Start with a Tortilla…
Tortillas. Here in the village of Mascota the tortillas were made by hand. Our guide told us a sad story about how poor his family was; the only thing they […]
Category Archives: Ingredients
Chocolate, a Gift From the God Quetzalcóatl of Mexico
A legend (leyenda) from Mesoamerica tells us that Quetzalcóatl, the plumed serpent, stole chocolate from the gods and gave it to the people of the earth. Chocolate originated in Mesoamerica, and you […]
T is for Tomato (or Tomate)
When you look at how many world cuisines that celebrate the tomato it’s hard to believe there was a time when tomatoes only existed in Meso-America. The name tomato comes […]
Saffron, the Yellow-Orange Spice
Saffron is one of the world’s most expensive spices. An old botanical illustration of the saffron crocus. On the left side of the drawing are the reddish stamens which are […]
Squash, a Species of Plant that Originated in the Americas
In Mesoamerica the indigenous peoples planted squashes together with corn and beans in a milpa, a kitchen garden where each crop complimented the others. Squashes for sale at local vegetable […]
A Photo a Week Challenge: Chocolate
Some of my most memorable experiences while travelling have involved chocolate. The spot of honour in any post about chocolate would have to go to Mexico, the country where chocolate originated. […]
Tomatillos (& the Best Salsa Verde in the World!)
Tomatillos, known as tomates in México, are one of the primary ingredients in salsa verde. I love this salsa on simple quesadillas, the Mexican version of a grilled cheese sandwich. Enchiladas […]
Feel the Burn – Cooking with Chiles
A few picante chiles for you! The spiciest chile is the habanero. Think spicy peach. Very spicy peach. These spicy chiles are popular in the Caribbean and the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico. Roasted habaneros were […]
Travel Theme: Tropical Fruit Tasting in a Mekong Delta Orchard
On our tour of the Mekong Delta we spent some time going through an orchard full of amazing fruits. At the end of our wander they brought out jackfruit, longan, […]
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Mexican Limes
At times you can buy limes that are labeled ‘Mexican limes’, or just ‘limes’ but listed as coming from ‘Mexico’. These Mexican limes are smaller and sweeter with an unique fragrance. The word for […]
Albatz Travel Adventures 