Weather y Fishing

They don't mix! A week and a half ago the fishing was great out here in the desert whether we were fishing at the local canals, drain ditches tambien the back waters of the Colorado river. But recently we (most of Southern Califas) felt the effects of a thunderstorm that swept through here. Although it was nice porque it cooled us off from the heat it really messed up the fishing for all us gente out here that enjoy going out and throwing in our lines betting on who's gonna go home with a catch.

Well that was a week ago. Fishing has gotten better out here now that the waters are beginning to warm up once again. This past weekend we got together Clumsy, my carnal and myself. We went to go visit Clumsy's father in-law who happened to lived right along a canal bank (that I have never fished). Pues as we were all there just chillin enjoying the the nice cool breeze that swept along the trees that provided us with shade I decided to cast my line into the water and wouldn't you know within five minutes I had a bite. I reeled in my first catch of the day, but it definitely was not the last. I had caught 5 Catfish in about 1 hour, hijole I wonder if that's a record? Anyways, no one could believe it. The father in-law had said that they never caught fish before in that canal. They were in shock!

That day was a good day and if the weather stays this way, it will only get better. Fish fry anyone?

Sopapillas

My kids mouths watered as they observed me frying little bolas of dough that they knew I was gonna be tossing in that little plastic container filled with a mixture of sugar and canela, as soon as they came out of the deep fryer.

They asked what I was making, "Sopapillas" I replied. They never had them before and since I had time and I was using the fryer to cook up some taquitos, I went ahead and made these delicious little desserts so that they may enjoy them after the dinner I prepared.

Sopapillas (or fritters) look like fat little pillows that make an excellent dessert when topped with powdered sugar and honey.Plain, they can accompany any soup or just smother it con guacamole y vamonos.
The Dough:
2 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons shortening
3/4 cup of cold water
Oil for frying

Sift all the dry ingredients together, cut in the shortening with 2 knives, until mealy. work in the water to form a pastry a pastry-like dough. Turn onto a lightly floured board and knead untill smooth.


Roll as thin as possible .....
....and cut diagonally into 4 triangles
Carefully drop one by one into the oil (I used my deep fryer)...they should puff as they brown. after 2 minutes turn to brown the other side.
Remove them and add the sopapillas into a cinnamon and sugar mix...Toss gently to coat both sides
After plating them add some powdered sugar and topped with honey.

ENJOY!!!

April...a month of Birthdays

Chingado, it seems as though many members of my familia were born in the month of April. Let's see here my daughter, the youngest starts it all with her birthday falling on the 3rd and my brother right behind her as his falls on the 4th. The 9th was one of my nephews and my other daughter, her birtdhay is on the 11th as well as my little sobrina's. The 17th was my little carnalitos and yesterday, the 21st was my jefitos. But wait it's not over yet. The 20th was my tias and this coming weekend it's my little nephews birthday and I think that's it for the month.

This is alot of birthdays for one month!

Pues "Happy Birthday" to you all!

Very Creative

Cactus
Originally uploaded by elNoel

The other day I went to pay my daughter a visit at her grandparents home. As we were outside enjoying the nice cool weather I saw this toilet that they had turned into a flowering pot.

It was full of a mixture of dirt and potting soil. In the water tank, desert cactus was growing out of it all crazy. This prickly little plant was growing wild and was very dangerous as my 4 year old warned me not to touch it because it "pokes".

In the toilet or bowl it had desert flowers growing (though they were dried out) as well as some dried up grass, but they were visible.

I found this very creative and conserving. I wonder if other gente did the same with there toilets, sinks or any other household item instead of just sending them to a waste dump....This is a good reason to get rid of that old toilet and get a new one.

Procrastinator II...(they got me)

So I go to this ladies apartment, tu sabes the one that wants me to cater her daughter-in-laws baby shower. Pues after throwing out some finger food ideas (es todo lo que queren) I apologized for taking so long to go meet with them, being that the baby shower is 2 weeks away.

Pues they began to laugh and me not knowing what was going they explained to me. The person who mentioned my name also told them que I seem to take long to get back at people so they lied about the date. The actual date is set for the last weekend of April. I busted out laughing with them.

That was a good one, they got me. Pero it's firme though porque now everything is set and we all know what we want.

I'm really gonna work at getting things done sooner that way I won't be so much in a rush.

Procrastinator

Orale I have to admit it, but I seem to procrastinate alot. Why I wait to do things at the last minute no se, pero I really have to cut it out! Let me give an example. 2 weeks ago this lady asked if I can cater her daughter-in-law babyshower...pues simon que si! Her shower is in two in a half weeks from today I still haven't went by her apartment to speak with them about options on what they want served.

Is this a disease? or do I just like a challenge? tu sabes, to see if I can do what needs to get done in the last minute. I've been doing this for as long as I can remember. I've tried to work on it pero I'm slow dragging.

I know I'm not the only one that likes to Procrastinate, but if you are or did at one time, how do/did you manage to deal with it?

Pues, you have to excuse me now. I really need to go talk with that lady about the babyshower.

En Pas Descansen

Today I took time to go visit those I miss, those that are no longer with us physically, but will always and forever be in our hearts and memories.

Angel V. Baca, my lil primo who passed a day after he came into this world. For whatever reason he decided to leave us, we as familia excepted it knowing that his memory will forever be embeded in our hearts. I still remember the day of his birth as myself and my primos (his brothers and sisters) walked behind the hospital so that we can get a glimpse through the giant window and watch as my tia held him in her arms. We were joyful that day. The following day I did not understand why so many members of the family were crying....it was not until the day he was laid to rest that I seen my tia and tio crying, I reliezed my primo had left us.

Angel V. Baca
12-9-81 /12-10-81

Davis A. Rivas, mi sobrino who passed a few months after he joined us in this world. It seem like just yesterday that his parents had to make that decision that no parent should have to make. Mijo fell victim to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and my primos had to make that dreadful decision, a decision that effected us all the day we were there to hold him for the very last time. No parent should ever have to go through that!

David A. Rivas
2-24-2005 /6-24-2005

Chema, mi primo. Although he was not one that I visited today, he is always in my heart. I grew up with this fool, he was one year older than me, we were close. Every time he'd come home from vacation, I was always the one he'd come see first...maybe it was cause he knew he'd find me home or cause I lived close to the bus station. Whatever the reason, I miss him! It's hard for my tia especailly when she runs into me porque I'm just a reminder of him, she say we looked alike and after looking at his previous flicks, I must agree with her. I hear her voice break everytime I give her a hug as she tells me "I'm just living it day by day mijo" then she turns to her daughter-in-law "veda que si se parese a Chemita?" I know she misses Chemita (her oldest) because we all do tambien.

Jose Maria Vaca
9-11-73/ 2-11-2007

We All Miss You!
You will forever be in our Hearts...we'll see you when we get there!