Monday, February 17, 2014

A Taste of Mexico


La comida Mexicana es delisiosa!

We enjoyed some wonderful meals
with awesome Amigos
while on our recent holiday 
to Lake Chapala, Mexico.





Osso Bucco 
(Veal Shank) was a great choice.

















The Molcajeti
(a sizzling veggie and cheese dish)
was also a
delicious treat!












There were always 
delicious fresh salad choices
and this was my salmon stuffed
pasta meal - yum!








Margo cooked up some of the most wonderful
homemade fare,
like fresh shrimp, tacos,
beef fajitas, bananas Foster,
yummy homemade soups and salads,
just to mention a few.
Her meals were tasty and healthy.
I can't believe I didn't get any photos of them
(guess we were just too fixated on eating up the deliciousness).




Appies for a light luncheon with neighbours.


Barry and Margo's friends
invited us in for some delicious home cooked meals.
We enjoyed an authentic Italian Meal,
prepared by Connie and Wayne 
complete with amazing homemade meat balls
and tomato sauce for the pasta - oh my!
Not to mention the anchovy appetizers and Wayne's
peanut butter brownies!
They were such great hosts and made us feel so welcome!

Henry and Barb (neighbouring snowbirds)
 served us a lovely chicken dinner
with Barb's famous homemade Polish Dill pickles and
yummy beet salad.
We had so much fun, eating, playing cards, and
getting to know each other.

We were SO impressed with the sense of community
in this small Mexican town which is a Winter home 
for so many Canadians - they enjoy getting together,
sharing meals, meeting each other, and becoming 
friends for life!

A recent murder there was a rare
and unfortunate tragedy
This apparently was not a random act
and could have happened anywhere in today's crazy world!



Barbecued Chicken Stand featuring delicious roasted onions and chili peppers too - we did a take-home meal - so good!


This weekend we invited some friends in,
stoked the fire to heat up the room,
put a Mexican blanket on the table,
blended up some margaritas,
and enjoyed a Mexican Fiesta of sorts.
For a few hours, we forgot
about the below freezing temperatures
outside and basked in the memories
of a warm vacation!

Our menu included:
Salsa and Tacos
Chicken Fajitas with all the fixings
Corn and Black Bean Salad
Lettuce Salad with Avacado and Lime dressing
Papaya and Grapes
and lots of conversation and fellowship

These were on the dessert table too ....


Coconut Macaroons - super easy!
3-4 large egg whites
1/2 Cup sugar
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
5 Cups sweetened shredded coconut
Whip the egg whites with the sugar, vanilla and salt till glossy and foamy.
Stir in the shredded coconut and mix well.
Drop batter in 2 Tbsp. mounds onto parchment lined cookie sheets approx. 1 inch apart - I used my ice cream scoop.
Bake at 325F for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cool completely and store for up to 5 days at room temperature in an airtight container.
Can be dipped or drizzled with chocolate if desired.




We had a great evening!
Thanks for coming, Wally and Carolyn,
and braving the cold for a "taste of Mexico" with us!


Beautiful Lake Chapala



Till next time ............ stay cozy and start dreaming of Spring - positive thoughts, positive thoughts!!

HAPPY FAMILY DAY IN ONTARIO TODAY!!!

10 comments:

  1. Hmmmmm...you have me wanting Mexican food. The Canadian Community in Mexico is quite intriguing. Will you be a part of it next winter also?

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  2. What a fun way to share the Mexican experience with someone! Your coconut cookies look delicious!

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  3. It all looks/sounds most yummy! I'm always game for Mexican food...and now you have me wanting some...soon.

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  4. I keep meaning to mention how much I like your header watercolor. Did you paint it? I am guessing you did.
    Cheating to get back an extra Mexico vacation day via a Mexican menu party is what I have been doing a lot. I am shopping at the Mexican grocery store here, their fruits are the best and the bakery is fantastic.

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  5. Happy Family Day! We are celebrating President's Day in the U.S. Your Back to Mexico meal sounds perfect. So glad you enjoy yourselves in the deep freeze. That veal shank is calling my name. I'm intrigued with this little town in Mexico and how so many of you vacation there. Do some live there or just spend winter months there?

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    Replies
    1. Ajijic is a Winter Home to quite a few retired Canadians. Most rent and some own their own places. We met at least 6 couples from Canada - Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Ontario. It's a quiet, pleasant temperatures, generally very safe place to winter. Our friends have been going there for 5 months/year for the past 4 years. They all have developed a lovely community down there.

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  6. That food looks delicious. I've never been to Mexico but I'm sure it is a great place to go to escape the awful winter you've had. At least you got a taste of it with some Mexican food. I'm having a waterlogue party tomorrow on my blog. I posted about it just now. Hope you can join! Rhondi xo

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  7. Wonderful looking food!! My sister and her husband go to Mexico every year and love it. We visited there while on a cruise and it was very pleasant. Glad you had a great trip!

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  8. That food looks amazing! I love Mexican ... the cumin, guacamole, cilantro, black beans, corn, rice and chicken ..
    and it looks like you discovered a whole new menu there!

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  9. We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant tonight. If we hadn't, your menu would have had me craving a good Mexican meal!

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