Grandma’s Cracker Cereal

When I think of favorite family recipes from my childhood, my beloved Grandmother’s cracker cereal is always on the shortlist.

A far tastier alternative to oatmeal, Cream of Wheat and the like, the cereal is great comfort food -- and delightfully easy to make.

Ingredients:
*2 cups of milk (skim or regular, either works)
*8-10 saltine crackers
*Cinnamon and sugar to taste

In a pot, crumble up saltine crackers. Add milk and cook on low heat, stirring regularly for about five minutes or until mixture reaches porridge-like consistency. Pour contents in bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.

A perfect breakfast!

Grandpa's Vanilla Pudding

My beloved grandfather was a wizard in the kitchen. The kind of cook that never looked at a recipe because he could trust his instincts about how to make, well, just about anything.

Along with arroz con pollo (he was Ecuador-born), one of his signature dishes was homemade vanilla pudding. I have many fond memories of standing beside him as he stirred the pot, then allowed me to taste test with a big wooden spoon. To this day, it remains one of my favorite desserts -- simple to make, heavenly to eat. Here’s the recipe:

Mix the following in a blender:

• 1/3 cup water
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons of Argo corn starch

Pour mixture into a pot and add 1 quart and ½ a cup of milk. Stir until ready and, after pouring into container(s), sprinkle cinnamon on top. Allow time for cooling before refrigerating.

Like I said -- heavenly!