Down in Mexico

We changed the words to "Down in Mexico its Sunny" 

So maybe you would like a little laugh....

It's not professional or any thing just thrown  

 together with the whole family's help. 

Here goes;

Down in Mexico it's funny

Days are full of church & running

People in the chilly weather

Bundle up and shiver (or freeze) together.

Shakara in her little school house

reads her little story well

She can not wait for recess

when rings the welcomed bell.

Megan and Corbin in the house

playing with their new legos

Getting in another squabble

much to Mother's great despair.

Allen busy with the washing

scrubbing out the dirty stains

Then off to feed the burra

and her fuzzy little one.

Anna in her bright blue kitchen

cooking and cleaning all the day

Ready to serve cup of coffee

or a taco if she may.

Rosi out with the wheelbarrow

haulin another load of dirt

to make a little flower bed 

or playing with the lil squirts.  

Bay Leaf Tea and Other Foods

   Today I made tea from fresh bay leaves and surprisingly it was delicious! Throw a few branches full of fresh bay leaves straight off the mountain into a relatively large pot of water and bring to a boil. (I set it on top of my wood stove in the house). Let it simmer for a few minutes and sweeten to your liking! 

 Our fellow missionaries made the two hour trek to our house so the men could go cut wood out at Angel's place in La Loba. It froze here yesterday morning so it is cold enough to light the stove everyday therefore we are in dire need of more wood. The sad thing is the cold killed my precious white calla lily. We ladies just drank tea, took care of kiddos, and talked. 

   For lunch I made  8 layer bean dip from the ingredients that some kind visitors had left us. Did you know you can't buy good tortilla chips or green chilies in Mexico? I used to think that was Mexican food....

Also on my junk food menu today was the second pan of irresistible golden graham squares or better named S'mores. Also made from ingredients from the good old USA! Or like they say here "El otro lado" or The other side! 

P.S. I failed to mention that I'm a foodie or is it foody? Anyhow I like food....

Caldo de Tlalpeño

2-3 lbs chicken pieces

3-4 carrots, cut up

2-3 cloves garlic

Place in a pot and add lots of water and salt and cook until the chicken is tender. Remove chicken and shred, set aside in a bowl. In a sauté pan sauté a chopped onion in oil until it browns then add a chopped tomato or two and sauté a little and then add onion and tomato to the chicken broth.

Mexican Rice

Cubed avocado

Cubed white cheese (panela or sierra)

A can of chipotle peppers blended in the blender with the juice of one orange

Cut up limes

Corn tortillas

In a bowl prepare as follows: Mexican rice, avocado, cheese, shredded chicken, and then ladle on plenty of chicken broth. Place on table and each person can add the chipotle and squeeze on limes to taste. Eat with fresh hot tortillas!!! MMMmmmm!!!! My latest favorite………….

Chey's cough syrup

1/2 cup flax seed
1 1/2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 quart water

Simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Do not boil. Strain
to remove seeds.

Add:

1/4 cup honey
3/4 cup water

Keeps 1 week in refrigerator.
1 Tablespoon 4 x daily

Herbal Tea for Cough

7 bougainvillea flowers
a small bunch of dried mullein flowers
a 1 1/2 square inch of fresh aloe vera
a few leaves of eucalyptus
1 quart of water

Bring water to a boil and add all the herbs.
Simmer for a few minutes, and turn off the heat.
Allow to steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain out the
 herbs. Sweeten with honey and let your children
drink it as often as they will! I made this without
 the eucalyptus and added peppermint instead.

This recipe along with the herbs came from
 Hermana Antonia from Milpillas. She gathered
 them all from the mountains behind her little 
casita.