My Slice of Mexico

Polvorones de Nuez – Dusty Cookies with Nuts

December 4, 2021December 7, 2023by Irene13 Comments

Probably some of the best known Mexican cookies, these bite-size treats are similar to shortbread, with a generous amount of nuts inside. They are often called "Mexican Wedding Cookies", although giving them out as wedding favours is a tradition that mostly takes place in Northern Mexico and the Southern United States. In the rest of Mexico, they are known as polvorones de nuez - dusty cookies with nuts, an everyday treat, even sold in small packages at convenience stores and supermarkets; however, they may become extraordinary in the ordinary, when their dusty, snow-like tops, turn them into prodigious treats to share during the Christmas season. ... click on title for more

Desserts

Polvorones – Old-Fashioned “Dusty” Treats

December 2, 2021December 7, 2023by Irene18 Comments

Old-fashioned polvorones are enjoyed year-round both in Spain and Mexico, but become ubiquitous during the Christmas season, when batches of hundreds of the dusty and dusted sugary treats, are prepared in convents and bakeries. Some modern recipes call for vegetable shortening instead of lard, a good choice for vegan regimes. I offer the traditional recipe with lard, scaled down to a small batch, convenient to make at home ... click on title for more

Ingredients, main course

Pork in Morita Sauce

November 27, 2021November 20, 2025by Irene8 Comments

Pork in Morita Sauce is enjoyed all over Mexico, particularly in the states of Veracruz and Puebla. I prepared this dish as a request for lunch with a friend; I got to use some ingredients I had at hand, and it was a big hit all around ... click on title for more

gardening, Ingredients

Late Fall Harvest – Sunchokes

November 24, 2021November 24, 2021by Irene13 Comments

The stars of my late fall harvest this year are sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus) ... click on title for more

Bread, Ingredients, pan dulce

Puff Pastry – Orejas and Abanicos

November 19, 2021December 15, 2021by Irene16 Comments

In Mexico, these sweet confections are called orejas and abanicos, which translate literally as "ears" and "fans" from Spanish. As many sweet breads, they came from Europe, and although some recipes have changed to adapt to Mexican ingredients and taste, in this case, the basic recipe is practically identical everywhere, requiring only two ingredients: puff pastry (pasta de hojaldre), and sugar ... click on title for more