Cutting Pepinos

Way back around the turn of the century when Mexico was still very new to me I spent a few weeks with friends in Mexico City. Helping cut veggies for a salad I was startled by "my kids are not going to like the way you cut the pepinos". I mean I know how to cut cucumbers for a salad but since they were already destroyed we didn't delve further into what should have been.

The salad was my idea and design but since salads here are often more like a garnish than a main dish my only thought was you don't put pepinos in a bowl with a bunch of other veggies. You slice them in strips, douse with lots of lime juice, sprinkle sea salt over the top ... and probably some Valentina hot sauce. Ever wonder how to eat Jicama ..... the very same way.

A tip on citrus squeezers/juicers or wives tale -- Those cast aluminium ones look very sturdy but it's rumored that the acid reaction will eventually make them go sour. Better to use inert plastic.

So many ways?

Peal and all ready for lime

Lime squeezer

When the cat's away, the mice will play

So says my neighbor.   His cat is always outside looking for prey and not in the house.   He's also a very small young cat.   On the other hand my cat keeps the place too clean.

Hugo came over yesterday morning saying that his drain pipe under the kitchen sink broke and did I have any extras.   I did have this flexible one that works well in odd situations.   He didn't bring over the broken one so I don't know what the original problem was.

Again this morning water all over the kitchen and Hugo blaming Lorena until he got down and looked at the pipe that had only been there for 12 hours.   So headed into town in a few minutes to buy another pipe or two and some rat/mice poison.   Must be good tasting plastic and maybe paint some yukky stuff on the next one.  Then maybe they are collecting for a nest?

Three Kings Day

Three Kings Day or El Dia de Reyes is tomorrow, Monday, and without going into any religious significance .... for us it's just a day for cake, coffee, get together and fun. The fun comes from discovering who gets the plastic baby Jesus in their piece of cake. The person that finds a baby has to buy or make tamales for the next party. Actually there are usually more than one baby in the cake which spreads the responsibility.

 Rosca de Reyes or kings' ring

The cake we bought yesterday looks very similar to this but is still double wrapped to keep it fresh until tomorrow night.   Gonna have to make sure I have enough good coffee (no Nescafe) for some cake dunking.