Ecuador 8

More of Mami's wonderful homecooking: But this picture is of Huyana Capac, the last great Inca

She makes her own soup every day - from scratch. Here; probably the best Chicken Soup i've ever had.

And wonderful lunches like Pescado Frito. Plus every meal is better with fried plantains

Later that night she made me some Choclopillo which is fresh corn kernels stir-fried with scrambled eggs and onions. Oh, and a piece of fried fish because she's trying to engordar me.

What was really special this week, though was the homemade Morocho. Morocho, again, is a thick, milk-based drink, made with rice and sweetened with sugar cinnamon and cloves. You drink it with empanadas like the one shown here, una empanada de verde, which is made out of green plantain and stuffed with chicken. Probably the best salty-sweet combination ever, next to peanutbutter and jelly.

And lastly, rice and beans for a very typical but satisfying latin american dinner.