Pollo Empapelado Chicken in Parchment © Karen Hursh Graber, 2015

Grow Your Own Salsa: A Mexican Windowsill Garden and More

Throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere, spring means warmer weather and, for many, the gardening bug is biting. In Mexico, we have lived in everything from a small apartment with a diminutive balcony, to a large house with a sizeable yard, and have grown some basic kitchen ingredients in each of them. Now that we […]

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Beans, a staple in the Mexican kitchen: Frijoles

Since pre-Hispanic tmes, beans have been a staple in the Mexican kitchen. They appear in a world of traditional recipes, from frijoles refritos or refried beans to frijoles charros (cowbooy beans) and many many more. Ingredients 1 kilo (2.2 lbs) black or pinto beans 1 harge onion 1 head of garlic, whole, unpeeled 5 tablespoons of salt or to […]

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Roast pork with ancho chile, honey and cilantro sauce: Puerco al horno con salsa de chile ancho, miel y cilantro

If you don’t have the time or inclination to roast the pork, or you cook for only one or two people, try the sauce with pan fried or grilled pork chops. The coriander has a much livelier taste if you grind the seeds yourself in a spice grinder rather than buying it ground. If you […]

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Calabaza con Rajas: Pumpkin with Roasted Poblano Chiles

Nothing says autumn like pumpkins, and this dish, with the smoky flavor of roasted poblano chiles, captures the colors of turning leaves. Serve it, along with rice and salad, as a vegetarian main dish, or a side dish with grilled or roasted meat or poultry. Ingredients: 3 pounds West Indian pumpkin (calabaza) or butternut squash […]

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Cream of Cilantro Soup: Crema de Cilantro

1 pound calabaza (pattypan or zucchini) stems removed, cubed 1 large potato, peeled and cubed 8 cups chicken stock 2 large leeks, chopped, including 1 inch green (Substitute 3-4 large spring onions or a mix of onions and leeks) 6 cloves garlic, chopped 2 chiles serrano, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped ¼ cup butter 2 cups cilantro, rinsed, finely […]

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