Plantain Chips with Mango Salsa and Roasted Garlic Guacamole

In Spanish they’re called the “plátano macho.” In English: plantain.  The literal translation from Spanish to English is pretty spot on: macho banana. A big, manly banana with bravado. The King Kong of the starchy, golden fruits.  They’re also macho intimidating.  As big, starchy, and cumbersome as they are, I’ve really never done anything with…

Grilled Corn with Creamy Coconut Sauce

Her stand is smack dab between the lady selling  “gorditas de nata”  (small sweet puffy pancakes) and the guy who hawks all the pirated European house music cds. My elote (corn) lady sets up at Parque Revolución everyday at 5:30pm and doesn’t leave until 11:00 or until the rains chase her away.  Her daughter is always there…

Agua de Chia

    Watch out…here it comes…Blanket Beverage Statement: Mexicans have got non-alcoholic refreshing summer beverages down better than anyone else in the world!!!   Take the U.S. for example: we have our numerous teas, smoothies, milkshakes, icees, and soft drinks, sure.  And at home we are masters at concocting frilly fruity delights, but when it comes…

Baked Sweet Potato Fries Two Ways

I nearly got on my knees and wept.  Perched there on the grocery store shelf amidst all the other vegetables, they beckoned me from across the produce section.  They were so beautiful and vibrant!  I think I actually galloped over to them… I hadn’t seen sweet potatoes since arriving in Guadalajara 4 months ago, and…

Grilled Guacamole

Unfortunately, there were no picnics, sparklers, or blueberry and strawberry flag cake this past Wednesday to commemorate the 4th of July in Mexico.  The day passed like any other, however I did delight(or so I thought) my students with stories of Independence Days past while dreaming of roasted corn and beach volleyball.  So, when my…

Strawberry-Pineapple Chia Jam

  Strawberries and Pineapples.  What a marvelous combination: sweet, a little tangy at times, and terribly satisfying.  My cravings for sweet are boundless, so I need to keep healthy and homemade options around at all times.  This recipe is so simple and quick, plus using chia eliminates any need for thickeners or pectin.  And of…

Lime-Mint Cooler

I hear it’s hotter back in Wisconsin and Chicago than it is here in Guadalajara right now.  Woof!!! I imagine sitting at a Brewer’s game, eagerly slurping down a pricey Miller Lite before it turns to the likes of warm bathwater.  Not to mention, hastily slopping on yet another layer of SPF 70 to avoid…