it up, and drenched it in delicious maple syrup! They all did the same and the first bite they took, they loved it! I can't tell you how proud I was that I made them right and that they all liked them! It was such a little deed but meant so much to me, it was the closest thing to home I had.

Brownies

The pan

Pronto

Pancakes

My sister making pancakes

Mickey mouse!

Thanks mom

More pancakes

Tables set.