Friday, January 28, 2011

Making Tacos...


When Ryan and I first came to Mexico, the Farfan family invited us over for tacos. They were sooo good! Ever since then I have been hoping that Brother Farfan would take some time to teach me how to make the different salsas and meat for the tacos...
Well, the day arrived this week. They were everything I remembered! Below are some pictures of the afternoon!

This is Brother Farfan cutting up the bistek

Here is the bistek cooking. When making the meat you really only need to add a little salt and oil to your steak cooking. You also need the steak to be nice and thin. The butcher cuts the meat this way, specifically for making tacos.

Here is the Chorizo (pork) that comes in sausage links. All you have to do is remove the casing and cook up the meat. It comes seasoned... I hope I can find a decent carniceria (butcher shop) in the US!

Below is my FAVORITE salsa called salsa Verde. If at all interested in how to make this, shoot me an email and I will give you the recipe. It is a bit spicy, but you can adjust that in the recipe. The salsas are what give tacos their oomph!

The "verduras" or veggies you dress your tacos with. It really is just cilantro and onion diced up, but is soo yummy on the tacos too!


Salsa Roja: This is also a very good salsa. It has a different kick than the green salsa. The spiciness comes at the end of the taste.


Here are all the yummy ingredients we used. Tacos aren't as unhealthy as I thought. It's mostly just a bunch of veggies and meat on a tortilla. I think the stands around town make their tacos so yummy by dipping the tortillas in pork grease before heating them up... this is what prob puts on the fat cals. too, because let's face it, you don't normally lose weight eating Mexican!


I need to post a finished product picture! I totally spaced taking a picture at the end. But as we are having leftovers for lunch, I will be sure to take a picture then!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Last day at UVM clinic




So, only a month left before I head up to the US for seven weeks to have Doodle. I decided to end volunteering at the UVM clinic a month early so that I can focus on getting things ready for Doodle and me and spend a little more time with Fronk. After all, these are the last days for Ryan and I to have time with just each other. I think the movie theater will be seeing us a lot!

I loved volunteering at the clinic and met some WONDERFUL people. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening I was in physical therapy (which I enjoyed more than I thought I would). I loved working with the patients there. Every Wednesday morning I moved around different Dr. offices and shadowed/helped drs during their consultations. I LOVED this as well! I was mostly with a Gen Med Dr., Dr Tinoco. She rocks and I learned quite a bit from her! Also loved Gyno.

Unfortunately, I don't have a pic with Lucrecia, one of my favs from physical therapy or a pic with Dr. Tinoco. But here are some of my other favorite people from physical therapy on my last day. I will miss working with them!



Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Summer again!!!

So, I don't know if you could tell from my blogs in December... but I was getting a little jealous of all of you who live in four season places. More depressed, than jealous really. Isn't that ironic? Usually I get down in the winter months BECAUSE of the snow and not enough sunlight!

The holidays just didn't feel the same without the seasons changing. My sweet hubby even made me a snow man from the snow cone machine to make me feel better! haha, how ironic again?!
Well, I am finally out of that downer mood and guess what? Yesterday I woke up to the birds singing and the sun shining and it felt great! It is a balmy 80 degrees. I am back to my love for summer again. I think the flowers in my background is a pretty good description of my feelings about it all... that and that's the most Valentin-y this blog is going to get! Im not one for hearts and roses all over the place.

So pretty much I am ready for a bbq and some camping... anybody game?
I am pretty sure the only individuals who read my blog are my friends and fam., so here is your invite to come visit me and escape the winter snow!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Argh

Why can't I find the option to change my font colors!?
Help?

Friday, January 14, 2011

365 days in Mexico

One year ago from January 12, Ryan and I came to live in Queretaro, Mexico.

I can hardly believe that we have been here a full year. It has been such a fun and interesting experience. After having this epiphany, Ryan and I started reflecting over the year...
here are some of our Mexican highlights and things that we have learned while being down here

1. I think one of my favorite things about Mexico, which I relive each week, is the ridiculously inexpensive food at the outdoor Market. I love bringing home 2-4 bags of delicious fruits, veggies and fresh chicken for only $15. It really just makes my day every week.

2. Tacos al Pastor- These are my and Ryan's favorite Mexican dishes! Tacos al Pastor are made with tasty pork smothered in seasoning, slow cooked on a rotisserie and then sliced into a hot, fresh, greasy tortilla. Finally topped with cilantro, yummy hot salsa, onions and pinneapple. Heaven!

3. Watching Ryan learn Spanish and adapting to the Latin culture. I think he has more patience with some of the cultural isms than I do. (Ps, Thanks babe for all the mutual giggles while learning this language. Example, using "azteca" for "estaca" throughout an entire meeting or the infamous "pajero" en vez de "pajaro" at girls' camp! haha, never gets old! ... oh yeah, and como va tu oyo?)

4. Learning to pay electric bills five days before it's due. If not, they shut off your electricity for days!! Refer to past post for details

5. Realizing that Google Maps for Mexico is completely off and ends up sending you in all directions. I refuse to use it anymore.

6. Understanding what a guiso is. The typical Queretana comida.

7. Avoiding taxibuses like the plague! They are the most reckless drivers and every time I am driving near one of these beasts I realize that I am holding my breath and clenching the steering wheel.

8. Accepting the fact that the work day doesn't end until 7 pm or later for most. So when Ryan has meetings going into the night, don't get frustrated...

9. As much as Mexico City is great with what it has to offer... my motto is "get in, get out, get on with your life" for this place. There are sooo many people, traffic's crazy, and you don't want to get stuck in the wrong places.

10. I ironically enjoy the well known fact that the Narcos families tend to live in Queretaro. That's why it's nice and quiet here, nobody wants to get things wriled up... it's a family sort of town

11. Don't take your shoes off. Barefeet doesn't exist here... (You'll get weird looks if you attempt it)

12. Dressing normal here is dressing up for me normally

13. There is a ridiculous amount and variety of chilies here and I think they are eaten at just about every meal!

14. C on the water faucet doesn't mean cold...

15. You will not find Halls cough drops in the pharmacy section, but in the candy section of the grocery stores

16. Driving isms:
Emergency Flashers don't mean emergency, it means there is traffic ahead.
People will turn right/left from any lane
Don't worry if you see police lights behind you, the police keep their lights on all the time

Im sure we could come up with a bunch more... but I think this is a decent start.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Week 29

Just a couple pics from yesterday's appt. Again, he was face down and scrunched up. Sorry no great pictures. He is growing big and doesn't have as much space as he used to. Dr said he was about 1.4 kg (which is 3.1 pounds)!



Doodle all balled up
(His head is on the right and the Dr. is checking
his food supply)


And this my friends is a part of the reason why we can't see his face.
He made little fists and hid his face behind them.
I think he wants to keep us in suspense and make a grand debut in a few months!
What a tease.