Cactus

This is a nopal cactus and the red fruit is called tuna. To eat the cactus peel the new bright green paddles and  cut off the espinas (stickers) and cut them in tiny squares and cook them with eggs or a salsa. A favorite of Shakara, my 8 year old! And the tunas, after peeling the fleshy fruit is full of seeds but has awesome flavor, sort of like a honeydew melon. Corbin, our youngest, when we pass a cactus full of tunas says, "Si hay tunas". (Yes, there are tunas)  He likes nothing better than stopping and getting some tunas. We have three of these big nopal growing in our yard.

                  

Tacos de bifstek

thin pieces of steak
sliced onion
chopped onion and cilantro mixed together
oil
corn tortillas
jalapenos
limes

This can be made indoors but can be a smokey ordeal. Over an outdoor fire and disc blade or taco pan fry the steaks and move them to a cutting board and chop into fairly small pieces. Here the taqueria uses a big wooden chopping block and a huge knife and they make some noise. Heat a little oil in the same  pan and fry the onion slices until as caramelized as you like. Throw a few jalapenos on to cook beside the onions. Scoop onions to the side and heat the tortillas in the same pan with all that yummy oniony oil. Is oniony a word? Oh well for now it is.

Now to assemble tacos, place hot greasy tortilla in your hand and fill with some chopped beef steak and repeat until you have a giant plate full. An order here is five tacos on small corn tortillas. Serve with grilled onions, cilantro mixture, salsa of choice, and squeeze lime over the top.  MMMmmm

One taco stand here blends up those cooked jalapenos with water and salt. Another one boils the peppers with tomatillos (those green tomatos in papery husks) until they are soft and blends them with a little avocado, cilantro, and salt.

Our Zoo

When we arrived we became the owners of a big fat cat "Don Gato" and a very annoying dog "Oso".

Then we bought a momma burro and her burrito, "Arnulfo". A few months later we sold the momma and kept the furry wee one.

Next we got a parakeet and were told it was a male, hence he was named Hector :) But alas "he" is hollowing out the log of quiote to make a nest. So last week while we were at Esperanza's house we  walked to her cousin's house and picked out a mate. The cousin also says that the female's dig out the nest and yes the cere (nose) of the male is blue and Hector's is not blue. So shall we rename her "Hectoria"? And yes we did buy a male. So only time will tell!

The end of April we bought a little white puppy for Corbin. Every little boy needs a puppy:) The momma dog is a long haired poodle with short legs and the daddy is a Chihuahuan. So its a tiny little thing and looks rather like a rat if you ask me. She was named "Mariposa" (butterfly) by the children. Mariposa was only six weeks old when we got her.

About a month ago Jose and Nicolasa gave us five fluffy baby chicks. So the children's playhouse has new occupants.

And now just yesterday, the children come running up with a big black bunny in a netted bag, grinning from ear to ear. "Look what Manuelito gave to us" they hollered. He is Corbin's little neighbor friend. They informed us that they just let the bunny run loose in their backyard and thats what we need to do.  No thanks I value my flowers and garden more than letting little bunny have his freedom. So Daddy spent the day building a bunny hutch :)

Today a little gray and white kitty was hauled home from Manuelito's house but thankfully soon returned safely to his own little house.

I think for now our zoo is large enough what do you think?

While on the subject of animals, last night all five of us were out on a bike ride, and Oso of course was running along and picking fights with every single dog around. One block from our house we pulled to the side of the road to let the chivas (goats) pass by. AND Oso got into a rip roarin fight with the four gaurd dogs for the chivas. You can imagine the yelling and throwing of rocks that went on. In the end Oso limped home and we still are not sure if there is an eye missing under the swelling. UUggg. I hope he learned his lesson to leave big dogs alone. Back at the house a trembly little Corbin voice said "Daddy feel my heart.
I so scaawwd.) It really was pounding! An evening we'll never forget.

Favorite Hobbies

Lately I'm into making water kefir, a probiotic drink, which my children LOVE! Our company in March brought me the kefir grains and I've been making it ever since. Here and here are two links that I have used.

Beet Kvass is another thing that I have tried. Like this one or or this.

Also a little moto pulls up to my gate and drops off bottles of raw milk straight from the cow ;) So we've been eating homemade yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, butter, ricotta cheese and whatever else I can think of to make with it. The leche costs 50 pesos versus 70 pesos for boughten milk for 5 liters. A peso is around  12 cents US dollars.

And about my knitting, crocheting, embroidery is another post all together....

But this all has to be done right away in the morning or sorta late at night inbetween church services, dentist appointments, visiting and who knows what else. But I love stuff like this so I WILL find time for it if I can.

What do you all have going for hobbies?