You have no idea

how tempting it was to think about hopping on that horse...just for a moment. I was soooo, soooo close. I mean within footsteps. Just for a moment...who would mind? The saddle looked a little intimidating. I rode the English kind. Maybe that's what stopped me? Gosh...sweet thing. I rode lots of palomino ponies in "my day". My beloved Topper was a skewbald kind of like this one

...such a lovely pal. Nothing like the bond young girls have with a horse. Anyway...

There was something else in that square that was also really tempting that I hope you will enjoy today...a really yummy piece of bread. Whether its sweet bread, sourdough bread, gluten-free bread or fully-loaded bread...go grab yourself an honest to goodness loaf. And thank the baker! Look at these pix...such a beautiful little bakery! 

Here is a Red, White and Food shout-out to all bread bakers who do it right! Yum!

Mother's Day 2011

This Mother's Day, I am going to share a few thoughts and then repost what I wrote last year because it is still just as current as can be. First, I want to acknowledge Jon and let him know that his verve and joie de vivre are infectious and add a merry energy to all around him. He has a wonderful and engaging life force. I have really enjoyed the times I have spent with him and love seeing such happiness come into my daughter's life.

Melissa and Jon

Next, as a mom, one of the traits about my kiddos that delights me most is that they have surrounded themselves with people who encourage them and they encourage in return to become their fullest selves. While always a parent, there seems to be a time when the kids take over. That is as it should be. It is their time at bat. I am delighted that my sweeties have the courage to step up to the plate and start dancing, singing and creating their lives on their own terms in their own time. I am having a blast with a momma-bird's eye view from the bleechers! Love you with all my heart sweetest HB's xoxoxooxox

Resh and Christian

And then, today and every day, give this Mother your best...

Years ago, sweet daughter Melissa gave me the book "She Taught Me to Eat Artichokes".

It is a lovely story about finding treasures and friendship in the heart of something or someone who seems a very unlikely source of tenderness. It is also about taking a little different, less common path. Imagine if the title were, "She Taught Me to Eat Iceberg Lettuce". Nothing too special or interesting there. This book about "artichokes" is no ordinary tale. It shares unique discoveries that have enriched my life.

This Mother's Day, I will be eating an artichoke in honor of the beautiful friendship that I have with my children and my mom. I may be in what is called the "sandwich" of life but I am squeezed between the best people. I am lucky to have two amazing children, Christian and Melissa, and an equally amazing daughter-in-law Reshma and second son Sameer. All four of them have hearts of gold and are encouraging, enthusiastic, creative, playful, generous, kind, compassionate and, as only children can be, lovingly wise friends. And, they are each writing their own beautiful "artichoke" story, one leaf at a time.

Melissa and Sameer

Christian and Reshma

My mom is a very special lady and a wonderful, adventurous cook herself. Her cookbook collection runs in the 100's. Don't even try to count the recipes she's clipped. Stacks. I mean stacks. Over these past wild and crazy couple of years, she has shown such strength. I imagine she feels a combination of relief and frustration over my taking a larger role in her "story". She is letting me do so with grace...and just a few "If you'd do it my way, Pensy's". Like she says, once a mom, always a mom.

Mom

This bouquet is for all of you...each one of you makes my life better, one sweet artichoke leaf at a time. xoxoxoox and Happy Mother's Day to all moms everywhere!

And so appropriately, here is a recipe for Steamed Artichokes. For flavor, use the very best artichokes and sweet butter you can find!

Buy tight, fresh, moist looking artichokes, like the ones in the picture. Don't buy the ones that look dry or have their petals already starting to open up more than the others. Wash and cut off stems at the base. Remove any teeny leaves and any that are discolored. You can also snip off the thorny tips of the petals but I don't.

Place artichokes on a steamer rack in a large saucepan or place directly in pan with about 1/2 inch of water, just enough to come up to the base of the artichoke. I will often add a sprinkle of Herbes de Provence to the water and sometimes a fresh bay leaf. Bring water to a boil, cover pot and reduce heat to a simmer. Steam between 30 and 50 minutes, depending on the size of the artichoke. The way I test for doneness is to pull off a leaf midway up the flower. If it comes off easily and the meat is tender, it is done. Pour water from pot and turn artichokes upside down to let any excess water drain off. You can also turn the heat on again and let them dry a little that way.

To eat, invite me over or melt sweet butter and add a splash of fresh lemon juice. Place artichoke on plate and pull off leaves, one petal at a time and dip meaty part into butter. Scrape off the tender meat at the base of each petal with your front teeth. As you finish the larger petals, you will see smaller ones and then the fuzzy choke. Scrape those inedible petals off and now what you have is the "heart" of the artichoke. Absolutely delectable. Savor every bite and don't run out of butter!

A special hug to the "grandchildren" Roger and Allie and to all our "babies" xoxoxoxoxo

Roger

Allie

Stubug

Lights in their eyes Sisters, Annie and Lilly

They called my name...

Actually...it is Friday, not Thursday!! One of the fun things about Mexico is that I actually got called my real name "Penelope". "Penny" is very difficult for Mexicans to pronounce and so my real name it was. Heaven. As a child of the 50's...along with Betty Crocker and TV dinners, some of us got stuck with "nicknames" and mine stuck like molasses or more appropriate for today's post...sticky caramel.

Anyway, take a look at this gal calling to me. Isn't she divine?!

Much more on Skeletonista La Catrina later! One of the guests staying where I did was from Canada via Romania. She and her husband had won a "lottery" allowing them to emigrate to Canada and they have been travelling ever since. They had also just come from San Miguel and were a little unhappy with Guanajuato. Unlike San Miguel which she described as a "fiesta at every corner", she said Guanajuato was a city obsessed with death. Had to admit that in part she was right...they are kinda stuck on it...

Welcoming "mummy". Guanajuato is famous for its mummies.

Mural by the funicular, an artistic renditon of the Guanajuato cityscape!

Mural of sliver mines where 1,000's died

Descent into the deadly mine

One of the many battles

However, sticking with something isn't all bad. My absolute obsession with Halloween began when we lived in Mexico 30 years ago. That is when I not only started uber-decorating the house, but outfitted the kids and me in costumes. We were ghosts for years. Merrily macabre. So...all this being said...neighbors...beware...I brought home lots of fun twists and twisted fun for Halloween this year. Already working on my costume...

Here is another sticky, sweet twist, one of my favorite desserts, Crepes de Cajeta. The picture is not great but the dessert called my name, especially when the server asked, "Y Sra. Penelope, que quiere?"

Now, given that I am trying to weave in all these wonderful tidbits from Mexico around tons of other things happening, here is also nod to tomorrow, Derby Day. Don a bonnet (La Catrina has on a fab one!) and top these crepes with some spring berries and mint and you will be off and running into a real taste trip!

Crepes de Cajeta

True confession...I have never actually made these, just eaten them. However, this recipe looks muy authentico. You can also find jarred cajeta in Mexican grocery stores. Do not be tempted to use flour tortillas instead of the crepes. They are way too tough and dry. This recipe is from The Food Network...

1 (14ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup milk
1 large egg
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (real Mexican vanilla would be fab here!)
Pinch ground cloves
Pinch ground cinnamon
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted (see Note)
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
1 pint fresh raspberries (or strawberries...not sprayed, please!!)

To make the cajeta: place the unopened can of milk in a heavy saucepan and cover completely with water. Over very low heat, cook at a bare quiver for 3 hours, adding more water as necessary as it evaporates. With an oven glove, turn the can over and cook for 2 1/2 hours more. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight.

In a blender, combine the milk, eggs, sugar, flour, butter, salt, vanilla, cloves, and cinnamon and blend until completely smooth. Let the batter sit in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Heat a small nonstick skillet and pour in about 2 tablespoons of the crepe batter, swirling the pan immediately to make sure the batter covers the pan evenly. Cook until small bubbles form on the surface, then flip to the other side. Slide onto a plate and make the remaining crepes in the same way, stacking them on the plate until you are finished.

To assemble the crepes: open the can of cooked condensed milk and stir it up from the bottom with a fork, blending to an evenly thick consistency. Spread about 1 tablespoon of the "cajeta evenly over the surface of one crepe. Scatter some of the toasted pecans over the top and roll up into a tube. Repeat with the remaining crepes and reheat in a low oven for a few minutes before serving. Serve 4 crepes per person, sprinkled with a little confectioners sugar and scattered with raspberries or strawberries.

Note: To toast nuts, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the nuts on a cookie sheet and toast in the oven until golden, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Cinco Shake-Up

It is Cinco de Mayo...check out the story of this fiesta day on wikipedia. Here is a pix of the battle that gave birth to this day of celebration...

The Battle of Puebla  where the Mexican Army trounced the French May 5, 1862

How extra fun that it is also Thirsty Thursday!

Maybe you are expecting a margarita recipe? Well, I thought it would be fun to shake things up a bit and share this recipe with you. I found it and other Ole! worthy beverages on this link: http://cocktails.about.com/od/partiesholidays/tp/cinco_de_mayo.htm

Mexi-Tini

1 oz vodka (Van Gogh Oranje Vodka if you can find it)
1 oz tequila
1/2 oz orange juice (sublime with fresh squeezed OJ!!)
orange slice for garnish

Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker, and add crushed ice.
Let stand for five seconds.
Shake vigorously for five seconds.
Strain into a martini glass, and garnish with an orange slice.

A sus ordenes, senores y senoritas!

                                                   

Toting a Seriously "Light" Vacation

Normally when I travel, it is to New York to help out my mom. My suitcase is always half full of papers...legal stuff I am still working on on her behalf and it is heavy as lead. And once I toss in my boots and personal care products, it usually tips the scale at close to the weight limit. My "take-on" bag is stuffed with my laptop...also heavy...and more papers and yep, some aspirin. Oh yeah. Exhausted before take-off!

This past trip, I should have taken a pix...my bag weighed in at 26.50 pounds...seriously. I felt light and frisky as a filly. This weigh-in was a new "Penelope" record (I sense one of my readers is reading this in disbelief!) and my carry-on with no laptop was positively feather-light, too. Hard to believe...didn't even look like I was a serious "vacation" contender. I had "air space" in all my bags...even on the return flight. Amazing. I am going to share my secret here in a sec.

While I did use my son's laptop to check emails and such, I am way behind on what I want to share blog-wise and this is Wednesday after all...personal product day and so I am making an effort to get back on track.

And so, first, I can't think of anything more personal than showing you some of the bathrooms...gorgeous. I am in awe of Mexican folk art.

"Folk art" is perhaps my favorite artistic expression ever and the art in Mexico is especially joyful. I love all the colors. Take a peek back at yesterday's post...the picture of Reshma and those fabulous paper flowers. Maybe you can zoom in and see the detail. Just wonderful! Here are some other beauties I found just in bathrooms...

Counters and showers

Fabulous sinks

Beautiful walls

Bath "mats" drying in the sun

Now, on to what made my suitcases so much lighter...in addition to the papers, I eliminated about 8 bottles of "stuff" I usually pack and instead, tossed in travel-sized bottles of the multi-purpose personal care products I rave about on this blog. What a difference in my weight load and travelling skin!! I was able to keep up with my non-toxic regime (really important when travelling when you don't know what's in those sink-side bottles) and also keep my skin protected and moist. One of the first signs of travel fatigue shows up on your skin: dryness. Well, I had none of that!!! Next trip, I will also toss in the new non-alcohol hand sanitizer that we just released...oh my...lemon-y, luscious and a little dab will do it.

Also, I felt good about not contibuting to someone else's environmental pollution. Everything I brought with me not only protected my body but left no petro-chemicals, half-used bottles, harmful ingredients or product pollution sludge behind in their drains and waterways.

If you are local...come to First Thursday tomorrow night. I have a cute "travel tote" to show you, complete with BPA-free travel bottles and will share some great tips on how to "travel light"...whether it is to Mexico or the lake! Hope to see you tomorrow!

Here is what I am working on...not quite done yet. Perfect for vacations, stay-cations, campers, weekenders, hospital stays and Mother's Day... a travel tote chock full of "do no harm" goodies!