New Year's Eve 2007-8

On New Year's Eve, we had a dinner party for ten. Dinner guests were our friends Clint and Karen, Max and Alice, and four friends of Max and Alice (Michael & Lisa, Michael & Betty). Linda's student and friend Laura, a young Mexican woman who is in cooking school, was the chef.

Laura is both a chef and an artist. Her artwork adorned the menu (see above). Sounds yummy, doesn't it? Laura shopped and cooked most of the afternoon to have the meal ready for us. Linda, of course, set a gorgeous table, not to mention how gorgeous she looked!

We started with hors d'oeuvres, wine and lots of good conversation. After an hour or so, we moved onto the main course. Linda and Laura did a wonderful job plating the entrees, which looked even more appetizing on our Mexican dishes.

After dinner, we moved to the roof, to see (and hear) the midnight fireworks. Mexicans adore fireworks (fuegos artificiales), and almost any minor holiday is an excuse for major fireworks. From our roof, we had a beautiful view of the Parochia (main church in the Jardin, the town square) and the fireworks.

Feliz Ano Nuevo - Happy New Year

(*Don't forget to read the back of the postcard!)

Dear Friends and Family,

As we near yearend, it is a time for contemplation. Life is a rollercoaster, filled with both good and bad times, and we certainly have had our share of both this year. But overall, we have to remind ourselves how fortunate we are.

We spent a considerable amount of time this past year in San Miguel de Allende, our home away from home. Rereading our San Miguel News is reliving a year filled with new friendships, house renovations, art and photography, friends and family from Michigan coming to visit, lots of good food, music, lectures, concerts, markets, cooking classes and more.... We were lucky to have our car this year to begin exploring other parts of Mexico. We traveled to Patzcuaro, Morelia and Uruapan, for a giant art and craft fair during Holy Week, to Mexico City, to Tlaquepaque and to Puerto Vallarta, not to mention lots of day trips to nearby towns and villages.

Driving back to Michigan from Mexico, we drove through Savannah, where Linda taught a workshop at the Ford Plantation. In May, she spent the month in China, participating in the first Inernational Print Exhibition, creating art at the Jingzdezhen Ceramic Institute, eating exotic foods, visiting museums and art sites in China (while Carlos kept things going back home) and also had exhibitions in San Miguel, the Joyce Goldstein Gallery in Chatham, NY and the Water Street Gallery in Sagatuck, MI. It was a very art-filled year for her!

Carlos started a new business, brokering mortgages in Mexico (www.vacation-finance.com), and is meeting with some success. The housing market in Mexico is tough right now, due to overbuilding and fallout from the US market. He is active with Shalom SMA, the Jewish group here, and continues to lead services and take a leadership role in its organization. He also bought a new motorcycle - a bright yellow Honda (see previous blogs) - and he loves to ride around town and explore the countryside around San Miguel. People shout “Superman” when he rides by - amazing how many people know him! (In Spanish, Soberman comes out as Superman, more or less).

Our children are well, employed and making their lives interesting and unique. Lisa has a new job as the interim director of the ZOA, and her husband Mendy has a successful career in information technology. Our precious granddaughter Lilah continues to amaze us with her adorable personality, dance techniques and good disposition. Of course, she is beautiful and brilliant (are we not proud?) Did you notice her on our vintage 1936 New Year's card? Tracey is living in Boulder and has a promising new job at a PR agency. David also has a new job working for a research firm (www.guidepointglobal.com) and has a terrific serious girlfriend, Jen Seader, whom we just adore. 

I echo the words of my friend, Judy, who wrote," As one year is drawing to a close and another about to begin, we are thinking of all of you...the friendships we treasure, but too often might seem taken for granted. Well, it isn't! Think of all the wonderful connections we have in our lives as we ring in 2008".

Feliz Ano Nuevo and best wishes for a wonderful 2008.

                     Linda &

Linda's Jewelry Show & my Moto Trip

Today, Linda displayed and sold her bakelite jewelry at a craft show at the Instituto Allende, a well known art school. She had a good day, and was able to get some great exposure and sell quite a few pieces. Maybe that's why she looks happy.

She shared a table with her good friend Alice Neufeld (the other bonita mujer [pretty woman]) in the photo. Alice also had a successful day at the show! We will all celebrate with a dinner out a Bella Italia tonight (maybe the ladies will buy!).

While Linda and Alice were selling, I was exploring on my motorcycle. I followed a dirt road past the train station and ended up at the shore of the presa (reservoir). Note the mountains in the distance....Although it looks like a lovely lake, it is a man made lake with water unfit for man or beast. The water is primarily used for irrigation. Although filthy, some of the locals swim, boat and fish in it! We keep hoping, and the city promises, that one day the reservoir will be cleaned up and will become a community asset. Large homes lie nearby the lake, including a virtual castle, supposedly built by a rich Mexico City lawyer (grist for another blog).

I saw a boat at the lakeshore with two people in it. Getting closer, I saw a father and son. The man was unloading cut up tree sections from the boat. I asked him what he was going to do with them, and he said "burn them in his fireplace." In other words, he took out the boat, crossed the lake, dragged three tree sections (perhaps 75 lb. each) for firewood. Probably took him an hour!

I left the lake and drove down a long stone road. It was surrounded mostly by farmland. However, there were occasional large homes, and, in the distance, an amazing hacienda. Unfortunately, the small camera I had with me couldn't do justice to the hacienda on the distant hill. I'll try again some day.

A Mexican Cooking Class at our Casa

Last Sunday we met our friends Alice and Wendy for brunch at a wonderful restaurant, housed in an old hacienda near the Parque Juarez. The setting was lovely and the food was delicious. All of us love to cook, so on impulse, we introduced ourselves to Maria Rodriquez, the cook, and asked if she would be willing to teach us some of her traditional Mexican dishes. To our delight, she accepted our offer!

On Wednesday, eight of us gathered in my cocina (kitchen) to learn authentic dishes from a real Mexican cook. Our biggest obstacle was not our unwillingness but our inability to speak Spanish. She spoke no English, but luckily, body language and gesture were great communicators! We watched, observed, took notes, (and drank wine at the same time) and within two hours, we were enjoying tastings of delicious dishes, using ingredient that many of us had never used.

I thought it would be fun to share the recipes with you, since most of the ingredients are available everywhere. Now you can create the tastes and smells of Maria’s cuisine in your own kitchen!

Maria’s Recipes
December, 2007

Chile Pasilla Salsa
1. In medium-hot dry pan, toast 5 chile pasillas. After softened, remove veins and seeds and crumble. Add water (enough to cover chiles), let sit for a few minutes and then strain, reserving water.
2. In same pan roast 6 tomatillos until skins are slightly charred.
3. Pulverize one garlic clove in molcajete, a three-legged lava stone bowl with a tear-shaped lava stone used for crushing herbs, chiles, etc – a Mexican mortar and pestle. You can always use a Cuisinart, but somehow it’s not as authentic! Add chiles and mash, pushing in a circular motion. Add generous tsp. of salt and grind, grind, grind! Add a little of reserved water and keep mashing. Add tomatillos, which are now cooked and soft, and mash into the chilies one at a time.
To use: Add water, garlic, onion to chile pasilla. Saute chicken breast or shrimp in oil and simmer in the salsa.

Chiles de Almor
1. In dry, medium- hot pan toast 6-7 ancho chiles. (Fresh are called cascabel).
2. Add 5-6 tomatillos to the pan and toast.
3. Devein and crumble chiles and soak in water for 1 minute.
4. Add chiles (save the water) and garlic clove to blender.
5. Add 1 cup of reserved water, roasted tomatillos and 2 tsp. of salt.
6. In frying pan, sauté 2 Tb. onion, add 4 eggs, whisked, and scramble. Add a dash of salt to egg mixture.
7. To the cooked eggs, add the chile salsa and cooked pinto beans, flor de mayo. (They are cooked in water to cover, with a little garlic, for 45 minutes or until tender). Add a handful of chopped cilantro. You may need to add 1/3+ cup water to the sauce. To correct seasonings, test on the side of your hand.
Serve with finely chopped onion and cilantro.

Nopales/Cactus
Slice the cleaned paddles into strips. Add to small saucepan and boil for a few minutes and drain. Add cilantro, garlic and green onion. or make a tinfoil packet of strips of cactus (soak in water briefly), cilantro, onion, garlic, and salt. Seal and let steam in dry frying pan with the tomatillos.

Champignones (mushrooms) a la Mexicana Maria
1.Chop handful of mushrooms, onion to taste and 2 garlic cloves.
2. Saute onions and garlic in little oil. Add mushrooms, 4 leaves of epizote, 1 tsp of salt, and 2 chopped tomatoes. Cook until soft.

Rajas y Salsa de Jitomates
(Chiles in Tomato Salsa)
1. Roast 5-6 poblano (fresh, dark green, mild) chiles directly over a flame, turning until skin is blacken on all sides. Put in paper or plastic bag to help steam off skins. Let cool and peel off skins under running water. Seed and pull off veins. Cut into thin strips.
2. Saute 1/2 onion and 2 cloves of garlic in a little oil. Add 2-3 chopped tomatoes. Add chiles. Cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Saute chicken, meat, vegetables or shrimp and simmer in the sauce.

Holiday Poem

Twas La Noche before Christmas

Twas La Noche before Christmas and all through LA CASA,
Not a creature was stirring, only the "MASA".


Mamá making tamales con mucho CUIDADO
In hopes old Santa would feel OBLIGADO

To bring all the niños, both BUENOS Y MALOS
A nice batch of DULCES and other REGALOS.

Mis hermanos and I went to sleep in our CAMAS
Some in CALSONES, some in PIYAMAS,
Cuando out in the yard I heard such a GRITO
That I jumped to my feet like a frightened CABRITO.

And who in the world do you think ¿QUIÉN ERA?
Santa Claus, in a sleigh with a big OL' PULSERA
Came dashing along a little "HELADO"
And pulling his sleigh, were all his VENADOS.

I watched as they came, and this little fat HOMBRE
Was shouting and whistling, and calling by NOMBRE
"¡AY PEPE, AY JESSE, AY CUCA, AY BETO,
"AY PANCHO, AY CHATO, VICKA, Y NETO!"

Then standing straight up, with his hands on his PECHO
He flew to the top of our very own TECHO.
With his round little belly like a bowl of JALEA,
He struggled to squeeze down our old CHIMENEA.


Then huffing and puffing, and a little CANSADO
He picked up a bag that looked so PESADO
He filled all the stockings with lovely REGALOS
For none of the niños had been very MALOS.


Then chuckling aloud, seeming very CONTENTO
He turned like a flash and was gone like the VIENTO.
And I heard him exclaim and this is VERDAD,
"¡MERRY CHRISTMAS A TODOS... FELIZ NAVIDAD!"