Forums > Specific Focus > Mexican Kitchen

jennifer rose

Apr 10, 2008, 7:56 PM

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How do you really cook?

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Many folks, during the first few years living in Mexico, go hog-wild over cooking Mexican food, boasting how their diets have improved with rations of fresh produce and pan dulce, and, somewhat ironically, spending the rest of their time on a mad quest for ingredients not commonly available in these parts. Never mind that buckwheat, organic cornmeal and kafir leaves really weren't that large a component of their former lives, ingredients like those suddenly take on magical powers. And then, after a few years or even less, some of us decide that it's enough just to know what goes into making a proper enchilada, and that it's easier to leave the enchilada-making to the pros. And then when we look at our larders filled with enough jars of gumbo file to stock a Cajun grocery, we decide that we weren't really that wild about making gumbo either.

So, how do those of you who've settled in really cook?

Rolly

Apr 11, 2008, 5:50 AM

Post #2 of 7 (2244 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] How do you really cook?

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Fish, rajas, and many kinds of soup

Rolly Pirate

Anonimo

Apr 11, 2008, 6:25 AM

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Re: [jennifer rose] How do you really cook?

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I cook very little Mexican food, although it influences our diet.
What I do cook is a lot of American (especially Southern); Italian, Spanish and semi-Asian cuisine. I too leave the enchiladas, birria, carnnitas and gorditas to the local specialists.

My most recent culinary project was making home-cured corned beef, sour rye bread, and Kosher-style dill pickles.

Buen provecho,
Anonimo

esperanza

Apr 11, 2008, 6:49 AM

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Re: [jennifer rose] How do you really cook?

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I prepare comida every day. Sometimes it's something Mexican, sometimes it's something Chinese, sometimes it's an invention of my own. I think my partner and I eat extremely well (maybe she'll vouch for me). We buy all of our produce and much of our meat at our local tianguis. I can't remember the last time I opened a can of anything--well, except olives. We buy staples (flour, sugar, etc) at one of two supermarkets and paper products at Costco.

I haven't changed any of my kitchen habits during my long life in Mexico.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

drmike

Apr 11, 2008, 9:45 AM

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Re: [esperanza] How do you really cook?

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We tend to use a lot of flour tortillas, stuffing them with everything from beans and rice to beans, rice and pollo or carne with lots of onions, peppers, cilantro, queso, tomates. It's easy to prepare, easy to clean up and as healthy as we want it to be. Sometimes we make rice, beans and stewed tomatoes. Again easy and healthy.
Dr. Mike

http://www.smarthealthchoices.blogspot.com

There are hundreds of paths up the mountain,
all leading in the same direction,
so it doesn't matter which path you take.
The only one wasting time is the one
who runs around and around the mountain,
telling everyone that his or her path is wrong.

Hindu teaching

judithnpups

Apr 12, 2008, 8:05 AM

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Re: [esperanza] How do you really cook?

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Yes! Yes! I´ll vouch for Esperanza! I´ve never eaten so well in my life. Fresh food made from fresh ingredients. Never anything from a can or box. No preservatives or artificial anything. Everything made from scratch. Something different everyday! I am soooo spoiled. And shopping for meat, fish, shrimp and produce at the tianguis is much cheaper, and the ingredients are much fresher, than anything from the grocery stores.
Judith in the DF (formerly in Morelia)

Anonimo

Apr 13, 2008, 7:26 AM

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Re: [judithnpups] How do you really cook?

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I'm all for fresh food, and few, if any, pepared "convenience" items. However, I've found the Kirkland brand frozen Raviolis de Tres Quesos, bought at Costco, to be excellent for a light, quick meal.

I also prefer Cirio Tomatoe Passata and Progresso Crushed Tomatoes for preparing sauces for pizza and pasta (or whatever) than the usually pallid, nearly tasteless Mexican jitomates available in Pátzcuaro.

Saludos,
Anonimo