On the way to Monterrey

When we drove to Monterrey not for the first time in recent months I noticed all sorts of roadside spectacles. Things I think many of us living in Mexico don't notice at all after a while. I didn't capture each image with the camera but I did snap a few photos on the way. I only wish I had photographed the man herding goats on a bicycle! What priceless views down here in an average day. Necessity is the mother of invention in Mexico!















Many stops along the way offer refreshment while a few offer entertainment of the oldest sort in the world...fewer still offer all of the mentioned!



















Pray you don't have a blowout or flat tire but if you do there are many Vulkas on the way which repair tires.



















The mountain vistas are beautiful on a clear day. On those days you can't imagine a bluer sky or sharper contrast between mountains & Mexican desert.

¡Katerina ama hoteles finos! ~Katerina loves fine hotels!

When the moving truck shows up this pint sized cat can hit the road with the finest! Won't mention where but she knows how to travel in style!!! She has a very hip little pet carrier she stows away in & has recently stayed one well rated hotel in Torreon! No one actually knew she was a guest...but this kitty likes fine things & is a very quiet & polite little guest. There is the popular star rating for hotels, maybe there should be a pet rating for hotels!!! This little furball would give her stay 4 stars****


Some cats just know how to travel!!

¡Joyería hecha con Jarros!

This is a necklace we made 2 days ago while passing the time at my house as the movers packed up the house in Torreon. My dear friend Carolyn is modeling the one we made for her with green silky cord, glass & wood beads & small Jarros, called Jarritos. While these necklaces are popular in San Antonio Texas during Fiesta all of the supplies are to be found South of the Border! I have even seen beautiful wreaths of Corn husk flowers decorated with little Jarros in San Antonio.

We made trips over the past month finding the supplies for this snappy little collar. On side trip even involved digging through a couple of baskets full of the little Jarritos while sitting on a not so clean floor of a Mercado!


¡Carolyn hermosa con la joyería de Jarrito!

Never can say goodbye!

Till the next time...Mi Amigas & South of the Border Martha Stewart prodigies!!!!


















Pollo Chicas & Cat women keep the economy of Torreon afloat with our little outings! If it hasn't been the silver shop, pewter lady or the talavera place we have found ways to keep ourselves occupied. These chicas have been 100% Gold to me! Te falto alot, ya!



I will miss you mucho chicas!




Nos trasladamos a Monterrey muy pronto

On to Monterrey! But I will pass this way again~sooner than later, Chicas!

Where we are going...

Less than a year after moving to Torreon we have 6 days till we hit the road & move to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. To be truthful, the house is located outside of Monterrey. I am dreading the moving, newness & solitude once again. After the packing here, unpacking there & figuring things out; at least we can settle in to enjoy the lush, green mountain views! No, not a beach & there's no sand, but I can pretend! {I say that since I love the beach & everyone who hears we live in Mexico somehow thinks it is Cancun or Cozumel!} It's not Texas however it puts us a little closer to home at least. Let's face it; we Texans are quite versatile & can handle anything as long as it's not forever! As I have told my daughters many times "forever is a LONG time!"





Drowning my sorrows among the crowds
Walking, but not knowing where to go
Staring blankly like a void should
I am here, I am back
But I forgot my heart
Few thousand miles away
So I’m never at home
Until you’re here with me


~Woei Hern...Home is where the heart is
...Okay, not as sad as is sounds, just a wonderful poem!

Salsa This Pepper!

At a meeting this past week I took a black bean salsa that raised a few eyebrows & had several of the Mexican women asking for the recipe. I do feel flattered if one of the locals wants to know how a Tex~Mex variation of one of their recipes came to be. Texas has such a shared cuisine with Mexico (not to mention a border)so it is nice to put a spin on something new! This does have a kick to it as a few of my Ex Patriot friends were trying to put out the fire while eating this salsa...not mentioning any names though~Lil Martha!! The amount of Chipotle Pepper can be adjusted up or down of course. Chipotles date back to a region that is now northern Mexico City, prior to the Aztec civilization. About 1/5 of the Mexican Jalapeno Pepper crop are processed as Chipotle Peppers. Just don't leave this pepper out entirely since it adds a subtle smokey flavor which is nice with the sweet mango of this recipe!
















Mango Black Bean Salsa~with a Kick!
INGREDIENTS
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (7 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 medium mango, peeled, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 finely minced *chipotle peppers in adobo
juice of 2 fresh limes
2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
DIRECTIONS
In medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Serve with baked tortilla chips, if desired
*Chipotle Peppers are smoky flavored canned jalapeno peppers. La Costena is a good brand found at home in the latin section of the grocery store. Look for a tiny 7 oz. can. http://store.amigofoods.com/lacopr1.html

~Chipotle Cream~

1/3 C. sour cream
1 T. chopped fresh cilantro
1 to 2 t. minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
Mix all 3 ingredients together & chill.
Nice addition to Tacos, Fajitas or with fresh veggies!

A steak by any other name...

"Down in Mexico they got ranches so big you can’t ride from one end to the other in a week. It ain’t all fenced in and sold off and played out, not down there." ~Cormac Mccarthy, All The Pretty Horses



















Cattle production is still a big part of life in Northern Mexico. That said, the beef from the Laguna in Coahuila is well known through out Mexico & Latin America.

Breaded steaks have many names: whether they call it Viener Schnitzel in Austria, or Texas Chicken Fried Steaks, the Southern European influence brought Steak Milanese to Mexico. The thin cut beef of Milanese Steak found at the Mexican meat counter is generally used but in Texas we use Cube Steak. Enjoy!

Steak Milanese
4 beef cube steaks approx. 4 ounces each
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. water
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped tomato
3 Tbsp. chopped parsley

Season beef steaks on both sides with the salt and pepper.
In a shallow dish, beat eggs and water until blended. In a second shallow dish combine bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. Dip each steak into egg mixture then into coating mixture to coat both sides.
In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 6 Tbsp. oil over medium to medium-high heat until hot. Add two of the steaks and cook 5-6 minutes, turning once. Remove when cooked & keep warm. Repeat with the remaining two steaks.
Sprinkle with chopped tomato and parsley. Serve immediately



Not far from my Mom's~but a long drive from here. Bar none: the Best Chicken Fried Steak in Texas!! If you haven't been to Bill & Rosas in D'hanis Texas, well worth the trip in a state known for cattle production on the other side of the border.