Virginia & her husband met me on a corner in Oaxaca- took me to the local market where we bought ingredients for our class & dinner. Chapulines (roasted grasshoppers) squash blossoms, pina mangos, tomatillos, peppers, tomatoes, chicken and away we go. Everything is made from scratch, cooked over wood fires. I chose blue corn which we grind into masa for tamales & tortillas. (Not so easy!) no gym resistance machines for these guys! We use a molcajete for garlic, tomatillos, chiles. We use a larger stone for tomatoes. We cook corn in water to soften. And then we prepare banana leaves ( very carefully) for tomales.
Our quesadillas have salsa verde, squash blossom & cheese & I made the tortilla! (Yup – not quitting my day job!)
Our tamales: chicken, masa, salsa verde
Our tacos- chicken, tomatoes, salsa verde
Virginia & her family are masters & I should have taken more photos!
Btw: if you ever get the privilege of having a tamale in a banana leaf – take it!
Camino Venture 