I never had a dream come true till the day that I found RHUBARB

n.n remember all those tweets I had about me dreaming of Rhubarb? Well... I am delightfully glad to tell you that that little thing shall only increase more now that I have FOUND Rhubarb! 

It finally happened.

My mom decided to take me and my sister and my boyfriend to CityMarket, the only gourmet market found in Mexico City. I expected to find lamb but instead... just as I walked into the veggies and fruits section 

The clouds opened up and the Gods decided to smile down upon me and said: 

"Andrea here is your Rhubarb" 

...cue for Angelic music...

There standing in a huge pile of ice along side with asparagus and other things I didn't mind was my Rhubarb.

At long long last. 

So Mexican readers around the country!

I give you: 

Rhubarb. 

You would think that being a country that has the soil and weather abilities to produce almost anything Rhubarb would be a pretty common ingredient around here. But no. Hardly anyone has heard of Rhubarb. 

Slightly overpriced for such a small size plant.

But so totally worth it! 

I know I said that my grandma is the best cook I'll ever meet but that Jamie Oliver guy isn't that far behind...

His recipes never cease to satisfy myself and my family. 

I followed his Rhubarb Food recipe and OMG! Instant and absolute success!

Deliciousness! 

Rhubarb fool is what heaven tastes like!

Look at that!

Standing on a triangle shaped Pastry cookie alongside with Orange-yogurt-sweetened with honey. Rhubarb compost. Beautiful! 

Since I started working on the recipe slightly late by the time I was done with it, the sun had already set, so with no natural light to brighten my photos I stole my sister's reading lamp in order to create a small photo-studio: 

Just simply awe-inspiring.

I simply know I have cooked my future kids favorite dessert. 

My Grandmother ROCKS!

Man oh man are you people in for a treat! So my mom's biggest friend came down to Mexico City from NY since she is a dear beloved friend of the family my grandmother (who is the best cook I've and will ever meet) decided to welcome her with a deliciously sinful "Mariscada" which is Spanish for loads of deliciously simple seafood cooking. 

And I know this picture here looks everything but simple but apparently I have developed this ability for styling dishes. 

Here in this photo: Mr. Crab with a small example of Tostada de camaron with two over the top Garlic-ish Ginger-ish Butter-ish Shrimp. 

I've always admired the way my grandma has for cooking. I mean, it is just incredible. She manages to create the best dishes out of ordinary common ingredients and there is always something so Grandma-ish to them. 

Once upon a time I had believed that all this seafood dishes required an extensive super hard preparation but I was so amazed to find that it isn't that complicated after all. 

Our Menu for today.

Shrimps a la Diabla.

Shrimps al Mojo de Ajo. 

Ceviche de Pescado.

Ceviche de Camaron.

Ceviche de Jaiba. 

Grilled Sole with Secret Sauce. 

Grilled Clam-things. 

&&

Grandma style Crabs. 

As dishes began pilling up it became quite obvious we would need to take our reunion outside... 

In this photo: My cousin who seems to be eating the Ceviche de Jaiba with his eyes... strangely enough though... he and his sister ate a soup and meat... I guess it's a giant scam my aunt came up with for the adults to eat more.

Which is great because I count as an adult so the more for me n.n but I'll have to admit I feel bad for my lil' cousin, he really has no idea of what he missed out on today. 

This is the grilled fish, which by the time it was ready to eat... I was so full and in such bliss I actually forgot to take any picture of my deliciously sinful fish taco I treated myself with n.n 

But I will tell you this: People out there who has a dad or a granddad that grills things every once in a while... PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY DO! AND LEARN! 

My granddad left today and left the grilling to my grandma, my aunt, Noriko (my mom's friends and the person you have to thank for the meal) and to me! I have no words to express how painfully hard it was.

Oh yeah, this is me with Teddy, last time I saw him he was wearing a Buzz Lightyear costume n.n 

Even though he is 7 now, I gotta admit he is still cute and makes me want to spoil the life out of him. That's just the mom side of me I guess... 

n.n I just wanted you to see my awesome food styling. Again.

This is my baby sister n.n who decided to help out with the Shrimps a la Diabla.

Here you can see her transferring a shrimp into the devil sauce. She did this with every single shrimp saying she wanted to give a special treatment to each of them n.n she is adorable! I totally agreed on that after all, it was the very least we could do. This little animals had died for us, and they deserve all the respect in the world and out thanks. 

Peace out people!

Whaaat whaaat? No recipes you say?! 

Hey! It took me 19 years or so to learn how to make each of this dishes, I love you followers and random people who are reading this, but I am not spilling my grandma cooking secrets just like that. Maybe late in life when my cooking book comes out n.n or you could, you know, ask me nicely... 

Aunt Je-who?

OKAY! Finally the quest is on! Oh yes you heard me right people from this moment on The Culinary Quest for The Best Pancake Ever has officially begun! 

(If you think you have a pancake recipe that should be considered on this quest feel free to comment-post the recipe! I will gladly give it a try!) 

And so... I give you the first of the infinite recipes I'll be trying this summer. The debut on pancakes! The Only & Original. Ladies and Gentlemen! Food bloggers and lovers worldwide I give you: 

THE ORIGINAL MOTHERSHIP

PANCAKE RECIPE.

(From scratch) 

Ingredients: 

2 cups of All Purpose Flour. 

4 teaspoons of Baking Powder. 

1/4 cup of Sugar. 

1/4 teaspoon of Salt. 

1 1/2 cup of Milk. 

2 eggs. 

1/4 cup of Canola Oil. 

1 teaspoon of Vanilla. (I used two) 

Work that magic!

1. First mix all the dry ingredients together. 

Then add the milk: 

Canola Oil: 

Followed by the Vanilla. 

Next the eggs and I decided to add 2 1/2 tablespoons of buttermilk 

YUUUUM

2. Now using your Freakishly Strong Herculean arm. Mix! For the love of all that is mighty and grand! MIX.

But do not over mix n.n 

Don't get thaaaat excited... 

 

3.  Now heat up your skillet and pour a little of our Pancake mixture on the pan and wait for it to start bubbling: 

And now using your golden (or plastic) Godsend (or bought from the supermarket or IKEA) spatula  flip it so the other side cooks as well and then EAT!

BTW, this recipe came from amazing foodblogger Billy Click here to go to his awesome blog