Your Huddled Masses

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

Today is Elise Island Family History. When people think about immigrants arriving in America, we tend to think of the ships sailing past the Statue of Liberty. We tend to think of the Irish and German, the largest groups to migrate to America early on.

Early in the 1900s a new wave of immigrants came by the millions. Over 60% of them came from Eastern and Southern Europe, with the largest number from Italy, Russia and Poland. These came by way of boat. The poorer among them settled in the coastal cities such as Boston and New York. By 1965 a new wave seeking a better life began to arrive. These entered from both coasts, and some through the southern border. They came from China, India, the Philippines, Central America and the Caribbean. By the turn of the century, from the early 2000s on most came from either Mexico or Asia, with Mexico leading the way.

If you grew up along the eastern coast, immigration conjures up images of the huddled masses looking up at a lady that represented freedom for many. If you grew up in California, immigration took on a completely different look. They were Mexicans working the fields, moving with the seasons or Asians settling in very tight-knit communities in places like San Francisco. We like to think of ourselves as the melting pot. Some Americans resent foreign-speaking people who don’t seem to assimilate into our idea of a melting pot. Have you ever looked into a melting pot? It’s not very pretty – a gray gob. I think having our culture intact is an amazing thing. I believe learning the language of your adopted land is essential. As is respecting the customs. However; sharing your culture with others should be encouraged. I read somewhere once that America should be more like a salad bowl. The lettuce is still lettuce, a tomato is a tomato, as are onions, carrots and whatever else you like in your salad. The dressing (speaking the language, respecting the laws) is what brings everything together. Personally, I’d rather be part of a salad than an ugly gob.

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Spicy Potato Taco
1/4 Red Onion
2 tablespoons Spicy Olive Oil
1 (20 oz) bag Diced Potatoes
1 (4 oz) can Diced Jalapeño Peppers
Cooking Spray as needed
9 Corn Tortillas
Hot Sauce or Taco Sauce as desired
Mexican Cheese Blend

Optional Additions
1/2 lb Chorizo Sausage
Sour Cream as desired

Cut a quarter wedge from a red onion. Peel wedge, roughly dice.

Warm oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once warmed, scatter diced potatoes into the skillet. Add diced onions and Jalapeños. Cook until potatoes are tender, stirring often, about 20 minutes.

Option: In a skillet over medium heat cook chorizo until cooked through. Add chorizo to the potato mixture, stir to blend.

If you added chorizo to the potato, wipe out the skillet, leaving just a hint of chorizo grease in the pan. If not warm a griddle pan or tortilla pan, spray lightly with cooking spray. Warm tortillas until pliable. Keep warm.

Fill tortillas with the spicy potato mixture. Top with hot sauce or taco sauce as desired along with a sprinkling of cheese. Sour cream is also a nice touch.

Spicy pinto beans in a tomato sauce is a nice accompaniment to this humble supper.

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I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.