Cinco de Mayo - History

Cinco de Mayo—or the fifth of May—commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the French-Mexican War. It is not Mexico's independence day, as is commonly believed.

History of Cinco de Mayo:  In 1861, the liberal Mexican Benito Juárez became president of a country in financial ruin, and he was forced to default on his debts to European governments. In response, France, Britain, and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, but France, ruled by Napoleon III, decided to use the opportunity to carve a dependent empire out of Mexican territory. Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large French force and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat.

Certain that French victory would come swiftly, 6,000 French troops under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in east-central Mexico. From his new headquarters in the north, Juárez rounded up a rag-tag force of 2,000 loyal men and sent them to Puebla. Led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, the vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans fortified the town and prepared for the French assault. On May 5, 1862, Lorencez drew his army, well-provisioned and supported by heavy artillery, before the city of Puebla and began their assault from the north. The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated they had lost nearly 500 soldiers to the fewer than 100 Mexicans killed.

Although not a major strategic victory in the overall war against the French, Zaragoza's success at Puebla represented a great moral victory for the Mexican government and tightened Mexican resistance. Six years later, France withdrew. 

 

Cinco de Mayo Today:  In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is primarily observed in the state of Puebla, where Zaragoza’s unlikely triumph occurred. In the United States, however, it has taken on significance as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with substantial Mexican-American populations. Revelers mark the holiday with parades, parties, mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing and traditional foods such as tacos and mole poblano. Some of the largest festivals are held in Portland, Denver and Chicago.

(Source: The History Channel website. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://www.history.com/topics/cinco-de-mayo)



Foods to Help Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
The recipes that we've selected are from the "Vegi-Mex" Cookbook by Shayne & Lee Fischer. Permission to print granted by Golden West Publishers, 4113 N. Longview, Phoenix, AZ 85014.

Baked Fiesta Dip

• 2 cans (15 oz each) VEGETARIAN REFRIED BEANS
• 1 can (4 oz) diced GREEN CHILES
• 2 JALAPEŇOS , finely chopped
• 1½ cups shredded JACK CHEESE
• 1 ONION, chopped
• 1 GREEN BELL PEPPER, chopped
• 1 can (4 oz) sliced BLACK OLIVES
• 1 TOMATO, chopped
• 3 GREEN ONIONS, chopped
• TORTILLA CHIPS

Combine beans, chiles and jalapeños and spread on large oven-proof platter (or pizza pan). Sprinkle with cheese. Add onion, bell pepper and olives. Bake at 325° for 15 minutes. Top with tomatoes and green onions and serve with tortilla chips.

Mexican Stuffed Peppers

• 8 lg. GREEN or RED BELL PEPPERS
• 1½ cups cooked RICE
• 1 TOMATO, finely diced
• 2 GREEN ONIONS, finely chopped
• 1 can (4 oz) diced GREEN CHILES
• 1½ cups shredded JACK CHEESE
• ½ tsp GARLIC SALT
• ¼ tsp PEPPER
• ½ tsp OREGANO
• 3 Tbsp SALSA
• 1 EGG, slightly beaten
• 1 can (8 oz) diced TOMATO SAUCE

Try to choose block-shaped bell peppers so they will stand in a baking dish. Wash and seed bell peppers. Set in baking dish. In a large bowl, combine cooked rice, tomato, onions, green chiles, cheese, seasonings, salsa and egg. Blend well. Fill each pepper with rice mixture. Pour tomato sauce over peppers and bake in a pre-heated 350° oven for 45 minutes.  Serves 8.

April Fool's Day - How, and Where in the World, Did the Fun Begin?

On this day in 1700, English pranksters begin popularizing the annual tradition of April Fools' Day by playing practical jokes on each other.

Although the day, also called All Fools' Day, has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, its exact origins remain a mystery. Some historians speculate that April Fools' Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes. These included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as "poisson d'avril" (April fish), said to symbolize a young, easily caught fish and a gullible person.

Historians have also linked April Fools' Day to ancient festivals such as Hilaria, which was celebrated in Rome at the end of March and involved people dressing up in disguises. There's also speculation that April Fools' Day was tied to the vernal equinox, or first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when Mother Nature fooled people with changing, unpredictable weather.

April Fools' Day spread throughout Britain during the 18th century. In Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event, starting with "hunting the gowk," in which people were sent on phony errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a symbol for fool) and followed by Tailie Day, which involved pranks played on people's derrieres, such as pinning fake tails or "kick me" signs on them.

In modern times, people have gone to great lengths to create elaborate April Fools' Day hoaxes. Newspapers, radio and TV stations and Web sites have participated in the April 1 tradition of reporting outrageous fictional claims that have fooled their audiences. In 1957, the BBC reported that Swiss farmers were experiencing a record spaghetti crop and showed footage of people harvesting noodles from trees; numerous viewers were fooled. In 1985, Sports Illustrated tricked many of its readers when it ran a made-up article about a rookie pitcher named Sidd Finch who could throw a fastball over 168 miles per hour. In 1996, Taco Bell, the fast-food restaurant chain, duped people when it announced it had agreed to purchase Philadelphia's Liberty Bell and intended to rename it the Taco Liberty Bell. In 1998, after Burger King advertised a "Left-Handed Whopper," scores of clueless customers requested the fake sandwich.

(Source: The History Channel website. Retrieved March 31, 2011, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-fools-tradition-popularized)



HEALTHY HOMEMADE GRANOLA
The beautiful weather here in Arizona has been absolutely ideal for grabbing the leash and taking the dog out for a morning walk or run. Upon return, Kokopelli's Kitchen recommends restoring your energy with some healthy granola that you've made yourself. It's a good source of fiber and vitamins - the best is baked organic, with no added sugar. Unfortunately though, a lot of the granola found for sale on the store shelves today is not a healthy food due to an overabundance of sugar and chocolate pieces.

     
The recipes that we've selected are from the "Western Breakfast and Brunch Recipes" Cookbook by Bruce & Bobbi Fischer. Permission to print granted by Golden West Publishers, 4113 N. Longview, Phoenix, AZ 85014.

Fourteener's Granola

Compliments of Virginia Nemmers, Innkeeper, River Run Inn Bed & Breakfast, Salida Colorado. Take a step back in time by joining Virginia at this 1892 National Historic Inn. You can enjoy a relaxing sunset on the spacious front porch then awaken to a delicious breakfast. Nancy tells us she has missed and adapted this recipe from many others to bring to you the best tasting granola in the Southwest!

• 4 cups ROLLED OATS
• ¼ cup BROWN SUGAR
• 2 tsp. CINNAMON
• ½ cup chopped WALNUTS 
• ½ cup chopped SUNFLOWER SEEDS
• ½ cup ORANGE JUICE
• 2 tbsp. HONEY
• 2 tbsp. VANILLA
• ½ cup RAISINS
• ½ cup chopped dried CRANBERRIES
• ½ cup chopped dried APRICOTS  

In a large bowl, mix together oats, sugar, cinnamon, walnuts and sunflower seeds. Place orange juice, honey and vanilla in a microwaveable bowl and heat for one minute or just until honey is liquefied and mixture can be blended. Pour orange juice mixture over oat mixture and stir well to coat. Spread in a large baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes (stir every 10 minutes) or until mixture is golden brown. Remove from oven and add raisins, cranberries and apricots. Cool well before storing in a plastic container in refrigerator.


Downey House Granola
Compliments of Downey House Bed & Breakfast, La Conner, Washington. This granola can be served with milk, over yogurt, or over hot applesauce. For a tasty desert, add whipped cream to applesauce and sprinkle with granola.

• 4 cups ROLLED OATS
• 2/3 cup WHEAT GERM
• 2/3 cup UNSWEETENED BIG FLAKE COCONUT
• 6 tbsp. SESAME SEEDS
• 6 tbsp. shelled SUNFLOWER SEEDS
• ½ cup chopped RAW CASHEWS or sliced ALMONDS
• 2/3 cup CORN OIL
• 1/3 cup HONEY
• 1 tsp. VANILLA
• ¼ tsp. SALT
• ½ cup chopped DRIED FRUIT, or RAISINS

Mix first six ingredients together in a large bowl. In a saucepan, combine corn oil, honey, vanilla and salt. Cook over low heat until honey is melted. Pour over dry mixture and blend thoroughly. Spread on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool and add fruit. Store in freezer in zip lock bags for ready use.

Happy St. Pat's Day 2011!

St. Patrick’s Day takes place each year on March 17, his traditional religious feast day. There are 36.5 million U.S. residents with Irish roots. This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland itself (more than four million). 

When March 17th arrives this year, be prepared to raise your glass and toast your Irish friends! Kokopelli's Kitchen has found some recipes for unique southwest drinks that should be fun to share. And rather than simply saying "Slainte", use one of the traditional Irish sayings and proverbs for saying "Cheers" in Ireland that we were lucky enough to find!

FILL YOUR GLASSES WITH a TASTE of the SOUTHWEST

The recipes that we've selected are from the "Grand Canyon Cook Book" by Bruce & Bobbi Fischer. Permission to print granted by Golden West Publishers, 4113 N. Longview, Phoenix, AZ 85014.

Arizona Sangria

• 1 bottle (750 ml) RED WINE
• 1 ORANGE, peeled & squeezed
• 1 LEMON, sliced
• 1 LIME, sliced
• 3 Tbsp. BRANDY
• 1 fresh PEACH, sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh RASPBERRIES
• 1 bottle (7 oz.) SPARKLING WATER

Pour the wine into a large glass pitcher. Peel the orange in a long spiral strip. Put the peel in the wine, with one end of the spiral curled over the spout of the pitcher. Squeeze the orange, and add the juice to the wine along with the lemon and lime slices and the brandy. Allow this to stand in the refrigerator for three hours. One hour before serving add the remaining fruit.

Before serving, add sparkling water. Pour Sangria into tall glasses half-filled with ice cubes. If desired, add additional fruit to glasses.



Frozen Margaritas

• 1/2 cup TRIPLE SEC
• 2 cups TEQUILA
• 2 qts. SWEET AND SOUR MIX
• 2 cups CRUSHED ICE
• MARGARITA SALT
• FRESH LIMES

In a bowl, mix together the triple sec, tequila, sweet and sour mix and crushed ice and place in the freezer for 24 hours. About one hour before the party starts remove the mixture from the freezer from the freezer and allow to thaw somewhat (you want a good, slushy consistency to the mix). Cut the limes into wedges and run each slice around the lip of the margarita glass. Dip the edge of each glass in the margarita salt, pour in the margarita mix and place the lime wedge on the rim. You're now ready to start your party!  Serves 10 - 12.

HERE'S TO THE IRISH 

Some great phrases to toast your Irish friends.

Health and long life to you
Land without rent to you
The partner of your heart to you
And when you die, may your bones rest in Ireland

May your fire be as warm as the weather is cold.

May you get all your wishes but one,
So you always have something to strive for

As you slide down the banisters of life may the splinters never point the wrong way.

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

Here's to your coffin....
May it be built of 100 year old oaks which I will plant tomorrow

May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

May your neighbor respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.

An old Irish recipe for longevity:
Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the bar thirsty.

May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.

May you never forget what is worth remembering,
Or remember what is best forgotten.

May you be in heaven one half hour before the devil knows you're dead.

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been,
The insight to know where you are,
and the foresight to known when you've gone too far.

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

May God bring good health to your enemies' enemies

May you never make an enemy
When you could make a friend-
Unless you meet a fox among your chickens.

 (Source: The History Channel website. Retrieved March 2, 2011, from http://www.history.com/topics/topics/slainte-st-patricks-day)

Happy Valentine's Day 2011!

Create an unforgettable Valentine's Day experience this year for that special someone in your life. Eat a gourmet home-cooked meal, then settle in for a romantic movie. Kokopelli's Kitchen has found some great recipes for a southwest meal and a Valentine's Day Movie Guide for you and your special someone.


GOURMET SOUTHWEST MEAL for VALENTINE'S DAY
The recipes that we've selected are from the "Gourmet Gringo" by Mari Meyers. Permission to print granted by Golden West Publishers, 4113 N. Longview, Phoenix, AZ 85014.

Tomatillo Chip Dip

Tomatillos are sometimes called Mexican or Spanish green tomatoes.

• 6 ounces (about 4 medium) fresh TOMATILLOS
• 1 large, ripe and soft AVOCADO, peeled and seeded
• ½ tsp. fresh Mexican LIME JUICE
• dash of GARLIC SALT
• TORTILLA CHIPS

Remove husks from tomatillos; wash, halve and scoop out pulp. Purée tomatillos and avocado in processor. Blend in lime juice and garlic salt. Serve in a decorative bowl surrounded with tortilla chips. Makes 1 cup.

Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo

Shrimp can be found on menus anywhere near the Pacific or Sea of Cortéz. Camarones are drenched in buttery garlic sauce that is flavored with wine and cilantro, and just waiting for a splash of fresh lime.

• 10 to 12 ounces RAW SHRIMP, peeled and deveined
• ½ cup (1 stick) BUTTER
• 2 to 4 large GARLIC CLOVES (maybe more), thinly sliced
• 2 to 3 Tbsp. WHITE WINE
• coarsely chopped CILANTRO
• fresh Mexican LIME wedges

In a large (10-inch) skillet, melt butter over low heat. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes. Add wine and cilantro; slowly cook another 2 minutes but do not let butter or garlic brown.

Still on low heat, stir in shrimp and sauté about 1 or 2 minutes, turning shrimp and cook another 1 or 2 minutes, so they cook to pinkness on both sides. Watch carefully. (Shrimp toughen when overcooked.) Serve hot on warmed plates, covering shrimp with garlic sauce. Pass lime wedges to squeeze over hot shrimp. Serves 2.

Rice Mexicali

From an authentic old Mexican cookbook comes this advice: The pan used to cook rice should be a shallow one so the weight of the top portion doesn't crush the rice underneath.

• 1 cup raw LONG GRAIN RICE
• 2 Tbsp. OLIVE OIL
• 1⅓ cups chopped ONION
• ½ cup chopped GREEN BELL PEPPERS
• ½ cup chopped RED BELL PEPPERS
• ¾ cup finely chopped CELERY
• SALT and freshly ground PEPPER
• 2 tsp. CHILI PEPPER
• ½ tsp. SAFFRON
• dash or 2 of GARLIC POWDER

Cook 1 cup of rice according to package directions to yield 3 cups cooked rice.

Meanwhile, use an extra large (12-inch) skillet to heat oil and soften onion, bell peppers and celery. Add all seasonings and incorporate thoroughly. Blend in rice and heat through. Serve hot. Makes 5 cups.


MOVIE GUIDE for VALENTINE'S DAY

Classic Favorites

Casablanca (1942) — An intense love triangle between a jaded nightclub owner in French-occupied Morocco during World War II (Humphrey Bogart), his ex-lover (Ingrid Bergman) and her husband, a famous Czech rebel and nationalist (Paul Heinreid), is at the center of this movie, which is perhaps the greatest love story ever committed to film.

Gone With the Wind (1939) — The beautiful and scheming Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) is a Southern belle whose world changes forever with the outbreak of the Civil War. Obsessed by her first love, who is married to another, Scarlett struggles to survive the war and its aftermath, as well as her passionate, tortured relationship with the man who may be her soul mate, Rhett Butler (Clark Gable).

Roman Holiday (1953) — This romantic comedy stars Audrey Hepburn as the bored Princess Anne, who escapes her entourage during a diplomatic visit to Rome and sets out to have fun, aided by a handsome American newspaper reporter (Gregory Peck) who angles for an exclusive interview but ends up--surprise!--falling in love with her.

From Here to Eternity (1953) — Set on an army base in Hawaii in the days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, this film is the story of the love affair between a sergeant (Burt Lancaster) and the wife (Deborah Kerr) of his commanding officer. Watch for the famous beach scene, when Lancaster and Kerr kiss in the sand as the waves crash over them.

An Affair to Remember (1957) — Terry (Deborah Kerr) and Nickie (Cary Grant) meet and fall in love on a ship traveling across the Atlantic Ocean. Both engaged to other people, they say goodbye, but agree to meet atop the Empire State Building in six months if their feelings remain the same.

History, Adventure and Romance

Doctor Zhivago (1965) — Omar Sharif is the poet and doctor Yuri Zhivago, who is married to his childhood sweetheart, Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin) but carries on a passionate affair with the beautiful, troubled Lara (Julie Christie) against the tumultuous backdrop of the Russian Revolution.

Out of Africa (1985) — Based on the autobiography of the Danish writer Isak Dinesen, this movie stars Meryl Streep in one of her most celebrated performances. As a young wife largely abandoned by her husband (Klaus Maria Brandauer) on a plantation in Nairobi, she interacts with the native population and falls in love with an aristocratic hunter (Robert Redford).

The English Patient (1996) — Set against the backdrop of World War II, this beautifully filmed movie flashes back and forth between the love affair of Count Laszlo Almasy (Ralph Fiennes) and a married woman (Kristin Scott Thomas) in North Africa and an abandoned monastery in Italy, where a Canadian nurse (Juliette Binoche) cares for Almasy, now unrecognizable after being horribly burned in a plane crash.

Shakespeare in Love (1998) — A fun imagining of the young William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes), who struggles with writer's block until he meets a rich young woman (Gwyneth Paltrow) who also secretly disguises herself as a man in order to play the lead in Shakespeare's new play, which will become Romeo and Juliet.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) — In pursuit of a stolen jade sword and seeking to avenge the murderer of his master, the great Chinese warrior Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) enlists the help of Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh). Their barely acknowledged love for each other forms the heart of this fantastic martial arts drama, along with the more openly passionate relationship between a rich, rebellious young woman (Zhang Ziyi) and her bandit lover Lo (Chen Chang).

Offbeat Romances

The Princess Bride (1987) — This comedy, a tongue-in-cheek version of a classic fairy tale, tells the story of Wesley (Cary Elwes), a poor stable boy who returns from adventures at sea to rescue his true love, the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), who has been chosen to marry an evil prince. This sweet, sentimental love story is energized by hilarious supporting performances by Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Mandy Patinkin and Andre the Giant, among others.

Say Anything (1989) — This charming movie about an improbable match--between the sweet, unambitious kickboxer (John Cusack) and the beautiful, sheltered valedictorian of his high school class (Ione Skye)--undoubtedly caused countless teenage girls (and many women) to long for someone to serenade them with a boombox, as Cusack's character does in what is arguably the film's most classic scene.

When Harry Met Sally (1989) — A modern classic for romantic comedy lovers (especially for those who secretly pine for one of their "platonic" friends), this movie follows two college classmates (Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan) into adulthood, exploring the question: Can men and women really be friends?

Out of Sight (1998) — The movie's most talked-about scene takes place in the trunk of a getaway car, where a federal marshal (Jennifer Lopez) is locked with a bank robber and prison escapee (George Clooney), only to have sparks fly. The unlikely romance continues over the course of this crime caper, based on a novel by Elmore Leonard.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) — Jim Carrey stars in this terrifically quirky, sometimes off-the-wall romance as a man who discovers that his girlfriend (Kate Winslet) has had her memories of him erased from her mind through a pioneering experimental procedure. He tracks down the doctor (Tom Wilkinson) to have the same procedure done to himself, only to decide that he doesn't really want to forget her.
(Source: The History Channel website. Retrieved January 27, 2011, from http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day-movie-guide)