Lucia Santos Hernandez says arroz con pollo is her family’s
favorite meal, hands down.That goes for both the family she grew up in, and the family she heads as an
adult."Back when I was young, my mom would buy a whole chicken. We knew what we were having for
dinner."It was going to be arroz con pollo, or chicken with rice."She would cut it all up; she
used all of it."For the next step, Hernandez’ mom would fry up the chicken – "she used Crisco
shortening – then remove it from the skillet. Mom then added just a touch more of shortening. This was to
fry the rice to a golden brown."I loved watching my mom cook. She added lots of love. She ground all
the spices fresh. The whole house smelled great."The dish just invited seemed to build family
closeness."We all sat at the table together. We would talk about our day. Those were great
times."Hernandez grew up in Woodville, one of eight children."Growing up, mom always made sure
that we all knew how to cook. She taught us, and stood by us the whole time."Another dish she
successfully learned to make back then was carne asada, a type of meat with gravy. Later, visiting at other
Latino friends’ homes, she discovered that everybody’s carne asada is different.Hernandez had a harder time
with tortillas."My tortillas didn’t turn out to well. At age 11 my dad would tease me about
them."Both parents are now deceased, as are two of her sisters, one of whom was killed in an auto
accident in Bowling Green at age 19 .But while they were all still alive, everybody agreed Hernandez’ arroz
con pollo was hard to beat.In fact, she was confident enough to make a few changes to the old family
recipe."My recipe is a little simpler, and healthier, I hope."She has quite a few preparation
hints.Above all, she warns, "never leave your rice alone when you’re cooking it. Like pudding, keep
stirring it; it’ll burn quickly.""Taste it as you’re cooking it to see if you have enough spice in
it." If too much, then just add a little more broth."I wouldn’t use tomato paste, because that’ll
make it too thick."For the chicken broth, she likes to use Swanson’s brand boxes – the 32-ounce
size.Her mom used to raise eyebrows about that one."When I got older I would add the broth to the arroz
con pollo, and she would ask ‘Why are you doing that?’"I just think it makes it taste richer,"
Hernandez explained."When I was in Texas – I lived there a couple years – I noticed they put peas in
the chicken and rice. My mom never had. So I put fresh peas in it. It does give it a good flavor and a
brighter color."For myself, I like it. But our family" sent Hernandez the message "don’t mess
with it. They like it like mom’s."Hernandez places great value on the art of cooking, feeling strongly
that it evokes family and cultural ties that shouldn’t be lost.She never got too old to beg cooking advice
from Mom. Tamales, for example, almost got the better of her."It was one of the hardest thing for me to
make. I was a 58-year-old lady whining on the phone to my mom. ‘They’re just not right.’"About half an
hour later there was a knock on the door. My mom had had my brother drive her over. She walked over to the
stove, tasted it, and said ‘it needs more comino’ (cumin)."Mom to the rescue.But the tortillas that
frustrated Hernandez as a child have become another of her cooking triumphs."I make fresh flour
tortillas. I’ve had people call me and ask ‘Do you think you can make me a dozen tortillas?’""One
young man in the service – a weekend warrior – he’ll call and ask me to make five dozen."Growing up,
she and her siblings "usually never used spoons and knives and forks. We just wrapped it up in a
tortilla."Even today, she far prefers flour tortillas to bread or rolls, especially with the arroz con
pollo.Hernandez, as the oldest, has always found herself balancing the fine line between Mexican and U.S.
cultures.At 18 she decided to attend college at Bowling Green, a real culture shock."That was the very
first time I was away from my family."Hernandez, now retired, first worked for 12 years at Wood Lane,
then later worked for the Wood County Educational Service Center in a classroom setting. Her job had her
assisting a child with autism, one-on-one. "I learned a lot" and the on-the-job knowledge has
since come in handy with one of her own grandsons, age 8, who is autistic."He’s the only child I have a
home right now, but I have five grandchildren."

Arroz Con Pollo
(Chicken-N-Rice)Cook time: 40 minutesPrep time: 20 minuteServes: 42 Tbsp. olive oil, light (can use any oil
you prefer)11?2 cup long grain rice, uncooked1 tsp. garlic powder11?2 tsp cumin powder1 tsp. onion powder
(or small onion, chopped)1?4 tsp. pepper (can use white pepper if you want)1 tsp. salt2 (32-oz.) pkgs.
chicken broth1?3 cup tomato sauce *4 small chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut in cubes1. Heat 11?2
tbsp. oil in 10-inch skillet (I use a 12-inch skillet). Once oil is hot, put in chicken cubes and cook until
brown or juices are clear. Remove chicken from skillet; set aside.2. Use remaining oil in the skillet. Stir
in your rice. Fry until golden brown. Add chicken and broth, starting with about 11?2 cups of broth. Stir.3.
Add spices — cumin, garlic, onion, pepper and salt. Stir well so it will not clump up. Add tomato sauce and
stir. Let it come to a boil.4. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender — about 15
to 20 minutes. Remove from heat, let it stand for 5-8 minutes, then serve.Serving suggestions: Lettuce and
tomato salad, refried pinto beans. I prefer flour tortillas rather than breads or rolls.* May substitute
fresh chopped tomatoes. Equivalent amount: 11?2 large (over 3-inch) tomatoes.