If you’re a 2000’s kid, you probably grew up watching JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Cheyenne on the classic series Reba starring Reba McEntire. And if you’re Latine, you also probably grew up not knowing that she was Latina despite her never getting rid of “Garcia” in her name when she entered Hollywood. Or at least I didn’t know.
Remezcla sat down with the Cuban actress to talk about her being Latina, her grandmothers flan recipe, and unapologetically entering her señora era. She also gave us said flan recipe if you want to try it out. Because in 2025, selfcare needs to be a priority if we’re going to make it through the day with our heads on right and our traditions front and center. And that includes making flan.
On being Latina, Garcia Swisher admits that she still encounters people who never realized she’s Latina. She’s Cuban on her father’s side. In her words, it happens to her “All the time. Yeah, very much so. Especially when I speak Spanish in front of people. They’ll be like, what? And I’m like, yeah, that was my first language.”
Beyond Reba, Garcia Swisher has starred in everything from The Mindy Project to The Astronatur Wives Club, and Once Upon a Time. And fans of feel good dramas will definietly recognize her from Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias, which is returning for a fifth season. And every step of the way, her Latinidad is an essential part of who she is.
“My Cuban heritage has informed so much of everything; who I am as a performer, as a creator, and how I am as a mother, and my whole life,” Garcia Swisher said, “I mean, I’m Garcia. I never changed my name. I was never trying to not be who I was. And or trying to be something that I wasn’t. It just is who I am.”
Taking all of this into consideration, that’s why it was so easy for Garcia Swisher to talk about the next thing in our interview. Something that she’s passionate about and something that a lot of Latinas are investing in, no matter the age because slowing down is important: our señora era (or season).
“I think it’s really about just connecting to yourself,” Garcia Swisher said, “And I know that’s easier said than done because we’re so programmed to get things done and you know be in the moment.” A part of that slowing down for Garcia Swisher is baking, something that she’s shared with family and that she ended up partnering with La Lechera and Carnation for Señora Season.
For Garcia Swisher, she slows down with baking. It gives her a moment to reconnect with her hands and the those from her past that have created recipes that remain within her family. Baking for her is “connecting to something that brings you joy. And for me, that’s cooking and being in the kitchen and traditions. And my flan recipe is something that’s not even mine. It’s my abuelas, my tia’s receipe. But for me, it’s really about remembering them and passing that onto my children.”
“As a Latina, you know food and family, these are all huge cornerstones of our culture,” Garcia Swisher said. That’s why she was so excited to partner with La Lechera and Carnation. “It’s just, you know, it’s so nice to be able to be a part of something that’s intentional that we’re all talking about. And Señora Season is really about that. It’s about being intentional and doing things that bring you joy.”
And for JoAnna Garcia Swisher, baking brings her joy. Taking small moments to remember where she comes from brings her joy. And making sure her kids grow up with memories centered around Latinidad, especially when it comes to our food, brings her joy. So if you’re wondering if you need to slow down, do it. And if you’re wondering if it’s too early to enter your señora era or season, it isn’t.
Interested in JoAnna Garcia Swisher’s flan recipe? Read it below.
INGREDIENTS
Caramel
- 1/2 cup sugar
Flan
- 1 can (14 oz) NESTLÉ® LE LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 can (12 oz) NESTLÉ® CARNATION Evaporated Milk
- 1 whole egg
- 5 egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 1 small saucepan
- 1 9-inch-round cake pan
- 1 bowl
- 1 whisk
- 1 large roasting pan
- 1 set of measuring spoons
- 1 knife
- 1 serving dish
DIRECTIONS
For the Caramel
- Put a small amount (about 1 tsp) of sugar into the bottom of a small saucepan on medium-low heat. As it melts, keep adding sugar in 1 tsp increments until all sugar is added and stir constantly with a whisk, repeating for 6 to 8 minutes or until the sugar turns liquid and golden caramel-colored.
- Quickly pour the caramel into a 9-inch-round cake pan. Tilt the pan so that the caramel coats the entire bottom of the pan.
- Put flan pan to the side.
For the Flan
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Add 1 can of NESTLÉ® LE LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk, 1 of can NESTLÉ® CARNATION Evaporated Milk, 1 whole egg, 5 egg yolks, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract into a bowl and gently whisk to combineandavoid adding air bubbles.
- Pour the milk mixture into the flan pan with the caramel.
- Place the flan pan in a water bath in a large roasting pan. Add enough water to reach about half-way up the flan pan.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove the flan and water bath from the oven and allow it to cool in the water bath for 45 minutes. Then remove the flan from the water bath and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the flan.
- Place a serving dish larger than the flan pan over the pan and quickly flip to serve
