Viva la Fiesta!

In France life may be a cabaret, but here in Mexico life is one big fiesta.   

Yes, in Mexico there is always something to celebrate.  Since I started attending language school in Queretaro I have learned that these crazy mexicanos have a few things to teach us gringos about enjoying life.   

While we are breaking our necks chasing after our next dollar, they are just as likely to take a couple of hours off in the afternoon for a quiet siesta.

Today is Día de la Madre, or Mother’s Day, and it is clearly not to be taken lightly.  Here in my Mexican home, music started blaring at 6:30AM this morning.  In the next bedroom over, the senora’s family-in-residence commenced wailing a wake-up serenade, while a traditional feliz-día-del-la-madre version crooned on in the background, replete with full orchestra con horn section.  Joyful voices escalated amidst considerable kissing, hugging, and shouting, all in concert with the looped version. 

 

At a recent Cupleaños (birthday) celebration I became the brunt of good-natured jesting as I blindly whirled while waving a flimsy stick in search of a candy-packed taco piñata.

Earlier that day, my morning desayuno started out with a traditional plate of fresh fruit ― firmly anchored by a slice of ribbon-festooned cake.  

Later, at pre-piñata festivities, adorable individual gelatin forms were set out in lieu of our traditional frosting-inflicted birthday cake.  

  

Back at the hacienda much later, there was of course ―more cake. 

I am certain that right now all over Mexico, mamas are surrounded by throngs of their loved ones.  Plenty of good food is spread out and music is playing.   Without a doubt, there will be much singing and dancing before the night is over.  

Plazas Past and Present

Templo de la Santa Cruz

Plazas are everywhere in El Centro Querétaro and each one seems to take on a unique personality, based on its own inherent characteristics.  Typically though, these gathering places are picturesque backdrops for an historic monument or a significant building.
 

One of my favorite plazas is distinctly Querétano.  Nestled in the sloping El Centro district, the plaza del Templo y Convento de la Santa Cruz contains several monuments including a statue of Fra. Junipero Serra.  Just on the other side of these gentle foothills looms the city’s historic aqueduct, which linked essential water to the enclave in the early days.

The plaza is one of the oldest and most treasured in the city, since Querétaro was originally founded on this site in 1531.  Surrounded by so much history, is easy to get transported back in time and caught up in past events. The original church is still impressively beautiful, but in its day this was a seriously intimidating structure. 
  

Peeking through arched porticoes, we get haunting glimpses of the past as the desolate interior walls continue to reverberate and whisper of the lives of those who lived here long before us. 
There’s a museum located in the old convent now, but some of the grounds are in ill-repair and unavailable to the public.

During the day, the plaza is abuzz with activity.  Buses swarm past, regularly depositing loads of commuters into the fray.  Locals make their regular pilgrimage to church while spates of vendors hawk their wares in colorful stalls. 
 
Amongst the purple jacarandas and the plaza’s famous thorn trees, the air takes on the aromas of tortillas toasting, corn roasting, and other mouth watering treats that appeal to the locals, passing shoppers, and to tourists. 

 
You don’t have to be a hopeless romantic to fall in love with this plaza. 

Sunday Tostadas al Gusto

Tostada al Gusto

This evening I learned the art of the simple Sunday tostada cena (dinner) from my host señora, Licha. The intent is pretty much the same as the taco/tostada dinner that I have been preparing at home for years.  It’s an informal way for everyone to help themselves and still achieve a good dose of vegetables while enjoying a selection of hardier meats and/or cheeses.  Essentially, you just peek in the refrigerator and see what’s available and go from there.

 

The crowning jewel on this night was Licha’s spectacular Chorizo Salsa.  As usual there are no exact measurements, and the limited number of ingredients is cooked quickly together.  Begin by sautéing seeded and chopped Serrano peppers in a bit of oil to soften, then add one or two chopped tomatoes, and continue until a loose salsa forms.  To this, add one or two Spanish chorizo sausages with meat removed from casings and chopped.  Cook the sauce briefly to combine flavors; season to taste with salt, and serve warm.  That’s it.

Leticia with Chorizo Salsa

Here in Querétaro, they usually don’t bother to cook up a mess of tostadas (corn tortillas).  Instead of frying an endless quantity over a hot pan, they opt for a stack of the pre-cooked packaged ones.   In Licha’s world everything has an order.  Accordingly, we begin by spreading refried beans onto the tostada and top it with a good layer of Chorizo salsa, and then a thin slice of smoked ham; add a layer of crisp shredded lettuce, a bit of chopped tomato, and finish with a few dabs of sour cream. 

 

On round two, I substituted a healthy schmear of herbed goat cheese for the beans―which I actually preferred.  The goat cheese and Chorizo salsa were a superb combination.  We also had a variety of hot sauces on the table for everyone to add as they wished.  There was Valentine’s sauce, a robust chipotle flavored hot sauce which seems to be everywhere here; and my personal favorite, the old standby chipotles in adobo sauce. ¡Salud!