Saturday, August 28, 2010

Sunday Favorites - One Year Ago

Today was such a busy fun day. I finally finished cleaning up after dinner. I made my kids favorite TacoBell Teriyaki Hamburgers. I take a packet of Taco Bell seasoning and mix it with the raw hamburger, shape the patties and then when they are almost done I brush on Kikoman Teriyaki Glaze. YUM! But one year ago, almost to the day I was visiting my daughter April in Turlock and we ate at a restaurant that became a favorite to all of us. So I'm going to share this past post because it's Sunday Favorites hosted by Chari over at Happy To Design. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed living it!


Sunday Favorite 
from 
August 25, 2009

This weekend my mom, my sister and I went to go visit my daughter up in Turlock. We had a great time. We did a lot of thrifting and found some wonderful treasures which I will share with you later.

We found a wonderful restaurant called Mi Casa (My Home) and I want to share pictures of one of their specialties called a Molcajete. A Molcajete is a stone tool, the traditional Mexican version of the mortar and pestle tool. It looks like this. . .


I remember my mom and my aunts all having one of these and using it to grind up spices. I know my mom used to have one, not sure what happened to it.

In the picture above you can see that a Molcajete is made out of stone. At this restaurant we went to they take this stone and place it over an open flame and heat it up until it's red hot and they place whatever meat you've chosen along with broth and salsa in the molcajete and heat it up. When they are ready to bring it to your table they pile on shredded cheese. The molcajete arrives at the table still bubbling. It is pure ambrosia. It is served with beans, rice, pico de gallo, tortillas and guacamole. It's the most unique dish I've ever seen in a restaurant.

My daughter ordered one and I'm glad she did. I hope to try one next time! I took some photos, but they don't do it justice, but hopefully you get an idea. . .

The green stuff hanging out are green onions that have wilted due to the heat of the dish. When they place this in front of you - you feel it! It is boiling, sizzling hot!

The cheese gets all melty and gooey as it sits in front of you and it's a dish that doesn't get cold quickly. Here's the empty finished Molcajete. Looks like lava doesn't it? Well that's basically what it is, stone hot lava in a Molcajete. If you ever make it to Turlock you have to try it!!

Here's some photos of what the rest of us had, but trust me...after seeing and tasting the Molcajete we wished we had ordered one.

I had these Sopes, which actually were very delicious. I got them with carnitas...shredded pork.

My sister had these tacos, which I believe were Carne Asada, or maybe Carnitas, don't remember and a Mango & Jicama salad with Mango Dressing.

My mom ordered this humongous burrito filled with carnitas. She could barely eat 1/4th of this dish.


So if you ever get a chance to make it to this restaurant, don't be chicken like me...order this dish, it's wonderful!

7 comments:

  1. Oh my those pictures of Mexican food looked heavenly! I also need to try your Taco Bell Teryaki burgers, like...tomorrow:)

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  2. Alicia, this all looks delicious. Mexican food is a favorite around here.
    Thanks for visiting HFTS and becoming a new member. Welcome! I hope to see you often. I'll be back to visit you. Hope you have a speedy recovery. I read below that you have had Sciatica. ~ Sarah

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  3. I'm soooooo glad you reposted this! This is EXACTLY my favorite kind of Mexican place - - - that food looks amazing!

    We have a favorite Mexican place here, and I HOPE we can find one in our new hometown in Wisconsin, or we'll be pretty sad campers!

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  4. How fortunate you are to have such fabulous restaurants in your area. I live in the midwest and our Mexican choices are pretty tame compared to the real thing. Now if it's German or Czech you want then we've got you covered but really, they don't compare. :)
    Thank you for visiting BeColorful. I am anxious to cruise through your blog here for a bit. I do love the Fannie Brice quote. :)
    Pam

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  5. Mornin' sweet friend...

    Ohhh...not this is my style of eating!!! I have never seen of...nor heard of...a Molcajete dish but it looks absolutely heavenly!!! Living in south Texas for so many years, I'm familiar with a molcajete and how it's used but I have never owned one. Well my friend, Mi Casa really does look like a fabulous place to eat...all of your plates looked sooo delicious!!! Ohhh yes, and I think your taco bell/terryaki burgers sounds really yummy too!!! Thank you so much for sharing this fun post with us for Sunday Favorites...now I'm hungry! Hehe!

    Warmest wishes,
    Chari @Happy To Design

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  6. Hey Girlfriend, I was just rereading my last comment and realized I made a typing error. That first sentence was supposed to read..."Now" this is my style of eating! hehe!

    Love ya,
    Chari

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  7. Duly noted! It look delicious...and very original. I've never heard of a dish served in a pestle!

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Please leave a comment.I would love to know your thoughts!