Warm weather means tianguis time! I spotted this little open-air market along Avenida Revolucion in Mexico City during our last trip.
- What's your favorite thing to buy at a tianguis?
Mexican Christmas Traditions
Mexican Candy: Bubu Lubu
Yesterday my friend Tracy from Latinaish clued me in that the maker of one of my favorite Mexican candy bars, Bubu Lubu, is on Twitter! As we were telling a mutual friend, we both use the same Bubu Lubu buying strategy: one for now and one to stick in the refrigerator for later. At one of the local supermercados where I do my grocery shopping, they have both the room-temperature candy bars and a special little display in the refrigerator case by the checkout line that are already nice and cold. Not familiar with Bubu Lubu? It's a candy bar with marshmallow inside, topped with a strawberry-flavored jelly and covered in chocolate.
- How do you like your Bubu Lubu?
Easy Esquites
The weather is getting warmer and that can only mean one thing: an explosion of Mexican street food carts popping up on every corner in the neighborhood where I do all my grocery shopping.
Among the carts that make my mouth water the most is one from which the sweet smell of roasted corn wafts through the spring air – and through my car window enticing me to stop for a quick treat. Yep, you guessed it: esquites.
The key ingredients of this antojito are roasted corn, lime juice, salt and dried ground chile piquin. And then there are the customizations and variations on the snack that can make it so unique from place to place. Sometimes sauteed with butter or onions and epazote, it can also be topped with mayonesa or crema Mexicana. And my favorite touch: a sprinkle of queso cotija, a dry, crumbly cheese with a little bite.
It's usually served in a Styrofoam or plastic cup on the street, but don't let the simple presentation fool you. Serve this at a spring or summer backyard barbecue and impress your guests with this simple treat they're sure to love. Or just make it at home as a weekend snack!
Part of the beauty of this dish is that you can make changes or adjustments to your own tastes very easily without compromising any kind of measurements or balance so long as you follow the base of the recipe by roasting the corn either with butter or by adding a little water to the corn once you've cut it to help create a little juice. The portions of the lime juice, chile and toppings is up to you. The end result should be a sweet, sour, salty and spicy taste in every bite....
Wordless Wednesday: Dulces
José returned this past Sunday from his trip to Mexico City for Semana Santa. Among the presents he brought home for me... ¡Dulces! In pretty much any taquería in Mexico, you'll get some kind of candies delivered with your check. Some of my favorites include the dulces de tamarindo (tamarind and chile-flavored candy) and the paletas picosas (spicy and sweet lollipops) pictured above from El Charco de Las Ranas, El Califa and El Fogoncito.
- What's your favorite candy when you visit a taquería?
Wordless Wednesday: Las Bugambilias
If you're a frequent visitor here or on our Facebook fan page, then you probably already know that I'm completamente loca about bugambilias. In English, they're called bougainvilleas, and they're one of my favorite species of flowers. These particular flowers were photographed on our family trip to Huatulco in December 2010. The bright pink color just stirs my soul.
- What kind of plant life reminds you of Mexico?