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Comida en el Campo

Season Seven, Winter 2008-2009

Comida en el Campo

This week we make an elegant Mexican lunch in the mountain resort village of Valle de Bravo, which lies in Mexico state. Roasted Pork Pibil, Nopal Soufle, and a Crown of Beans made up the menu, as we enjoyed the diverse flavors of Mexico. We washed it down with our Paloma Pura cocktail and refreshing Agua de Jamaica. Learn how to make this elegant Mexican meal, and expand your repertoire of the dinner party recipes.

Cooking Show Video

Although Cochinita Pibil is from the Yucatan Peninsula, it is eaten and loved all throughout Mexico. Sophia's aunt Lupita guides us through this delicious recipe. The achiote paste is loosened up with vinegar and grapefruit juice, which stains the pork a beautiful deep red color and gives it an incredible flavor. We use the marinade for a nice pork shoulder, which we roast slowly for a few hours.

Get recipe: Roasted Pork "Pibil"
March 2, 2009   |   1 comments
Tags: Entrees, Latin America, Marinades, Meat, Mexican, Travel
Cooking Show Video

This is an elegant side dish that you can serve as part of a Mexican menu for lunch or dinner. Nopal, or cactus, is a very common ingredient in Mexican cooking, and is quite versatile. Here we use nopal as part of a "souffle" with cheese, cream, and eggs. The soufle is baked in a puff pastry crust. The nopal can be substituted for other vegetables if you do not have nopal.

February 27, 2009   |   1 comments
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Cooking Show Video

This Crown of Beans is an easy, yet elegant side dish for a Mexican lunch. White and black beans are flavored with chipotle, layered with cheese, and then baked through. The result is a two-toned crown of beans that is spectacular. Crumbled sharp cheese finish it off.

February 26, 2009   |   0 comments
Tags: Healthy, Latin America, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
Recipe

The Paloma is a Mexican drink of tequila and Fresca. Since we love all things natural, we use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and a touch of soda water. These are a great Winter cocktail, while citrus fruits are at their best. Everyone who has tried this drink has loved it. Once you take a sip, you will make these all Winter long.

2 grapefruits, halved
1 juicy lime, halved
1 tablespoon sugar
2 oz. tequila
Soda water
2 fresh basil leaves (Seasonal option)

Squeeze the juice of the grapefruit and lime into a bowl, it should equal about 1 cup. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
Prepare two cocktail glasses with ice. Divide the juice between the glasses and pour 1 oz of tequila into each. Top off with a little bit of soda water.
If using basil, tear up the leaves and add to the glass.
Serves 2.

This refreshing tequila cocktail is made with fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, tequila, and a squeeze of lime. It is the perfect cocktail to serve while citrus is in season.
February 26, 2009   |   2 comments
Tags: Drinks, Latin America, Mexican
Tasty Tip

This dessert was the idea of Sophia's aunt, Lupita Trigos. When she is short on time, she buys artisinal campechanas from a local baker in town. Campechanas are crunchy, sticky pastries made similarly to millefeuille. She crushes them up in a serving platter, and tops them with cajeta, pecans, and vanilla ice cream. It is incredibly easy to put together, and incredibly rich and delicious.

February 26, 2009   |   1 comments
Tags: Desserts, Latin America
Cooking Show Photo

This is a photo of the lake in Valle de Bravo. The quiet resort town is only 2 hours away from Mexico City, yet it feels like a different world.

February 26, 2009   |   0 comments
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