Making salsa...Mexican style =)

I grew up doing things a bit different than anyone else I knew. All my friends that I had as a kid didn't do things like we did. For example...we hardly ever ate with a spoon when it came to Mexican dishes. It was always our tortillas that were used as spoons. =) And I know that we aren't the only Mexican family that does that. I didn't have any Hispanic friends growing up. There weren't that many around actually. I was only one of the very few and if there were other Hispanic kids in school some of them didn't know English very well and I'd be there to help them out. I hated interpreting for others when I was a kid though. I don't know why. I guess you hate a lot of things as a kid huh? =) When I was in college I started working full time and I loved my job. Why? Because I was able to use my Spanish there and I got paid more for it. So it wasn't until I was an adult that I realized how special it is to be bilingual especially in a country where it is needed. When I first moved to Norway I felt like I was at the top of the world. =) Newly wed, fresh out of college, young. :-P When I started living here I got to know this place and quickly realized that my being bilingual meant absolutely nothing here. I felt like a little ant on a big hill. I've had many ups and downs in life you could say. But I am always reminding myself of my roots and where I come from. Sure, we didn't have many Mexican traditions in my family. For example we don't celebrate Dia de Los Muertos or even Cinco de Mayo. We have our own little traditions and I believe food is one of them. We always have Menudo and Tamales for Christmas dinner (well, whenever I am in the USA with my family. Kind of hard to make Mexican dishes in a country that has no Mexican products ;-)    )  And we always use the Molcajete and Tejolote for making salsa. Always! Unless we are feeling really lazy and then we use the blender ;-) Which does not give salsa the same taste as a Molcajete. What is a Molcajete you ask? It is the Mexican version of a Mortar and Pestle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molcajete It is mostly used for making salsa and guacamole but people use it for other things as well I'm sure. We usually just made yummy salsa. =) Or rather my mom makes salsa. I just watch and help out when I can. lol Just kidding...I do help but I spent so many days of my life just watching her make fresh tortillas and salsa after school and there would be re-fried beans with cheese waiting on the stove. I have not been able to bring a Molcajete over to Norway though. Not a traditional Mexican one. They are so darn heavy. I haven't really bought anything equivalent to one either though. So I've made one in miniature just so I can look at it. It is a great reminder of how I grew up. This little piece and my tortillas miniature mean a lot to me. Maybe I'll make some re-fried beans next? =) Onto the pictures.


This is a Molcajete and a Tejolote, I tried my best to make it as real as possible. 

~L