lunes, 19 de diciembre de 2011

the hippiest thing I have ever written

Around ten years ago, my sister, my brother and I started the tradition of cooking the same dishes for christmas. Some of the things we prepared were based on typical northern Mexican kitchen and others were only things we love to eat, but never had the time to cook, so we prepared them on this special day, the day were I spend 8 hours cooking.

In North Mexico, we cook turkey on the 24th in a traditional American way: Put it in the oven for 4-6 hours with white wine, salt (we sometimes add carrots and onions) and later use the juice to make gravy. We serve the turkey slices with mashed potatoes, fresh bread ans salad.

On special occasions, my mom prepares arróz poblano (Puebla-style rice), which is the easiest way to prepare amazing rice: Cook rice with nothing but salt, when ready, put a layer of rice on a pyrex, add sweet corn, crème fraiche, grilled bell pepper slices and shredded Chihuahua cheese, continue with another layer until you reach the top of the pyrex. Finish with cheese, then make a gratin out of it.

The menu we designed for christmas is the following:

Vegetarian spring rolls (self made)
Arróz poblano
Green salad with a marmalade vinaigrette
White wine goose stuffed with oranges, ginger and garlic
Chocolate chip cookies (...of course, self made!)

I like the way people develops, the way traditions are modified. I like how traditions change and keep on going as a “new traditions”. I really love that my family and me celebrate these days in different places, that we cook different dishes...and that each time we are all happy, also if good times are gone – we enjoy the moments together and make the best of the things we have.

I wish you all a happy time with your friends and family and hope that you celebrate your family traditions and that you create new ones, try it, it's fun!

And now, the hippiest thing I have ever written: I love you all!