January 13, MERMELADA
Originally, marmalade was a preserve made from quinces, and both the English word “marmalade” and the Spanish form mermelada, come from the Portuguese word marmelada – a sweet quince preparation (marmelo in Portuguese means quince). Nowadays, mermelada is the Spanish word for any preserve of fruit cooked with sugar into a spread, usually with chunks, corresponding to the English word “jam”, since “marmalade” is now used mostly for preserves involving citrus fruit, such as oranges, and their peel.
EXAMPLE
Las mermeladas son conservas de fruta y azúcar, normalmente con pedazos de fruta; algunos ejemplos son la mermelada de fresa o la mermelada de naranja, que contiene pedazos de la cáscara.
Jams are preserves with fruit and sugar, usually with chunks of fruit; some examples are strawberry jam or marmalade, which contains pieces of the peel.
Quote:
“The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday – but never today.” – The Queen of Hearts, in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass” by Lewis Carroll.
“La regla es, mermelada mañana y mermelada ayer – pero nunca hoy.” – La reina de corazones, en “Las Aventuras de Alicia en el país de las maravillas y a través del espejo” por Lewis Carroll.
January 3, 2019 PEPITO
Pepito is the diminutive of Pepe, the most common nickname for the Spanish name José. It has also been adopted as the name of a sandwich – defined by the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language as a “bocadillo que tiene dentro un filete de carne” which means: “sandwich bun with a piece of steak inside.” Pepito is also a generic name used in old time jokes involving a precocious boy, such as “Timmy” could be an example of a popular choice in English.
EXAMPLES:
Many Latin American countries, particularly Mexico and Venezuela, have created their own versions of the classic Pepito, a grilled-veal-in-a-bun sandwich first prepared in Spain.
Muchos paises latinoamericanos, particularmente México y Venezuela, han creado sus propias versions del Pepito clásico, un sandwich de ternera-a-la-parrilla-en-un-bollo, preparado por primera vez en España.
Chiste de Pepito:
Maestro: Pepito, ¿Qué me puedes decir de la muerte de Cristobal Colón?
Pepito: ¡Qué lo siento mucho, maestro!
A joke with Pepito:
Teacher: Pepito, What can you tell me about the death of Christopher Columbus?
Pepito: That I am awfully sorry, sir!
Quote:
“Hang in there, Madeline” – Pepito; from “Madeline” (movie, 1998)
“Aguántate ahí, Madeline” – Pepito; en “Madeline” (película, 1998)
My Slice of Mexico 