Anderson

I got a really nice birthday present on the 10th - a letter from little 4 year old Anderson in El Salvador!

He lives in the countryside of San Luis la Herradura, which is 19 km S of Zacatecoluca. His favorite things are his toy cars, his favorite color is purple and when he grows up, he wants to become a doctor! Isn't that awesome? I will do my best to encourage any dream this little boy has, that is for sure.

Anderson's favorite food is a regional dish called Pupusas. An El Salvadoran treat, these homemade tortillas are stuffed with cheese and are great with a traditional coleslaw called curtido. To serve, slice open one side of a pupusa, and spoon curtido into the opening. Farmer's cheese or mozzarella can be substituted for queso blanco. Mix 2 cups maso harina with 1 cup of water, mix until it is a firm, moist dough. Let rest 5-10 minutes then cut into around 8 pieces and then shape into a ball. Make an indentation with your thumb and insert the desired filling, then seal the dough over the filling. Flatten the ball with the palms of your hand until it is about 5-6" round. Heat a greased skillet over medium-high flame. Cook each pupusa for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until lightly browned and blistered. Remove to a plate and hold warm until all pupusas are done.

• Pupusas de Queso: With a cheese filling. Use grated quesillo, queso fresco, farmer's cheese, mozzarella, Swiss cheese or a combination. Add some minced green chile if you like.
• Pupusas de Chicharrones: With a filling of fried chopped pork and a little tomato sauce. A reasonable facsimile can be made by pulsing 1 cup of cooked bacon with a little bit of tomato sauce in a food processor.
• Pupusas de Frijoles Refritos: With a refried bean filling.
• Pupusas Revueltas: Use a mixture of chicharrones, cheese and refried beans.
• Pupusas de Queso y Loroco: With a cheese and tropical vine flower filling. Loroco can be found in jars at many Latin markets.
• Pupusas de Arroz: A variety of pupusa that uses rice flour instead of corn masa.
• Other Fillings: Cooked potatoes or finely minced, sautéed jalapeño peppers are also tasty fillings. Try a mixture of different fillings.