Mole with Mom

Tradition is one of the drivers of good food. It's in tradition that food takes its personality. Recipes enjoyed as a child are passed on from generation to generation, to preserve not only the dish itself, but more importantly to preserve the memories and traditions of those who shared it. When I first began writing this blog, I referenced such a dish, my mothers mole. (To see that article please go to http://chefserg.blogspot.com/2008_08_06_archive.html and go to the August 6th article entitled "La Comida Es Amor".)

To say that mole is one of those meals that I have deeply fond memories of is hardly enough to really do this meal justice. I cannot explain how excited I was then when my sister Rebeca organized a cooking class at her home and asked Mom to teach us how to prepare the recipe. This had long been one of my dreams: to learn this recipe! So, the necessary ingredients were gathered and the class began.

Now as much as you might want me to, I am not going to share this recipe in this article, it's a tradition in our family and one that has special meaning to all of us. What this article is about then is the experience itself. Between my sister Rebeca, her husband Daren, my mother and myself, we had a wonderful time learning this recipe. It brought back memories, and later when the rest of my siblings joined us, it brought us all together for an unforgettable meal.

What recipes are traditions in your family? Have you learned them? If not, now is the time to do so. Good food is worth handing down. We pass through this life only once, and traditional family recipes should be preserved and shared, so that future generations will always be able to enjoy.

Here are some pictures from the class:

(Left to right starting from the top: 1. My wonderful Mom 2. Slicing a guajillo 3. Mom and Daren, chile pepper specialist 4. Making the base for the mole sauce 5. Mom keeps an eye on me! 6. My sister Rebeca savors the flavor 7. The final product! All photos shot by Rebeca Chylinski)

Until next time, always eat with a passion, cook with your heart and remember...

Food is love...