Cover Image via Commonwealth of Social Services (Sierra Norte de Madrid) I received some interesting feedback on the Post Tequesquite from an independent historian in New Mexico (1) who noted that tequesquite was listed in a document from 1844 (2) that listed it as an ingredient in a dish called “puches”. The document was part of a folio regarding a 16th of September (3) celebration … Continue reading Puches
Cover image : cacaloxochitl (Nahuatl raven – flower)(Plumeria rubra) or the Frangipani tree. This tree was highly prized in Aztec society. It was planted in the gardens of the elite classes of society and, amongst the Maya, plumeria was associated with deities representing life force and fertility. The flowers became strongly connected with a wide range of expressions of female sexuality (Zumbroich 2013). Intoxication need … Continue reading Xochipilli : Intoxicating Scent.
In this case the text in question is Nuevo Cocinero Mejicano (1) En Forma De Diccionario (1888) Mejico or Mexico? and why? See the link to David Bowles etymological journey in the website references. See also my earlier Post : Origins of the words Aztec and Mexico I stumbled across this text purely by luck. In response to a readers comments regarding tequesquite (1) being … Continue reading Quelites in Old Texts
also – Tzacapapaloquilitl m. (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Philippines, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua) : Herb, pasture, forage (2) Tiene raiz ramificada, de donde echa tallos delgados, verdes y de dos cuartas, hojas muy delgadas y largas, y flores azules llenas de pelos blancos y que se deshacen en vilanos. Es de naturaleza fria y humeda, y presta los auxilios que le son propios de cualquier … Continue reading Unknown Porophyllum : Zacapapaloquilitl.
Chaoacocopin has been previously noted as one of the common names of Papaloquelite (Porophyllum macrocephalum) (1). I have come across this plant in an old text and would like to delve a little more deeply into this particular pore leaf (P.macrocephalum is most definitely my favourite pore leaf so far. I am however waiting to get the chance to grow some of the narrow leaved … Continue reading Papaloquelite : Chaoacocopin
When you think of rice in Mexican cuisine it is often as rice, beans and tortillas. Rice, beans and tortillas are often the only foods available to the poorest (financially speaking) people in México (1). Rice (Oryza sativa) is considered to have reached the New World via two main means. Initially it was introduced by Spanish colonists through the port of Vera Cruz, probably in … Continue reading Green Rice : Arroz Verde
Cover image : atole street vendor atole (Spanish) from atolli : a beverage made from finely ground maize, mixed with water. “a gruel made of maize, which they call atolli . . . agreeable, harmless, and provides a pleasant and healthy food . . . for those suffering from a hot, dry fever; it calms the chest, is very nutritious, strengthens and fattens the emaciated, … Continue reading Atole de Grano
A tlaltequeada is a kind of vegetable based rissole (1) typically made with vegetables, fruits, flowers and seeds. It is the perfect example of a quilitl (quelite) based dish and it could be argued that it is representative of a vegetable based cuisine as it would have been practised by prehispanic Mesoamericans. rissoles are what an Australian might call meat patties that include some grated … Continue reading Prehispanic Veganismo – The Tlaltequeada
Chiles en Nogada (1) Chiles en Nogada is a dish comprised of my favourite fresh chile, the poblano, which has been stuffed. The stuffed chile is then bathed in a walnut sauce and garnished with pomegranate seeds, and fresh parsley. The garnishes represent each colour on the Mexican flag (2), as the dish commemorates Mexican Independence. The dish was first introduced (3) in August 1821, … Continue reading Chiles en Nogada
Cover Image : ‘Vocho Teotihuacano’ : Héctor Garnelo Navarro etal The tendency of Christianity (regardless of which form you wish to discuss it in) is to destroy that which does not fit within the confines of its dogma. If it cannot destroy then, much like the Romans (1) it will appropriate and absorb. This appropriation is problematic as although they are appearing to take something … Continue reading Aztec Gods or States of Consciousness? Another Observation.
Masa Americana 