Seeds are life. Without seeds, we would not have fruits, vegetables, or grains to eat. We would lack the nutrients we need to survive. Our ancestors depended upon seeds, and we still depend upon them today. A 2014 documentary called Open Sesame explores the story of seeds and our connection to them. I watched the film and decided to share my favorite takeaways from it, and how you can make a difference in sustaining the seeds that sustain us!
In March 2019, I took a mini road trip to visit the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Rio Grande City, as well as the historic downtown district of Roma, both located in the southern tip of Texas at the border of Mexico. I had passed through Rio Grande City once before but never been to Roma. Both are known for their historic buildings, their rich histories that include the Civil War, as well as the Grotto and Roma’s scenic overlook of the Rio Grande River. So, despite the sweltering March weather of South Texas, I grabbed my camera and decided to check it out.
So, I tried to make baked tostones, but I sliced them too thin and didn’t mash them, so I ended up with plantain chips! Still delicious, but very different from the original tostones. Plantains look like bananas and are in the same family, but do not contain as much sugar and are not eaten raw like bananas. When cooked, however, they are delicious! These plantain chips are crunchy, slightly browned, with a thin coat of olive oil and salt, and go great with guacamole!!
The Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, where I currently reside, is a very religious place. Historically, it was a Catholic region, due to the colonization that took place by Spanish conquistadors in the Americas. Here in the borderlands, curanderos (healers) played an important role in providing spiritual advice and remedies for physical and emotional ailments to people who could not afford to see doctors. Curanderismo is quite diverse, but traditionally incorporates elements of Catholic and indigenous medicine. The most well-known folk healer from this region is Don Pedrito Jaramillo, who was born in Mexico but spent the last quarter of his life here in a small town called Falfurrias.
My friend and I decided to drive up to Falfurrias and visit the shrine on a hot, sunny day in South Texas. It was a magical place, and here’s what I saw…
I realize this post may be deceiving because candy corns are associated with Halloween, which is in October, and I’m posting this in May. The “candy corn” part of the recipe is aesthetics only – it tastes like full on summer, trust me. I decided to shoot some footage of me creating this recipe awhile back, and recently felt motivated to edit it together, so here’s to Halloween in May!
This fruit juice is sweet (also hence the word “candy” in the title) and tropical tasting, so kids will love it too, and it’s full of detoxifying properties and immune boosting vitamins. Plus, it’s easy to make and has simple ingredients. Serve it at your Halloween party or as a healthy alternative to sugary, artificial candy and processed juices. Either way, it will have you feeling energized and glowing! Check out the video and the full recipe below.
