Ana Gets her Just Desserts…

Okay…how many of you out there have been ‘mordida-ed’ by Ana? We’ve all had our share as any of you who have looked at the program pictures know. I’m sure there are participants who have come on our program and NOT let us know it was their birthday.

Well…we now have a movie of Ana’s birthday that will surprise and delight you. And the nice part about it, it made Ana laugh harder than anyone else. She just loved it. There are those of us who were just made for the Mexican way of life…mordida, confetti, piñatas and all!

Just in case there some of you out there who have not been fortunate enough to experience the mordida, Click here for our blog on the subject...

Just to give it to you briefly, however: At birthday celebrations, once assembled guests finish singing the lovely words of the traditional song, "Las Mananitas"…

Estas son Las manañitas
(These are the morning songs)

que cantaba el Rey David.
(that King David sang.)

Hoy por ser día de tu santo
(For today to be the day of your saint)

te las cantamos así.
(we sing to you like this.)

Despierta, mi bien, despierta!
(Wake up, my dear. Wake up!)

Mira que ya amaneció.
(See that it is already dawn...)

Qué linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte...
(How beautiful is the morning in which I come to greet you...)

…and the candles have been extinguished, the guests begin chanting "Mordida, Mordida, Mordida!" (Little bite, little bite, little bite!)

For NOBs (north of the border), unused to Mexican tradition, it's the unexpected "face in the cake" moment. The guest of honor is obliged to take the first bite of cake without using utensils or their hands---just leaning down to take a bite out of the cake. Then, usually, strategically positioned behind the honoree is someone else ready to slam their face into the cake when they lean down. It also usually means that is how big of a piece of cake you get to eat too...that part seems obvious to me! No, thank you...no face cake for me please!

Click here for the video of Ana getting her just desserts... Note: The movie may take a bit to download as we wanted you to enjoy the event. In addition, we would like to remind you that the movie is in a flash format. If you do not have the flash player, scroll down and get the player for free.

As you will see from the video, many people stood in line to “honor” Ana in her moment. And, I hate to say it, but you will see Bill add the final insult. It wasn’t until Ana saw the video, however, that she realized her niece was the first to jump into the fray. That was a funny moment!

Those of you who have experienced this wonderful event, please feel free to add your comment to this blog. I’m sure Ana will be happy to hear from you.

And, even if you haven’t, feel free to add a birthday wish or two for her. I’m sure she would love to hear from you.

Click here to see more pictures of Ana's Birthday party …


NOTE: These movies are in Flash Format, If you do not have a flash reader, click button below for a free copy of the reader:

I bit off more than I could chew (literally)

But I have a happy ending…

I love muffins and I have a wonderful “Alive” cookbook called “Fantastic Flax” where I found my favorite Muffin of all time “Flax Muffins with Chocolate Chips” (only I use Carob chips).

A few days ago I lovingly made myself a batch. This morning I poured myself a cup of green tea, got out a beautiful muffin and came up on the terrace to enjoy the view while I savored my treat. Two bites later I bit into my crown which had somehow come unglued.

It is 1 p.m. on Saturday and I race for the phone and call Dr. Haro, my dentist. The receptionist (who is also a dentist) tells me they close at 1 p.m. and Dr. Haro is just finishing with a patient, then he is driving back to Guadalajara.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m not really good at taking NO for an answer. So in my most persuasive tone I tell her that I am going to Ana’s birthday party in a couple of hours and I really must be wearing all my teeth. I said “I have my purse and keys in my hand and can be there in five minutes.” She tells me to wait while she checks with Dr. Haro and then tells me to rush right over.

In by 1:05; out by 1:30 p.m., my emergency appointment goes well. Instead of just re-cementing the tooth in place, they notice it is a little higher than the other teeth which would put extra stress on it so they filed it down to match and then gave me a quick cleaning and polish. Then they send my off to my party, all teeth back where they belong. Thank you Dr. Haro.
To drum up future business for Dr. Haro (for those of you that are here on the lakeside or when you visit or return), I’m going to share this favorite healthy muffin recipe with you.

Flax Muffins with Chocolate Chips
Muffins are an American mainstay, but here is a recipe with an Old World twist.

1/2 cup whole flax seeds
1-1/2 cups (375 ml) kefir or buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup flax meal
1/2 cup dried cane sugar, e.g., Sucanat or Rapadura
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup (60 ml) almond oil or melted butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Soak whole flax seeds in kefir for 2 hoursPreheat oven to 380 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix flour, flax meal, dried cane sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, beat eggs and combine with almond oil, vanilla and kefir-soaked flax seeds. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and gently stir until smooth. Finally, fold in chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into 16 medium muffin cups so that they are no more than 3/4 full, and bake for 20 minutes.

Let sit on a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

NOTE: I have made a few changes to the recipe:
1) Instead of chocolate chips, I use carob chips
2) Instead of cane sugar, I use Agave Nectar and slightly reduce the quantity
3) I add a cup of fresh or frozen blueberries
4) I also add 4 or 5 pieces of crystallized ginger cut in small pieces

Enjoy!
Marie Dwyer-Bullock

A Light Show to Die For!

During this past program, after dinner on Sunday, June 15, at La Tasca, we were treated to a spectacular light performance by a young man who certainly had a way with neon and leather! The fact that his artistry was accompanied by the wonderful classical guitar music of Robert Cerda made it a very special night indeed.

If you want to see his moves, click here... (Note: it may take a little bit to dowload and start playing)

Also, our own Paul Scherer immediately volunteered to help out during part of the show. He was pretty darn good. I'm sure if I had been doing what he was doing, someone would definitely have gotten hurt...probably me!

If you want to see that movie, click here... (Note: it may take a little bit to dowload and start playing)

Lastly, Paul showed some cool nerves as the young man knocked a cigarette right out of Paul's mouth.

Although it is a little dark (they wouldn't let me use a light), click here to see the daring action... (Note: it may take a little bit to dowload and start playing)

NOTE: These movies are in Flash Format, If you do not have a flash reader, click button below for a free copy of the reader:



Enjoy the movies!

Viva Tequila

That Julie Eihausen must have the inside scoop on what to order. While lunching at El Adobe in Tlaquepaque, she ordered a shot of tequila, and this is how it showed up.

The sphere of glass contains ice and water with a lime for decoration. The triangular glass Julie's holding comes full of tequila...that way the tequila is kept cold while you're drinking it.

You know…I’ve heard tequila should never be chilled, but here’s what others say:

Tequila is a fine and complex liquor and as such it must be sipped slowly. It should be served at room temperature, although some like it ice cold. Traditionally most people serve it in a "caballito", a 2 oz glass made exclusively for this purpose. Blanco and Reposado may be accompanied by "sangrita" made of tomato and orange juice with salt and chile. Añejo is preferably served in a snifter so that the aroma is fully appreciated. The tequila shot with lime and salt is Hollywood stuff and few people drink it that way. However, some people do put some lime juice in the tequila or bite the lime before sipping it. Life is, after all, a matter of taste.

There is no "right" way to drink tequila, but any spirit is best appreciated first on its own merits, without accompaniment.

Sip it. Forget about the lime and the salt and the margarita mix. Don't even add ice. If you want to taste it, drink it neat first, so you can savor it.

Some people like it served cold, especially the blanco variety. And, personally, I would only drink blanco cold. To me, blanco should only be used in a Margarita or drunk ice cold !It’s not what I would consider a sipping tequila at all…so I’m really surprised a tequila connoisseur would even suggest it!

With regard to reposado and añejo, sip the premium tequila slowly and gently, to enjoy the aroma, the body and the taste. Taste it as you would a fine wine. Life is really too short to miss out on enjoying it properly. I am a tequila-holic…I admit it!

And if you must do shooters, the proper order of the traditional method of drinking tequila is salt-tequila-lime: lick, sip, bite...

For the rest of the stoy click here ...

And for more pictures of this groups memories, click here...