Fruit Ades (La Samaritana Serves Aguas Frescas)

Fruit Ades (La Samaritana Serves Aguas Frescas)

My mother had a strict rule at the ranch: We were allowed to have Coca-Cola only once a week, a small bottle every Sunday. The rest of the week she would make delicious refreshing agues frescas (fruit ades) of whatever fruit was available. Dried tamarind and hibiscus...
Chicken in Almond Sauce (Almendrado de pollo)

Chicken in Almond Sauce (Almendrado de pollo)

Chicken in Almond Sauce (Almendrado de pollo) This chicken in almond sauce was the first dish I ever ate in Oaxaca, at a little stand in the Mercado 20 de noviembre in Oaxaca City. It was the start of my love affair with Oaxacan food. The sauce was rich and full of...
Moles: What exactly is a mole?

Moles: What exactly is a mole?

Photo Marissa Sanchez-Bastien Photo by Laurie Smith www.lauriesmithphoto.com Text from The Food and Life of Oaxaca The true stars of Mexican sauce cookery are main dish sauces like moles and pepianes and here it’s important to understand the philosophy of the...