FIESTAS: 100+ Delicious Mexican Recipes for Celebrating the Year
August 13, 2012
Drawing from their successful blog of the same name, Texan matriarch Soza and daughters Marquez-Sharpnack and Gonzalez-Smith share over 100 Mexican recipesâmany of which the trio attributes to Soza's mother, Jesusitaâin this informative and accessible collection. Featuring the requisite basics like red chili sauce, Pico de Gallo, guacamole, and homemade corn or flour tortillas, the book is categorized according to generations: Jesusita's "old-world" recipes from Northern Mexico, like beef tongue or asado de chile Colorado, are imparted via her daughter; Soza provides plenty of "south of the border home-style dishes," such as green chiles with beef and potatoes; and Marquez-Sharpnack and Gonzalez-Smith offer Latin fusion selections, including everything from poblano peppers stuffed with cheese and shrimp to sweet fried bread smothered in caramel, mangos, and strawberries. But any Mexican cookbook would be incomplete without tacos and margaritasâaccordingly, the ladies supply several options, such as tacos made with beef brisket or pork rinds, and a suite of margaritas made with blood oranges, cranberries, or persimmon. Though certainly accessible to those unaccustomed to Mexican cookingâdishes like a mango, jicama, and cucumber salad or the pan-fried tilapia topped with mango and avocado salsa are remarkably simple to prepareâthose looking to expand their Mexican culinary repertoire will likely get the most out of this creative and flavorful cookbook. Photos.
April 1, 2023
Award-winning food blogger Marquez-Sharpnack's (Muy Bueno: Three Generations of Authentic Mexican Flavor) new book features recipes, crafts, and decor ideas for 14 fiestas. Cooks can add Mexican flavors and traditional recipes to family fiestas and several holidays, including Valentine's Day, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, July 4, Mexican Independence Day, Halloween, Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more. Some recipes in the book are gluten free, many list ingredient substitutions, and others offer hacks for leftovers. All include helpful cook's notes. Recipes are organized by occasion and include fiesta tips and instructions for crafts and/or decor. Readers can learn to make a clothespin cross, cascarones, mini pi�atas, tissue-paper flowers, a Day of the Dead altar, sugar skulls, and tamal-shaped ornaments. The techniques and ingredients used are authentic, with adjustments offered in case some ingredients are unavailable or techniques not easily done, such as cooking meat in a backyard pit. These are not simplified recipes; this is Marquez-Sharpnack's heritage, with a few melting pot recipe combinations. VERDICT A tasty treat for libraries looking to expand their Mexican cookbook collections.--Sarah Sieg
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
May 15, 2023
Cooking instructor Marquez-Sharpnack follows up Muy Bueno with a colorful and delicious collection of festive party dishes. The recipes are organized by special occasion, suggesting beer-battered shrimp tacos and tres leches bread pudding for Lent; ranchero burgers for the Fourth of July; and crispy pork carnitas for Father’s Day. Guava mimosas and Mexican coffee cake will enhance any Mother’s Day gathering, while barbacoa de borrego and mango and strawberry galettes will brighten Easter tables. Suggestions for Day of the Dead celebrations include pan de muerto, a “pillowy” bread with citrus and anise; blood orange marigold margaritas; and ornate sugar skulls—while New Year’s Eve includes a gorgeous rosca de Navidad and a champagne-based poinsettia punch. Recipes are accessible and appealing to a broad range of palates, complemented by stunning full-color photos that are sure to entice. As a bonus, Marquez-Sharpnack offers crafty decorating tips such as tissue-paper flowers, mini piñatas, and clothespin crosses. Anyone looking to enhance their holiday tables will find Marquez-Sharpnack an expert guide.