Page:Face to Face With the Mexicans.djvu/503

Rh The servants are up and at their usual labors, but they move about noiselessly as specters; not by the stirring of a leaf molesting the sweet repose of the blissful sleepers.

The most vigorous-minded gringo soon succumbs to this delightful custom. Though his former habit had been to rise with the sun, and eat an enormous breakfast of hash, chops, steak, eggs, hominy, batter-cakes, hot rolls, and what not, he at once and almost insensibly falls in with the native custom, and in a short time out-Herods Herod. He will linger longer under the covers, caring less and less for the matutinal cup.

At twelve o'clock the family reunion takes place, when the almuerzo—breakfast—is served. This, however, with its numerous courses, is really the dinner.

Soup is an indispensable part of every Mexican dinner, and is used not only at the mid-day meal, but often, too, at cena (supper).

The soups are of infinite variety and generally excellent. One lady told me she knew how to make one hundred different kinds. I have partaken of as many as twenty in her house. At Señora Calderon's I have seen seven varieties in one week, and all tempting and delicious.

I give receipts for two kinds, and although both are called sopa, one is served as a vegetable and always comes the first thing after the liquid soup. One is not to take the place of the other.

Queen of Soups.—Make a broth of chicken. When cooked very tender, take the breast and the yolks of two hard-boiled eggs, adding to these four ounces of beaten almonds, a small piece of bread steeped in milk, with a good deal of black pepper and a little nutmeg. Beat all well together, having previously picked the chicken into shreds. Beat one egg well, and then add the above mixture, after which beat again. Then make of the paste small balls and drop into the broth. Add a lump of butter to the broth, and a little sherry if desired. Truly delicious.

Sopa de Arroz—rice soup—is a very rich yet palatable dish. Indeed, it is rather too rich for the average American stomach. They