Interviewer
Eddie Fresquez
Project
El Paso Folklore (English 3374)
Summary of Interview
On November 25, 2025, at their family home in Socorro, Texas, Eddie Fresquez interviewed his mother, Loraine Fresquez, about her background and the cooking traditions that shaped her life. Loraine explains that cooking has long been a way for her family to spend time together, especially during Christmas and New Year’s, holidays closely tied to the dishes passed down through generations. She recalls making tamales as a child alongside uncles, aunts, grandparents, her mother, stepfather, and siblings, remembering the experience most for the time spent together. She also notes that her father attended culinary school and loved to cook, a formative influence on how she came to understand the importance of food in her family. As an adult, she continues making tamales—now with fewer relatives involved—and says the recipe has stayed mostly consistent, though other dishes, such as enchiladas, have been modified over time to reduce grease due to health concerns in the family.
Loraine describes the challenges of finding Mexican ingredients outside El Paso, especially during her time in Dallas, when she often had to shop in unfamiliar areas to find what she needed. She reflects on her childhood in Germany, where preparing Mexican food was nearly impossible because the required ingredients were unavailable. She also discusses differences between her parents’ cooking after their divorce: her father’s side prepared more traditional Mexican foods, including bread pudding and lengua, while her mother gradually Americanized her recipes. Loraine concludes by expressing her hope that her children remember the love she put into cooking, continue gathering for holidays, and pass these traditions on to future generations.
Date of Interview
11-25-2025
Length of Interview
41:22
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1806
Transcript Number
No. 1806
Interview Number
1806
Terms of Use
Open
Recommended Citation
Interview with Loraine L. Fresquez by Eddie Fresquez, 2025, "Interview No. 1806," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Student Created