The Churro
The location was Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the year was 1983. For 8 years I had been living on this planet called Earth and in those 8 years I had never had anything quite like The Churro.
A little backstory...
My grandmother had a booth at a Flea Market in OKC. She sold picture I.D.'s and metal social security plates that had topless women on them. Her clientele consisted mostly of Hispanic males and mothers who wanted a picture I.D. of their child. My sister Precious was old enough that she could actually type up the I.D.'s and sometimes take the pictures for the I.D.'s, but I was still just a kid and so I did what all 8 year old boys do - I explored.
The Flea Market was not the outdoor type, rather, it was indoor and expansive with so many booths full of tools, jewelry, cool nunchucks and Chinese Stars. One particular booth had a sign that said, "You break, you buy, we break, we cry." It had all sorts of old antique plates with frilly patterns, antique vases, and jade figurines. Everything rested on top of plush red velvet and the little old lady that owned the booth always seemed to be in a dream world. She never talked to me or paid me much attention, she just allowed me to gaze freely upon her wares without interruption.
For some reason the red velvet booth has remained vivid in my memory, but not as vivid as The Churro Stand. I can still remember the first time I smelled the cinnamon and sugar. The sweet fragrance was a pheromone that drew me in and enchanted me much like the White Witch from the Chronicles of Narnia. I followed the delicious aroma until I spyed with my little brown eye the decadent confection that would soon be the object of my affection. About 12 inches long and crusted with cinnamon and sugar The Churro's hung there in there in the glass case, illuminated by a heat lamp that seemed to enhance their allure. I plucked a crumpled dollar from my pocket and purchased this tasty treat. My mouth salivated and soon I quench my lustful desire by consuming bite after bite of The Churro.
From that point on, every time I went to the Flea Market I begged my grandmother for money so that I could get The Churro and for some reason, on my way to work this morning, I had a craving for this childhood treat. I had The Churro on my mind and I almost drove to OKC to satisfy my craving. If you happen to know where I can get a Churro, or if you happen to know how to make a Churro, then please let me know because I will pay good money for a tasty Churro right now.
23 Comments:
I am sorry I do not know where to find the elusive Oklahoman Churro.
There are always bear claws down the street.
There are also Pizza Hut Cinnamon Breadsticks.
In desperation, you might fall back to sucking on a cinnamon stick.
I recall two treats I used to get as a child, neither of which are as cool as El Churro.
1) We walked to the "C Shop" in dowtown Chicago and got those early jolly ranchers shaped like pixie sticks.
2) We walked along the sea wall in Galveston and stopped for a slurpee before we turned around.
We walked a lot when I was young.
Eric, a bearclaw just might satisfy the craving - sucking on a cinnamon stick will not.
Your two treats sounds sugary and yuck. I have never been a big fan of the slurpee or the jolly rancher. I almost NEVER eat Hard candy, I prefer chocolate.
Also, is this a first time for you here at PN? I must know how you found me.
Ahhhh, you insult my fond childhood memories then demand information...you should get used to disappointment.
That would be my first comment on your blog; this would be the second.
The discovery of your blog was through Lavender J.
Lavender J? WHAT?!?
Churros. They sound like a long, skinny version of a funnel cake, except with cinnamon and sugar.
I agree: much different that chorizo, which is what i first thought it was. I wonder what churro means in spanish? Eric?
oh, and eddie: www.churros.com
oh, and this. you can pay me later.
The Churros
Here's the ultimate recipe to make your own churros at home, just like they were at the churrería stands. Of course, the difference here is price. Here you can make a whole batch for what is cost for a few. Once you make the churros, you can make the authentic chocolate dip to dunk them in.
Ingredients: (Makes one platefull)
Vegetable or Olive Oil
1 cup water
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
Prepare to fry the churros by heating oil in a pan (1 to 1&1/2 inches) to 360 degrees F.
To make churro dough, heat water, margarine and salt to rolling boil in 3-quart saucepan; stir in flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute; remove from heat. Beat eggs all at once; continue beating until smooth and then add to saucepan while stirring mixture.
Spoon mixture into cake decorators' tube with large star tip (like the kind use to decorate cakes). Squeeze 4-inch strips of dough into hot oil. Fry 3 or 4 strips at a time until golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. (Mix Sugar and the optional cinnamon); roll churros in sugar or dump the sugar on the pile of churros, like the pros. That churro taste will take you right back to your favorite summer days walking the paseos of Spain.
Note: REAL churros in Spain are made without cinnamon mixed with the sugar, but the cinnamon adds an extra nice flavor.
Jessica you've never heard of a Churro? Sad.
Eddie look for a mom and pop gas station, they often times have those foot long bits of glory.
Good luck in your search.
i am eating a CHURRO right now Eddie...
just to make you mad
Steve, I never thought i would have to say this to you, but brotha, we are in a Fight.
Hrmph.
How is it that you're in Texas and can't find a churro and yet I can find them all over the place here in Oregon?
Churros are the mexican version of elephant ears - which we REQUIRED our parents to get for us whenever we went to the State fair or Saturday Market.
Haven't had one in years. Thanks for the memories.
Elephant Ears? Pronto Pups? WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YA'LL SMOKING UP THERE IN OREGON????
Heaven Help Us.
gcargny - cargney and lacey!
Ha ha Eddo gave the hrmph.
aypjrry - a PJ party
Eddie,
They are available at COSTCO.. barely 2 miles from your place!!!
Girja :)
They are also in Denton at La Azteca right next to my apartment with rows upon rows of authentic Mexican food.
They are definitly not exclusive to OK. I grew up on them in San Diego CA. They sell them at all of the amusement parks, and Sea World, and such places. Ohhh they are sooooo good. I want one too!
ivpkxrz I very crazy?
Never heard of them, but you said the magic words - cinnamon and sugar. yummmmmmm.
Well Eddo...right down the street from my house is Churro city!
Texas and no churros. WOW!
Our local Costco sells them fresh made. May be yours does as well!
Jes,
Churro = Fried dough-thing with cinnamon and sugar on it. Or, according to your research, just sugar on it.
Funny, because EDmond is the one enchanted by the Turkish Delight from the White Witch.
man, i haven't had one of those since elementary school.
i wonder if they have them at the fair?
I know my kid's fundraisers sell them all the time (Mr. Z's). They are a favorite in our house every time the fundraiser comes around! Yummm...
That recipe sounds way too hard Jes!
I told this same story to a friend about two weeks ago - almost word for word, okay - I didn't describe the red velvet booth, or relate the sign experience, and I guess I was nine, and not doing what boys do, but what girls do - and...okay you get the point.
Anyway - the reason I was telling this story was also becuase I was craving one, we happened to be as six flags and walked inot a place that sold them. It was like horrid - like sugar on cardboard - not even warm - I so wanted my money back but dropped it int hetrash can and went on my way instead.....I was devastated.
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