Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo - Tamales y Atole!

Merry X-mas to all enjoying a tropical holiday season!!

   You can be taken by surprise sometimes when you find your self waking up in the middle of the night closing the window, looking for a pair socks or an extra blanket! La Manzanilla nights can be chilly this time of year even for the toughest of snowbirds! So how do people from town deal with the cold weather?...

  They comfort themselves by drinking a nice hot cup of Atole and making some Tamales! All across the country they prepare their own style of Tamales and you can find Atole and Tamales in almost every Mexican  home offered as a holiday favorite dish and drink!

   Atole is a traditional masa based hot drink, chocolate Atole is called Champurrado. Tamales are also made with masa, they are steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper; they can be filled with meat, cheese, fruit, vegetables, chillies, etc... And they have been around since (1200-250 BC)!

  You can find Atole and Tamales for sale at the Jardin by Juan and his wife Judith every night. Or you can take a little walk down to the end of the main street in front of the Kindergarden to a different Juan, he offers delicious sweet Tamales and other kinds of Antojitos Mexicanos that will be well worth your walk!

Tamales de Elote are my favorite kind!

Guayaba Atole is delicious!


Special thanks to Georgett Jacquet Loza*

Pan Artesanal by Doña Cleta

  Looking for an afternoon snack? Keep your eye out for Doña Cleta's wheelbarrow full of goodies! This woman has been selling bread for over 30 years, she still makes her original recipe. Created with all natural ingredients this bread is 100% home made, cooked outside in a oven made of Adobe.

  Her bread is delicious, my personal favorite: Conchas! which are the sweet ones. She also makes Empanadas filled with either coconut, banana or Camote (type of sweet potato) and regular Pan integral.

  You can catch her going down the streets around 4 p.m., the perfect snack after a day at the beach!  

pictures by Lin Magali Loza

Enjoy!

10 Gift Ideas - Support the Local Economy!

Last minute shopping? Here are 10 Gift Ideas that can put a smile on a loved one and a few pesos in a Mexican family's pocket. Happy shopping!

1. Artesanias by Juan Valle :  unique jewelry pieces made with all natural materials, like this great and simple jade, turquoise and coral neckless. (Juan is located right next to the Crocodile lagoon).

  2.- Friday Morning Tianguis: Mini Huipil : you have probably noticed the market setting up every Friday morning at the Jardin, this is a good opportunity to look for gifts, some vendors come all the way from the States of Guerrero and Oaxaca, I love all the colorful dresses called Huipiles, such a sweet gift for a little girl.

  3.-Restaurant Martin's - Cuban Cigars and Boutique: next time you head out for a delicious meal at Martin's don't forget to check out his selection of Manta clothing, it's fresh, light and 100% natural cotton, not to mention hand made. But if you are looking for a special gift for "him" why not a gift he can't find back home?...like hand rolled imported Cuban Cigars!!!

  4.- Martina's Fashion Store - Blusas y vestidos: take some time to walk down to the end of town, hit the soccer field and make a right, Martina's store is right on the corner, next to her house. Choose something from her variety of casual tops and dresses.

  5.- Novedades Juana - Margarita time!: tucked right behind the church, this shop has been here for quite some years now, Juana sells all kinds of stuff , mostly socks, undies, clothes and accessories but this time she has a little something more exciting in stock, a Licuadora! So have no fear that Margarita Party can still happen before the end of the year!

  6.- La Casa del Regalo - Gift wrapping: if you have your gifts but need some wrapping paper, gift bags, bows or just someone to gift wrap for you! La Casa del Regalo is the place to go, they also have all kinds of toys and trinkets for sale.

   7.- Manos Ayudando Bookstore - Hecho a mano: if you are looking for something good to read while you bask under the perfect sun on the perfect beach, don't forget to check out some of the stuff made by the women from La Manzanilla, as well as some paper mache art. This bookstore also serves as a consignment store for some crafts made by locals.

  8.- Galeria La Manzanilla - Efren Gonzales: show your support for our friend Aby and stop by the Galeria, one of Ajijic and La Mazanilla's favorite artist Efren Gonzales is showcasing a new technique and has smaller pieces available that can make perfect presents to take back home.

   9.- Hector's Vivero - Copa de oro: why not give a gift that will blossom all year long! located right down town you can pick out a beautiful flower, a palm, some fresh Mexican herbs or any plant that might complete someones garden. Clay pots are also available at the nursery.

10.- Adas Bazar - Las Catrinas llegaron ya! : conveniently located across the street from La Manzanillas most famous Tacos, come check out all the unique finds while you wait for your order, there is everything from element resistant Bamboo furniture to San Miguel de Allende Shoes!

Felices Fiestas !

Sacale Jugo a La Vida!

  Every morning in La Manzanilla the early risers, the morning exercisers, the business owners, students and workers all rely on one same source of energy...The Juice Lady Doña Mary!!!

She is one of the most reliable women in town! Through rain and shine she has always offered us delicious natural fruit juices, freshly pressed in front of you! She has been doing so since 1991, so for her 20th year anniversary go have yourselves a delicious Jugo Verde which is one of her specialties...

Jugo Verde can be found in every Mercado and juice stand in Mexico, it's the perfect vegan breakfast that could almost count for a meal!

You can choose from a base of :

• Orange juice (loads of Vitamin C, good for stress and digestion) - or
• Grapefruit juice (Vitamin C, cleans your skin, helps you loose weight) - then come the following ingredients :
• Celery (source of potassium, good for hypertension and stress)
• Parsley (helps you loose weight, contains Vitamin A, B and C)
• Pineapple (good for your circulation and digestion, helps with weight loss)  
• Nopal (this ingredient is often optional, but it's so good for you!  it helps with cholesterol, they recommend it for Cancer patients as well as Diabetes patients  and is great for your digestion)

Enjoy!

1 Toy = 1 Smile :) - Annual Jugueton!!!

Shout out to the whole town to make this happen one more time!!!
The Annual Jugueton  is going on for the whole month of December, with various presentations from all the best local talents every Sunday night @ the Jardin (town square). I strongly encourage anybody who wants to express them selves with the town to sign up for the weekly talent show!
The goal here is to get people to donate, money or toys, and make sure no child from La Manzanilla and Los Ingenios goes without a holiday gift.

January 1st will be the last Talent Show night and the toys will be handed out on January 6th, why this date? In many Mexican homes across the country gifts are not unwrapped until Los tres reyes magos come baring gifts for baby Jesus on January 6th. Also on Dia de Reyes you eat yummy Rosca de Reyes. 

If you wish to donate or star in the show you can go talk to the Secretaria at the Delegacion or call her: (315) 35 153 20

Recuerda 1 juguete, 1 sonrisa :)

POSADA SEASON 2011!

December starts with a "cuete" in the air and it does NOT end there!
After the twelve days of procession dedicated to the Mother of Mexico the holiday fiestas are just getting started, it is now time for the " Posadas", which are usually nine days leading up to X-mas night. 
In La Manzanilla "Posadas" can be really fun, usually everybody gets organized by neighborhoods, then everybody gets a task, and for the next 9 days there will be : music, traditional Mexican X-mas carols, "pinatas", "ponche", "atole", "tamales", "bolos" (candy and prizes), fire works, etc.
This is a family event for sure, kids love to have a turn to hit the "pinata", which is supposed to be in shape of a star; with seven spikes, that represent the seven capital sins. I guess this is why you have to hit it so vigorously...?

Any who... If you are in search for more "Posadas" inspired activities, I hear the Botanical Gardens of Puerto Vallarta are hosting a " Posada" event on Dec. 20th / 2 p.m. where you can create you own decorations using "Heno" or Spanish Moss, which is a local Xerophyte plant used in all the nativity scenes and in every Mexican home for X-mas decorating.
But if your feeling like staying local, stop by @ Lora Lokas Posada Night, she is hosting her annual holiday fiesta for $90 a person, starts 7 p.m.

And if you just want to hang out with your neighbors I will upload the schedule for each neighborhood, so you know when your up to bring the holiday cheer " Posadas" style right on your street!
(unless the Priest decides to have them all on the church atrium, which has happened before...) 

F.Y.I.: In Prehispanic Mexico, those same nine days were dedicated to the Aztec God of War - Huitzilopochtli.