MOROCCO-The Land of God

 

 

 

This week we are exploring Mysterious Morocco. A country rich in history, diverse in cultural influence, full of wonderful spices, and one of my favorite cuisines! Morocco, also known as the Land of God, is a country that can be found in North Africa on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and it borders east Spain and Algeria. Morocco is the only country in Africa that is not a part of the African Union, but it is a member of several other unions and leagues.

                                      

Morocco has been in existence for a long time, they say that in has been occupied since at least 8000 BC; as time went on, all of North Africa started to get to know the world through the Phoenician trading colonies. The entire area was considered prime land because it was within the borders of the Roman Empire. The flag of Morocco is made of a red field with a black-bordered green pentagram. Red has considerable historic significance in Morocco, proclaiming the descent of the royal Alaouite family from the Prophet Muhammad via Fatima, the wife of Ali, the fourth Muslim Caliph. Red is also the color that was used by the Sherifs of Mecca and the Imams of Yemen. From the 17th century on, when Morocco was ruled by the Alaouite Dynasty, the flags of the country were plain red. In 1915, during the reign of Mulay Yusuf, the green interlaced pentangle was added to the national flag. While Morocco was under French and Spanish control, the red flag with the seal in the center remained in use, but only inland. Its use at sea was prohibited. When independence was restored in 1956, it once again became the national flag.
 

                                      

Islam was introduced into Morocco in  670 AD, years past and history took its course. Islam stayed on in the country and flourished. As time got closer to what we would call today, the powers that were in Europe saw potential in the country and many tried to get control; it was only with successful political maneuvering that a war was avoided, and that by letting the French basically take control of the country. A lot of people did not like that and eventually political parties started to pop up to fight for the independence of Morocco, the Sultan got kicked out of the country by the French but that was a bad move because it only brought a lot more people down on them for the cause of freedom and independence; it was only when things started to get violent that the sultan was allowed to return and negotiations for the country's independence started to take place. Today there is a celebration held on every August 20, it is called "the revolution of The King and the People" and it is to remember the time when they became free.

                                

 

It has now been over 50 years since Morocco got its independence and it trades with the United States and the European Union. The country has a constitutional monarchy and an elected parliament. Considering its history, it is doing well and moving up in the world as a nation. Morocco is the 57th largest country in the world, a little bigger than the state of California.

                                          

 

The climate is Mediterranean; Morocco is home to rich coastal plains and it also has some forests. You can find all kinds of wildlife in Morocco as well, there are over 454 species in the country. There is a vibrant Jewish population in the country, there are more Jews in Morocco then in any other Muslim country in the world, they went to Morocco after settling in Europe.  When it comes to different types of people living in the country, Morocco can be called diverse and rich in culture; it seems that this country has taken a little bit from everywhere.

 

 

                           

 

 

 

Did you know that Morocco has the most diversified food in the world? In Morocco you can find as traditional dishes, Berber, Spanish, Corsican, Moorish, African and Mediterranean food types. There is so much diversity because of the constant contact that this country has had with the outside world.

 

 

 

Known as the National Dish of Morocco worldwide, couscous has even been adopted by the French as a traditional dish. Initially a Berber pasta dish made of semolina, it dates back to the 9th Century. Couscous can be smothered with a variety of toppings, sweet and savory. Combinations include sweet almonds, sugar, and cinnamon to savory lamb tagine on top. However, the most common is a savory-sweet combo, including several vegetables, raisins, tons of onions, and even legumes. Yum!’

                                                                     

Moroccans really love to mix the savory and the sweet. This is also seen on this other Moroccan food staple: Tagines. Another delicious Berber dish, they receive their name from the special clay pots they are cooked in. This week we will cook two traditional dishes and the most popular beverage served in Morocco. We will prepare Chicken Pastilla, which is a very tasty and elaborate pastry made with Phyllo dough filled with layers of slow cooked chicken in spices, eggs, and almonds toasted with cinnamon and sugar. We will also prepare a vegetarian couscous dish with tons of veggies  including carrots, onions, zucchini, squash, and cabbage. This will all get washed down with delicious Moroccan Mint Tea! I cannot wait to get shopping tomorrow for all of our spices and delicious ingredients! 

                                

 

 

 

MEXICO- Viva El Mexico!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

This week we are exploring our neighbors to the south, Mexico! While I have never been, I have been fortunate enough to befriend  many Mexican natives while living here in South Texas. I hope to visit one day and to soak in all of the wonderful culture, arts, and scenery of this beautiful country. Mexico’s rich and mysterious past is still visible in the amazing ancient ruins scattered throughout the country. From impressive towering pyramids in the Yucatan Peninsula to elaborate ancient cities found in Coba, the Mayan heritage continues to draw millions of tourists from across the globe.  With thirty-one sites, Mexico has more sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list than any other country in the Americas.

 

                      

 

The colonizers of Mexico forced the Spanish language on the natives, but in the 1990s the government recognized 62 indigenous Amerindian languages, including Aztec, or Nahuatl, and the Mayan family of languages, as national languages. About 6 percent of the population is non-Spanish speaking, and some indigenous Mexican words have even become common in other languages, including English. For example, chocolate, coyote, tomato and avocado all originated in Nahuatl.  Close to 90 percent of Mexicans identify themselves as Catholic, although many have incorporated pre-Hispanic Mayan elements as part of their faith. About 6 percent identify as Protestant. Christian denominations represented include Presbyterians, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, Mormons, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists and Anglicans. There are also small communities of Muslims, Jews and Buddhists.

 

 

 

The culture of Mexico has undergone a tremendous transformation over the past few decades and it varies widely throughout the country. Nearly half of the population lives in cities, but smaller rural communities still play a strong role in defining the country’s collective vibrant community. While the overwhelming majority of Mexicans today speak Spanish — making it the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world — there is no single official national language of Mexico.

Mexicans put a high value on hierarchy and structure in business and family matters. Especially outside of cities, families are typically large and Mexicans are very conscious of their responsibilities to immediate family members and extended family such as cousins and even close friends. Hosting parties at their homes plays a large part of Mexican life and making visitors feel comfortable is a large part of the values and customs of the country.

Most Mexican families are highly traditional, with the father as the authority figure. While more women are working outside of the home in the past several decades, there are still a large number of women who work exclusively in the home. The country remains a male-centric society, and machismo, a word derived from Mexican and Portuguese meaning male supremacy, is prevalent. Mexicans revere people in authority, including educators and medical professionals.

 

Clay pottery, embroidered cotton garments, wool shawls and outer garments with angular designs and colorful baskets and rugs are some of the common items associated with Mexican folk art. The country is closely associated with the Mariachi style of folk music. Originated in the southern part of the state of Jalisco sometime in the 19th century, it involves a group of musicians playing violins, guitars, basses, vihuelas (a five-string guitar) and trumpets wearing silver-studded charro suits and elaborate hats. "La Cucaracha" is a well-known Mariachi staple.

                                                            

                                

 

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is celebrated on Dec. 12, is a major Mexican holiday celebrating of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to an Indian man in the first years of Spanish rule. She is the patron saint of the country. The Day of the Dead, which is actually celebrated over two days (Nov. 1 and 2) combines Catholic and indigenous rituals to honor the deceased and is a national holiday. Carnival is also celebrated in many communities throughout Mexico to mark the period before Lent. Independence Day, marking the country’s separation from Spain in 1810, is celebrated on Sept. 16. Cinco de Mayo, which marks Mexican military victory over the French in 1862, is more widely celebrated in the U.S. than it is in Mexico.

  

In the cities, fashion in Mexico is influenced by international trends, so the typical urban Mexican dresses similar to people in Europe and the United States. In more rural areas, a typical woman’s wardrobe includes skirts, sleeveless tunics called huipils, capes known as quechquémitls and shawls called rebozos.  One distinguishing article of traditional men’s clothing is a large blanket cape called a sarape. Boots are also a wardrobe staple.

Some traditional clothing, now typically worn for celebrations and special occasions, include sombreros and the charro suits worn by Mariachi bands that are popular costumes during Carnival.

 

Mexican culinary norms vary widely based on income level and social class. The diet of working class Mexicans includes staples such as corn or wheat tortillas, along with beans, rice, tomatoes, chili peppers and chorizo, a type of pork sausage. Empanadas, which are handheld pasty pockets that can contain savory or sweet fillings, are popular.  The diets of middle- and upper-income Mexicans are more closely aligned with diets of Americans and Europeans and include a wide variety of food items prepared in wide range of culinary styles. Mexico is known for its tequila, which is made from agave cactus that is well suited to the climate of central Mexico. Soda is a very popular drink in Mexico, as the country has a well-developed beverage industry 

 

I can honestly say that it took moving to Houston, Texas in 2009 to get my first exposure to truly authentic Mexican cuisine. In the United States, the image of Mexican cuisine is very narrow. It is usually associated with Tex-Mex staples like tacos, burritos, nachos(which was created by an American), and refried beans. This is very different from the colorful and diverse foods of Mexico.

Mexican cuisine is every bit as varied as most cuisines, although you wouldn't know that if all you've eaten is Taco Bell and Chili's. While Coastal cities such as Veracruz lean heavily on seafood,  Northern areas, where cattle is king, the cow is relied upon — all of the cow. Some places swim in tropical flavors — papaya and mango, habañero peppers and yucca. Other parts of Mexico take enormous care with their range of mole sauces. Where Tex-Mex is confined to a relatively tight corral of dishes, the food of Mexico is a wide-open range.

 

This week we cooked two traditional dishes of Mexico. The first is Grilled Mexican corn on the cob with Queso Fresco, Lime,  chile, and Ancho. The second is a very traditional Mole sauce. This sauce is a blend of chilies, nuts, raisins, cinnamon, spices,  and chocolate. We cooked this for several hours on low heat then served it with pork tacos in authentic corn tortillas. All topped with fresh cilantro and Queso fresco. It was magnificent! The grilled corn was fresh, sweet, and a little spicy. The citrus from the lime added a  beautiful layer of flavor.  The mole was the star of the show. It was rich, nutty, and balanced beautifully with the richness of the pork.

Recipes used this week:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mole-sauce/

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/mexican-corn-on-cob-lime-queso