Safe to say theyre a potent reminder that this is a writer to watch.
Read on below, and pre-order the book ahead of its May 7, 2019 releasehere.
In a saucepan, heat coconut milk until it comes to a boil.
Credit: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Muddle a bunch of lemon verbena leaves and lavender leaves and add to the heated coconut milk.
After fifteen minutes, mix the infused coconut milk, salt, sugar, and cornstarch.
Stir the mixture until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.
Let the combined ingredients come to a boil and keep stirring until the mixture begins getting pudding thick.
Pour into a big cereal bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
Place in the refrigerator for five hours.
After removing the mixture from the cereal bowl mold, sprinkle with cinnamon.
*Best eaten cold while daydreaming about palm trees and listening to a Hector Lavoe classic.
Day One
Babygirl doesnt even cry when I suck my teeth and undo her braid for the fourth time.
Babygirl, Im sorry.
I know it hurts.
Mommy just doesnt want you looking a hot mess.
She seems unfazed by my apology, probably because thing 1.
), thing 2.
So long as I let her watchMoanashell let me play with her hair til kingdom come.
Thank goodness my friend Angelica lets me use her Netflix account.
This is the hardest part and I have to start the braid tight and small to get it right.
Its time for you to head out.
Ill fix her hair.
I dont even look over at Buela standing by the staircase that leads to the two bedrooms upstairs.
I got it, Buela.
Youre going to be late for school.
She walks over and picks up the comb from where I set it on the couch.
You wish you could be the one taking her.
I nod and bite my bottom lip.
Now that Babygirl is actually going Im freaking out.
In her entire two years on earth, Babygirl has never not been with family.
I braid to the very tip of her hair.
Even though my chest is tight, I giggle.
Babygirl might still be young, but shes also learning to be real slick.
Babygirl, Mommy needs to go to school.
Babygirl nods as if I just gave her the most serious DJ Khaled success speech.
Buela, dont forget her snacks.
The daycare said we need to supply snacks every day.
Oh, and her juice!
You know she gets fussy.
As I walk past Buela, I lean in real hush hush.
And I also packed a little bottle of water.
Look at you trying to give me lessons on parenting.
Like I didnt raise you!
Buela gives my back a squeeze, smooths the hair bunned up high on my head.
Shes going to be fine, Emoni.
You verify thatyouhave a good first day of school.
Be nice to the other kids.
I lean against her for a quick second and inhale her signature vanilla scent.
Que Dios te bendiga, nena.
She swats me on the booty and opens the front door.
The door closes behind me and for a second my breath catches in sync with the lock.
Everything my heart loves is behind this one wooden door.
Today youre going to be a big girl!
I pull the straps of my backpack tighter.
Give myself that same pep talk as I race down the stairs: OK, Emoni.
Time to be a big girl.
Magic
If you asked her to tell it, Buela starts with the same story.
I was a little older than Babygirl is now and always following Buela into the kitchen.
She cant remember what made that day different.
We cant agree on what it was shed started cooking.
It goes without saying: She.
Thought I had been about to burn myself, dinner, or worse, the house.
Girl, theres no coming back from that.)
All that to say, nothing charred.
How it made her whole day better, sweeter.
When she tells the story, its always a different simile, but still sweet like that.
All I know is she cried into her plate that night.
And it was the first time I learned someone could cry from a happy memory.
Ever since then Buela is convinced I have magical hands when it comes to cooking.
And something specialdoeshappen when Im cooking.
My Aunt Sarah says its in our blood, an innate need to tell a story through food.
Buela says its definitely a blessing, magic.
