Colombian Torta de Pan

I normally had a problem throwing my old breads out because it’s hard to eat. I shared this guilty action to one of my co-workers and she told me how to make use of it, the second time around!

Torta de Pan (Bread cake)

Ingredients: (for 1 plate-full of old breads)

250ml soda (sprite, 7up, or local brands)

1 cup whole milk

1 T brown sugar

1 large egg

1 T butter

1 t butter for greasing the molder

1 t vanilla (optional)

1 t ground cinnamon (optional)

1 pack ground peanuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven at 375°F.

2. Combine and mix lightly milk and soda in a mixing bowl.

3. Soak old bread overnight or at least 8 hours or until bread is soft.

4. Mix thoroughly the mixture (it will look like a batter). And throw in the beaten egg, sugar, and butter, (vanilla, ground cinnamon, peanuts). You may use your hands to mix.

5. Pour into the greased molder (of your choice but I prefer the bread molder) and cook for 1 hour or until done.

6. Cool for 5-10 minutes before taking out from the molder.

7. Makes one loaf.

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Joy Eva Bohol

Centro Popular para América Latina de Comunicación, Columbia

Mission Intern Class 2013
Advance # 3021829

Hola china!

“Hola china/o… Chao china/o!” These are the greetings and farewells Colombians use with me. I have told them many times I am Filipina and not Chinese, Korean, or from other Asian countries, but I keep hearing them call me that.

One time, a coworker said, “chao china,” I finally blurted, “I am Filipino!” and she replied, “Chao Colombiana!” She laughed. I asked why, and she said, “china/o means a younger person, not a nationality…” and continued laughing!!!

Since then, we have started a tradition with one other, “Hola Filipina, hola Colombiana/o…”

–Joy Eva Bohol, MI, 2013