¿Qué me dicen, si antes de cualquier cosa, se lanzan por cosas para hacer un caldito de queso? Y así ya está todo listo para mañana.- Se escucha decir a mi mamá un sábado por la tarde. Y es que, desde que tengo memoria, en mi casa es una tradición hacer el caldo cuando la […]

¿Qué me dicen, si antes de cualquier cosa, se lanzan por cosas para hacer un caldito de queso? Y así ya está todo listo para mañana.- Se escucha decir a mi mamá un sábado por la tarde. Y es que, desde que tengo memoria, en mi casa es una tradición hacer el caldo cuando la familia está reunida, o después de una fiesta, casi siempre en domingo. Es uno de los pocos platillos que disfrutamos todos en la familia y es algo muy sonorense. El ritual familiar dicta sentarnos todos cerca en lo que hacen el caldo, para platicar y reir hasta que la mamá dice ¡ya está! Y entonces nos acercamos con nuestro plato. El caldo hirviendo y el queso desapareciendo. Sin embargo, lo mejor es el recalentado. Es por eso que mi mamá lo hace en la olla más grande que tiene. Esta receta, está ya tan clavada en nuestro ADN que mi mamá ni siquiera lo tiene en su viejo

y deshojado cuaderno de recetas. Cuando le hablé, porque se me había antojado prepararlo, me la dijo de memoria, sin tanteos. “Es lo más fácil del mundo”. Mi abuela lo hacía, mi mamá lo hace y hasta hace poco lo empecé a hacer yo, cuando invité a una amiga a comer. Cae como ángel en las nubes a un estómago medio torturado. Esta es la receta de la casa. Claro que habrá varias formas de prepararla, y cada familia tendrá su “receta secreta”. Pero la idea es que, conforme la vayan haciendo y probando, le agreguen o le quiten elementos hasta que quede a su gusto. Menos el queso, obvio, si no, ya no se llamaría caldo de queso. Caldo de Queso (para 4 personas) Ingredientes: 1 puré de tomate 3 chiles poblanos 3 papas Sal o consomé de pollo al gusto (o consomate) ½ litro de agua ½ litro de leche 3 tazas de queso asadero,…

“What do you say, before we do anything else, you go get stuff to make a caldito de queso? That way everything is ready for tomorrow,” my mom said one Saturday morning. As long as I can remember, it’s been a tradition in my family to make caldo (broth) when the family gets together, or […]

“What do you say, before we do anything else, you go get stuff to make a caldito de queso? That way everything is ready for tomorrow,” my mom said one Saturday morning. As long as I can remember, it’s been a tradition in my family to make caldo (broth) when the family gets together, or after a fiesta, usually on Sunday. It’s one of the few dishes we enjoy together as a family, and it’s very Sonoran. The family ritual dictates we all sit together while the caldo is being prepared, so we can chat and laugh until mom says, “It’s ready!”  Then we all gather round with our plate, broth steaming and cheese melting. Nevertheless, the best part is heating up leftovers, which is why my mother always uses the largest pot she has. This recipe is so entrenched in our DNA, my mother doesn’t even have it written down in her aging notebook full of recipes.  When I called her, because I

had the urge to prepare caldo, she recited it from memory without hesitation, “It’s the easiest thing in the world.” My grandmother makes it, my mother makes it, and just recently I’ve begun to make it myself, after inviting a friend over to eat.  It is like an angel tumbling from the clouds into a half tortured stomach. This is our home recipe. Of course there may be different methods of preparation, and each family has its “secret recipe.”  The idea is as you continue to prepare and test it, you’ll add or take away elements to your own liking…well, except the cheese of course because without cheese it would no longer be “caldo de queso.” Caldo de Queso (serves 4) Ingredients: 1 small box of tomato purée 3 chile poblanos 3 potatoes Salt or chicken broth to taste (or Consomate) ½ liter of water ½ liter of milk 3 cups of cubed asadero, chihuahua, or…

Socorro González and his wife Nina Mier are synonymous with art, literature, film, and cultural promotion in Puerto Peñasco, and across the region. Ever since Socorro’s own Foto-septiembre exhibition “Intromisiones” late last year, MoKa Hammeken of Rocky Point 360 has been anxious to catch up with him.  Here are some excerpts (in English) from her […]

Socorro González and his wife Nina Mier are synonymous with art, literature, film, and cultural promotion in Puerto Peñasco, and across the region. Ever since Socorro’s own Foto-septiembre exhibition “Intromisiones” late last year, MoKa Hammeken of Rocky Point 360 has been anxious to catch up with him.  Here are some excerpts (in English) from her recent conversation with this unpretentious artist, photographer, filmmaker, father, husband, and friend.  (Original in Spanish)  Socorro can generally be found Tuesday evenings outside Café Puerto Viejo for the popular CineMartes nights, offering free art film showings around 8:30 p.m.  González has also been awarded grants through the State Fund for Culture and the Arts (FECAS) Stimulus Program for Creation and Artistic Development, with which he is currently working on his first film. Socorro González - CineClub's Hyperactive Member By Moka Hammeken I’ve been wanting to interview Socorro for quite some time, but he’s shy and elusive as a fish. He's an intriguing person, offering lively and interesting conversation, and a lover of

film. Speaking with him about images (whether static or in movement) is to enter into an alternate world beyond that which we perceive. He can name, almost as if they were buds, directors and photographers, as well as illustrators and writers. He is introspective and contemplative, though on occasion he can let out a comment without warning, throwing a curve ball, revealing his playful and truculent though fun side. I know you know him. You’ve seen him at almost all the events, with a camera around his neck or caring for a video camera set up on a tripod, building a detailed visual memory of the moment. “I have a degree in Hispanic Literature from the University of Sonora,” states Socorro. “Still, I’ve always preferred the visual, though my degree has served me well. Definitely if I hadn’t studied that, I wouldn’t have doors open to me in the area of knowledge, language,…

Cuando hizo su exposición, Carlos Sánchez le hizo una entrevista bastante buena (la pueden leer en la página de MamboRock) y le pedí permiso para ponerla en la página, para que ustedes pudieran conocer más de Socorro en su momento, pero cuando se lo comenté a Socorro, me dijo “No que, tú dijiste que me […]

Cuando hizo su exposición, Carlos Sánchez le hizo una entrevista bastante buena (la pueden leer en la página de MamboRock) y le pedí permiso para ponerla en la página, para que ustedes pudieran conocer más de Socorro en su momento, pero cuando se lo comenté a Socorro, me dijo “No que, tú dijiste que me ibas a entrevistar y quiero que tú me entrevistes”. Entonces me encogí de hombros y le agradecí a Carlos, ni qué decir. Entonces, desde hace tiempo que he querido entrevistar a Socorro (checando mi agenda del año pasado, tengo varias notas al respecto), pero es tímido y esquivo como un pez. Es una persona intrigante, de plática amena e interesante y un amante del cine. Hablar con él de imágenes (ya sea estáticas o en movimiento) es adentrarse a un mundo alterno diferente del que no nos habíamos percatado. Conoce de nombre, como si de cuates se tratara, tanto a directores como a fotógrafos, ilustradores y escritores. Es muy introspectivo y reflexivo pero en ocasiones suelta comentarios sin ponerte

sobre aviso, agarrándote en curva, revelando un ser juguetón y de humor truculento pero divertido. Me hacía burla porque cuando ya iba decidida a entrevistarlo, se desaparecía en sus múltiples obligaciones, o se ponía a platicar con Ariel y me daba largas “mejor mañana”, “ahorita ando cansado”, “no se me ocurre nada”. Otras veces salía fuera del puerto, estaba organizando algo junto con Nina, tenía que adelantarle a su proyecto; tenía otros compromisos, otras veces yo no podía. “Ya vez, es que tienes que hacer cita con tiempo pues” decía divertido mientras yo torcía la boca. -Entonces por internet. Te mando las preguntas y me las contestas a tu tiempo y ritmo- le comenté un día por chat - Nel- escribió casi de inmediato- el chiste es que tú la escribas. Ante mi insistencia, uno de los tantos días de diciembre me dijo a modo de…

Given an expected cold front set to roll into the area this weekend*, we thought we’d bring up this goodie from last year to help keep us all warm.  ¡Buen provecho! *Granted, “cold front” may be all relative for anyone visiting us from points North.   By MoKa Hammeken  (Republished from Jan. 2013) January is […]

Given an expected cold front set to roll into the area this weekend*, we thought we'd bring up this goodie from last year to help keep us all warm.  ¡Buen provecho! *Granted, "cold front" may be all relative for anyone visiting us from points North.   By MoKa Hammeken  (Republished from Jan. 2013) January is a grand month. It begins with tremendous energy, stuffed (like a turkey) with resolutions, optimism, and cozy cold temperatures calling for jackets, blankets, and layers of clothing. We treat the New Year like a magical being, covered in a padded cape of fairy dust. When eating twelve grapes at midnight (on New Year’s Eve), with our eyes closed and our hearts anxious, we wish for many many things and (if I’m not mistaken) a common denominator within these New Year resolutions is that of achieving the much sought after, and thousand times imagined, body of our dreams. Not a soul can be found at fast food restaurants, just

the poor kids working there who must be having fun as if it were their vacation. Nevertheless, our enthusiasm seems to decrease as we start to take off the layers of clothing engulfing us, obviously not expecting to see any change at all. So then the lettuce and tomato begin to beg for accompanying partners within two slices of bread…possibly a generous portion of ham or cheese and of course hopefully the waitress won’t forget how well these go with a good serving of French fries. I imagine the cold doesn’t help much either. Very few of us crave lettuce when we’re shivering; in our minds, the synonym for “fresh” is polar ice cold – still, there are other options, like soup. So, we turn to a rich and comforting soup for the season, with a variety of healthy vegetables that will help us meet our goals. This can be accompanied with one or two pieces of…

By MoKa Hammeken February 24th is a solemn day as it is the day dedicated to one of the most important patriotic symbols of Mexico, which gives the spirit of unity and belonging to Mexicans either within or outside of the country: the Flag. Mexico’s flag is well-known internationally by its colors and coat of […]

By MoKa Hammeken February 24th is a solemn day as it is the day dedicated to one of the most important patriotic symbols of Mexico, which gives the spirit of unity and belonging to Mexicans either within or outside of the country: the Flag. Mexico’s flag is well-known internationally by its colors and coat of arms. The flag waves fervently during festivals and moments of national pride. Yet, this banner does more than simply identify us as fans of any sports team; it has signified the ideals, victories, and efforts to build an independent nation. Many historians consider the famous banner of Miguel Hidalgo (Virgen de Guadalupe), waved during the famous “grito de Dolores” (cry for Independence), as the first Mexican flag. This was on September 16, 1810. In 1813, the insurgents came up with another design, which became the flag that accompanied María Morelos y Pavón in his struggles; it was a blue rectangle with another white rectangle and in

the center a crowned eagle perched on a nopal cactus, above there was a door with three arches and the initials “VVM” (Viva la Virgen María). [The significance of the eagle perched on a nopal is representative of an ancient Aztec legend of God telling wandering Aztecs that when they came across an eagle eating a snake while perched on a nopal cactus growing out of a rock surrounded by water, that is where they were to build their home. That spot became Tenochtitlán, or rather modern day Mexico City.] It was not until 11 years later that, following the Plan de Iguala that brought together the troops of Agustín de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero to create the Trigarante Army, would the struggle for independence come to an end. It was then on February 24th when Iturbide decided to create a flag that would reflect the ideals of the Insurgent movement, contracting the tailor José Magdaleno Ocampo to make…

With Valentine’s Day nearing, I’ve listened to some terrified and woeful souls who don’t know what they’re going to gift. Men regularly go for the safe bet, guided by a few movies or department store aisles: flowers (indisputable and omnipresent), chocolate, wine, dinner out, stuffed animals, and balloons.  Some of the braver ones fulfill their […]

With Valentine’s Day nearing, I’ve listened to some terrified and woeful souls who don’t know what they're going to gift. Men regularly go for the safe bet, guided by a few movies or department store aisles: flowers (indisputable and omnipresent), chocolate, wine, dinner out, stuffed animals, and balloons.  Some of the braver ones fulfill their fantasies by giving lingerie or escaping off to a hotel. Everything’s red, black, pink, along with the requisite shape of a heart and soppy Hallmark phrases. However, women more often than not are those who suffer over these ideas. Their heads dance with rings, bracelets, necklaces, fireworks, mariachi trios, or perhaps a sole guitarist or violinist, limousines, airy dresses, romantic adventures, or, if it were possible, perhaps a meteor shower. I’m not going to tell you to stop watching romantic comedies, or those that should come with a box of Kleenex and a warning label attached (though that’s a good recommendation), but rather to relax and seek other options…. …

so, in addition to tempting Facebook offers at stores, restaurants, hotels, etc. here are a few ideas: A book It doesn’t matter if the one you love is not a bookworm, there are books for all likes. (I wouldn’t necessarily recommend a how-to or self-help book though, as this isn’t really the occasion). The fun part is after unwrapping it, you can go off somewhere together to read. Have a picnic This is an easy one here in Puerto Peñasco – we go to the beach. Another idea is to get the bikes out, now that they’re very much in style, and bike out to your favorite spot. Show off your culinary skills Even better than a restaurant, prepare something delicious to devour together. Decorate with candles or dimly lit lamps, put on some music, toast each other and enjoy while you collaborate in the kitchen. Once the food is ready, rather than sitting down…

A tan sólo unos días de San Valentín y he escuchado a algunas almas aterradas y entristecidas porque no saben que regalar. Los hombres por lo regular se van por lo seguro, guiados por algunas películas o los pasillos de las tiendas departamentales: flores (indiscutibles y omnipresentes), chocolates, vino, una cena en algún restaurante, peluches, […]

A tan sólo unos días de San Valentín y he escuchado a algunas almas aterradas y entristecidas porque no saben que regalar. Los hombres por lo regular se van por lo seguro, guiados por algunas películas o los pasillos de las tiendas departamentales: flores (indiscutibles y omnipresentes), chocolates, vino, una cena en algún restaurante, peluches, globos, los más osados cumplen sus fantasías escapándose a algún motel y/o regalando lencería. Todo en rojo, negro, rosa, con la necesaria forma de corazón y frases cursis y remasticadas tipo Hallmark. Sin embargo, son más las mujeres quienes sufren por esa sequía de ideas. En su cabeza dan vueltas anillos, pulseras, collares, fuegos artificiales; tríos, mariachis o algún un guitarrista o violinista, limusinas, vestidos vaporosos, escapadas románticas, si se puede una lluvia de estrellas, pero en estos casos, la cartera es el límite. No les voy a decir que dejen de ver películas de comedia rosa o de esas que deberían de venir con una caja de kleenex y una advertencia sobre la intensa sorbedera de mocos, (aunque sería lo

más recomendable), si no que hay que relajarnos y buscar otras opciones. Se trata de festejar, no de que nos salga una úlcera. Entonces ¿qué regalar y qué hacer? Bueno, aparte de lo ofrecido en los anaqueles y promociones de facebook de restaurantes, hoteles y demás, se me ocurrieron algunas ideas. Regala un libro No importa que no sea una persona muy afecta a la lectura, hay libros para todos los gustos; aquella novela cuyo protagonista se basaron sus padres para ponerle su nombre o esa que te encantó y que te gustaría que leyese para platicarla; ese cuento que le fascinaba de pequeño(a), algún libro de escritores sonorenses (o de la región donde vivan) les sorprenderá la variedad de temas que hay y como los abarcan. Un libro de cuentos de terror o de poemas románticos, eróticos o gore; uno de fotografía. No…

At my grandmother’s, the famous “cocido de res Sonorense” (Sonoran cooked beef) was known as “puchero” (stew). She would greet us with this dish every time we visited her home on Calle de Xochicalco in Mexico City. My family always delighted in this, though personally I must admit I wasn’t much of a fan. “Monica,” […]

At my grandmother’s, the famous “cocido de res Sonorense” (Sonoran cooked beef) was known as “puchero” (stew). She would greet us with this dish every time we visited her home on Calle de Xochicalco in Mexico City. My family always delighted in this, though personally I must admit I wasn’t much of a fan. “Monica,” my grandmother would scold, “How is this possible? This is from where you are from, and it’s beef, how can you not like it? Taste it, it came out really well.” It was always the same. We would eat this for the first two days because, in her excitement, she would always cook a lot. She really did prepare it well, but honestly I was always holding out for a milanesa, enchiladas, or tacos de canasta. Now here in Puerto Peñasco, one day a friend of mine called up: “It’s Tuesday, Cocido de Res day at Lolita’s; do you want some, because they’ll run out.” “What is it?,” I asked naively. “It’s like

a beef broth with vegetables.” I still didn’t understand the relationship of one with the other; I heard beef, broth, beef…I could leave the vegetables to the side if I didn’t like them. “Ok,” I answered. When my friend arrived at my home with a styrofoam cup, imagine my surprise to see this was the famous dish my family had baptized “puchero”! I became a bit nostalgic; it was delicious (though not like my grandmother’s). While my friend lived here, she would go to Lolita’s religiously almost every Tuesday for their famous Cocido de Res. The thing is, one cannot always go out to eat and/or buy enough for the whole family. Plus, what happens when it runs out and you’ve still got a hankering for it? I decided to go to the phones for a recipe. This is the original, which my mother had jotted down in a notebook that no…

We all know what a tamale is. We’ve enjoyed them at parties, celebrations, and feasts and above all they are the guests of honor on February 2nd, the Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas Day), when those who found a small doll in their slice of Rosca de Reyes on Jan. 6th now have the obligation […]

We all know what a tamale is. We’ve enjoyed them at parties, celebrations, and feasts and above all they are the guests of honor on February 2nd, the Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas Day), when those who found a small doll in their slice of Rosca de Reyes on Jan. 6th now have the obligation to bring the tamales! While we know tamales are a dish quite typical of Mexico and Central America, we do not know specifically who created them or how recipes have been passed down. According to archeologists Karl Taube, William Saturno and David Stuart, tamales date back to 100 B.C. They have found pictorial references in the Mural of San Bartolo in Petén, Guatemala. Isn’t that incredible! Tamales have been around since then!  This is why tamales are so deeply rooted on our palette and in our celebrations. What we do know is the famous corn tamale is a culinary tradition in Sonora. For generations these tamales

have been the envy and wonder of many, with a taste so very typical of the region. I remember my mom would go crazy, while my grandmother’s eyes would widen upon hearing “corn tamales from Magdalena,” which they would joyfully (though properly) devour, freezing leftovers for another occasion. I am sure many have their regional favorites, but we have family [in Magdalena] and I lived there as a girl which is why the taste stirs up family gatherings.  My father, nevertheless, is not as much of a fan as he only like tamales prepared with cooked cheese. So, in order to shine this February 2nd, I leave you with a delicious recipe for Tamales de Elote, which is a traditional recipe according to Sonoran Regional Cuisine. Tamales de Elote Ingredients 5 kilos of white corn (36 pieces on average) 2¼ kilos of green chile (Anaheim chiles) 750 grams of vegetable shortening 400 grams of white cheese 1 cup of…