Cinco de Mayo

Every year I get asked how the "Cinco de Mayo" is celebrated by the Mexican comunity. In the US this holiday is seen as Mexican Independence day.
Let's make it clear, Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810.  And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.

History Begins...  The battle at puebla in 1862 happened at a violent time in Mexico. Mexico had finally gained its independence from Spain in 1821. In addition, Mexico went through many internal political takeovers and wars such as the American war between 1846-1848 and later the Mexican Civil war of 1858, The national economy was in ruins! During this period of struggle Mexico had accumulated heavy debts to Spain, England and France. They were all asking for repayment. The Us had been paid after the Mexican- American war and France took over the territories once owned by Spain and england. The result was Archduke Maximilian of Austria now ruler of Mexico and backed by Napoleon III. The US was involved in its own Civil War and could not assist Mexico's cause against the invasion. The French army continue to march toward Mexico City until it encountered the strong resistance of the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe near Puebla. Lead by the General zaragoza an army militia of 4500 men and the townspeople were able to stop the invasion. This short lived victory is the celebrated holiday of the Cinco de Mayo. Unfortunately, the victory of the General Zaragoza and his militia was short lived. Napoleon III sent to Mexico a troop of more than 30,000 men who eventually were able to depose the Mexican army, take over Mexico City and install Maximilian as the ruler of Mexico. Maximilian's rule only lasted between 1864 to 1867. The US began to assist mexico to expel the French after the Civil War was over. Maximilian was executed and his shirt full of bullet holes is kept in a museum in Mexico City. A Cinco de Mayo celebration in Puebla and some regions in Mexico include dancing, music, and reenactments of the battle. In many parts of the U.S. where there is a large Mexican or Mexican-American community, you will often find Cinco de Mayo celebrations with food, parades, dances, music and activities for school children.

Vocabulario para celebrar los bailarines dancers la batalla battle el ejército army los franceses French los músicos musicians la reconstrucción reenactment

How to make spanish rice

There many ways to prepare food. The same is true for rice. I have eaten many times Mexican rice which has been prepared in different ways.In this post, I'll attempt to give you some of the ways ways I've seen it made. I will let you decide which one is the one you like best.

Ingredientes para Arroz Mexicano:

Dos tazas de arroz largo en vez del corto
Cuatro tazas de caldo de pollo o agua
1 diente de ajo grande o 1 1/2 dientes
medianos
1/4 de cebolla mediana o la mitad de una pequeña
Cuatro o cinco cucharadas soperas de tomate triturado crudo fresco o enlatado
1 cubito de caldo de pollo
Aceite de oliva
Un puñado de guisantes frescos o congelados
Sal al gusto

1. Se mezcla bien y se deja sofreír durante unos minutos.

2. Cuando el arroz está listo y el tomate ha tomado el color que nos indica que está frito, se añade las cuatro tazas de caldo de pollo, los guisantes y la sal al gusto. Se mezcla un par de veces y lo dejamos a fuego medio.

Cuando vemos que el caldo está casi evaporado, se apaga el fuego y se tapa la cacerola para que termine de cocerse por unos diez o quince minutos o hasta que este listo. El resultado debe de ser un arroz suelto.

The same recipe in English for those of you who are not fluent in Spanish.

Ingredients for the Mexican Rice

2 cups of long grain rice
4 cups of chicken broth or water
1 large clove of garlic or 1 1/2 medium size cloves
1/4 medium onion or 1/2 small onion
4 or 5 tablespoon of crushed fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes
1 chicken bouillon
Olive oil
A handful of fresh peas or frozen peas
Salt to taste

1. Mix all ingredients well and let them sauté for a few minutes

2. When the rice is done and the tomatoes have the color of fried tomatoes, add the four cups of chicken broth, the handful of peas and salt to taste. Stir a couple of times and let cook on medium fire.

3. When the broth has been evaporated, turn the stove off and cover the pan to allow the rice to cook for approximately ten to fifteen minutes or until the rice is cooked. As a result, you should have a rice that is fluffy and loose.

I'll be back with other recipes for the Mexican Rice in future posts. In the meantime have fun trying new foods.