Spending Christmas away from Mexico sometimes made me miss some of the things I used to do as a kid, such as eating turrones (nougat) and figuras de mazapán (marzipan shapes) ... click on title for more
Two years ago, I shared a traditional Mexican recipe for turkey stuffing with ground meat; this time, I tried a vegan version by using a plant-based ground meat substitute, and the result was excellent. The idea behind this substitution is to have a stuffing as tasty as the original to go with turkey or other poultry, but that if some of the people at the table were vegan or vegetarian, they could simply ignore the bird, with this stuffing rich and satisfying enough to stand alone as their main protein-rich dish. Of course, I then felt the onus to also offer a vegan/vegetarian friendly gravy ... click on title for more
Pasta and cheese have been baked together in Italy and the rest of Europe for centuries. In Mexico, thin noodles from the Middle East (fideos) were brought by the Spaniards sometime during colonial times (1521-1821), but baked pastas became known during the Second French Intervention, and more broadly under the long presidency of Porfirio Díaz, who favoured all things European, particularly if Italian or French. Nowadays, this dish, AKA macaroni cheese, Mac ‘n’ Cheese, or “Coditos en salsa de queso” continues to be comfort food that may be a weekday meal on its own, or a side dish as part of a special dinner ... click on title for more
Colima is a small state along the Pacific coast of Mexico, known for its salt industry and coconut crops, as well as its mountainous regions and volcanoes, beaches and its Magic Town of Comala, while Villa de Álvarez, just North of the capital city of Colima, is famous for its Sopitos ... click on title for more
Colima is the capital city of the Mexican state with the same name; it is also known as "The City of the Palm Trees", which grow all around the state. Not surprisingly, coconut is one of the state's main crops, and in addition to coconut water, milk, oil, soap, and fibre for agricultural and industrial uses, the white flesh is enjoyed as nourishment, and as the main ingredient of delightful treats ... click on title for more