I got my craft kit for LA Soundscapes Craft Workshop ‘Draw Your Feelings.’ Some of you may not know what I’m talking about. The Ford in conjunction with LA Soundscapes has these cool family friendly workshops that are free to anyone (children and adults) interested in participating. I just signed up for the Draw Your Feelings workshop taught by artist, writer, and performer Nasimeh B E and inspired by BLUE13 – The Bollywood Beats Dance Company! Here’s the really cool part, the first 50 people to sign up will receive the necessary supplies for the workshop from The Ford at no cost to you. Deadline to sign up for the free supplies is November 6th (in order to mail it out on time).

When I was a little girl I used to walk down the street to a teeny tiny small candy factory (the size of a walk in closet) that sat at the end of my block. For some reason the woman who worked there by herself took to me and my hundreds of questions. I was that kid, I’d knock on the door and ask if I could come in and watch. As time passed the woman looked forward to my visits and we became friends. She schooled me on the world of Mexican candy making. In the midst of making batches of cocadas, and cajeta… she would also make candied fruit. On the days when I was lucky she would have left over pumpkin and make calabaza en tacha and send me home with a batch for my family. My grandfather used to get so excited when I would arrive home with it. I ate mine plain and he would pour a little milk over his. Those were some of the most impressionable moments of my young childhood that will stick with me forever.

The Piña Colada Raspado Celebration:

I’m a girl’s girl! There I said it. Being raised by a single mom with the help of her sisters I first handedly saw the power of female. How they came together to support each other as they were building their young lives. It wasn’t long before I realized women are innovative, brave, determined, powerful, loving, smart, and stronger together. I’ve always had the utmost respect for other women and involve myself in solid female long-term relationships. I cherish all my femme friendships with all my heart and sometimes they need to be celebrated.

The 1^st Saturday of September is National Tailgating Day. This year it falls on September 5^th smack dab in the middle of Labor Day weekend during a pandemic that is keeping us safer at home. Yes, I wish I was at the stadium participating in this fun festive day but I won’t let staying at home rain on my parade…. I’ll just homegate instead.  Lots of games are being televised today and I’m here for it especially with my delicious GAME DAY SPREAD. I made it easy for myself and ran over to Northgate Market to pick up all my favorite ready made snacks. Grabbed a pound of crispy potato wedges, tortilla chips, salsa ranchera, guacamole, rajas con crema, cacahuates japoneses, I love michelada, a bag of chicharrones de harina, a few onions to make homemade onion rings, and I was good to go!

Cauliflower Mojo De Ajo is the vegetarian version to the legendary Puerto Nuevo dishes many of us Latinx grew up on. When I was a kid/teen my family would take road trips down to Rosarito for the weekend on many occasions. We would all pack into my uncle’s van and head south of the border for a little taste of Mexico on the beach. I have so many fond memories of that time spent with my family and the meals we shared.

I just need to gather my myself and take a seat after the weeks we just had. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed my city of Los Angeles in such unrest and unity at the same time.  A beautifully tragic dichotomy to behold.  It’s taken us a long time to get here, and we still have a long way to go.  Like I said, it’s a lot to process.  In that process I have been seeking more time for myself.  Taking comfort in the simple things such as finding serenity in my patio surrounded by my plants with a little ‘trago’ in hand.  I usually make a pitcher of Sparkling Spiked Limonada and keep it in the fridge for an easy go-to drink.

My Mom loves a hearty plate of tofu smothered in sauce. Her name on Instagram is Tofupansa for gawdSSSSsakes… what more do I need to say to convince you she LOVES tofu. Anyhow, she’s always asking me to make her a batch and I kinda blow it off. Not because I’m trying to ignore her wishes, but more because I hadn’t really dreamed up the perfect way to serve it up.