Haviland China - Meant to be

Haviland China

Rosalinde

America

While shopping with friends at at Mimi's Attic in Weslaco, Texas, a display of china caught my eye. It wasn't just any china... it was my mother and paternal grandmother's pattern... the one I had inherited.

Oh my goodness... my heart was racing wildly and I tried talking to myself... I had just last year bought eight more placesettings at a consigment antiques mall in Austin, Texas.

Why would I need a dozen more luncheon plates, bread and butter plates... and the coffee caraf ??

Why? Why? Why?

Well, I did not have the coffee caraf.

I left that day with those china dishes sprouting waving

hands and singing, "You'll be back..."

The owner of the store stated that they were hers and she would give me a good deal... $250. Wow!

I returned days later.

China still there.

Ok.

I asked her again... she said she would let me have them

for

$100.

Friends, it was a deal of a lifetime.

It was meant to be.

She packed them gently for me.

I went home and Googled my new china.

The coffee caraf alone was worth four times what I had

paid for the whole set.

Does this make up for all the times I've overspent on items

that were priced too high?? I hope so.

But somehow, the best part of this was I felt like my mother and grandmother both had beautiful smiles on their faces as I gently unpacked the china.

After all...

I was stroking a bit of their legacy.

Visit Coast Charm

for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

Colonial Corn Cake-Casa Fuerte, Tlaquepaque Mexico

Tlaquepaque, Mexico

Colonial Corn Cake

This post will be long, however, I will make it worth it.... every bite! My husband and I traveled to our favorite B&B in Tlaquepaque, town within Guadalajara, Mexico. Later I will post about the B&B, but for now... focus on this wonderful meal at Casa Fuerte, "restaurante en Tlaquepaque".  After checking into our B&B... which I have blogged about in the past, we made our way a couple of streets over to relax and enjoy what we had been waiting for... a cold, cold Tecate Light cerveza and the most fabulous ice cold tamarindo margarita served in a tart, sweet tamarindo crystal rimmed glass. Awhhh!

I need to add that walking into Casa Fuerte was a treat for the senses. Short pine tree branches had been placed on the floor so that when a person walked across them they could hear the crunch and enjoy the aroma of pine as well. Lovely....

A sliced, fresh bolillo was served with butter which was neatly packed in soft corn husks. Too cute! We ordered guacomole which was served with toasted corn tortillas as well as tostados. It was about the creamiest guacomole I've ever eaten. Seasoning perfect!

My husband ordered shrimp bisque which was topped with heavy Mexican cream. Yum!

But for me... Colonial Corn Cake, a dish I had looked forward to enjoying. It is a long, recipe and there are many steps, but it is one of the most delicious recipes I have found in Mexico. It can also be served without the green chile sauce, but with warm honey. I have yet to try this, but I plan to.

For dessert my husband and I shared a fruit cocktail of sorts... all fresh fruit: kiwi, pineapple, papaya, honey dew and apple. It was sprinkled with fresh grated coconut and toped with coconut sherbet.

I have a wonderful surprise for you... the recipe for Colonial Corn Cake!!

Colonial Fresh Corn Cake

8-10 side dish servings

SAUCE
4 c. water
1 fresh poblano chile (about 3 oz.) stemmed, seeded and cut into thick strips
1 small green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into thick strips
1 ½ c. (loosely packed) baby spinach leaves
¼ c. chopped white onion
3 whole cloves
2 garlic cloves, flattened
2 bay leaves
¼ c. (1/2 stick) butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 c. whole milk
2 teaspoons powdered chicken bouillon

CORN CAKE
4 c. fresh corn kernels (cut from 4 ears) – I used frozen corn
4 large eggs
1 c. whole milk
9 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
2 tablespoons sugar
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

SAUCE
Bring 4 cups water to boil in large saucepan. Add poblano chile and next 6 ingredients; boil until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Drain, reserving cooking liquid. Transfer vegetables and ½ c reserved cooking liquid to blender. Blend chile mixture until smooth.
Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add flour, whisk in milk, then blended chile mixture. Whisk sauce constantly over medium heat until it boils and thickens, about 3 minutes. Whisk in bouillon powder. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before using.)

CORN CAKE
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 13x9x2 inch baking dish with foil. Butter and flour foil. Working in 2 batches, puree all ingredients in blender until almost smooth. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until baked golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean… about 1 hour.
Invert cake onto platter. Cut into squares and serve warm with sauce.

As involved as this recipe is, I promise you it is a true delight. I would serve it not only as a side dish for lunch or dinner, but for breakfast. I might also be tempted to serve it for a light lunch with a salad and a glass of ice tea... or maybe some light white wine.

http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

I'm joining with other "foodies" for

Foodie Friday at

Designs by Gollum

Check it out!

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

It's Mosaic Monday so make a visit to

Little Red House for some

great collages!!

Family dinner in Colima, Mexico

Family Dinner in Mexico

I could not resist "collaging" the pictures from the
family dinner we enjoyed with our son's mother.
Family in the area joined us for a very tasty
dinner. We were served a delicious beef soup, topped with
chopped sweet onions.
What grabbed my tasted buds was the warm
recotta (Mexican style) cheese with corn and
small strips of green chilies mixed in with it.
This was served with tostados.
You know I'll be experimenting with this recipe when
I get back to Texas.
Senora Carmen Cardenas, our daughter-in-law's mother,
is always a very gracious hostess and sets a lovely table
in white for all meals except at Christmas when she uses red.
I cringe when I see specks of red sauces and spices which somehow drip here and there, but the next time we dine, the
tablecloth is spotless.
Pictures on my collage: top left: cucumbers and jicima with sea salt, lime and chili;
top center: our grandson, David; right: "nectar of the gods"-- the cheese, corn and green pepper; center: Carmen's beautiful tablescape; bottom left: L-me and R-Carmen (we both decided this was not our best pictures... we look much younger and slimmer in person ;-); bottom: L- Marcela, cousin and R - Carmen, our granddaughter

One amazing fact about these pictures - these rooms where the meal was prepared and served in were outdoors.
If you look above the table at the background you will see Carmen's fully equiped kitchen. She has another one inside the house but it is rarely used.
All of this furniture is outside year around. The weather is
conducive to this type of living... with the exception that July and August are truly very warm.
In case you were wondering about dessert:
cheese cake topped with dewberries
and also apple cake...
all served with wonderful coffee, cooked on the stove
with cinnamon.

Siesta time!

Today I am linking to
Between Naps on the Porch
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thursday
Come for a visit!!

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Show and Tell Friday at

My Romantic Home

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Foodie Friday by
Designs by Gollum

Old Ranch House to Party Home in Mexico

This picture was actually taken in 1995.

My husband was sure that we could make this old house

into a place for family gatherings in Mexico.

I could not see much hope!

Now this IS a great place for family get-togethers.

The bath house was added.

This is similar to a "palapa"... a covered area

for eating and visiting.

It's been the traditional gathering place for some of

our granddaughter's birthday parties.

In the background you see the "aquaduct" which will

soon actually have water coming out of it at the end.

My husband wanted this added for "effect". Great idea!

Here is the view of the actual house. It still amazes me.

We worked with a great architect and all labor was

done by some great workmen.

Rancho Don Pedro, named after my husband's father, "Pete", is truly a place for retreating from busy, hot days

on the farm in Mexico. We'll make a trip out there this evening for some relaxation.

Visit "My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia"

http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

for Tuesday's Treasure

to see treasures galore!

Manzanillo, Mexico - Today!

Manzanillo, Mexico

I only have a few minutes to post and pictures are just

not cooperating, but just wanted to show

you a little piece of what we saw today here in Manzanillo.

We are here on business... so why not mix a little pleasure

in with a business trip?

Lunch on the beach was delicious... shrimp and fish!

More pictures to come ....

"Eat 'til you see the little Mexican boy"

"Eat 'til you see the little Mexican boy."

Ruby Opal Heath Boykin - Mother "B"

Mother "B", my grandmother, had such unique ways of getting us to do what she felt was the right thing to do. She owned several bowls like the ones above. When we spent the night with her she would serve different foods in these bowls such as her wonderful chili con carne, soup, chips and chili con queso (always made in her cast iron skillet), King Ranch Chicken, or else cold cereal... which was always a snack and not a meal at her home.

Here is Mother "B" with my two younger brothers when we were living in California. Two of my grandmother's sayings were:

• "These earrings are too big. I look like the lead horse in a circus."
• "Now go to sleep so the little boys and girls in China can have the sun."

I can't wait to try out my new bowls.

I'll make chili for old times sake...

and eat 'til I see the little Mexican boy.



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I found these four bowls today at a "junk" store.

Needless to say, I snatch them right up.

$9 for the set.

They are priceless in my mind of memories!

http://bargainhuntingwithlaurie.blogspot.com/

I'm barely getting in under the wire to help Laurie celebrate

Bargain Hunting and Chatting.

Give her a visit for some wonderful finds!

Thanks, Laurie.

One Tuesday I'll be linking to

http://www.thegypsyscorner.com/2011/03/120th-three-or-more-tuesday.html

The Gypsy Corner
for Three or More hosted by Tam.
Wait until Tuesday and come see what treasures have been posted.