Discover and re-discover Mexico’s cuisine, culture and history through the recipes, backyard stories and other interesting findings of an expatriate in Canada
A paper boat, those that many kids used to make with a piece of newspaper, or a page from a notebook, and then place in a puddle after a rain shower, or in a pond, was the inspiration for the song Barquito de papel - Little Paper Boat. This song appeared in the 1971 LP album Mediterráneo by Spanish singer and song writer Joan Manuel Serrat, considered one of the most influential artists in 20th century pop music, both in Spanish and Catalan languages ... click on title for more
There is a traditional Mexican tune “La víbora de la mar” (“The Sea Snake”), which is sung as part of a game. I used to play it all the time during recess in elementary school, and much later on, at wedding receptions, as a legendary fast-paced conga line. There are no winners or losers in this game, just a bunch of happy (and thirsty) people ... 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
Continuing with my theme on the beautiful Mexican state of Veracruz, this post is about "La Bamba", the most famous example of the region's musical style of "el son jarocho", which combines Spanish, indigenous, and African/Caribbean musical elements … click on title for more
One of my garden beds has a "Scarborough Fair" herb theme, stealing directly from the lyrics: "Are you going to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme". The photo at the top of this post was taken this morning, and shows my "Scarborough Fair" patch with green parsley, sage starting to bud, potted rosemary and thyme in full bloom. Although all of these and many other herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, are not native to the American continent, skillful cooks in Mexico embraced European influence to create amazingly rich and aromatic dishes that have become part of traditional Mexican cuisine. … click on title for more
My Slice of Mexico 