A cool month of June, followed by extreme temperature changes, up and down, caused slow growth in many of my vegetables, and strange development in others ... click on title for more
Garden Update – Still Life
Month: September 2022
Quintana Roo Style Empanadas
There is an ongoing debate in Mexico about whether a folded patty may be called quesadilla even if it has no cheese (queso) inside. Mexico City dwellers say "yes", while pretty much the rest of the country says "no". In Southern Mexico, patties are called empanadas, which means "with bread", and this recipe from the state of Quintana Roo really fits the bill, since wheat flour and baking powder are added to masa (corn dough) for a softer, fluffier, more "bread-like" patty. Other unique features are the filling, traditionally seasoned shark meat called cazón, and the condiment, consisting of marinated onions and Habanero peppers, instead of bottled salsa. I am starting with nixtamalized corn flour (masa harina) since already-prepared masa is not available in my region in Canada, and instead of shark, I am using cod filets from frozen ... click on title for more
Quintana Roo Style Pork and Cabbage – Makum de repollo
All the states in the Yucatan peninsula share common Mayan roots, so it is not surprising that their cuisines also share many traditional dishes, such as it is the case of Makum, a stew that is made with marinated meat, traditionally tightly wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in a clay pot for long times. In the state of Yucatan, the most elementary ingredients for makum are fish and annatto sauce, but in the neighbouring state of Quintana Roo, a unique regional version is prepared with pork and cabbage ... click on title for more
Quintana Roo – A Story of Law and Independence
Quintana Roo is one of Mexico's youngest states, named after a sometimes unsung hero of the Mexican Independence War ... click on title for more
Chicle – What is Natural Chewing Gum?
Chicza™ is the only 100% certified organic, biodegradable, and sustainable chicle chewing gum in the market, so what is in other chewing gums? ... click on title for more
My Slice of Mexico 