From the monthly archives: April 2014
We are lucky enough to be able to look out our front door every Good Friday and see the stations of the cross as they pass by. It’s the start of Semana Santa in Mexico.
This is the recipe my friends ask me for again and again. It’s always a hit and fortunately, it’s also one of the easiest recipes I know. It was Miguel Robles, owner of Mi Rueda Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, who taught me this recipe many years ago and after we had all shared a few too many tequilas. The proportions of this recipe are inexact, this may have been due to the too many tequilas or that fact that is a traditional recipe that is just known by most Mexicans.
Ingredients
-beefy tomatoes (I use Roma or Cherry)
-sweet white onions
-cilantro (optional for you cilantro haters)
-fresh lime juice
-sea salt
Cut the top and bottom off tomatoes. Squeeze out the seeds and juice. Chop into small squares. Chop an equal amount of white onion to the same size. Add chopped cilantro. I like lots of cilantro, but I have also learned over the years that there are people who HATE, not just dislike, but hate this herb. I personally think it is a crime to leave the cilantro out. Cilantro is added to taste. Then add the juice of 1 to 2 fresh squeezed limes depending on the size of your batch. And the secret ingredient in this salsa, sea salt. Regular salt does not work. Salt to taste. Mix it all in a glass bowl (not metal) cover and let sit for a few hours or overnight so the flavours can meld together. Before serving, drain off excess liquid.
Enjoy!
In Mexico our homes are made of concrete. The great thing about it is you can dress up the concrete however you like. Here is an example of how, in just a few hours, our handyman turned a drab window into a fab window.
We bought this box of tiles for less than $17usd in Dolores Hidalgo.
Roughing up the cement so the tiles will stick.
The tile is up, now the grout needs to be added.
Grout & a line of blue paint finish the job. From boring to WOW in a few hours.
Our truck and trailer near Saltillo
In a few weeks we will begin our drive from Puerto Morelos, Mexico to Calgary, Canada. As we go we will keep you posted here on our adventures and the wonderful places in Mexico we get to visit. Check back with us.
Between now and then feel free to enjoy some road music from the Red Headed Stranger to get you in the mood. ¡Hasta pronto!
Paper Mache Bride
We were recently in San Miguel de Allende at La Parroquia where there was a wedding taking place. This wedding was done with a ton of Mexican flare. As if a Mexican wedding isn’t spectacular enough, this bride and groom added larger than life paper mache figures and a large mariachi band to the festivities.
Mariachi in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
I never get used to the crazy things that get delivered to your door in Mexico. Here are a couple of guys that are door to door chair salesmen. And they are transporting their wares on a bike. It was nice of them to stop by the bookstore.
One of the great things about living in a tropical climate are the plants that grow in your garden. About once a year we get a large bunch of bananas. There is nothing better than having your own fruit tree.
Mexican Papel Picado Banners in Playa Del Carmen
If it is party time in Mexico, look up, way up and you will see papel picado flying through the air. Papel picado or “perforated paper” banners are a traditionally a decorative banner made out of thin paper or more recently plastic,cut into elaborate designs.
Mexican Papel Picado in San Miguel de Allende
This Mexican folk art explores common themes includes birds, flowers and skeletons. They are hung during special occasions, such as Easter, Christmas, the Day of the Dead, weddings, quinceañeras, baptisms, and christenings.
- This top was made by the women of Valladolid
Recently we were in Valladolid, one of our favourite local escapes. While there I picked up this cute blouse. It was hand embroidered by one of the women in the local co-operative. It has a striking resemblance to this blouse I saw on Shop Latitude. The big difference is I paid $150mxp ($12.50usd) for mine. Valladolid is also a great place to pick up hand made leather sandals.
I have two pairs that I bought last year (note the wear) one from the factory (on the right) and one not. They are made of “real cow leather” according to the nice shoemaker that sold them to me. Now that I know where they make them, I will always go there. The second pair cost me $130mxp ($11usd) and they are so cute, cool and comfy.
