Saturday, January 30, 2010

DAIRY FARM FRAIJANES

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CUAS

Cuas means inseparable partner in KEKCHI. That is the term we are using at the rope course for the buddies who are behind and in the middle ready to catch the rope walkers.
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VOLCAN DE AGUA FROM A FARM IN FRAIJANES

I am at a rope course with my Masters program.
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PICA PICA


PICA PICA literally translated to itchy, itchy is the what you put inside the cascarones. You usually do it from scrap wrapping paper from past gifts. My favorite and most itchy paper to use is the metalic paper (not foil), not sure if you can get it in the US. For some reason this one brings out the most vivid memories of carnaval and it give the pica pica a sparkly look.

Some 'commercial' cascarones use the round scrap from the punch hole machines they buy from binding shops or offices. I don´t like this kind because this one does not itch!

Tonight we will do the home made glue to cover the cascarones. Get ready with you pica, pica.


Sunday, January 24, 2010

SAYINGS: DONDE PONE EL OJO PONE LA BALA


We are watching the semifinal Colt vs Jets and the expression Donde Pone el Ojo Pone la Bala came to our lips, it is personified by P. Manning!

The literal translation is where you put the eye you put the bullet. It can be used in conjunction with Ya le heche el ojo. I already set my eye on that.

It can be used as an expression that you always get what you had set your eye or mind on. I got this house I always wanted it took some patience and saving but I got it because you know me "donde pongo el ojo pongo la bala"


Saturday, January 23, 2010

GUATEMALAN GENES @ COLORADO LATIN AMERICA HERITAGE CAMP

I wish you could see me jumping up and down as I share with you that I will be presenting at the 2010 Latin America Heritage Camp in Colorado!!!

"Latin American Heritage Camp in Colorado is one of the few camps of its kind in the country, designed specifically for families with children adopted from Central and South America, as well as those of Latino heritage adopted within the United States. It is one of ten camps facilitated by the highly respected Colorado Heritage Camps, Inc."


The plan is to give a 1 hour 15 minute workshop and also a meeting/presentation with parents with teenager girls on how to plan a Quinceañera.

The workshop`s topic is not yet defined, I need your help!!! This year`s topic is Latin American Adventures. Some ideas I have are:

1. Semana Santa, this is the number one holiday in Guatemala: a mosaic of the traditions, food, history, etc wrapping up making a traditional sawdust rug.

2. A flight over the country showcasing all the natural diversity: The jungle and rainforest North, the desert East, the highlands West, the tropical forest and Beach South and build a map as the hands on activity.

3. Guatemalan`s textiles by region, how they are made, etc

4. Guatemala today, universities, schools, hospitals, political and economic situation, what young people do, opportunities to serve, employment, etc...

WHAT DO YOU THINK????

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

TIME TO START COLLECTING EGG SHELLS

Carnaval, Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, is celebrated in Guatemala playing with cascarones. This year, 2010, Carnaval will be February 16th always the day before Ash Wednesday, when no more cascarones are to be in the scene!

My tia Imel (really my grandaunt -bless her heart-) collected them all year round and started making them at least 2 months in advanced. She used to sell them by hundreds from her nickel and dime store on Avenida Elena. Since we are only doing for personal consumption we started last week collecting egg shells and we plan to eat each one egg a day so we can reach at least some three dozen shells!

When we start decorating them I will show you the process, for now go ahead and start gently breaking your eggs on the ends with a small opening, rinse them with water and store them in a safe place.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

OFFICIAL STOP COMING FROM THE BEACH




When coming down from 'el puerto' de official place to stop is the Sarita in Escuintla. It used to be that the road when through the town passing in front of the original Sarita Hotel/Restaurant/Ice Cream shop. When the toll road was built it bypassed the town but there was a place on the side of the road for Sarita, and that is where we stopped last weekend coming back from our weekend beach getaway!

It is important to mention that Sarita, a guatemalan company, grew from that single shop to a chain of 9 restaurants and thousand of ice cream vendors in Central America.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

HAND MADE HOT AIR BALLON.

At the beach.
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GUATEMALAN SUNSET

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TWO DAYS AGO IN THE HIGHLANDS TODAY AT THE BEACH

This is where we are now. El Pantanal is the name of this small hotel booked for a private family weekend for the Rotary Club I belong to.
The hotel is on the pacific ocean two hours, with moderate traffic, from the city.
We were pleasantly surprised to see the city built a toll bridge to cross the canal, it used to be you had to cross in a 6 car ferry boat. The bridge was named Beronica Mishel, after the mayor's daughter.




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T is for TUNA


Tuna is prickly pear. I don`t eat them often nor are they found in a common basis at the store, but it is always a treat to find a tree -cactus-.

If I don`t remember wrong the last time I saw one of these was about 15 years ago along a dirt back road in Atitlán. We stopped the car and jumped out to pick off some fruit, impulsive as I am, I was going to pick it with my bare hands when my friend stopped me! He pulled his handkerchief out and pick them with it. The spines on the skin are like wood splinters very fine and incisive.

This tree we spotted yesterday was on the parking lot of a restaurant in Mazatenango.

Every time I think of tunas I cannot stop myself from starting to singing: Me he de comer esa tuna, me he de comer esa tuna, me he de comer esa tuna, aunque me espine la mano! (I shall eat that tuna even if my hands get pricked) - Guadalajara en un llano by Jorge Negrete-




Guadalajara en un llano, México en una laguna;

Guadalajara en un llano, México en una laguna;

me he de comer esa tuna, me he de comer esa tuna,

me he de comer esa tuna, aunque me espine la mano.


L’águila siendo animal...se retrató en el dinero;

l’águila siendo animal...se retrató en el dinero;

para subir al nopal...para subir al nopal...

para subir al nopal...pidió permiso primero.


Dicen que soy hombre malo, malo y mal averiguado;

dicen que soy hombre malo, malo y mal averiguado;

porque me comí un durazno, porque me comí un durazno

porque me comí un durazno, de corazón colorado.


Posts part of the series A, B, C, CH, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

Friday, January 15, 2010

VOLCANOES AT DUSK.jpg

On the way back to the city. Volcan Fuego, Acatenango y Agua.
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Buying flowers on the side of the road

Q10.00 the bunch
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DAWN AT THE SUGAR CANE PLANTATION

The sun is reflecting on the cloud of steam coming from the ingenio (sugar mill).
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Thursday, January 14, 2010

WATERMELONS @ CUYOTENANGO

Sandias on the road. Cuyotenango is in the department of Suchitepequez.
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SUGAR CANE LOAD

On the CA- 1 road in the department of Suchitepequez.
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VIEW OF XELA FROM CERRO EL BAUL

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GUATEMALAN. BREAKFAST

Eggs with tomatoes and onions. Frijoles volteados and platanos fritos.
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Sunday, January 10, 2010

CHILAQUILAS DE GÜISQUIL COOK OFF


I thought I send a challenge to help out during this cold and inclosed week ahead. I am sending you the recipe and a how to video for Chilaquilas de Güisquil and I challenge you to do them during this week an post your pictures on the Guatemalan Genes facebook page!!

You might have seen on Mexican restaurant menus "Chilaquiles", well they are a completely different thing that the Guatemalan Chilaquilas (such is the case of Enchiladas which I have already blogged about).

There are two kinds of chilaquilas: Chilaquilas de Tortilla y Chilaquilas de Güisquil. Today I will share the latter ones.

Güisquil is not your everyday in the store vegetable but I have seen it at Target and Walmart and you are almost sure to find it in a Mexican store. You will probably find it by the name of CHAYOTE (that is the Mexican word).

Ingredients

Chayote
Queso Fresco or Panela (I usually get Cacique brand at Walmart)
Eggs
Oil to fry

Peel and slice the güisquil in 1/2 cm thick slices. Steam them or cook them in a waterless system, they should be al dente. Let them cool.

Beat the egg whites then add the egg yolks.

Slice the cheese and make a "cheese sandwich" using the slices of güisquil as bread. Dip each "sandwhich" in the egg and fry.

Serve immediatly.



Saturday, January 9, 2010

PARTY TAKE 3



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THE PARTY TAKE 2


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THE PARTY TAKE 1

Clarifying last post, ahijada is goddaughter. I am her madrina, godmother, from baptism. For the record I was 11 then and with an older couple I was chosen for that honor.

Oh and also know I am blogging live from the wedding!!
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MY AHIJADA'S WEDDING

The wedding is taken place at the Private Chapel of the Novella family at La Pedrera Zona 6, Cement Factory.
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Friday, January 8, 2010

ESCUINTLA STREET VIEWS

Today I went for work to Escuintla, ciudad de las golondrinas, and I took these pictures for you.
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