What do expats miss? Topping the list miss are Miracle Whip, Cheez-Its, sweet pickle relish, peanut butter, horseradish, molasses and sharp cheddar cheese.
Stories by Janet Blaser
Squash blossoms: stuff them, add them to salads or put them in a quesadilla
Lightly battered or not, stuffed with a mild cheese, they can be eaten as an appetizer; the delicate squash flavor also lends itself well to egg dishes.
Versatile chayote — stuff it like a squash or use it raw in salad
This odd-looking vegetable is actually a fruit and an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants and a good source of fiber too.
Tequila’s wild and unpredictable cousin: mezcal is complex and surprising
While mezcal aficionados advise sipping slowly to fully enjoy the beverage, it’s also a versatile base for a multitude of cocktails.
With lots of fresh fruit and veggies available, time for Ensalada Navideña
One of the most confounding aspects about living in Mexico was adjusting to the growing seasons: summer here is not when things grow.
It’s baking season: try these recipes with pecans, or walnuts if available
Mexico produces about half of the world’s total crop of pecans and they’re harvested in October/November – coincidentally just in time for holiday baking.
Stevia is a calorie-free sweetener that is easy to prepare from fresh leaves
Bear in mind that you can’t just replace sugar with stevia in baking; whatever you’re making won’t have the same texture or browning.
Jamaica flowers are good for tacos and make a refreshing drink
Flores de jamaica are hibiscus flowers, but not the big, colorful, decorative ones. This is a different variety, roselle hibiscus, or Jamaican sorrel.
Food for thought: restaurant etiquette for those who want to integrate
This is about restaurant etiquette – yours, not the waiter’s or anybody else’s. It’s about good manners and being considerate; basically, being a grown-up.
For a brown sugar substitute, try rich and earthy-flavored piloncillo
Piloncillo – those cones of what look like brown sugar in every market and grocery store – is similar enough to use as a substitute.
A tuna salad sandwich isn’t quite the same without tuna from a tin
Today we’re going to talk about canned tuna. Yes, fresh tuna is available but many of us have a special place in our hearts for a good tuna salad sandwich.
Expat 101: moving to Mexico is best done with some preparation
When I moved to Mexico 13 years ago, I felt like I was well prepared. Yet it was still a bumpy (though often amusing) ride until I felt comfortable.
Always keep a bowl of limes at hand to use in all kinds of dishes
Limes have become such a standard part of my regular diet that I forget how “exotic” they are. They’re cheap, plentiful and used in every kind of dish.
At the market, grocery shopping becomes an enjoyable experience
Since I moved to Mexico, grocery shopping has become one of my most enjoyable activities. In fact, the local mercado, or market, is just a hoot.
Do you worry about those unrefrigerated eggs? Don’t
There’s so much that’s different about eggs here in Mexico, starting with how they’re stored unrefrigerated.
Look for different flavors and textures in the many varieties of papaya
Some papayas taste like a vanilla pear, but with a softer, almost melt-in-your-mouth pillowy feel; others are more firm, with more melon-like flavors.
Try cooking with fresh coconut: it’s plentiful, inexpensive, healthy and delicious
Adapting recipes to incorporate local ingredients can often lead to discovering surprising and delicious dishes and combinations hitherto unimagined.
Life in Mexico seems normal until you consider how little it costs
From medical care to basic utilities to dining out, the cost of living is unbelievably low in Mexico.
