Let’s face it. One of the main reasons – maybe the primary reason? – people vacation in Mexico is because of the food. Yes, the weather is perfect, the beaches and mountains are breathtaking, the people are welcoming, the culture is exciting. But the food – well the food is amazing and addicting in both its simplicity and its complexity. It’s generally just some kind of meat flavored with chile in a tortilla, but the flavors and the spices and the sauces come together to create heaven.
For as long as I’ve lived, I’ve loved to eat – but I’ve never really loved to cook. I’m too clumsy and too easily distracted. Inevitably shortly after I begin, my computer whispers to me that there just might be a super important email waiting (Is Publisher’s Clearing House Lottery even a thing anymore?) and before I can download and delete, I smell the burning.
But recently I have been thinking it’s time for a change. For a few reasons:
Money: To do all the things we want to do here, we’ve started tracking a budget. We’re cutting back. ☹- Weight: Our 6-week road trip did some serious damage to our midlife midsections. We’ve upped our exercise game together too!
- Health: A recent cancer scare in our family reminded us that we need to get serious about cutting out sugar and chemicals and processed foods.
So this week I got the urge to cook some Mexican dishes. From scratch. If I am going to do it, if I’m actually going to cook, I need to make it a fun part of our new life experience. No lasagna, no meatloaf, no pot roast – nope I’m going Mexican!
I started by thumbing through the Mexican cookbooks I had accumulated. (I’m so weird – for someone who hates cooking, I love to collect cookbooks) and then went shopping. I was determined to buy everything I could at the small local shops and stands in my neighborhood. I read about the different types of chiles – red and green, fresh and dried – but when I got to my neighborhood fruteria, they all looked the same to me. But I did it. For less than $20 I loaded up my basket and headed home to spend an entire day in the kitchen. I toasted peppers, I grilled peppers, I peeled and seeded and blended peppers. I soaked beans and boiled beans and mashed beans. I roasted and shredded a giant chicken and made a huge pot of chicken broth. I chopped a LOT of onions and minced many cloves of garlic. I boiled and blended tomatillas and tomatoes. When it was all done, I had a big pot of refried beans, a container of salsa verde (green sauce) and a container of red enchilada sauce. I had enough shredded chicken to make dinner for many nights. And of course, I had guacamole.
Last night we had red enchiladas and I have to say they were delicious. Grant said they were the best he had ever had. Not sure if that’s true, but HE SAID IT and that’s enough for me. Tonight, the green enchiladas – pretty good too. Both served with a bowl of guacamole and some refried beans. And a salad. Enough left to try a few other things this weekend.
Red Enchiladas, Green Enchiladas and a huge pitcher of Pineapple Agua Fresca
As you are probably guessing, it wasn’t all successful. My first round of beans was a FAIL – I blame the computer and the stupid stove. Grant blames my basic lack of attention to the pot that had boiled dry. Whatever. The poblano peppers that were on their way to being stuffed hit the garbage can after tearing in half. Meh. That won’t discourage me. My oven dial does not have degrees on it – it has numbers 1 through 5. Took me a while to figure out that just past 2 is 350. That’s dumb. But I’ll keep trying. I think we’ll head to the fish store next and try some seafood dishes – how about a nice grilled red snapper? Some ceviche? Some giant shrimp rubbed with the left over chile paste? Obviously some fish tacos with chipotle sauce.
But that’s on the weekend. I think tomorrow night we’ll head over to California Pizza for some Chicken Tequila Fettuccine – I’m exhausted and craving some Italian!
On Wednesday, we went to nearby San Vicente to attend the 6th Grade graduation of Isabel and Laurentino. This time we were asked to be the Padrinas, which are similar to Godparents. In Mexico, children will have many different adults throughout their lives who will be considered supporters or mentors. At important milestones such as baptisms, graduations, even weddings – families choose madrinas and padrinas to stand alongside the children to show love and support for them. At the graduation ceremony, we each sat behind our graduate and walked with them to the front to get their diploma. I love the symbolism of that – we support from behind, we walk alongside. I admit I looked around today – the only white English speakers in attendance – and wondered what on earth we are doing here – with this very poor community, with this family, with the orphanage, with Mexico in general. Maybe this is it – we are offering love and support and encouragement from behind, walking alongside our newfound friends as they find their own way. When the ceremony was over, we told Isabel and Laurentino that if they finish High School, we will help them fund university. I am giving you fair warning – it’s a few years off but I will be asking for your help when that day comes!
We had two surprises waiting for us. The first was to be hugged by little Brittany and Priscilla. I told you their story last year when they had to leave Manos de Amor because their drug addicted mom insisted she wanted them back. (
I am not certain about the status of their legal papers and honestly, I am not going to ask. I am just so happy to see them laughing again. We drove them back to Grandma’s house on Friday evening so they could spend the weekend with her and we were relieved to find out where they now live in a nearby town. We were also thrilled to reconnect with their two older sisters.
Tomorrow we will meet with two different brokers. We will unload the trailer and the truck and will get inspections and will pay all kinds of fees and duties and ‘honorariums’. It will take a couple of days and then we will be on the road to home. If all goes well, next Tuesday. we will go to Jose’s Kindergarten graduation. We will meet Ibet’s new baby who will arrive any day and Mateo who was born last month. We will celebrate little Ivan’s final adoption by his wonderful California parents. We will congratulate Peter on getting his Mexican citizenship and Verito on graduating from Veterinarian school. We will celebrate with Carmelo and Paola on their recent engagement. We will go dancing in town squares and exploring around town in our spunky blue golf cart. We will reach out and make a difference wherever we can. And we will eat tacos!
Marthita and her husband Gregory are pastors at the church we attend – they are some of the first friends we made here and their children Elly and Gady are excited to welcome a new baby brother. This baby was not easy to create and he was so loved and wanted before he even was conceived. The ladies at the church planned this fun garden party and it was just a beautiful evening with delicious food and baby boy decorations and lots of gifts for little Mateo.
Last night I attended another shower – this one for sixteen-year-old Ibet who is also about to have another baby boy. I say ‘another’ because Ibet is also mom to 3-year-old Kevin. The first thing that struck me is that we played all the same games as we had played at Marthita’s shower. I guess these are traditions. Considering I was the only English speaker at this shower, it was a relief that I kind of understood what was going on as they were wrapping toilet paper all over Ibet, writing on her face with lipstick and taking away nametags whenever anyone crossed their legs. They had done all the same things to Marthita at her shower. Although I had pretty halting conversations with the other young moms and their children, we laughed a lot and I felt like I was welcome, although maybe not totally accepted. I think they weren’t quite sure who the heck I was or what I was doing there – but Ibet had invited me 4 or 5 times and I knew it was important to be there to support her and Kevin and the new little one. It is not going to be an easy road for this young family and I struggle every day to know how to best help them. For this week, a few tiny blue clothes and a stroller which will double as his crib is what my heart told me they needed. I could be wrong. I just hope they know they are loved and can accept that they are deserving of that love.
New animals in town – we have 2 new donkeys wandering around the neighborhood. We saw a donkey chasing a dog who was chasing a donkey who was chasing a dog. The donkey won!
Karen Moves to Mexico 