Have you ever seen the ‘I Love Lucy’ episode where Lucy decorates the apartment “cuban style” because she thought Ricky was homesick?
Well, I am not crazy like Lucy but I did decide it was time to bring some Tex-Mex into this Italian home. One thing I miss very much (besides my family and friends) is Tex-Mex food!!!! I have been thinking about Tortillas and Guacamole for 2-1/2 months now. Now that I found my little Mexican shop, I figured it was time to put my cooking skills to use.
Today, I invited the Sister Missionaries to come over for dinner. It’s been a while since I cooked anything besides Pizza and Crostata so, I wanted to start slow. I made Nachos, but not just plain Tortilla Chips and Cheese… nope.. These are fancy shmancy Rachael Ray Nachos.
So, I went to the Mexican market today to buy my ingredients. First, where the Chips. If you look closely, you can see the price is € 3,50 which is about $5.25 for this bag!!! That’s pretty good compared to what is available at the grocery store.
I also picked up a packet of Taco Seasonings. € 2,40 which is… $3.60!!! FOR A PACKET OF TACO SEASONINGS!!! Expensive… I know!
So, as I was purchasing my items, I remembered that Carlo had asked me to buy a Cross. Now, because I am LDS and Carlo is Catholic, we had to come up with some sort of compromise. He wanted a Crucifix and I said that I would rather look at a nice cross instead. So, I got a Cross.
Since my new friend at the Mexican market is infact, Mexican, I asked her if she knew somewhere I could buy Cumin. She directed me to a shop a couple of doors down that sell spices. Now, in a previous post, I mentioned that I found some Cumin in the Asian shops. Well, the Asian shops are located in a “not safe for a girl walking alone” neighborhood. So, I was really happy to hear that there’s another alternative. Unfortunately, this store doesn’t sell Ground Cumin.. only Cumin seeds, but it’s better than nothing. So.. I bought some too.
So, I went home to relax when I remembered that I had to go to the store to buy Avocados. So, I walk to the store but I decided to stop by Upim first. I shouldn’t have done that!! I found some really cute bowls and small plates that would be ideal for desserts.
I would like to thank my Mom and Dad for this!! This is what I bought with the birthday money they put in my account!
Once I got home, I put away my groceries, took pictures of course of all the stuff I bought. As I was preparing the meal, I notice how beautiful it was out side. I don’t remember the last time I saw a really beautiful sunset. So, I took a picture.
**i figured this was too pretty to be a small picture
As it got close to 7:30, I finished the Nachos and waited for my guests to arrive so that I could put them under the Broiler for the cheese to melt.
I also made some Guacamole to go along with our yumm-o Nachos.
these ingredients equal this
The sisters loved the meal and were surprised that I put a lot of thought into making something that reminded them of being back in the U.S. For Sorella Oliver, it was like being home. (her mother is Mexican, and her father is British)
Of course, I had to display my new dishes while serving dessert.
Now that I’ve got almost everything I need, I won’t feel so homesick for Tex-Mex food. Although…… a nice big bowl of Menudo sounds good right now!
texasmomintorino.com 
I just have to say ewww to menudo! but everything you made looked really good! I like the sunset pic.
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WOW! The Mexican ingredients are EXPENSIVE! You’ll have to make your own Taco Seasoning. I use Chili Pwd. Cumin, Garlic, Sal, y Pwd. Onions. As for the cumin seeds, you’ll need a molcajete like mine and abuelita’s and bisabuelitas. Your food looks delicioso! Your new dishes look very fancy with the postre. Great pictures, look like you would see in a magazine (revista) Super, Super Bello! La Cruz esta bonita.
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The only reason I bought Taco Seasonings is because I wasn’t going to get Cumin at the “not safe” Asian store. It wasn’t until I bought my stuff and was on my way out that I decided to ask the girl about finding it somewhere else…. and I thought it would be tacky of me to tell her that I don’t need her Taco Seasonings. I usually make my own too.
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Ohhhhhhhhhh! That’s like the time , your father and I went to Terry’s El Mariachi to buy rice pudding. it was on sale for .89 centavos. I saw Yolanda, and she asked me, oh that’s real easy to make, don’t you know how to make it? I said yes, but It’s on sale, besides I didn’t want to leave without buying anything. I should have told her, I want to eat it in the car, not wait to go home and take 2 hrs. to make. Tanti Baci!
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That guac looked YUMMY!!!! I am so glad you are able to find things that remind you of home.
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