Huazontle is a Mexican native plant, sometimes called "Aztec spinach," that resembles elongated broccoli. It is inexpensive, grows easily from seed, and is a low maintenance-high yield plant. It is easy to see why it has been an important vegetable in Mexico for so long, and the highlight of many meatless meals. Huazontle is high in fiber and protein, as well as some vitamins and minerals. read more

For some, illegal immigration is a simple equation, what you risk for what you get.

Luis Alberto Martinez Gomez became an illegal four years ago. He was 16.

The family concluded Luis might be better off in the United States. There was an uncle who once made a promise to help the nephew if ever needed. He came through with cash for a border coyote.

Going north sounded so simple.

It wasn't.

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Seventeen-year-old Caleana's parents go to Mexico to camp out in the jungle near the Palenque ruins, but in the jungle mist the pilot of their small plane loses control and crashes. The father — a gifted archaeologist — is killed and possibly the mother, although because the mother's body had not been found, no one is sure.
Uncle Aiden, Aunt Bette, Caleana and her brother fly back to identify the body of their father, and while there Aunt Bette takes the children to the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. Aunt Bette places in Caleana's hand "a beautiful amulet of green jade and crystals around a circle. In the middle of the circle was an ancient Mayan woman with a serpent on her head, and jaguar ears and claws." It had been found at the crash site and it was believed to be Caleana's mother's. read more

Some years ago, I was invited to attend the annual peyote fiesta at Las Guayabas in the Huichol Sierra. The Peyote Fiesta takes place around the end of May or the beginning of June, the usual start of the rainy season in north-western Mexico. A lot of things depend on when the chief marakame (shaman-priest) dreams it is the auspicious moment for any action. read more

What could be more beautiful than tall ships with sails billowing in the wind as they surge across the ocean? These wonderful sailing ships carry a sense of history and adventure. In June of 2010, many elegant vessels come together in a regatta that will culminate in the port of Veracruz, Mexico from June 23rd through the 28th — a great opportunity to see them in action. read more

"Mexico admits you through an arched stone orifice into the tree-filled courtyard of its heart, where a dog pisses against a wall and a waiter hustles through a curtain of jasmine to bring a bowl of tortilla soup, steaming with cilantro and lime...."

Barbara Kingsolver seduces us once again into a tale well told, a tale of passion and intrigue, of politics and despair, of conspiracy and love. Much of her latest novel, The Lacuna, is set in Mexico, during the still turbulent decades that followed the Mexican Revolution. read more

Originally from the tropical coastal state of Tabasco, where a chilled dish is always welcome, this soup is a perfect first course for a light summer meal, such as grilled chicken or fish. Try adding a tablespoon of sherry for a delicious, unusual twist. read more

This cream of avocado soup uses tequila in place of the traditional sherry. It is a refreshing first course or, served with a salad, a light spring or summer lunch. The ingredients should be well-chilled before the soup is blended. read more

Mexico is a country where soup is an integral part of the comida — the main meal of the day — and many people feel that this meal is not complete without it. When the weather is hot, cold soup makes a wonderfully refreshing first course or light supper. There is also something elegant about cold soup, perhaps because one of the first ones that come to mind is vichyssoise, the French favorite served in Chapultepec Castle by with the ill-fated Maximilian and Carlotta. read more

This is a great hot weather choice, since it calls for no cooking at all. Serve it with bolillos or crusty French bread. Ingredients ½ cup water, or more as necessary 1 ½ pounds ripe tom... read more

This recipe is adapted from one at the Mayan Beach Garden on the Costa Maya. Avocados should not be cut in advance of using, since they oxidize quickly, turning their beautiful yellow-green color into ... read more

Homemade shrimp stock is ideal, but an acceptable substitute is shrimp bouillon, sold in Mexico as caldo de camarón, made by Knorr. For those living outside Mexico, it is available to order on the Int... read more

Use the best quality goat cheese you can find, and a tart, green apple. "Manzana granny smith" is popular and easy to find. Most of the Mexican apples sold in markets are grown in Chihuahua, but here i... read more

Tomatoes and watermelon are an unexpected combination here, and one that does not require you to go anywhere near the stove. A sprig of fresh mint (hierba buena) is a nice garnish. Ingredients ... read more

Gas is an important element in homes here in Mexico — propane gas. We use it to cook our food, heat our water, occasionally to heat our homes and dry our clothes. Now remember that this is not natur... read more

Walnuts, used famously in the classic chiles en nogada, are grown in central Mexico. This soup is reminiscent of the nogada sauce and looks nice garnished with a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley and... read more

All the world has been told that tequila, the drink was born in Tequila — the town located 45 kilometers northwest of Guadalajara — but is this really a fact? Curiously, the famed Tequila Express t... read more

If man's best friend is really a dog, Nick Lampiris is richly blessed. He has 37. Nick lives in Mexico, at the end of a mile-long dirt road, on ejido land, in the high country above Lake Chapala, in the colorful state of Jalisco. From his back door, he can see Mount Garcia and the lake, all the way to Scorpion Island. To the front is Mount Viejo. read more

When it's winter up north, the skimboarding season is in full stride along the Pacific Coast beaches of Mexico. This is when the best talent goes head-to-head to determine ultimately who will make it t... read more

David Santos Alonso massaged the clay flower pot as stinging smoke skulked from the wooden cooking area. Inside the kitchen, his wife Maria Lydia prepared tortillas on a comal over a brick fogon next t... read more

I've read a lot of novels in the first ten years of this new century, and I must say that Sweet Spot is one of the three or four I like the best.
The story is set during seven spectacular days of Carnival in Mazatlán, the second largest Carnival in the world. A lot happens during those seven days, including scandal, murder, amoral politics, drug lords searching for our protagonist "Mundo," and bed time with a desirable young revolutionary, the amoral Mijares.
Sweet Spot is incredible. Linton Robinson should be catapulted to the top of the pile of contemporary authors. Why didn't this novel win the National Book Award or the Pulitzer Prize? read more