The Latin American household is one based on traditional values and reverence for ancestral customs. Their heritage is founded upon the beliefs of pride, legacy, and respect for the elders and the wisdom that they imparted. However, as families become engulfed in political and social revolutions, tradition gives way to new and contemporaneous thought. Time-honored Latin American traditions such as recipes, remedies, and customs prove invaluable to the families of "The House of the Spirits" and "Like Water for Chocolate" during times of conflict and hardship, providing emotional and physical support while allowing the characters to preserve their spirit and essence for future generations to draw upon.

The simplicity and efficiency of the remedies and treatments offers a level of support and peace scarcely found within the tumultuous society and internal family turmoil of either novel. As the ants threatened to ruin all of Tres Marias, and modern...