A Mad Scientist's View of El Dia de Los Muertos

A Mad Scientist's View of El Dia de Los Muertos

This is the time of year when many cultures celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day. It is a time for honouring the dead while allowing life to go on for family members left behind.

It's a very colourful celebration in Mexico. Altars are built, graves decorated and fanciful skeletons and skulls appear everywhere.

Sugar skulls are a traditional Mexican art form. They are made from sugar mixed with egg white and packed into forms. The decorations range from simple to elaborate.

Examples of decorated sugar skulls (http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/)

The sugar skulls can also be made from salt dough (http://quazen.com/recreation/crafts/easy-crafts-for-children-salt-dough/) , plaster, clay or polymer clay.

Feasting is part of the celebration. Foods are prepared to place on the altars or on the family graves. Many of the sweets and breads are shaped like bones, skulls or skeletons.

Try this recipe for Pan de Muerto (or Bread of Death) for celebrating the Day of the Dead!

http://notecook.com/bread/pan-de-muerto-bread-of-death/

Buen provecho!

Some favourite Southwestern recipes

Having had to relocate to the US Southwest, it was logical to investigate the local cuisine. The Mad Scientist is avid cook as well as mad scientist! Southwestern cooking has its roots in Spanish and Native American heritage with input from the newcomers such as the Vietnamese. It makes for an interesting mix, using local and more 'exotic' ingredients.

Here are some of the Mad Scientist's favourite Southwestern recipes. ¡Buen provecho!


Almond Horchata http://notecook.com/drinks/almond-horchata-almond-milk/
Rice Horchata http://notecook.com/drinks/rice-horchata-rice-milk/
New Mexican Hot Chocolate http://notecook.com/drinks/new-mexican-hot-chocolate/
New Mexican Red Chile Sauce http://regionalfood.knoji.com/southwestern-cuisine-new-mexican-red-chile-sauce/
Spanish Tortilla http://notecook.com/appetizers/tapas-spanish-tortilla-2/
Chorizo Empanadas http://notecook.com/appetizers/snacks/tapas-chorizo-empanadas/
Fried Bread and Chorizo http://notecook.com/appetizers/tapas-fried-bread-and-chorizo

Ruby and the visitor

The Mad Scientist's household usually includes a cat or two. The current contingent consists of the Senior Diva Ruby (about 8 years old) and the Junior Diva Jasper, aka Jazzy-Purr (about 16 months old). They are both indoor cats, except when they've been watching 'Prison Break' and decide to have another go. We have provided space for birdwatching at the dining room window. The birdfeeders hung up outside are changed seasonally. April through September it is a hummingbird feeder; the rest of the year a seed feeder for everyone else. They are well patronised. Always enough to keep the felines amused.

They do the typical cat thing of crouching and 'chattering' when they spot someone at the feeder. Eventually their instincts get the better of them and they often pounce at the window as well. The birds don't mind; they know they are safe behind the double glazing. The larger birds attract more attention. The cats sit up, ears forward and don't move. When we saw Ruby in that 'freeze' the other day, we assumed a crow or mourning dove was outside. But no large corvids/columbids to be had. She then ran to a living room window on the side of the house. Same attention. Of course we followed, but still no birds. Ruby then even stood up on her hind legs to get a better view. Rare behaviour on her part. Finally we spotted what she had seen minutes ago: one of the wild cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus sp) that come round from time to time. They are the colour of the gravel that often passes for a front garden locally, making them harder to see. Ruby must have thought we were utter dolts not to have seen the rabbit. It moved on eventually and Ruby resumed her twitcher status at the dining room window.

Budget recipe of the day: http://notecook.com/main-course/chicken/spicy-chicken-burgers/