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Sweet pepper molcajete
A steaming molcajete filled with shrimp, cheese and chorizo titillates the taste buds! Early in the season Chris and I were invited out to dinner with friends and I had my first steaming molcajete; impressive to view and divine on the taste buds! I was inspired to create my own version. I first created one mimicking the delectable delight I had when we were out; twice in fact and I must say yummmmmy! A molcajete is: Borrowed from http://www.mexgrocer.com This is the exact molcajete that had me wanting more! Well, Chris wasn't wild about walking ONE of these HOT out [...]
Shrimp Mango Avocado Ceviche
Shrimp Mango Avocado Ceviche When we first began our journey in the area we never imagining that we'd move here and purchase a run down building, renovate it and turn it into a Boutique Hotel! The fabulous food was something I never had to imagine I just dove in and enjoyed. Yumm, yumm! I have a habit, when I truly like a food, I do my best to replicate the recipe. We had something similar to this dip when we were out and about... I quickly decided I had to recreate it! The combination of flavours excited my taste-buds and [...]
Characters; Maestro Edgar Durán Durán
Maestro Edgar... giving back to the community he adores! La Cruz is about to have a fabulous teacher volunteering his time for Proyecto Verano 2015 OR Summer Project 2015, doesn’t it sound so much better in Espanol? As I listened to the presentation I was eager to learn more about the man behind such a challenging mission. Edgar’s goal is to offer a summer camp for around 100 children with music, arts, dancing and sports lessons, also ecology and swimming. Surely it will be a great project! Edgar says “Kids, I'm pretty sure that they will have a better [...]
Cocktail hour – Avocado Margarita
Avocados are healthy and they are abundant in Mexico. I enjoy at least half an avocado per day. I was delighted when my niece, Courtney, was visiting and she suggested we make Avocado Margaritas. I squinched up my nose not thinking that was an ideal combination. She said “They’re really good”! So, I made them for all of our guests and they raved about both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions. Creamy, smooth and yummy! Avocado Margarita (inspired by and recipe from Fernando’s Pub in Kelowna) 1 oz lime juice 1 oz simple syrup ( 2 parts sugar, 1 part [...]
Cocktail Hour – Watermelon Margarita’s
Watermelon Margarita's for 4 Pedicure and pampering at Villa Amor del Mar... that calls for a special cocktail; watermelon margarita's. Summing up my guests, coupled with the heat, I chose a refreshing choice. Ingredients; 3 - 4 cups cubed seeded watermelon 4 ounces tequila 2 ounces of Triple sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier 2 -3 tablespoons cane or brown sugar 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (approximately 3 key limes) Preparation Cool 4 glasses in freezer for 1/2 hour or more On a plate, large enough to 'dip and swivel' your glass of choice, sprinkle 2 - 3 tablespoons of sugar [...]
Characters; Chris and Cindy Bouchard
Chris and Cindy Bouchard; your hosts at Villa Amor del Mar, a couple of characters around town. In my series of Characters around town, it occurred to me you might want to know about us. We were asked to share our story in Mexi-go magazine and invite you to check it out! If you can't read this, go here and to page 42 AND there's a little more about us here. AND there's a story about the pool renovation here. Let us help you Rest, Relax and Rejuvenate! “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” [...]
Real estate in Vallarta-Nayarit
I mean, it costs nothing to just look. The sellers accepted our offer, and we would soon be proud owners of a brand new 3BR condo. We paid less for our 3 BR penthouse, (with a spectacular view of the bay) than we would have paid for a 1 bedroom condo in suburban Vancouver (with a spectacular view of the condo across the street). The property taxes are less than a hundred bucks per year. Yes, per year.
Cobblestone Chronicles: Living in Mexico
Living in Mexico: Why Vallarta-Nayarit? Our mid-life sabbatical goal could be summarized in two words: Go somewhere. Somewhere... Warm; Near the sea; That shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops are sufficient and acceptable dress; That our family could easily visit; In a time zone similar to our friends, family and business associates, so that phone calls and regular Skype “video-visits” would be convenient; With a culture that “rocks”, rather than a culture that shocks (more on this later) and: Where we'd feel welcome and at home. We got lucky, we discovered Vallarta-Nayarit and love living in Mexico! Like every country; there are [...]
Cobblestone Chronicles; Street hockey
Loving hockey in Vallarta-Nayarit, Mexico The NHL Playoffs are into the final round, but here on the Bay of Banderas, the road hockey season will continue until long after the last two NHL teams have taken to the golf course. The die-hards will soldier on into the summer, pausing only for the few rare weeks that we can’t muster two teams for “Road-” Hockey Night in Bucerias. If I haven’t tipped you off already, there is an inordinate number of Canadians living in Vallarta-Nayarit (More on this later). When fellow Canadian Glenn Newell, owner of YoYo Mo’s Sports Bar [...]
Mexican Real Estate: De-mystified
Mexican Real Estate: De-mystified I’ve lived in Mexico since September 2009, (active in real estate since 2013) and I keep thinking about Steve Martin’s quip about a trip to Paris. With feigned indigence, he complains: “ It’s….it’s like THOSE FRENCH have a DIFFERENT word for EVERYTHING! For a chuckle, watch it here. The Mexicans also seem to have a different word for everything. What I have found, however, is that aside from their strange way of saying things, (beer is Cerveza), we have much in common. As a realtor here in Vallarta-Nayarit, I have bought and/or sold numerous homes involving [...]