Bright Ideas

Sunday was Cinco de Mayo (May 5), a holiday meant to commemorate the Battle of Puebla, fought between the Mexican and French armies in 1862.

In Mexico’s history, it’s generally considered a minor event. But a century and a half later, it is still celebrated in the United States (even when people don’t know why they’re celebrating).

I just think it’s a good day to eat our version of Mexican food! One thing my husband does is make chorizo, Mexican sausage. I remember being in Kansas years ago, at my aunt’s house, when the answer came on Jeopardy.

“The name of Mexican sausage.” And I spoke up, “What is Chorizo?” My aunt asked me, “How would you know that?” In her defense, she was from a German family, and their only ethnic food was German.

My parents never tried any ethnic foods. Dad only wanted meat and potatoes, so that’s what mom cooked. But I had moved away from home, met Brice, and expanded my palate. And for years my husband has used ground venison, ground pork, and added spices to make our own version of the sausage.

We use chorizo in nachos and tacos. But there are other Mexican foods we eat; for example chile verde, a stew with all kinds of green peppers, is one. (Brice grows them too).

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a meal of soft shell tacos filled with refried beans, chorizo, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, and home made hot pepper sauce (made of course, with home grown peppers).

Are you hungry yet?