Look, Mom! I did it!

I hear, "Look, Mom" or "Mommy, Mommy, Look" or "Mo-o-o-m, looooooooooooook" or "mama mama mama mama" about 1000 times a day, I think.  But this time, it's me saying it!  Although, it's not really to my mom, but to my friend Darlys.  So, I guess I should be saying, "Look, Darlys!  I did it!"  It's just that I have that "Look, Mom!" feeling about my accomplishment!  Ever have one of those? 

So, what did I do?  I made arepas.  Yup, I did.  All by myself.  And they were delicious.  And Leighton even said so ... while he was gobbling down 4 of them!

Admittedly, they are not all that difficult or tricky, as they are made from only a few basic ingredients and cook up quickly on the stove top and in the oven.  But, that's not the point. The point is that these are Darlys' thing.  She is the arepa expert.  She made them all the time for our group playdates and for lunch when I'd be over with the kids.  Before we moved to Houston, Leighton requested I learn to make then so she came over and gave me an arepa making tutorial. 

I will also admit they weren't as perfectly round as hers.  And they were white, not yellow - but that's not my fault (and luckily Leighton wasn't put off by this and believed me that arepas are white in Texas ;) ).  I can't find masarepa in the stores near me and had to make do with one of the types of pre-cooked, white cornmeal I could find instead.  But, they tasted similar and that's what counts, right?!?!

Now, as proof for Darlys, here they are waiting to be cooked:

And the ultimate taste-tester:

I should probably answer the question many of you are asking right now - What are arepas, Becky?! 

Arepas are South American corn cakes that you can fill with all sorts of yummy goodness and have as a snack or meal.  Darlys would serve them with cheese, or avocado and chicken, or shredded beef.  I filled mine with cheese and avocado.  Leighton has his avocado on the side.  And my friend Jenn that was over had avocado and hot capicola.  Her son, Julius, was too busy playing to eat anything.  And Riley had hers with just cheese.  But she was MUCH more interested in the leftover Cuban sloppy joes from the night before. 

Here's proof of her preference:

And here are the boys playing outside after lunch:

While the boys played and Riley napped, Jenn and I relaxed and chatted inside.  And then we had a snack (what else would we do?!).  Fresh, warm coconut bread.  Mmmmmmmm.