Mexican Lolitas

The Lolita culture isn't just in Tokyo, Japan anymore! These adorable ladies are in Tijuana!
Click here for the full story.

Green Chile & Chicken Enchiladas

I've been craving spicy comfort food and nothing beats my grandma's chicken enchiladas and green chile.

First, roast green chiles over open flame.  The skin blisters and chars, then pop them in a plastic bag to let them sweat for 15 minutes and the skins fall right off.

I browned chunks of pork loin with olive oil and salt and pepper.  Then I added one chopped onion, cooked until translucent.  Add chiles and promptly cover with 2 cups water.

Add one chopped russet potato to thicken the sauce.  Let simmer for an hour.

That's when I started my enchiladas, which are impossible to make and take photos of at the same time!  It's serious assembly line action.

Check out the green chile.  I took a potato masher and worked in the meat and potatoes for about 30 seconds.  It helps combine the potatoes with the sauce and incorporate the flavors with the meat.

Now to the enchilada sauce.  I thin it with a bit of water and heat it to a simmer.  I dip corn tortillas in this and also add some enchilada sauce to the shredded chicken to keep it moist.

These beauties are filled with chicken, chopped onions, black olives and cheese.  Cover generously with cheese so they don't dry out while cooking.  Leftover black olives make it pretty.  I cover them loosely with foil and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Time to eat!  As you serve, cover the enchiladas in more sauce and a dash of cilantro.  I love cilantro, so I added it to my green chile, paired with spanish rice and beans.

La Adelita

La Bendita
Sylvia Ji

LA-based artist Sylvia Ji has a new exhibition of her work titled, 'Las Adelitas.'  It's named after the traditional Mexican folk song La Adelita, which you can listen to here on youtube. La Adelita essentially stands for women warriors in the Mexican Revolution.  These soldaderas (female soldiers), cared for and often fought alongside the Mexican soldiers.

The show is comprised of 15 acrylic and gold leaf paintings and two new limited edition giclee prints.  Now before you get upset with me because the gallery is in New York, I have a link to see the gorgeous works.

CLICK!

Opening reception
Saturday, July 10th
6-9pm
Joshua Liner Gallery
548 West 28th Street
3rd Floor
New York, NY 10001

Windows to Paradise

Las Ventanas al Paraiso means windows to paradise. Boy does the hotel live up to its name.

The infinity pool overlooks the Sea of Cortez in Cabo
Poolside necessities. Margarita +water + face mist Other poolside treats... advance copies of books & ice cream cones in the afternoon
Telescopes for stargazing at night & whale watching during the day - they visited often!Beachcombers & cowboysMy mom's first time in a hammock!Tossing toast to the birds led to a feeding frenzyBirds are everywhere, but everything is pristineThe massive bath, incense, bath salts & oil created heavenNo clubs here!This was the most action I saw. Sports & eating. Yeah!It's quiet & serene. I love the attention to detailAnd the food...Mouthwatering fish tacosShrimp ceviche & crispy chicken flautasA wrought-iron chandelier of metal starbursts inside The RestaurantThe Sea Grill on the sand serves a mean hamburgerGlass hearts hang from trees all over the property. A parting gift on the way back home!

A link to the hotel's website

Here's their facebook page!

Dive In

I will be out of pocket for a bit. Cabo is calling my name.

I can't believe it's been two years since I blogged about this destination.

Long overdue!

Windows to Paradise

Las Ventanas in Cabo is one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. I wish were there right now.

My air conditioning died overnight so I kept waking up because of the heat. I'm also in a bit of pain, so things I might normally laugh off are upsetting me. I'm a sensitive person to begin with, but I'm even more so today.

Las Ventanas al Paraiso. I want to wade in the pool and gaze at the horizon. I want to have another dinner at The Restaurant & then sip on a margarita at the little bar below.

Memories.

A Valentine From Yelapa

There's a magazine called Sunset.... Do you know that song by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy? It's catchy. (The best part of the video is about 30 seconds in.. wait for it!) I always hum it to myself when I spy the magazine.

Ok, let's get to the point. I read a wonderful article that transported me to a tiny village in Mexico called Yelapa.

Samantha Schoech wrote it with such love, you can tell how proud she is of her little slice of paradise. Her energy jumps off the page.

Click here for the full text, but I excerpted it below....

We stash our luggage and make for two lounge chairs under a thatched-palm palapa. It takes about five minutes before a piece of my Yelapan past comes to us.

"Pie, señorita?" A stern-looking woman, with a giant plastic container balanced on her head, is blocking my sun, and I am grateful. It's Augustina.

Yelapa is famous for its pies, baked by two competing local women who strut up and down the beach balancing lemon meringues on their heads. About a million years ago, I used to sell pies after school for Augustina's sister, Juanita, to earn pesos for Cokes.

She unloads her wares, but I don't even have to look. Without hesitation, I go for a slice of chocolate coconut. Pete nearly has a breakdown trying to decide, but finally settles on apple. Don't worry, I tell him. If there is one certainty, it's that Augustina will be here again tomorrow.

Is that delicious? It's my valentine to you, dear reader.

The photos are from http://www.hotelyelapa.com/ where the author stayed.

Thomas J. Story took the beautiful photos for the magazine.

p.s. I didn't recognize Wilco at the Grammys and Robert is still depressed.