This cookbook is a collection of my favorite recipes

rooted in the Mexican and Argentinian culture. It is rare to find these recipes in America so not only does this book commemorate my family lineage but shares tastes not commonly experienced by my peers. I hope these dishes whisk you away to my grandmother’s table, evoking sensory memories of my childhood, and the aromas that typically tickle my nose when entering my mamá’s kitchen.

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The first thing my mamá taught me to make was a quesadilla. I was in awe of her nimble fingers as she flipped the tortilla delicately without even a flinch. She handled the stove, but the rest was simple enough for a 5-year-old. A fresh flour tortilla and a sprinkling of mozzarella cheese. Before long, I knew exactly when to fold the tortilla so that it was made just right and not burnt to a crisp. 

 

Ever since then, my mamá as well as all the women who cook in my family have been idols I have looked up to because for whatever reason I was never able to find time to hone these skills growing up. I have always just been postponing the day when my “housewife duties” would be needed to impress my future husband. But when tasked to make a cookbook for this class, I realized that by forcing myself to recreate my favorite recipes I could learn not only how to prepare these dishes, but so much more. 

 

By teaching myself how to make a recipe, my mamá had given me a powerful gift: the ability to bring something I crave into  a physical space and to share what I have made. To put things on the table as I want them to be. To make a home, and find it, anywhere I go. Cooking can really provide a platform for newfound confidence and has helped me feel even more connected to my family as I am studying far away from all that is familiar. But now, I can fill any kitchen with the aromas of home and feel even closer to my mamá whenever I’m cooking. ​​​​​​​​