Cooking for Spanish Family

Cooking for my host family was a very interesting experience because I normally never cook at home in the States. Whenever I do cook, my meals usually consist of frozen items that can easily be prepared in the oven or microwave. However, I am happy that our class was given this assignment because it was definitely very eye-opening and fun at the same time. Initially, I was very reluctant and nervous about cooking due to the following reasons: I was afraid that my host family would not like my food, I didn’t know which item to select, and lastly I was afraid that my cooking could turn into a disaster and place everyone in danger (LOL). Despite my fears, once I began cooking the food, all of these panics disappeared and the process was very smooth

In order to maximize the fun with this project, I decided that the only dish that I would cook for my host family would be a Spanish dish. An American plate is too typical and I really wanted to choose something that would pose a major challenge to me. Given this, I decided to cook “La Tortilla Española” because the recipe was not very difficult and whenever I ate it in past meals, I really enjoyed the dish. So, for this plate I simply cut up potatoes, onions, and beat a few eggs. After that step was finished, I then fried the potatoes and onions in a pot and to finish the dish, I placed the eggs on top of the potatoes and onions in the pan. The dish was extremely easy and very fun to make. Also, I prepared a vegetable salad for my host family as well, which required very little skill to make. Overall, my host family was very pleased with my meal, which enabled me to have a very comforting feeling. This project allowed me to conquer all my fears associated with cooking and make a very good meal.

After being in Spain for four weeks and sampling several foods, I will definitely be cooking many Spanish dishes when I get home. I realized that many Spanish dishes do not require much work and are very easy to prepare. Given this, I know that I can make these foods and describe the process to my mom and grandma so that they can enjoy the dishes as well. My Spanish cooking experience may have very well just signified the beginning of my cooking career. I can definitely see myself preparing foods on a regular basis now since I know that I am capable of doing so.

To capture the moment, I asked my host madre to take several photos while I cooked the food. Below, you can see the cooking process in its entirety. I wanted to make sure that I had several pictures to sum up my experiences and for many memories. Here are my photos:

In conclusion, cooking for my Spanish host family was a very enriching and fun experience. Although I initially had many doubts and was afraid to cook, the experience definitely paid off. “La Tortilla Española” will surely become a frequent dish upon arriving back to the United States, and I am sure that my family and friends will become instant fans as well. Until next time, I hope to continue to observe the preparation of Spanish food and become more familiar with the recipes so I can make them when I return home.

Miss you, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Micah, and Ashley

Saludos,

Eric