My first blog

Never written a blog. So this is my first blog. Have been thinking about writing a blog for quite sometime though. Today is November 18th.Let me share some thoughts about the Mexican food and culture which we have been experiencing and enjoying for the past 3 years . Me and my husband shifted our base here in Mexico city on 2006. So its been quite a long journey through the food culture here. Here everybody likes to eat corn bread called Tortill(y)as. Tortillas are like fast food, street food, and staple part of the food. Tortillas are made from maize. Hand made ones are more delicious than the factory generated ones. tortillas are known to have dated back to 3000 B.C. The traditional name of tortilla was Tlaxcalli(Nahuatl language).The Spanish conquistor Hernan Cortes named it tortilla.After the SPanish influence wheat tortillas are also made here. Tortilla making made by curing maize in lime water in a process known as nixtamalization which causes the skin of the corn kernels to peel off . This is a recent phenomenon ,3500years old .Next is grinding which is done in metate made of stone slabs and are pre cooked and then made into dough, then they are pressed into flat patties which are put on comal (terracotta earthenware) or nowadays metal sheets are also used . In villages the young girls still take some time in perfecting this art!! In Mexico machine tortillas which are much finer are common however in Guatemala, El Salvador and Belize hand made tortillas are favourite. They are eaten hot since when cold it becomes rubbery. Tortillas are usually 6 inches across however some Tezoatlán Mixtec cultures can make it 10 to 11 inches accross. Withe advent of machines everything has become mechanised. The fun, frolick and learning is slowly getting lost in many parts but no doubt machines are producing tortillas in plenty and it is saving a lot of time . From Tortillas several foods are made like Enchiladas,Tacos, Tostadas, Flautas,Quesadillas,Chilaquiles, Tortilla soups. Wheat tortillas can be used to make burritos and quesadillas. Corn tortillas can also be fried to be eaten with salsas and guacamoles or avocado dips.

It will be interesting to discuss about each of these foods, their ingredients, recipes, eating times and all. I will write my next blog about all these foods.