Cinco De Mayo

When traveling was a way of life I often found myself in random towns in various states.  If you were hoping for interesting and exciting locations the "town" part should have brought you back to reality.  They were blue collar towns where most people worked at the local automotive supply plant.  The towns were small.  Just small enough that when you walked into the restaurant for dinner all conversation stopped and heads turned toward the door.  Next came whispers about the out of towners.  Didn't matter if we stepped foot into the supper club, China buffert of local Mexican joint.  There was a rule that chain restaurants were out of the question as long as there was a risk to take with a local joint.  China Buffet always posed too much of a risk for me.  During those 5 years of travel I sought out as many local Mexican joints as possible.  I got burned once or twice, but Mexican still reigns as my favorite food.  And thus Cinco De Mayo holds a special place in my heart.

One friend shared in my excitement for tortilla chips, beans, salsa and sour cream.  In fact, I think it's safe to say her appetite for Mexican was slightly bigger than mine!  After dragging other team members to countless Mexican joints a few disgruntled individuals questioned our incredible appreciation for the menu.  Without giving it a second thought she quickly explained how her parents were in the Peace Corps and traveled the world after getting married.  She was a blessing to their marriage and was born while they lived in Mexico.  So as it turns out she was raised for the first few years of her life in Mexico where she feasted on the local cuisine.  She explained how she was a picky eater and for months only ate guacamole.  In order to bring this fabricated story full circle she quickly continued on about how her parents realized that the Peace Corps was not a life for a family so they moved to Nebraska and settled there.  A perfect ending to the story as she is a Husker.   I giggled at the guacamole part, but she was able to keep her composure (for the most part) and sure enough the gullible audience accepted the story.... and the fact that we would continue to eat at the local Mexican joints as much as possible.

Several months later I walked past a group of staff in the office and overhead one talking about how Mindy was born in Mexico and ate only guacamole.  I walked away with a smile.  I still don't know what's more incredible... the fact that our audience was so gullible or the amount of Mexican food consumed during our travels.  Regardless I still seek it out whenever possible.

I started my own Cinco de Mayo celebration a day early and was introduced to a new Mexican joint in the skyways  yesterday - Crazy Tacos.  (Thanks Jen!)  I was hoping for something off the menu at El Azteca today - but as I was hanging out at the "track" in Shakopee I settled for Chipotle.  I know - pretty disappointing for someone who claims nachos are her favorite item on the menu.  I promise to do better next year.

Looking forward to nachos with the sisters on the patio at El Azteca this summer!  I'll take a jumbo margarita on the rocks please!

Magically Delicious

I've been feel rather lazy lately.  I wish I could blame the laziness on being sick, perhaps a nasty virus.  One for which there are no antibiotics.  One where you need to take grandma's advice and drink lots of water and get lots of rest.  Can't say I've had an abundance of water lately, but I've been working on the rest part.  Last night's 9pm bedtime is proof that I'm working on it.  Just haven't made much progress.

So in my lazy ways (and due to a naggy pain on the right side of my abdomen) I opted for cereal for dinner.  I was thanking my orange marshmallow stars that I went back to aisle 5 and nabbed that box of Lucky Charms.  I'll be honest - I was originally looking for Alpha Bits.  Thank goodness I didn't find them.  The Lucky Charms were just what I wanted and needed tonight.  If you're on a budget (and I am!) then Marshallow Mateys might serve the same purpose.

I poured an extra large bowl and settled in on the couch.  Instantly I was taken back to the days when I was about seven or eight years old.  I would sit at the kitchen counter at one of two barstools.  My sister sat along side me on the other barstool.  I remember those barstools like it was yesterday, they swiveled from left to right.  But Dad was quick to remind us not to bang the arm rests up against the countertop.  Nestled under the kitchen cabinet and against the wall was a small television.  It was small.  With rounds knobs for the channels and volume.  I don't even think they make them that small these days.  That television wasn't even as large at the screen on my laptop.  Size didn't matter (in this case) as my sister and I would sit at the counter and eat our breakfast.  Lingering in hopes of watching a few more minutes of television before Mom or Dad would coax us into the bathroom to get ready for school.

As we lingered I ate the oat pieces of the cereal first.  Then methodically ate the marshmallows by type.  There were yellow moons, organge stars, blue diamonds, red balloons, purple horeshoes and finally the rainbows.

I was busy recalling memories during my first bowl, so it wasn't until I poured my second bowl of cereal that I realized I could hardly recognize any of the marshmallows.  Couldn't find the pink hearts or purple horseshoes.  These marshmallows were striped and made of strange shapes.  I finally found one or two rainbows.  While it was magically delicious it was most definitely missing some of my favorite marshmallows. 

For a few minutes I was annoyed by the changes to the box of Lucky Charms.  When I googled Lucky Charms and found plenty of reading material and images I realized that the contents of the cereal box isn't the only thing in my life that has changed dramatically since sitting at the counter eating breakfast before school.  As I reached over to grab the remote control and change the channel on the television I was thankful not to have to get up and turn a know.  I was also thankful to have outgrown the hairstyle of the eight year old me.

I'm hoping I have as much energy as the leprechaun tomorrow!

If you're curious about the cereal, like me, check out the details and history here.
Can't seem to find the source of the photo!