CasaQ Chit-Chat Intro
Hello!
I am very excited to introduce to you the premier edition of CasaQ ChitChat, a newletter that will share holiday customs and traditions, entertaining tips and recipes from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba and other Latin- American countries. This first edition is being sent to you courtesy of Marketing Maniacs. To receive this wonderful monthly newsletter in the future you must subscribe to it by clicking below. We look forward to sharing great information and always welcome your suggestions or comments for future editions.
Felicidades,
Darlene Tenes
P.S. To share with a friend click on "forward email" at the very bottom of the page!
Sign Up for CasaQ Chit-Chat
Tis the Season for Tamales!
Why make tamales, when you can buy 'em?
 The women in our family still gather in a warm kitchen first thing in the morning in an assembly line, laughing and gossiping, while busily spreading and filling hojas (corn husks). And although invited, the men curiously never materalize until later in the day when its time to try our tasty creations.
But maybe making tamales is not your thing and you just want to know where to buy them? Here are some of our suggestions. El Azteca primarily sells to restaurants and grocery stores but you can go directly to the factory door and purchase them. Lucy's Tamales are to-go and they do nothing but tamales! But, make sure to purchase them ahead of time because the lines are a block long the week of Christmas. Hot Damn Tamales has a great variety of tamales including 5 meat and 4 vegetarian options. They also ship overnight anywhere in the USA. At Casa Vicky's Cafe you can purchase tamales or sit down to enjoy your meal and don't forget to pick up what I think are the best fresh tortillas in the Bay Area!
Which are my favorites? Hmmm can not divulge that info, but tune in to NBC11 on December 18th at 3pm to see the results of our annual Tamale Tasting Contest on Comunidad de Valle. If you would like to be a taste tester or want us to include your favorite place to get tamales email us at info@casaq.com Note: Tamales must be available for purchase by the general public and be made in a commercial kitchen.
Mexican Christmas Salad / Ensalada de Nochebuena
Traditionally served on Christmas Eve with tamales, beans and rice
 2 med-sized limes
1 cup of mayonnaise
3 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of milk
1 small head of Iceberg or Romaine lettuce, thinly sliced
1 med-sized pineapple, sliced or 1 (20 oz.) can sliced
pineapple, drained 3 med-sized oranges, peeled & thinly sliced
3 small bananas, peeled & sliced
2 small Red Delicious apples, cored & cut into thin wedges
1/4 pound jicama or additional red apple
One 16 ounce can of sliced beets, drained
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
1/2 cup of peanuts
Prepare dressing: Grate 1 tablespoon peel and squeeze 1/4 cup juice from limes. In small bowl, mix lime juice, 2 teaspoons lime peel, mayonnaise, sugar and milk. Sprinkle remaining peel on top of dressing. Place bowl with dressing on large platter. Line platter with sliced lettuce. On lettuce, arrange in separate piles of pineapple, oranges, bananas, apples and beets. Sprinkle peanuts over fruit. Serve salad with dressing.
Flor de Nochebuena - Poinsettia
The Legend & History of the Christmas Flower
 A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy. "I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly. Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel. As she approached the alter, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.
Nochebuena, the Mexican name of the flower English-speakers call Poinsettia, was discovered in Taxco and the valleys surrounding Cuernavaca. Known by the Aztecs in their native Nahuatl language as Cuetlaxochitl, it was prized in the prehispanic era for the curative properties of the milk that dripped from the leaves, stems and flowers when cut.
Its greatest promoter, however, was Joel Roberto Poinsett (1770-1851), who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico following Mexico´s Independence from Spain. He fell in love with the plant and brought some back to decorate his mansion in Charlestonville, South Carolina during Christmas, and upon his return home several years later he was astonished to find the entire town growing the Christmas flower, or "poinsettia" as it was now known.
Today, millions of dollars of poinsettias are sold each year throughout the world to herald the Christmas season. Poinsettia are not disposable plants as most people believe, but can be planted and rebloom. My abuela had huge plants in her backyard which bloomed year around.
Spice up your Holidays with CasaQ!
|
Our Mexican blown-glass Mariachi and China Poblana ornaments are all handmade by talented glass artists in Mexico. Spice up your tree and your holiday decor with these charming ornaments. Other ideas:
1) Place an ornament as a hostess gift at each place setting at the dinner table.
2) Place in a cellophane bag with a pretty ribbon and give them individually to friends & co-workers
3) Create a festive gift basket w/Mexican coffee or hot chocolate, pan dulce, loteria cards, dominos and add an ornament
3" Ornament - $32 Box of 4 (2 Boys & 2 Girls)
6" Ornament - $24 Box of 2 (2 Boys or 2 Girls)
Buy Now... |
|
