Chapter 11, November, Beans with Chile Tezcucana-Style Summary

John and his Aunt Mary are coming to dinner tonight. The pantry has been severely depleted by feeding Gertrudis' troops, and Tita is forced to prepare a simple meal of rice, fried plantains, and beans. It is a fine recipe, but she had hoped to prepare something a bit more elegant to greet this old woman who has traveled so far just to see Tita marry her nephew.

Pedro is recovering nicely from his burns, due to Tita's home remedies and fine meals. Today, she does not have time to stay and chat with him, and he senses her impatience to get back down to the kitchen. Pedro is jealous that John is coming for dinner and tells her that she should inform him that she no longer has any interest in him...