The Other Side of the Tortilla

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday: With love from Mexico

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When my suegros came to visit in July, they brought a special package in their carry-on luggage. It was carefully wrapped in paper, then plastic and secured with twine.


What was inside? Half a dozen of José’s favorite pastry from El Globo: Garibaldi. And although they never seem to travel that well no matter how many times we attempt to bring them home, they were extremely appreciated and eaten with great care. You could practically taste the love in every bite because they came all the way from Mexico City.

  • What’s your favorite treat from Mexico that relatives or friends have brought for you when they visit?

Wordless Wednesday: A tribute to Chavela Vargas

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I was saddened on Sunday to hear the news that singer Chavela Vargas passed away at age 93 in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Though the legendary singer was originally from Costa Rica, she emigrated to Mexico City in her teens and would eventually become known as the queen of Ranchera and a Mexican popular culture icon.

According to her official Facebook page, her last words were “I leave with Mexico in my heart.”

I’ll never be able to listen to “La Llorona”—or many other songs—without thinking of her. Here are a few of my favorites.

“La Llorona”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCoV4ObhiuE[/youtube]

“Que Te Vaya Bonito“
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sqz2LwQLIo[/youtube]

“El Último Trago”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtenL7GCa04[/youtube]

You can keep up with more information of tributes taking place in Mexico on the official Facebook fan page of Chavela Vargas here (written in Spanish).…

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Wordless Wednesday: Flores de calabaza

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My find of the week? This gorgeous and lush bunch of flores de calabaza (squash blossoms). They weren’t cheap… I think I paid about $4.99 for the whole bunch, but it was worth it when I sauteed them with a little butter and stuffed them into a quesadilla for breakfast a few days ago. What can I say? Sometimes I can’t resist a treat like this, even when the price isn’t quite right. I lament that I ate most of them so fast I forgot to take photos to share, but I’ll be on the lookout for more flores at the market this weekend so I can show you how else to use them.

  • What’s your favorite way to enjoy squash blossoms?

Wordless Wednesday: Sweet childhood memories

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When I was a little girl, I remember my dad used to bring me Canel’s chewing gum as a treat. Sometimes he even kept it in the glove box of his car for me. I never really knew where he got them from, but he seemed to always have them. Now, whenever I see them being sold on the street in Mexico, I have a hard time resisting buying a few little packs.

  • Are there any candies that remind you of your childhood?

Wordless Wednesday: Tostadas Coyoacán

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Earlier this week, my friend Julie, another Mexico Today ambassador, was lamenting on Twitter how much she missed tostadas Coyoacán—something I could definitely identify with…

So I promised her I’d dig out the perfect photo to post this week just for her…

You can follow Julie @mexicojulie and check out her blog, Midwesterner in Mexico.

  • Leave a comment to let me and Julie know what kind of tostada is your favorite!

Wordless Wednesday: Everything tastes better with chile

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A few weekends ago, my mom brought me a gift from a friend who’d been traveling—pistachios covered in chile powder. They reminded me a lot of the snacks I love to buy in the mercados of Mexico, especially the kinds of spicy nuts that are also flavored with dried garlic, known as dientes de ajo. Given my affinity for all kinds of spicy nut combinations, I’ve been careful not to sit down and eat the entire bag. I’ve been taking a little to work with me each day as an afternoon snack.

  • What’s your favorite kind of spicy snack that includes nuts?

Wordless Wednesday: Passing over Popocatépetl

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If you follow the news, you’ve probably heard a lot of fuss about a volcano in central Mexico that’s been spewing ash, rumbling and causing concern lately.

That volcano, which stretches into parts of three bordering states (Mexico, Puebla and Morelos) is Popocatépetl—also known affectionately as Don Goyo.

Here’s a photo I took of the volcano when we flew over it on our way to Acapulco in December 2011. I’ve flown over it many times but have never actually visited it while on the ground—but I’d definitely like to get up close to check it out someday. On a very clear day you can sometimes see Popocatépetl from different vantage points in Mexico City, including a spot near where my suegros live.

  • Have you visited Popocatépetl?

Wordless Wednesday: Guaca-tacos

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I posted this photo on Instagram last week as I was eating leftover guacamole in the form of tacos, also known in my household as guaca-tacos.

 

You can find my guacamole recipe here. Sometimes I like to substitute red onion for white onion (like I did here, though it’s difficult to tell from the photo). It’s a substitution I picked up from my mom since she normally makes her guacamole with red onions.

  • Do you ever eat guacamole tacos?

Wordless Wednesday: ¡Ay, Mamey!

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I was doing my weekly shopping trip when I spotted a sign for mamey from the next aisle over. I practically ran to grab one since they’re one of my all-time favorite fruits. But when I arrived, I realized… these mamey were gargantuan. They were the biggest ones I’ve ever seen… and I’ve seen a lot of mamey! Is it me, or are these freakishly large? The kiwi practically look like chiclets next to them.

If you’re not familiar with mamey, they’re a lot like a sweet avocado–a bit thicker, rougher skin, but a similar consistency on the inside. The sweet flesh is pink instead of green. Such a treat. Next time, I’ll be sure to take a photo of the inside to show you. I’m not sure how it’s possible that I haven’t written about mamey here before, but I can’t wait to go buy some more to make batidos de mamey.

  • What do you think? Are these mamey the biggest ones you’ve ever seen?

Wordless Wednesday: The last enchilada

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I made enchiladas verdes for dinner earlier this week. To make them a little healthier, I changed up the recipe a bit and didn’t lightly fry the tortillas as usual; instead I just heated the tortillas on the comal to make them pliable enough to roll up with chicken inside. And I used just a little less cheese for melting on top. They were still so good! These were the last two that ended up as lunch the next day.

  • What do you do to cut calories, but not taste, from your family’s favorite dishes when you’re trying to eat healthier?

Wordless Wednesday: Gigantic jicama

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I spotted this amazingly huge jicama in the grocery store a few weeks ago and couldn’t believe my eyes. I didn’t think anyone would believe how big they were, so I had to take a photo! I picked one up and don’t think it would have fit on the piddly little fruit scales in the produce department. Two of the largest ones I picked up were definitely each heavier than my laptop.

  • Have you ever seen jicama this huge?

Wordless Wednesday: Choco Zucaritas invade my mercado

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Finally! The Choco Zucaritas cereal I love so much has, at last, appeared in my local market. I’m sure my friend Tracy will be thankful I can buy them in Chicago so she won’t have to send me another box from the Washington, D.C. area! If you’re in the Chicago area, I was shopping at Strack & Van Til on Elston when I spotted them this past weekend.

  • Have you seen them in your store yet? Have you tried them?

Wordless Wednesday: Nacimiento en Acapulco

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A few weekends ago when we were in Acapulco, I spotted this elaborate nacimiento at the hotel where we were staying. It’s hard to see, but near the lefthand bottom corner, there’s even a cactus with little orange tunas on it. ¿Chido, no?

Wordless Wednesday: Nochebuenas by the fireplace

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I spotted my first nochebuenas of the season last weekend and couldn’t resist buying some to decorate by my fireplace!

Learn more about poinsettias and how they came from Mexico in my post from last year.

Wordless Wednesday: Choco Zucaritas

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A few weeks ago, I visited Washington, D.C. for the 2011 Blogalicious conference, where I got to spend lots of time with my blog amigas from all over the country. My friend Tracy from Latinaish, who lives in the area and was also attending, found out before the conference that I was a huge fan of Kellogg’s Choco Zucaritas (chocolate frosted flakes) and brought me a box as a gift! Now THAT is friendship. I took it all the way home to Chicago in my carry-on luggage so that the box wouldn’t get squished in my checked baggage. I’ve been eating Choco Zucaritas in Mexico ever since I discovered them a few years ago and was always bummed out that I couldn’t buy them in the U.S.—until now.

¡Gracias Tracy! I’m almost out, so I’m headed to the super this week to see if I can find a box here in Chicago.

  • What foods do you love to buy in Mexico that you can’t find in the U.S.? Tell me in the comments below!

Mexican Candy: Fruta cristalizada

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I’ve always been fascinated by frutas cristalizadas (candied fruits). I spotted these in the Mercado de Coyoacán a few weeks ago during my visit to Mexico City. Pictured clockwise from left: naranjas (oranges) that were hollowed out, tunas verdes y rojas (green and red prickly pears), chabacanos (apricots) and higos (figs). My favorite kind is calabaza cristalizada (candied pumpkin), and I brought back a big piece that I don’t plan to share.

  • What’s your favorite kind of fruta cristalizada?