How to Throw Your Own Posada

How to Throw Your Own Posada

December 16th marks the kick-off for Las Posadas, the nine days of festivities that lead up to Christmas in Mexico and other Latin American countries. But what exactly is a posada? Traditionally they were religious events, first introduced by Spanish friars evangelizing to indigenous people. The posadas taught the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem [...]

Latin-Style Traditional Holiday Foods

Latin-Style Traditional Holiday Foods

Latino holiday foods tend to involve the whole family, comprising feasts that start the night before with the marinating of meats and the preparation of sauces. (Or the rising of breads. Have you heard of the Venezuelan pan de jamón?) In the interest of cultural sharing, we’ve gathered a list of some typical Christmas food [...]

Host a Traditional Posada This Christmas

Host a Traditional Posada This Christmas

December 16th marks the kick-off for Las Posadas, the nine days of festivities that lead up to Christmas in Mexico and other Latin American countries. But what exactly is a posada? Traditionally they were religious events, first introduced by Spanish friars evangelizing to indigenous people. The posadas taught the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem [...]

Juanita’s Rice Pudding

Juanita's Rice Pudding

The first time I made rice pudding, I fretted too much. I worried that my pudding was too thin, that it would stick to the bottom and burn, and that it wouldn’t taste any good after all of my hard work. (Note that I didn’t worry about my diet.) I wish someone, besides my husband, [...]

Verdolagas: The Perfect Green

Verdolagas-MainPhoto

Verdolagas are thick, tender greens that have an acidic, mouth-warming bite, almost like mint when they’re raw. The greens are popular during the rainy season in Mexico, and they can be found at markets across the United States under the name purslane. The word purslane sounds kind of old and fuddy-duddy, but verdolagas deserve a [...]

Mangolicious Pico de Gallo!

Mangolicious Pico de Gallo

In Mexico, mango season marks the arrival of spring—the ushering out of all the citrus fruits (goodbye, juicy tangerines) and the arrival of slippery, wet-fleshed fruits from the tropics. Mangoes pop up on the street corners, in plastic cups, and in the markets for absurdly low prices. Mango pico de gallo could probably be made [...]