Breakfast

Here's a couple breakfasty items off the Ecuadorian menu.  They don't necessarily have to be eaten as breakfast, but they're as good at breakfast as at any other time of day, which cannot be said of all foods.

BATIDO DE GUINEO

i.e., banana smoothie

The batido de guineo is notable in that, unlike most of its fruit-flavored batido buddies, it does not require copious amounts of sugar to be rendered palatable.  Guineo is naturally sweet and complements well the flavor of plain milk.  But wait!  That doesn't mean you can't augment this delectable banana, milk, & ice cube combo with other ingredients.  For example, chocolate-flavored protein powder or - my personal favorite - instead of using regular old ice cubes, throw in a few cubes of frozen passionfruit juice for a little extra zing.  Voilà, breakfast is served.*

*now with passionfruit!!!  Because what better way to wake up than with a cup of salacious mania!

HUMITAS

i.e., humitas

I don't make these, I just eat what I buy or - much more preferable - what is given to me by my host family, who knows how to make them and told me the recipe: You know, you grind the corn, you mix it with some butter, some pig lard, some trago [translates as a "drink" or a "swig," but a drink or swig of what they did not specify - definitely something alcoholic though], and a few other things, and then you wrap it up in a corn husk.  Uh-huh.  Sure.  How about you just tell me whenever you make them and I'll come and get some and pretend like I made them myself.

Like tamales, but sweeter!  A great way to start the day!*

*not every day, though.  One recipe I do know is that pig lard and butter for breakfast every day yields multiple servings of arterial plaque.