Almost Mexican

Nabokov News

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 02:17:00 +0000

If you happen to be in the NYC area tomorrow evening, and have an affinity for Nabokov (or free cake), head on down to Le Poisson Rouge! InDigest Magazine is celebrating the notorious authors birthday with some readings from his impressive collection, as well as some original pieces influenced by the man.
I will be reading, not an original work, but a passage from one of his short stories.

FREE

InDigest Celebrates Nabokov
w/ Meakin Armstrong , Nicole Callihan , Sasha Fletcher ,Dave Haan and Jade Wilkison

Sun., April 17, 2011 / 7:00 PM

Pimento Cheese and Palmetto Trees

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:29:00 +0000

It's that time of year again.
The endlessness of winter in New York.
Like seriously, this is what the weather is right now!
It has me dreaming of warmer climes, noshing (see still in NY) on pimento cheese and tomato sandwiches preferably on a beach in Charleston somewhere.
See, I have to remind myself that we chose to move back here. And I certainly don't want to move back to L.A. In fact the thought of moving back to L.A. makes me want to throw-up a little in my mouth (probably from being carsick in endless traffic).
Now don't get me wrong, New York and Brooklyn in particular is an amazing place to live. If I started today and went out every single night for the next 5 years, I'd probably not be able to eat in every restaurant, see every play, attend every exhibit or reading I wanted to. It's a place magical with opportunity.
It's also a place that between the months of November and May, can be a little trying.
Lugging strollers up and down subway stairs, finding indoor activities for a 2 1/2 year old ACTIVE boy for five months is well, trying. Which leads me to my next gripe.
For those of you who don't know (and bless you), the preschool process in NYC is a bit like being a piece of raw meat in a pond full of piranha. Maybe that's a little harsh, but the preschool acceptances went out this week (believe me, I know, I scoff as I write this acceptances???), and it turns out that out of my group of friends NOT A SINGLE ONE OF US GOT IN ANYWHERE. It's a wait-list (or "wait-pool" as one of the schools so politely put it) waste-land over here.
What, might you ask, does this have anything to do with pimento cheese and palmetto trees?
Nothin' really, I just like to imagine that living in southern hospitality land the preschool rat race is more of a jog, and the wait-pool is really a wading pool.
I'm sure the preschool thing will sort itself it, I'm actually not that worried about it, and our kids will go on get accepted to any number of Ivy League schools.
And as for my pimento cheese hankering? Well, while I won't be sitting in a park, or on the beach anytime soon, thankfully Van Horn Sandwich Shop is literally right around the corner, and they make a mean pimento cheese and tomato sandwich.
See, it is magical here, after all.

Where in the World...

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:25:00 +0000

Is Jade Servin Wilkison?
Right now I'm sitting at Provence en Boite, enjoying croissant, listening to french pop music, and pretending I'm in in Paris or somewhere in Provence with the drizzly weather outside.
It's been SO LONG since last I blogged.
There have been a few things going on...
Like my husband being reviewed in The New York Times!
And then there was this little ditty I wrote.
Mostly, though, I've been chasing after the boy (the little one), and waiting for this never-ending winter to well, end.
Still lots of Mexican culture to explore in the Brooklyn, but it's going to have to wait until the temperatures start to feel a little more...Mexican.
For now, I'll enjoy my cafe au lait and daydreaming out the window...

¡Viva México!

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:25:00 +0000

Happy 200th anniversary of Mexico winning her independence from Spain! The hub is working late tonight, so we'll be saving our celebration for tomorrow. I will be attempting Chiles en Nogada for the very first time! And in reading this recipe, this might be one of the most complicated recipes of all time. Then again, it's also one by Rick Bayless. YIKES.

So, I'm thinking the recipe from Homesick Texan might be more up my alley. After all, I'd like to spend some of my Hubs day off actually with him.

I digress.

Chiles en Nogada from Homesick Texan

Why, Chiles en Nogada, you ask? It is believed that after commander Agustin de Iturbide signed the documents freeing Mexico from Spain, he was en route to Mexico City and stopped in Puebla to celebrate his saints day. While he was there the dish Chiles en Nogada was created for the very first time. The dish celebrated the colors of Mexico's new flag (red, white and green). From that day forward it became a dish traditionally prepared in August and September, surrounding the celebrations of Mexico's Independence.

The first time I ever became aware of this dish was when I read Laura Esquivel's beautiful novel, Like Water for Chocolat e.

Go, read it.

I'll be making Chiles en Nogada, with a sprinkling of chopped onion placed upon my crown.

Brooklyn Book Festival!

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:12:00 +0000

Folks, it's almost here!
The Brooklyn Book Festival takes over on September 12th from 10am-6pm. And there are loads of events on the 10th and the 11th as well.
So many cool events and a staggering array of amazing authors.
Esmerelda Santiago, Salman Rushdie, Ada Limon, Cristina Garcia, Chang-rae Lee, and on and on and on.
It's a little overwhelming.
Can you guess who I'm most excited about?
Luis Alberto Urrea!
He has a panel at 4pm on Sunday. All about family and how they shape you into the person you are today and he'll be reading from Into the Beautiful North.

Now...How do I clone myself so I can attend all of these events?

Time Flies

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 07:01:00 +0000

And just like that, the baby boy turns 2.

Almost Baker

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Let me say it again. I'm SO HAPPY we moved back to Brooklyn!! We have been so fortunate, and have made some really amazing friends. We've hosted World Cup parties, had impromptu backyard BBQ's, lots of park dates and even managed to get away sans kids.

With all the parties and BBQ's we've been cooking a lot, and I'm ALWAYS one for dessert. So, I've been making tarts and brownies (okay, Mr. Trader Joe may have helped out with those). And I'm getting pretty good at it, if I do say so myself!

A friend of mine threw a little baby shower for two of her friends last weekend, and asked if I'd help out with a dessert. Well, you don't have to ask me twice!

Being a baby shower I wanted to do something a little cutesy, so I wanted to do baby booties or carriages or something.....alas, I couldn't find a cookie cutter in that specific shape, in enough time to make the cookies. So I just worked with what I had, hearts stars and circles. Then I decorated them with pink (they're having girls!) icing. All in all a pretty fun project. My plan of action was pretty simple as well. The shower was on Sunday, so I baked the cookies on Friday, decorated them on Saturday, and then they were ready to go on Sunday. I was also lucky in that my husband took the kiddo to the park for a few hours Saturday so I was able to get

them all decorated!

Thank you to http://www.universityofcookie.com/ for some helpful tips, and thank you also to http://iammommy.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/12/dont-let-this-happen-to-you.html for the awesome cookie and icing recipes.

Now go get baked!

Hot in the City!

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:03:00 +0000

It's steamy and stinky in the city. We must be in the dog days of summer! All has been quiet on the Almost Mexican front. Sorry about that!
I'm busy working on a short story, and it's pretty time consuming. And I'm stuck stuck stuck. Seem to be meandering around the same sentence for 500 words!
Also, following around a two year old who prefers to be naked most of the time.
OY!
Deadline for my story is July 31, so I'm hopping back on the blogger train after that.
xo
j

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:56:00 +0000

World Cup Mania!

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Sun, 09 May 2010 12:20:00 +0000

Happy Mothers Day! I had cajeta pancakes in bed!
Yum.

Cinco De Mayo

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:40:00 +0000

Not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16th.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates a battle that the Mexican army won over the French at the battle of Puebla. It's my understanding that it is not a widely celebrated holiday in Mexico, and that it is mainly in the United States where it has taken on significance.
As for me, I'll be celebrating on my aforementioned "outdoor space."
Sipping a nice summer margarita.

Summer Margarita

Makes four 6-ounce margaritas

Recipe from Season 5 Mexico - One Plate at a Time

INGREDIENTS

1/2 of an 8-ounce (6-inch-long) cucumber, peeled and cut into thin slices

3/4 cup good-quality blanco tequila (we use Milagro blanco for this margarita at our restaurant)

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1/2 cup simple syrup

Cucumber slices for garnish

DIRECTIONS

In a blender, combine the cucumber, tequila, lime and simple syrup. Blend until the mixture is as smooth as you can get it. In a cocktail shaker, combine half of the mixture with 8 to 10 ice cubes, cover and shake for a full 15 seconds. Strain through the shaker's top into 2 martini glasses.

Garnish with cucumber slices (I usually cut a slit in each slice and impale one on the side of each glass). Repeat the shaking with the remaining margarita mix.

¡Feliz cumpleaños!

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:13:00 +0000

To ME! A few weeks ago I turned another year older. I'm now the ripe old age of 32. Thirty-two, really? I have to say it was one of the best birthdays I've had. I received such thoughtful gifts this year! And on my way back in from the park with Jake I was surprised by a box waiting in the hall! I checked to see who it was for--hey, just because it's MY birthday didn't mean all the packages in the building were for me!--but it was for me! And it was from MexGrocer.com! Ooooh! Goodies!
So we rushed up the stairs--well, as much as you can rush with an almost-two-year-old who needs to examine every inch of the banister, jump up and then down every step...
I opened the box...

Dulce de Leche!
Chongos Zamoranos! I've never heard of this?
Achiote Paste! YES, I can't wait to grill fish.
Mojo Criollo! More grilling!
A TORTILLA PRESS!
Chile Negro & Pasilla Chiles!
and...
My beloved CAJETA!
To sweeten the surprise, a few days later I received a wonderful cookbook: The Mexican Gourmet, by Maria Dolores Torres Yzabal. It's a beautiful book, with gorgeous photos and a TON of information. I can't wait to get started on the recipes. I am having a hard time finding out much information about Maria, so if you know anything, please send it my way!

The weather here has turned balmy-- okay sticky--and warm. Perfect time to fire up our grill on our "outdoor space" aka, the window in the kitchen we climb out of onto the roof, and enjoy some of these goodies. Maybe this weekend we'll grill up some fish with Achiote Paste, make some Sopa Fria de Elote, and finish up with some Cajeta straight out of the jar and Coconut Flan. Don't forget the Negra Modelo!

Happy Grilling to me!

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:41:00 +0000

The boy and I have decided eating nothing but pretzels for lunch is entirely appropriate.

Something to Talk About

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:59:00 +0000

Some friends are coming over for dinner tonight, and so Jake and I had to run some errands this morning. One of my favorite things about living in Brooklyn is that I get to walk everywhere. And so this morning we walked to the butcher, the vegetable stand, the gourmet market for some spices, and sweet little bakery for dessert.

Usually, I keep to myself and try to get in and out as quickly as possible, but I realized by doing that I'm missing out on one of the biggest perks of living in a place like Brooklyn, and that is getting to know your shopkeepers. Everyone loves a little conversation, and independent stores really appreciate their customers. The cookie shop might just throw in an extra cookie for kiddo, the vegetable stand throws in the garlic free of charge, and the butcher gives you a "special" price on that slab of bacon.

So, today I mustered up some courage, and while I was at the butchers I asked William if he knew of anywhere in the neighborhood to buy cajeta. It took him a minute (my pronunciation must be seriously bad), and then his face kind of lit up. "OH, CAJETA! Are you making something? It's good to eat on crackers you know, or just out of the jar. But, no I don't know anywhere around here...maybe if you head down 5th (to Sunset Park, just as I suspected)." So, I said thank you, and I was just about to leave when, "I live in Queens, and you know, I can get cajeta just about anywhere. Tomorrow is my day off, but why don't I pick you up some, and then I can bring it to the store on Saturday."

WOW.

Really? So he said, yes no problem! I said thank you about a million times, and then I skipped out the door to finish my errands. So just imagine if I hadn't decided to open up and ask? I would've missed out on a lovely conversation, and a bottle of cajeta! It feels like I've made a huge step in the right direction. Now, when I pick up my goodies on Saturday, I can start the conversation about Tortilleria Nixtamal! I'm so happy that I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and start a conversation!

image courtesy of ork posters www.orkposters.com

Not-so-impossible Pastel Impossible

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:01:00 +0000

Well, it's been rainy and cold in New York, and for some reason that combination always makes me want to bake.It's been nearly 8 months since I first attempted Chocoflan. What a disappointment first try was! That Pastel Impossible debacle was hanging there in the back of my mind...but first I had to bake some scones (delicious, by the way, thank you smitten kitchen!), make some coconut cupcakes, and then just to procrastinate a little bit more, chocolate chip cookies. All of which turned out lovely, and gave me just enough confidence to attempt Chocoflan again. That, and that whole thing where I LOVE dessert.

The last time I made Pastel Impossible, it was a hot hot hot (and let me say that one more time) HOT day in California, and my kitchen was literally 85 degrees. The heat is what foiled me the last time, I really do believe that. As I mentioned it's been chilly here, so I sent my husband off to the store, list in hand, and pulled up my tried-and-not-so-true Rick Bayless recipe. My one tweak to the recipe was to use a bundt pan in place of the 10" cake pan, because...as it turns out, only Sur La Table carries that particular pan, and I just wasn't headed that way. Okay I lied, I also tweaked the recipe by not using Cajeta.

WHAT?!

I know, it's like it's like peanut butter without the jelly, coffee without the cream, Jay without Jake. But, turns out it's just not that easy to find around here. I even went to a few Mexican restaurants and they said they'd never heard of the stuff. Hmmm...I'm blaming that on my pronunciation. Okay, so it can be argued that I could've quite easily hopped on the F train, transferred to the R and ended up in Sunset Park, where I, again, could've quite easily found cajeta in any bodega. It was raining folks. That's all I can say about that.

So, instead I found a quick cajeta recipe, wherein you boil a can of condensed milk for an hour or so and voila! Ersatz cajeta/dulce de leche. Truly it was dulce de leche, since I used condensed cows milk, instead of goats milk. Still delicious.

In any case, I made the cake batter, whirred up the flan in the blender, carefully put the whole confection in the oven and 55 minutes later...

Had to wait until it cooled. For some reason the thing took FOREVER to cool. Finally we decided just to plate the thing. A quick Hail Mary, a flip, a jiggle and...

CHOCOFLAN!

I did it! And it was yummy. In my fear of a repeat choco-flop, I think I may have baked it a few minutes too long, as the flan was a little dense, but overall it was delicious. Our upstairs neighbors S & E, who happen to be from Spain said the flan was delicious, so maybe I'm being overly critical.

Now, it's your turn! It's a bit of an involved recipe, but definitely worth it once you flip the finished cake onto your plate. And if you are a little intimidated by the homemade cake part of the recipe, the good old Internet is rife with chocoflan recipes that call for a boxed cake mix.

Enjoy! Jake sure did!

Below is the recipe from Rick Bayless:

Impossible Cake (AKA chocoflan)

Pastel Imposible (AKA Chocoflan)

Serves 12 generously

Recipe from Season 6 of Mexico - One Plate at a Time

Revised October, 2009

INGREDIENTS

For the mold
A little softened butter and some flour
1 cup store-bought or homemade cajeta (goat milk caramel)

For the cake
5 ounces (10 tablespoons) butter, slightly softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons espresso powder dissolved in 1 1/2 tablespoons hot water
OR 3 tablespoons espresso
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cake flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (I like the more commonly available - not Dutch process - cocoa best here)
9 ounces buttermilk

For the flan
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
4 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, preferably Mexican vanilla

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare the mold. Turn on the oven to 350 degrees and position the rack in the middle. Generously butter the bottom and sides of a 10-inch round cake pan (you need one that's 3 inches deep), sprinkle with flour, tip the pan, tapping on the side of the counter several times, to evenly distribute the flour over the bottom and sides, then shake out the excess. Microwave the cajeta for 30 seconds to soften it, then pour over the bottom of the pan, tilting the pan to coat the bottom evenly. Set a kettle of water over medium-low heat. Set out a deep pan that's larger than your cake pan (a roasting pan works well) that can serve as a water bath during baking.

2. Make the cake. With an electric mixer (use the flat beater, if yours has a choice), beat the butter and sugar at medium-high speed until light in color and texture. Scrape the bowl. Beat in the egg and espresso. Sift together the all-purpose and cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa. Beat in about 1/2 of the flour mixture, at medium-low speed, followed by 1/2 of the buttermilk. Repeat. Scrape the bowl, then raise the speed to medium-high and beat for 1 minute.

3. Make the flan. In a blender, combine the two milks, the eggs and the vanilla. Blend until smooth.

4. Layer and bake. Scrape the cake batter into the prepared cake pan and spread level. Slowly, pour the flan mixture over the cake batter. (I find it easiest to pour the mixture into a small ladle, letting it run over onto the batter.) Pull out the oven rack, set the cake into the large pan, then set both pans on the rack. Pour hot water around the cake to a depth of 1 inch. Carefully slide the pans into the oven, and bake about 50 to 55 minutes, until the surface of the cake is firm to the touch, except for the very center . Remove from the water bath and cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.

5. Serve. Carefully run a thin-bladed knife around the edge of the cake/flan to free the edges. Invert a rimmed serving platter over the cake pan, grasp the two tightly together, then flip the two over. Gently jiggle the pan back and forth several times to insure that the cake/flan has dropped, then remove the pan. Scrape any remaining cajeta from the mold onto the cake.

Bienvenido a Brooklyn!

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:20:00 +0000

And we're back.

It feels so good! We traded in 75 degree weather for the fourth snowiest winter on the books, and I couldn't be happier.

The paint has dried, the furniture has arrived (FINALLY) and we've managed to visit Oaxaca. Okay, not as in Mexico, but a new taco place literally around the corner from our apartment, and Calexico (again, not the city) of the famed carts in NYC--they opened a little cafe right after we moved to California.

The restaurants--I use that term loosely as both establishments have very limited seating--are doing street food. Oaxaca is a little more traditional, while Calexico mixes it up a bit. Both are yummy delicious, but my husband will always be wooed by a good old chorizo taco, so, Oaxaca, score one for you!

Now, I'm just waiting for the thaw of Spring for the amazingly good eats that accompany the soccer fields in Red Hook.

Next I'll be traveling to Queens to Tortilleria Nixtamal--the only place in NYC to make it's own nixtamal and then grind it into fresh masa. Can't wait! Word on the street is their posole is amazing!

Oaxaca is located at 251 Smith Street www.oaxacatacos.com

Calexico Carne Asada is located at 122 Union Street www.calexicocart.com

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:44:00 +0000

The blog has been quiet...
But I do have news! We are moving back to Brooklyn! Trading 75 degrees for a wind chill of 20-- but you just can't beat living in NYC.

Review (and thoughts) on MEXICAN ENOUGH: MY LIFE BETWEEN THE BORDERLANDS by, Stephanie Elizondo Griest tomorrow.

Until then!

Reflejos de El Corazon

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:43:00 +0000

I was scrolling the through the Internet a few weeks ago devouring anything and everything on Ana Castillo, when I stumbled upon a memoir workshop she was holding at a gallery in East L.A. called ChimMaya. I was too late to sign up for the workshop, so I started scrolling through the artists. I noticed there were some new exhibitions coming up and I joined the email list.

A few days later I received a notice that Juan Solis was putting up a new exhibit. His work was intriguing so I RSVP'd and away we went.

ChimMaya is a really interesting gallery/boutique. They promote emerging Chicano artists in a really beautiful gallery, and they also have a boutique with jewelry, furniture and handcrafted items like Catrina figurines, tin work, crosses and retablos.

Juans opening was the day after our adventure at Hollywood Forevers Dia

de los Muertos Celebration, and ChimMaya still had up their exhibit of Day of the Dead artwork as well. We made our way to the North Gallery. We were blown away by Juan's work. The colors were breathtakingly vibrant and his subjects ranged from gorgeous women to vatos in bandanas with the Virgen of Guadalupe lightly painted in behind them. Obviously, I'm not very good at describing the paintings. Really they must be seen, because they did invoke a visceral response

from both my husband and myself. So much so, we ended up buying the painting you see on the right. I can't wait to hang it! Someday it will hang in my library/office (when I have one), the first in my collection of Latin American/Mexican American/Chicano art.

We got to meet Juan, and he was extremely humble, unassuming and really appreciative of our interest. I think he's really someone to watch out for!

Below is a video featuring more of his artwork.

Latino Lit

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:09:00 +0000

Lately I have been burning a hole in my library card, thanks to this great website I found: www.latinostories.com. I have lists upon lists upon lists, but these are the five books I've gotten through this week. Ch-Ch-Ch-Check 'em out!

Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea: He's a MASTER! Playful, funny, heartbreaking and eye-opening.

Across A Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande: Beautifully written, lovely characters, interesting twist at the end.

So Far From God by Ana Castillo: Female in every way. Follows a Chicana family in New Mexico.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros: A classic. Just read it.

Lengua Fresca: Latinos Writing on the Edge, edited by Harold Augenbraum and Ilan Stavans: An eclectic, eclectic, once more, eclectic collection. Fiction, essays, poetry, graphics. I really enjoyed the graphics, and the piece by Dagoberto Gilb. Cristina Henriquez and Luis Alberto Urrea are also included in this anthology.

Breast Cancer Awareness

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:44:00 +0000

(click to enlarge~look for me!)

Yesterday I joined 14,000 other women in the fight against breast cancer. A few friends and I did the Susan G. Komen race for the cure in San Diego. It was a moving experience.

Click here for a link on breast cancer statitistics for Latina women.

Dia de los Muertos

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:25:00 +0000

(click to enlarge-can you find me?)

Ah, the kiddo is having an early nap, the hubby is off to an important meeting, the dishwasher is loaded and I am FINALLY getting to post about the wonderful Dia de los Muertos celebration we went to on Saturday.

When we first moved out to California, one of the first things I looked into was finding a Day of the Dead celebration. I happened upon www.ladayofthedead.com and I was so excited because Lila Downs was the featured performer. I immediately put the date into the calendar and I began counting down the days.

October 24 finally rolled around and we loaded up the car with the kid and the camera (and stroller, and ergo baby carrier, and sippy cups...) and we headed down to Santa Monica Boulevard (sans Sheryl Crow song). Traffic was horrible, what else is new, but we were armed with parking garage information. The line at the front of Hollywood Forever was LONG, but fortunately our parking garage was around the corner, and coincidentally next to a sneaky side entrance! Okay, not that sneaky, but FYI if you plan to go next year, enter on the Gower street entrance--the line was non-existent, whereas the line on Santa Monica was running upwards of an HOUR. Okay, enough with the PSA.

We arrived right around 4 pm, when the festivities began, and were greeted by the Xocoyote, which is a ceremonial Aztec blessing. The headdresses were unbelievable, and the drums just spoke to your core. My son did not stop dancing the entire time were were there!!

Lots of people dressed up, there were face painting booths, artisans selling their wares, sugar skulls, tons of dancing, art exhibits, yummy yummy food (my husband went a little overboard and happily arrived to our blanket bearing tacos, tamales, corn, horchata, beer and churros), and of course, the altars. There were hundreds of altars. They ranged from the traditional, to contemporary art exhibits, to political statements. You can see a few from my photo collage above. We were happily surprised that our little boy was not frightened by any of the people in costume--he joyously waved to anyone that passed by.

We were able to keep our little guy entertained until about 7pm, and then we had to high-tail it home. As we were leaving hundreds and hundreds of people were just arriving, so I think we timed it out pretty well. Lila Downs did not go on until 9:15 pm, so sadly, I did not get a chance to see her perform. There are plenty of clips on youtube, of course.

The whole experience was one of sensory overload: cloying scent of incense from the altars mingling with the sharp smell of grilling meat for tacos-the vivid colors of the marigolds and paper mache skulls juxtaposed with the stark painted-on skulls of passers-by. People (or ghosts!) drifting by in costume, solemn stares, children dancing, ATM machines blipping, flashes from cameras, and always drumming drumming drumming surrounds you.

For more information on the traditions of Day of the Dead, click here and here.

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Going to Dia de Los muertos celebration tonight at Hollywood Forever cemetery! Will post pics this week!
www.ladayofthedead.com

Mexican Home Cooking School

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:38:00 +0000

I got an email from my step-mom yesterday with the subject heading "Future Vacation?" In the email she included a link to the Frommers blog; I clicked the link and, WOW! A cooking school in Mexico for $150 a day! Amazing!

The school is called, appropriately enough, Mexican Home Cooking School, and it does sound like the perfect vacation--well, if you're idea of a vacation is taking a few hours of cooking classes a day. Which luckily for me, mine is!

The school and accommodations look beautiful, and the city of Tlaxcala seems charming and photogenic.

So, I'm filing away this little gem for a future getaway.

I wonder if they allow toddlers?

Ha.

You can find information for Mexican Home Cooking School at:

www.mexicanhomecooking.com

Music, Recipes!

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:30:00 +0000

Email me, or leave a comment with your favorite Latin bands, singers, recipes!

Columbus Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jade) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:43:00 +0000

Today is Columbus Day. When I was a kid, it was just another day off from school--YAY! I didn't give that much thought to the man who in 1492 sailed the ocean blue.

As I got older,and took a few more history classes, I realized that there were a lot of consequences to his arrival in the "New World."

Now, I'm not going to say I'm any sort of expert or scholar on the subject. But I do think it's important to consider the impact he made on the Americas.

What is your opinion?

History.com has a great article:

Columbus Controversy

As the classroom rhyme goes, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and discovered America. But there is more to the story of the explorer we celebrate with a federal holiday on the second Monday of every October.

As historians have continued to learn and write more about the real life of Christopher Columbus, controversy has arisen over the validity of honoring the explorer as a hero. Like many European explorers, Columbus encountered many indigenous people throughout his voyages. Singularly focused on his mission to find riches and conquer new lands, Columbus and his teams treated the indigenous groups they came across as obstacles to their greater mission. There are three main sources of controversy involving Columbus's interactions with the indigenous people he labeled "Indians": the use of violence and slavery, the forced conversion of native peoples to Christianity, and the introduction of a host of new diseases that would have dramatic long-term effects on native people in the Americas. Historians have uncovered extensive evidence of the damage wreaked by Columbus and his teams, leading to an outcry over emphasis placed upon studying and celebrating him in schools and public celebrations.

In an era in which the international slave trade was starting to grow, Columbus and his men enslaved many native inhabitants of the West Indies and subjected them to extreme violence and brutality. On his famous first voyage in 1492, Columbus landed on an unknown Caribbean island after an arduous three-month journey. On his first day in the New World, he ordered six of the natives to be seized, writing in his journal that he believed they would be good servants. Throughout his years in the New World, Columbus enacted policies of forced labor in which natives were put to work for the sake of profits. Later, Columbus sent thousands of peaceful Taino "Indians" from the island of Hispaniola to Spain to be sold. Many died en route. Those left behind were forced to search for gold in mines and on plantations. Within 60 years after Columbus landed, only a few hundred of what may have been 250,000 Taino were left on their island.

As governor and viceroy of the Indies, Columbus imposed iron discipline on what is now the Caribbean country of Dominican Republic, according to documents discovered by Spanish historians in 2005. In response to native unrest and revolt, Columbus ordered the a brutal crackdown in which many natives were killed; in an attempt to deter further rebellion, Columbus ordered their dismembered bodies to be paraded through the streets.

In addition to the controversy over enslavement and violent rule, the "Age of Exploration" Columbus led had the additional consequence of bringing new diseases to the New World which would, over time, devastate the native populations of many New World islands and communities. In the broader sense, historians have used the phrase "Columbian exchange" to describe the exchange of plants, animals and goods between the East and West that his voyages sparked. Though the effects were widespread and cannot all be dismissed as negative, critics of Columbus have asserted that the worst aspects of this exchange added up to biological warfare.

Eventually, his methods and actions caught up with Columbus. A number of settlers lobbied against him at the Spanish court, accusing Columbus of mismanagement. In 1500, the king and queen sent in a royal administrator, who detained Columbus and his brothers and had them shipped home.

Although Columbus regained his freedom and made a fourth and final voyage to the New World, he had lost his governorship and much of his prestige.

This historical record has cast Columbus into the shadow of enormous consequence. Protests at Columbus Day parades, efforts to eliminate him from classroom curricula, and calls for changing the federal holiday have all followed. Whatever your views of the "Columbus controversy," this holiday continues to be an important way for all Americans to learn more about the Age of Exploration and the enormous transformations it provoked.