Discover and re-discover Mexico’s cuisine, culture and history through the recipes, backyard stories and other interesting findings of an expatriate in Canada
When it comes to garden bugs, there are some clear heroes and villains, but there are also many others that cannot be classified as perfectly positive or negative; I found four examples in my backyard this week … click on title for more
This is a Mexican classic that seems to be included in every tacos de guisado menu. Prepping the poblano peppers is somewhat laborious, but absolutely necessary; their flavour becomes rich and complex once roasted, and their texture is smooth after peeling … click on title for more
At my local supermarkets, large bags of fresh green beans are available right now, so I got one. Since it was far too much to use at once, I blanched them, and froze all but 2 cups, which I prepared with a creamy chipotle sauce … click on title for more
The Spanish verb guisar means "to cook"; a mundane definition of guisado could then be " any dish made of edibles that are cooked." In Mexico, guisados are more specifically associated with any ingredients cooked in a sauce, which may be thick, broth-like, or even creamy … click on title for more
Right now I am enjoying looking at my Filius Blue pepper plants, with their pretty flowers and unique royal blue/purple peppers ... click on title for more
This edible bouquet is not made of cut-up fruit, like the ones people send or gratefully receive as get-well-soon gifts, but of blooms from my backyard … click on title for more
I needed recipes other than jam to take advantage of my black currant bumper crop. A compote is by definition “a dessert of fruit cooked in syrup” and it is as simple to make as it sounds; making a small batch is not a burden even in the hot summer season because cooking times are short and, unlike with jam, there are no worries with compote about acidity, pectin levels or gelling, since it is supposed to be somewhat runny, like a sauce … click on title for more
Green, white and red are Mexico’s national colours, but another one that well defines Mexican culture is pink, specifically a shade known as rosa mexicano (Mexican pink, sometimes called Mexican rose.) The name was coined in 1949 by renown author, fashion designer and painter Ramón Valdiosera … click on title for more
The inspiration for this recipe was a seared fish tostada I enjoyed during my recent trip to Mexico. My version was very similar to the original, but I thought the fresh crunch from the raw veggies I used was very pleasant, and the visual appeal from the variety of colours and shapes was a big bonus … click on title for more
The new tower is a design of the late Teodoro González de León (1926-2016) a celebrated Mexican architect. The 29-story tower with eleven floors below street level, was inaugurated in 2017. The shopping centre was impressive, and the food, inspiring! … click on title for more
