Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) falls on November 1-2. The holiday is filled with plenty of sweet treats (read more about the holiday in our Día de los Muertos article) and one of the most popular traditions of the holiday is to have a sweet bread called Pan de Muerto. The large bun with finger skeleton shapes on top, is traditionally placed on an altar or grave to welcome back deceased loved ones and to nourish them after their long journey from the afterlife. While the bread is easily found in bakeries around Mexico this tine of year, it’s difficult to find in the U.S. You can make your own at home following this recipe from Mexico in my Kitchen. Another traditional treat is atole, a corn-based hot drink that is consumed during Day of the Dead as well as around Christmas time. It’s comforting, easy to make, and we think it’s the perfect drink to enjoy as the weather gets crisp. Try this recipe from Curious Cuisiniere.
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Mexico’s Endangered Corn
As we lose diversity in our crops, there are many varieties of food in danger of going extinct. Corn, native to Mexico, is one of those foods in danger of losing diversity and a few books published this year, talk about the danger of losing this important food. Check out Endangered Maize and Eating to Extinction: The World’s Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them to learn more. Also related to Mexican corn and just released last month is Masa by Masienda founder Jorge Gaviria. The book highlights history, techniques, and recipes for making and using masa, the corn dough used to make tortillas, tamales, and more. You can also learn more about the history and importance of Mexico’s Heirloom Corn.
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Valle Food & Wine Festival
The Valle Food & Wine Festival is returning to Valle de Guadalupe this October 21-23. The culinary event features an all-star line up of chefs like Nancy Silverton, Rick Bayless, and Aarón Sánchez. Each day will feature 25 chefs and 20 winemakers from the United States, Tijuana, Ensenada, Valle de Guadalupe and Tecate. In addition to the food, there will be a variety of craft brews, artisan cocktails, and live music. For tickets and more information visit www.vallefoodandwinefest.com.