lunes, 10 de junio de 2013

Mexico´s Contribution to Humanity: Flavor and Well Being



The Mexican Ethnic food influence on the entire world is vast. It has survived over time, since it´s versatile, tasteful, delicious and healthy. Because the timeless use of the dishes (some may say a couple  thousands years ago). The United Nations for Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) has granted the Mexican cuisine the title of "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" since 2010, and recognised thus the importance of the Mexican Ethnic food for the world.

Below are some examples and reasons of its importance to our country and the Planet.



The almighty lord and emperor Moctezuma invited the Spanish Hernan Cortes who later became the great conqueror of México to enjoy breakfast with him in his luxurious palace (since the Aztec wanted to avoid war). As the Spaniards were taking their seats at the table, servants were bringing the dishes: black huitlacoche with tomato, hot hand made tortillas, zacahuil, red chilli pepper, avocados, beans, and a mysterious so-called "chocolat" drink with vanilla. Cortes and his soldiers were stunned at the smell, the dishes presentation and later awed at the explosion  of flavor in their palate. As a matter of fact they have never tasted anything like it nor will they ever forget about. The Spanish started to have mix feelings for the barbarians not  knowing how these heretic people could have such an amazing cooking. Cortes the Spaniard could not believe his eyes nor his mouth....the sensation, the feeling of wellbeing invaded him. A new discovery for his senses!.



 Moreover, centuries later Scientists have found that Chocolat heals the heart, helps the blood stream and gives you stamina just to talk about one of the ingredients.

In fact, flavor and healthiness are the main reasons to appreciate the legacy and importance of the Mexican food for the world.

Many years later Bernardino de Sagahun, the Bishop, custodian of the faith in the new land, invited the  Viceroy of the New Spain in the territory of México for supper at the cathedral. Since the occasion was so important, he delegated the job to a monk: Fray Juan, who was a very reputable cook...In fact the monk was very strained and nervous by the visit of the politician and even though he was diligent while he was about to finish  cooking the turkey, by mistake he dropped different varieties  of ingredients  (which were meant for another dish) to the same turkey pot: some almonds, fried bananas, chocolat, red chilli peppers, peanuts and sugar. Fray Juan felt like dying since he did not have any more time left. Unless a miracle would happen, he was fried. As a result, he started to pray, hoping the Viceroy and monsignor would like it. While he was serving the dish, at the same time he  was giving them some cups of Mezcal (later known as tequila) to ease their temper. God had pity of him and granted his wish. This  dish  became known as Mole from that day on (instead of Molli by the Indians)

Certainly this anecdote signals the second reason for the Mexican food to be reputable.: A variety of ingredients and easy ingenious techniques wich have surprisingly last until the present times.

Although a lot of time have passed, we, now in our daily life have for dinner at the table: tamales along  with a delicious sweet drink of atole with a touch of vanilla. A plate offered to our death in the Mexican festivities since ancients times.

From North to South and from east to west of the Mexican Republic its cuisine is rich and full of flavor. There are an incredible number of delicious dishes all for you to discover and enjoy. In fact all of those dishes are really inexpensive, and this is what people really like.

The Maize, the most important legacy of the prehispanic people and one of the 4 most used food products of the world has been chosen to be sheltered in a vault in the Arctic just in case a food crisis hits the earth

Furthermore, there have been some countries  that are producing a lot of the above mentioned prehispanic products since the demand grows more and more every day. Belgium produces chocolat, American and European companies produce tequila now, Tomato is produced by Spain and the United States, and Vanilla is produced by Madagascar, just to mention some to confirm the growing importance of the Mexican pre-Hispanic culinary products of the world.




miércoles, 22 de mayo de 2013

¿Is Life complicated or do we strive to make it so.?



 I am in the eve of my day off, in my green dining room.  It’s almost five o´clock in the afternoon, birds are returning eagerly to their nest, I know it by the beautiful background singing they always make.  It is a ritual, they announce the beginning of a new day, and later in the afternoon, like now, when is time to get back from work and deserve gladly a good meal and rest.

Sporadic noise of the wood shop (where I stayed all morning and part of the afternoon) interrupts my concentration. It is a Hobby and a small business at home, besides from my real job in the oil industry.

Occasionally I also hear my 6 month old Labrador dog barking earnestly calling me to go out and play with her. We usually do not have the pets inside the houses here. We keep them on the Yard.

-It is time to do your homework now- I said to my 5 year old  son, while at the same time I am trying to follow the instructions  that "crafting an effective writer: tools of the trade" course require from me. Time is pressing strongly on my schedule.

Joel. That´s my boy´s name. Like his father´s name, like his grandfather´s name and so on through generations. He is a bright, impulsive boy like any other kid his age.
–¿Ugh?.... Not now- he said.

My writing assignment it’s hard to do, due to the lack of concentration I need.

My son keeps asking me to help him in his math homework. He always complains and keeps telling me:
- "Math stinks, it is an awful, demanding, complicated, and a hard thing to do"- he said to me.

At the same time, my wife beeps me  (on my radio) to let me know my daughter is waiting for me at the University (where she studies Robotics) to take her to the hospital for her checkup. She has not been feeling well lately. Her heart beeps faster from time to time.
-Leave everything and go pick her up  now- My wife said
- I promise to be there and take her to her doctor-I tell her

In spite of all the inconveniences life has to offer, I consider myself a very happy man. I have a beautiful country home, full of different color flowers: Orange, Red, pink, purple bougainvillea’s; white roses, yellow golden cup climbing flowers, blue bushes… all in contrast harmoniously with the big green grass yard we adore, we also have three to four different mango trees, two sort of avocado trees, Papaya, Orange, lemon, Grapefruit, Anona, Zapote, Pistachio trees and more. Hot Chili pepper from the region, we used to have habanero but not anymore. And a lot of coconut trees. Also animals, like squirrels, woodpeckers, sparrows, Chachalacas, Broken bones birds, hawks and more are always coming and going around. In other words…we live in paradise. You may think all we need is the beach, well, we have it too. At a twenty minute distance from here.

Like I said we live in the country, we belong to Papantla County town near here. It is like being on a permanent vacation in spite of the many things we have engaged to do and the time pressure that comes along.

¿Is life complicated or do we strive to make it so? That is why I used this title to write this assignment.



Nouns
Pronouns
adjectives
adverb

Birds
I
Beautiful
Hard

Nest
Their
good
now

Meal
It
Awful
When

Son
Her
demanding
Where

Woodshop
me
Complicated
Why

Dog

hard
 eagerly

life

every
 always, gladly


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journal writing 1