If you have been following this blog, you already know we are “boat people”. I grew up spending many weekends and vacations on my father’s boat. The freedom and liberty you feel while navigating the ocean is exhilarating as well as therapeutic. There is something about being in contact with nature, on the open water and a weird mix of vulnerability and control that is hard to describe. If you haven’t had a boat ride up to now, I encourage you to do so and add it to your bucket list, because it is an experience you shouldn’t miss.
With my dad (I am with lifejacket) and my cousins Anibal, Priscilla and Gretchen. Circa 1978
My brothers Joaco and Manolo taking "boat showers". Circa 1992
"Fancy dinner" at Bitter End Marina 1994 with Lupe and Felo
Making guacamole with my brothers on the boat. 1994
As we were growing up, my brothers and I, enjoyed going to the boat a lot mostly because we like water sports and love the beach, but my parents liked it mostly because it was a chance to sequester us and have us all to themselves on the boat with nowhere to go for the whole weekend. Je, je! Believe it or not, living in a small space with a group of people for many days in a remote bay or beach, help you acquire skills that will be useful in everyday life. You learn to share limited space with others, to be considerate and tolerant, to pick-up after yourself, about engineering and mechanics, improvising, assume roles, be responsible, respect authority (only one captain!), be safe, look after each other, encourage conversation, live in harmony with your surroundings, negotiate, meet new people, be self-sufficient, and help strangers in need. All of these qualities are strengthened in “boat life”.
Canito, our mate, with my son 2002
2002
2004
2007
2007
Summer 2010
My parents summer 2010
Among the many great memories I have of that period in my childhood and adolescence, I remember we would get up very early while on the boat and, in order to let my parents sleep a bit more, Canito, our beloved mate for over 15 years, would always make these delicious Eggs on a Nest (Huevo al Nido) for breakfast. Time passed, we grew up and started families of our own. Eventually, and not surprisingly, I married a “boat person” and I have my own “boat family “. We still go on boat trips with my parents and my brothers, although now we each have our own. I proudly admit we also sequester our kids on boat trips for quality family time and feed them Eggs on a Nest for breakfast. I guess some things never change…
Enjoy!
Eggs on a Nest (Huevo al Nido)
Ingredients
club sandwich bread (your choice of whole wheat or white)
butter (about 1/2 tsp for each serving)
egg
salt and pepper to taste
Procedure
1. Cut out hole in center of bread with a 2 1/2 inch in diameter round cookie or biscuit cutter (for a fun twist, use a heart shaped cookie cutter on Valentine’s day). Save cut-out.
2. Heat butter in non stick skillet over med-low heat.
3. Meanwhile, crack egg and pour in a measuring cup or rameking. Set aside.
4. Once butter is melted and evenly distributed on skillet place bread on skillet and let toast for about a minute. Pour egg in the center and cover for just 2 minutes. Flip with a spatula. Cover and let cook for a little under 2 more minutes).
5. Meanwhile, toast cut-out bread in toaster oven or toaster.
6. Once ready, season to taste and serve. Dip toasted cut out in middle of egg to eat. Then cut and eat remaining egg and toast as you wish.
aleida arbona
Foodielady 