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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Bread and Milk ...pan y leche

Isn't it curious and amazing how a scent or a song or a taste can transport us to another place in time?  And isn't it equally as wondrous how something one person may not give a second thought, can in turn make another weep with emotion?  Growing up, we often had toasted white bread, spread with a pat of butter and layered with a good coating of cinnamon and sugar.  But we never, ever put it in a bowl and saturated it with milk.  Even now it makes me wince a teeny-tiny bit.  I'm just not one for soggy bread.  Yet, I do love French Toast.  I suppose that's because it's not so much soggy as permeated...and it's only good if it has that crisp outer crust.  So, that point is moot.  But.  Soggy bread.  An idea I may not have entertained a mere 10 or so years ago, is now something I make on occasion.  For my man.  Because it brings him back to being a niño.  A time without fuss or extravagance or money.  It was a happy day when his mami was able to tear up some slightly hard pan, sprinkle it all with sugar and pour some fresh milk over the whole thing.
I like to add tiny variations to bring it to the present...like using Vanilla Sugar instead of plain.  Or occasionally sprinkling in some cinnamon with the sugar.  Or perhaps using a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread in place of plain.  Either way, the little flutter of excitement when I set the bowl in front of him...or the far-off look in his eyes while he's eating it...or the full-belly pat of satisfaction when he's finished?  It's totally worth it.  Food is a powerful drug, my friends.
Now.  Go make some memories.


*I'm sharing this post with:
Full Plate Thursday

Would you like to comment?

  1. simple and yummy bread dear....

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  2. I love it when I find something that sends me in a tailspin back to my childhood. Then when I find something that sends my sweetie back to his childhood, it absolutely fascinates me. It is great to see what your esposo loves and reminds hm of the early years.

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  3. Oh my, I instantly thought of my father while reading your post. When I was a little girl, dad and I would indulge in a bread and milk snack in the evening before bed. He would pour a glass of milk, and then tear up bread into the milk, as much as the glass would hold. With spoons we slurped up this treat and I thought it was wonderful! Thanks for the memories!

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  4. My husbands "insanity food" from his childhood is chocolate cake, albeit a little stale, smashed in a bowl and milk added. Ick to me but heaven to him. I don't get it but I get him so there ya go.
    For all of us, there are those triggers of comfort and joy (oh heck that sounded seasonal) but whatever they are......Cheers. The Olde Bagg, Linda

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  5. simple and easy and tasty way to eat bread. This is my childhood favorite.

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  6. Estas cosas fáciles me encantan, que delicia de plato.

    Saludos

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  7. I'm with you. I don't do soggy bread.

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  8. Not a big fan of soggy bread, but I do remember eating the toast with sugar & cinnamon. I haven't had it in years!

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  9. I can almost taste it looks delicious

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  10. I used to do the cinnamon sugar butter thing. I thought it was something I invented. Back in the day.

    I actually could totally go for some soggy bread. I guess it's the nina in me.

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  11. I thought I was the only weird person who loves her bread to be sooo soggy and eat it with a spoon... or to let ice cream melt and drink it like it was milk or something.. haha food memories and im glad we could give that back to our kids by making memories now...

    heather, i am hosting a CSN giveaway and would love for you to stop by, if you please? thank you!

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  12. I have a weird thing about soggy, too, but not bread nor cereal, which is totally off the point. Anyway, I'm all for making food that makes our loved ones happy!

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  13. Reminds me of my Dad, who alway soaked his french bread in milk or coffee. I can see him doing that and saying "muy bueno, muy bueno." Thanks for the memories. :)

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  14. I LOVE bread and milk! This post reminds me of when I was growing up, if I was sick, Daddy would make me some "milk toast." It was toasted, buttered bread with hot milk that had a little salt and pepper poured over it on a plate. That is such a sweet memory for me.

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  15. Food and memories do go hand and hand. I also ate toast with cinnamon sugar...but never bread and milk. I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow. Thank you for sharing another bite of delicious goodness and a reminder to cherish the foods of our past!

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  16. Makes me remember sitting on my grandfathers lap eating pieces of cornbread with a spoon that he had dropped in a glass of milk.......uummm happiness!

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  17. Your husband is a very lucky man :)

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  18. Yes, somehow each of us have food childhood memories wired deep, deep into our brains and there is no way of changing them. Not that we'd want to. Such a sweet post.

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  19. I used to love this one. Only recently given this up must eat it! Breakfast tomorrow sounds good?

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  20. I like story about your man's childhood memories food evokes. Food and memories.......hey, that could be a new blog hop idea...as if you aren't busy enough!

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  21. i've never had this either, but it sure looks good, so comforting. and i love the vanilla sugar!

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  22. Aww... so sweet. Those childhood tastes and memories are the best--I am sure he loves it when you make this. ;-)

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  23. I love it when food and sometimes other scents bring up childhood memories :)

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  24. Hi Heather,
    This dish brings back so many memories for me. My Grandmother often times made this for me when I was a child. Wonderful memories! Thank you so much for sharing this with Full Plate Thursday and please come back!

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  25. I'm with Mexi - it's not something I remember my mother making for me, but it is something I make for myself when I am alone and feeling a bit sorrowful!

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  26. I did a little chuckle when I saw this post, Heather.

    I have had the worse toothache for about a week now so of course I am starving. I considered doing the milk toast thing and thought better of it. I too do not jump for joy at the thought of soggy bread!

    Thanks for sharing...

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  27. Interesting recipe. Don't know about the texture of soggy bread though.

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