I just recently came across an old old old CD that I had…I know I’m stuck in the “digital pre-historic age”, but I’ll get into that topic another time. I just had to share this song. There was a time when I was a huge Los Lonely Boys fan. I was younger than I am right now (????ty-something;) Anywho, I had completely forgotten that this song was on there. I remember loving this song as a youngster. I’m neither an outlaw, nor are my family members…but this song just pumps me up for some reason!
Ranchero Radio Station in Pandora and Nostalgia
I put a new station in my Pandora list of radio stations at work today: “Rancheras!” Why, you ask? Well, because I had a Vicente Fernandez song pop up in my “Tejano” Station and we all know I can’t have that…If I’m in in the mood for Tejano, I want to listen to Tejano, not Ranchero, and I’d like to keep it that way, Thank You! I know some of you are probably going to say that the Tejano music genre is dead, but I will never believe that because as long as it is in my heart, it will remain very much alive! I’ll add that I do like Rancheras, but I am very “one-track” minded (no pun intended) so I like to listen to only one genre at a time. The only exception is workout music, and we won’t go into that here!
You know, I like the Rancheras genre as much as the next person (well, maybe more than the next person) but I definitely do not listen to it as often as I should! Ranchero is a genre that I grew up with, mostly because my dad exposed me to it since I first grew my ears. Listening to the likes of Vicente Fernandez, Ramon Ayala, Gerardo Reyes, and even Jose Alfredo Jimenez was what my dad jammed to whenever he was in the kitchen cooking something special. That type of music was always present at any family gathering or social event, especially when there was alcohol consumption involved (By the way, Don’t Drink and Drive!). The sounds of the guitars and the trumpets and the accordion came together as melodiously as the dishes my Papa cooked for us.
I remember one occasion when I was very young that stands out in my mind because it shows what a diverse environment I grew up in. Dad was listening to a Cornelio Reyna and Ramon Ayala cassettes while cooking a very deliciously mean spaghetti and meatballs meal from scratch! That was the best spaghetti sauce I remember ever having eaten. To this day my dad doesn’t remember which recipe he might have used that time, since he would try to change the recipe of anything he cooked for us to prevent boredom. There’s nothing like eating Italian food while listening to traditional Ranchero music! No we are not Italian, we just LOVE Italian food!
My mother ended up cementing my love for the Ranchera genre by exposing me to the likes of Las Jilguerillas, Lucha Villa, Rosio Durcal, Mercedes Castro and others such as Chelo. Talk about female empowerment! Some of the female vocalists focused on heartbreak but most of the songs my mother loved to listen to were those songs that tell the story of a woman who gets dumped by her cheating husband and she sings about changing the path of her life to find better things and a better man. Mind you, this was no reflection on the relationship she had with dad or even previous relationships (she consistently went out of her way to clarify this point), but it was a reflection on her sentiments regarding machismo.
My mother’s beliefs were not so much anti-sexist as they were more of a “Marianista” philosophy that she silently implemented in her way of life. It was a contradiction of sorts because even though my mother embraced “Marianista” and “Machista” tendencies in her life, she also embraced the idea of women’s rights by always telling me that if I studied hard enough, I could do anything that any man could do. Listening to the Ranchero songs she exposed me to, was her way of reiterating other ideas besides what she had grown up with (machismo and marianismo). Ideas that she knew were better for women everywhere including myself, but they were also ideas that she did not have the desire to implement to a full extent. Perhaps because she was (and is) content with her life as she has lived it. But do not think my mother is a weak woman. She may have grown up being submissive, but don’t think she doesn’t get her way. She gets her way in her own way! 😉
But I digress. Here I was entering artist names in my Pandora personal Ranchero radio station so that the Pandora program will create my perfect Ranchero radio station playlist based on artist or song names I input, as well as songs that I have marked with a thumbs up or down. So I was trying to flesh out my Ranchero station by entering mainly the artists I mentioned above and I came to the realization that this genre was as much a part of my heritage, as much as it was an educational tool that both of my parents used to instill their values in me. Some of the songs I most remember are the ones that my parents used to listen to loudly on our cassette tape Stereo, and most of those songs were special for various, not so obvious, reasons. Looking back on my childhood I’m coming to the conclusion that my parents might have known what they were doing all along, even when I thought they were a little crazy! Today is another one of those days I celebrate my parents. You can never have too many of those days! Enjoy your parents and appreciate all of those special moments while you have them. 🙂
Memories through food
This meal brings back so many good childhood memories!
I’ve made both of these before and this meal was a staple when I was growing up, only difference is that I’ve never had them together. My dad used to make the potato flautas and serve them with guacamole, refried beans, mexican sour cream, cotija cheese, a little finely sliced lettuce, and topped off with salsa of your choice (either red or green). My mom used to make the soup and sometimes she would make that a complete meal by adding chicken to it….this was mom’s version of chicken noodle soup! The memories!
I cooked this delicious meal a few days ago. I’ve been wanting to eat something a lot more “tasteful.” So I decided to make this delicious combo that my mom used to make for me and my siblings. It was DELICIOUS.
The soup has a tomato base, which contains tomatoes, onion and garlic with your choice of pasta. The “flautas,” are just filled with smashed potato. Heating up the tortillas and putting the potato inside, rolling it up and frying it to your liking. Not too much oil!
It’s a simple recipie that makes my day! Add sour cream (make sure to add a bit of salt and milk to it and mixing it before putting it on your food!), Mexican cheese and lettuce to the “flautas” to complete them.
I can’t wait to eat this again, it’s just THAT good!
-Nindë Alcarin-
On my way now
Beautiful day! I’m going to begin posting more often! Im at the store getting new hardware and tools to work with! Talk to you all soon! 🙂
Roberto Carlos
Sometimes I wake up in a very weird mood. Content and grateful for what I have and even romantic. It makes me want to listen to Portuguese music and jazz for some reason. It makes me want to listen to the likes of Roberto Carlos, who my parents love! Needless to say, I was exposed to Roberto Carlos from a very young age and for that I am eternally grateful. It’s all about romance!
Check out this video. Roberto Carlos is still going strong! Love love love this song! 🙂
B-E-A-utiful Day!
Hello everyone,
It is so wonderful to be alive today. It’s Friday, I have a job, and I’ve got stuff to do! We should all take a time out to be grateful for just being alive and to have the freedom to do the things we want and need to do! Enjoy!
Here is the burrito I ate on Saturday!
I was taking pictures of some of the food my dad is going to feature in his new food truck venture (Super Burrito & Taco) in Harris County (the greater Houston area)….and guess who got to eat the model subject! Moi, of course. However, it was so big, that I had to give my brother the other half! We are well into our 20’s and we are still sharing food like a couple of 10 year olds! There is nothing in this world like family togetherness and good food! 🙂
Al Pastor (seasoned Pork) Super Burrito ready to be eaten!
superburritotacohouston 