tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24133895012160862152024-03-05T12:06:28.134-07:00The Taos Unlimited BlogInfo, facts, news . . . and simply everything Taos!The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-61571809340943692072012-03-30T13:29:00.013-06:002012-03-30T13:29:00.338-06:00Juniper Trees... and AllergiesJuniper is a coniferous plant of the cypress family, with more than 50 varieties ranging all the way from the arctic to tropical Africa. This 25- to 50-foot tree is common in the Southwest, where it causes severe allergic reactions in much of the population during late winter and early spring when it is in flower. Juniper berries are actually a modified pine cone, with fleshy scales that merge together to form an outer skin over the seed, giving it a berry-like appearance. The berries start out green, ripening into a blue, purple or nearly black color in 10 to 18 months, depending on the variety. Single trees will typically contain berries at all stages of the ripening process.<br />
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While highly toxic, juniper berries are used for medicinal purposes, in cooking, and for other flavorings. Perhaps the best known use of these highly aromatic berries is the use of green berries in the flavoring of gin, which explains the particularly bad hangover that overindulgence in gin produces.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLJYJxKk5ImSyBvTj9BwQi9WmqoTvZUkZITfVhZIYboM97aG0wMLZi36G_hdBKgUL4-zBVq-QcbZehs6K4GZaERDHgzc1Ptik3URjHIutfxqwPNYrC5GOODKqI0CNZSvM5CPmb4a9OWw/s1600/juniper_berries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLJYJxKk5ImSyBvTj9BwQi9WmqoTvZUkZITfVhZIYboM97aG0wMLZi36G_hdBKgUL4-zBVq-QcbZehs6K4GZaERDHgzc1Ptik3URjHIutfxqwPNYrC5GOODKqI0CNZSvM5CPmb4a9OWw/s400/juniper_berries.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Juniper berries have diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, and are used medicinally to treat a wide range of ailments, including asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, and to hasten childbirth. A folk tale reported in Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs mentions more esoteric uses for juniper: “The plant’s pungent aroma has long recommended it for driving away evil spirits and disease. Legend has it that juniper planted beside the front door will keep out witches; the only way for a witch to get past the plant was by correctly counting its needles.”<br />
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Several species of butterfly larvae feed exclusively on juniper, including the Juniper Carpet, Juniper Pug and Pine Beauty, though this is little comfort to those who suffer greatly from allergies!<br />
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Read about <b style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://food-t.nm-unlimited.net/Pages/Products/Transmax.html">Trans-resveratrol</a></b> (a potent source of antioxidants, which has recently been found to help reduce, or completely cure the symptoms of juniper allergies)<br />
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<a href="http://wildlife-t.nm-unlimited.net/Pages/Juniper.html"><b style="color: #990000;">Visit the Taos Unlimited Plants & Wildlife section to read more about Juniper</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-76576178454851630552012-03-28T17:28:00.013-06:002012-03-28T17:28:00.208-06:00Taos A to Z Excerpt: Village<b>Definition:</b> “A group of houses and associated buildings, larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town, situated in a rural area; a self-contained district or community within a town or city, regarded as having features characteristic of village life.”<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZeqYmlZekm3vZn-JL96OiRsds4qsu_CIQH5IZpM83sVZ_NEAub0OqofF8uSmBAJXWm_0VBjs-oHqJCvC8X3CwNc8iLpeP1Ks8WRkz5fQAPS1RxSEMKJWLIooodB5oOhGznr03me-W5w/s1600/arroyo_seco_village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZeqYmlZekm3vZn-JL96OiRsds4qsu_CIQH5IZpM83sVZ_NEAub0OqofF8uSmBAJXWm_0VBjs-oHqJCvC8X3CwNc8iLpeP1Ks8WRkz5fQAPS1RxSEMKJWLIooodB5oOhGznr03me-W5w/s400/arroyo_seco_village.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Villages do exist in Northern New Mexico, due to the popularity of rural living throughout the area. Usually, the role of the village is to offer minimal, yet vital, services to those living in the immediate area, such as a post office, a general store, a gas station, etc. One of the most popular villages in the Taos, New Mexico, area is Arroyo Seco (pictured above), known for its quaint, authentic Northern New Mexico atmosphere. ~Jean<br />
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<a href="http://a-to-z-t2.nm-unlimited.net/"><b style="color: #990000;">Read more about Taos, Santa Fe, and Northern New Mexico on Taos A to Z</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-32181665361522840492012-03-26T17:21:00.005-06:002012-03-26T17:21:00.396-06:00Aimee’s Haiku for Marchspring winds blowing hard<br />
weeds-a-tumble cross the yard<br />
ahh...New Mexico!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4S9fM4Imz69fmJJ0tQVMW_ZBaaTXC6dxn9RuPCIj9pA8pbzuKRGtv2dI4Ei0nmvQDNeLsZ3dH5Edv4cRU9HtcGc1jD0B-CLRYqKCGCBvwvPLJSO1JiRR9uj1a3e9WEMutATGo77g1lQ/s1600/TumbleweedsBlowing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4S9fM4Imz69fmJJ0tQVMW_ZBaaTXC6dxn9RuPCIj9pA8pbzuKRGtv2dI4Ei0nmvQDNeLsZ3dH5Edv4cRU9HtcGc1jD0B-CLRYqKCGCBvwvPLJSO1JiRR9uj1a3e9WEMutATGo77g1lQ/s400/TumbleweedsBlowing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-16829452198805451592012-03-23T12:20:00.012-06:002012-03-23T12:20:00.124-06:00Recipe of the Month: New Mexican Pinto Bean Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4MIiwToRGpwyLM-2CLZdk2UWRkLer8BUPLxwfBHnhPT0u7PI2KDUbCKrpE-O9CuAh5G0ZgqUK7Wpnkp5Sfi3dwApN61wX1xM36BQs7f7DmeRuUUA14P0SbsAqAEE8CcSkxdMV2g61qI/s1600/PintoBeanSoupBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4MIiwToRGpwyLM-2CLZdk2UWRkLer8BUPLxwfBHnhPT0u7PI2KDUbCKrpE-O9CuAh5G0ZgqUK7Wpnkp5Sfi3dwApN61wX1xM36BQs7f7DmeRuUUA14P0SbsAqAEE8CcSkxdMV2g61qI/s400/PintoBeanSoupBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b style="color: #990000;">Ingredients:</b><br />
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1-1/2 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed and soaked overnight<br />
1 tbsp. olive oil<br />
1 teaspoon cumin seeds<br />
1 tbsp garlic, finely minced<br />
2 cups onions, coarsely chopped<br />
1 large red bell pepper, diced<br />
1-1/2 to 2 cups of fresh or well drained canned corn<br />
1-1/2 teaspoon of dried Mexican oregano<br />
1 dried chipotle pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into small pieces<br />
4 cups of boiling water or stock<br />
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2 tablespoons tomato paste<br />
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped<br />
1 to 2 tbsp. of freshly squeezed lime juice<br />
1 ripe avocado, diced or sliced<br />
1 teaspoon of salt<br />
Pepper to taste<br />
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<b style="color: #990000;">Directions:</b><br />
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Drain and rinse the beans. Heat the oil in a pressure cooker and add the cumin seed. Give them a quick stir and add the garlic and let it brown.<br />
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Add the onion and bell pepper and saute for 1 minute. Add the beans, corn, oregano, chipotle, and water or stock.<br />
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Lock the lid and bring the pressure cooker to high. When high pressure is reached, lower the heat enough to maintain the pressure and cook for 8 minutes.<br />
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Release the pressure and remove the lid, pointing the lid away to release any excess steam. With a slotted spoon transfer 1 cup of the beans to a blender and puree with the tomato paste. Add back to the soup. Add cilantro, lime juice, avocado, salt, and pepper.<br />
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Enjoy!The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-31199682200678158942012-03-21T13:37:00.006-06:002012-03-21T13:37:00.593-06:00Yesterday was... The First Day of SpringEven though we do get the four seasons of the year in Northern New Mexico, they aren’t defined in a crystal clear fashion. Spring in Taos has seemed to become more and more muddled; the winter months have days with spring-like skies and temperatures, yet on the actual first day of Spring, we are usually stuck with leaf-less trees and brown ground...and it can still snow up to the end of April! But, all the natives know this and everything is still great. So...<br />
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Come visit us in Taos and the other Northern New Mexico towns and cities. It’s always a good time to be here! ~Jean<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYhAE9Xr-qRl7xbf7oxaVbLiiF9N8fPtKdE1RBXoxFmeIOWVYzmst63V-qoD821ekB6eOOGmdfQZ1LaP7T0Upz5BWW5_ydJBB7-ivvonRCR7YZOwR9ih9LCoZxhm8AWnK8eTpqe02A4A/s1600/WheelerPeakLateAfternoon800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYhAE9Xr-qRl7xbf7oxaVbLiiF9N8fPtKdE1RBXoxFmeIOWVYzmst63V-qoD821ekB6eOOGmdfQZ1LaP7T0Upz5BWW5_ydJBB7-ivvonRCR7YZOwR9ih9LCoZxhm8AWnK8eTpqe02A4A/s400/WheelerPeakLateAfternoon800.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-62614147271913649842012-03-14T13:42:00.003-06:002012-03-14T13:42:00.214-06:00St. Patrick’s Day... is Coming SoonOn the surface, it would appear that New Mexico has very little in common with Ireland. For one, the Emerald Isle is just that, an island. It's green and lush and surrounded by the ocean. It rains a LOT. While soda bread and cabbage and Colcannon are yummy, they are the antithesis of spicy ... as unlike traditional New Mexican fare as could possibly be. The question which brings New Mexicans to the table is Red or Green (chile), while the question in Ireland is Green or Orange (Catholic or Protestant), and has had a very divisive effect on the populace for centuries.<br />
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Common knowledge has it that the Irish came to America because of a potato famine. And that is true, but it is only a part of the truth. Ireland was an early colony of Great Britain. And while the country was rich in seafood, produce and livestock, the British rulers confiscated it all to be exported to England, leaving the Irish with a few fish, potatoes and kelp. And so when the potato famine hit, Ireland's native population was decimated. Many made their way to England to work, and many braved the ocean crossing to come to America.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmE8LM_Ju8W8bJIhtO24XAY0QHUqa_AtUKkuX116FYmSOphdnBpNphA599u-DgqmWuwbocSeAP2W3tt2tpBuZu59A8rpTYRiM_YG3HR7wJxPxVJ5WLEVCbKB54yCWlf5M5Pybql8MnUg/s1600/IrishRoadrunner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmE8LM_Ju8W8bJIhtO24XAY0QHUqa_AtUKkuX116FYmSOphdnBpNphA599u-DgqmWuwbocSeAP2W3tt2tpBuZu59A8rpTYRiM_YG3HR7wJxPxVJ5WLEVCbKB54yCWlf5M5Pybql8MnUg/s320/IrishRoadrunner.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>Irish immigrants in America soon became the backbone of society, filling the ranks of the fire department and constabulary in many U.S. cities, bringing with them a rich culture of stories and music, an easy laugh, and a willingness to do the hard jobs. <br />
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But in a very unusual way Ireland was always blessed. It is one of only four countries on earth which has no snakes. For that, the Irish everywhere honor St. Patrick, who, according to legend, drove the snakes into the sea sometime during the fifth century, banishing them from Ireland forever. <br />
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Here again on the surface, it would appear we New Mexicans have nothing in common with Ireland, for we certainly have our share of snakes. But we do have a little guy we revere, who does his best to keep the snake population down. And that’s our state bird, the roadrunner, whose diet consists largely of lizards and snakes. So on March 17th this year, as New Mexicans sit down to their green chile (which I understand is great with corned beef!) or celebrate the day in their favorite tavern, let’s all remember to raise a glass to our little roadrunner, the closest thing we have to St. Patrick.<br />
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<a href="http://food-t.nm-unlimited.net/Pages/Restaurants/AlleyCantina.html"><b style="color: #990000;">Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at one of Taos’ favorite watering holes</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-44425502985624116152012-03-12T12:13:00.014-06:002012-03-15T12:20:09.437-06:00Taos: My Favorite Things (2 in a Series)<b><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoying the Wind Sculptures</span></b><br />
It’s almost spring in the Land of Enchantment. And while this place may not hold the kind of magic that makes pigs fly, your lawn furniture just might. Depending on what part of the expansive Taos mesa you might live on, the winds can be pretty intense at times. And with the exception of mid-summer, there is almost always a good breeze on our part of the mesa.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuj72keJ-HE82ePjSOUB3mEs5mHg38WUD7C3MTyMIGIAO1cqn7cG6mEJFrd1IV-5sL6uoUMEOrdFf3pjaN0IfdgtEYnV58I1lON2hqLjP6MBMYvceb316cX2UPOOO1Ix9ZYouadpmN63Q/s1600/WindSculpturesBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuj72keJ-HE82ePjSOUB3mEs5mHg38WUD7C3MTyMIGIAO1cqn7cG6mEJFrd1IV-5sL6uoUMEOrdFf3pjaN0IfdgtEYnV58I1lON2hqLjP6MBMYvceb316cX2UPOOO1Ix9ZYouadpmN63Q/s400/WindSculpturesBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So it’s not surprising that wind sculptures are very common here. On the way into (or out of) Taos there is a group of shops and galleries in the shadow of Taos Mountain, with a large group of wind sculptures sharing a meadow with some cattle. Often when I drive by there isn’t much activity, but this time of the year, the wind sculptures are usually singing along with the breezes. At times when the wind is strong enough, it can be quite a sight! I always look for them on my way back out of town, when I can have a better and longer look at them. Often in the spring, I am well rewarded with a big smile and a song in my heart. ~Aimee<br />
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Come visit Taos this spring!The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-10407432875554362862012-03-09T13:49:00.007-07:002012-03-13T13:53:56.982-06:00Spring Break in the Taos, New Mexico AreaWith the ski season winding down, it's not common knowledge that March is the best snow fall month in New Mexico. And there are many great activities happening at Northern New Mexico's ski resort towns during February and March. For snow sports enthusiasts, it is the Spring Break destination of choice. But that doesn't mean you have to miss out on Mardi Gras or the beach!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFcxxehCESBcbMeIhffdkUWXsrubfQwOdLsJpB9ZP0pUNYsfT__Dow8o7UpU07NG8kmZu02wjvjo5W1pz-oNV-i9O7zelnbW17x_-lTZQ1wrQYkHDOR2bIQ9OjdMHU8BFl5uWE-BNevk/s1600/PondSkimRRPost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFcxxehCESBcbMeIhffdkUWXsrubfQwOdLsJpB9ZP0pUNYsfT__Dow8o7UpU07NG8kmZu02wjvjo5W1pz-oNV-i9O7zelnbW17x_-lTZQ1wrQYkHDOR2bIQ9OjdMHU8BFl5uWE-BNevk/s400/PondSkimRRPost.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Those seeking world class skiing are sure to find their niche at Taos Ski Valley, and there is no better ski destination for families and those who want a more relaxed ski vacation experience than Red River or Angel Fire. Each of these resorts sponsors Spring Break related events, ending their seasons with the traditional Pond Skimming. So bring your suits, tubes and pool toys...and don't forget your skis or snowboards! <br />
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<a href="http://circle-t.nm-unlimited.net/Pages/Features/SpringBreak.html"><b style="color: #990000;">Read more about Spring Break Events in Northern New Mexico</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-31637503488094787302012-03-07T17:17:00.011-07:002012-03-12T17:20:39.063-06:00Taos A to Z Excerpt: Highfalutin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUm-pddzHXffEvShd9Vo5w7zmtnc5mc67OVts2YHQfnkQp_ge7iFjl0qhkC-BjNSMMG8YkQh9UyRkHwUYbiWOfIioZ1gonzaogiUAYr_SFLBMOBve7IbzwhZjcna4cPdP_aHJefF7z4s/s1600/highfalutin_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUm-pddzHXffEvShd9Vo5w7zmtnc5mc67OVts2YHQfnkQp_ge7iFjl0qhkC-BjNSMMG8YkQh9UyRkHwUYbiWOfIioZ1gonzaogiUAYr_SFLBMOBve7IbzwhZjcna4cPdP_aHJefF7z4s/s200/highfalutin_art.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Definition:</b> “Pompous or pretentious speech, writing, or ideas.” Origin: “mid-19th century, during the period of the populating of the Old West.” ~Jean<br />
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<a href="http://a-to-z-t2.nm-unlimited.net/"><b style="color: #990000;">Read more about Taos, Santa Fe, and Northern New Mexico on Taos A to Z</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-41759425366261124522012-03-05T17:03:00.037-07:002012-03-12T17:16:35.433-06:00Movie Locations of the Great Southwest: Part 2 in a Series<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Hud</i> (1963)</b></span><br />
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This movie is a must-see for those interested in the Great Southwest (Texas in particular) during the mid-twentieth-century. It was such a special time in America: the old was making way for the new at breakneck speed and it was like being in a whirlwind to those who were living it. The story told in <i>Hud</i> clearly illustrates that particular time in history.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc7bS_XHYucB-vYtRPf-x22Sd6eSJUYbe3-8x5TE_QmJL8CrCM99xfxdO1asHrNlO1yfmdbaNc2RDXzOZV33DuH1-hDEp7jWdt6rOJ3UJmK3A01n99nxoPDyxb3BvKLixW1ES5gNzhGM/s1600/hud_closeup_color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc7bS_XHYucB-vYtRPf-x22Sd6eSJUYbe3-8x5TE_QmJL8CrCM99xfxdO1asHrNlO1yfmdbaNc2RDXzOZV33DuH1-hDEp7jWdt6rOJ3UJmK3A01n99nxoPDyxb3BvKLixW1ES5gNzhGM/s320/hud_closeup_color.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><b style="color: #990000;">My thoughts on the movie:</b><br />
This is without a doubt my favorite movie of all time (tied with another Paul Newman flick, <i>Paris Blues</i>) and Paul Newman is my all-time favorite actor. No Doubt About It. End Of Story. So There. But, seriously... this film is simply hypnotic, with its sad, mundane reality so out in the open for everyone to see. These people think this is the way life is, and I guess for them, that’s true. I had some somewhat distant relatives (who lived in small Oklahoma towns) who were sort of like these folks, and maybe that’s why it touches me the way it does: a strange chill mixed with a warm, cozy feeling about something that does, indeed, seem oddly familiar.<br />
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As for the lead character of “Hud,” played to perfection by Newman, all anyone can say is: what a cad! But, what a charming, handsome, and completely swaggeringly seductive cad. I’d like to know who could resist him... oh, wait a minute: in real life I’d get as far away from this monster as possible, no fooling. But, God, what movie magic this whole mess makes. This is definitely a film where they got it completely right, including the ending. What a triumph! Paul Newman is “Hud!” ~Jean<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Oy936CessIUMFgX53kRerGPFY9evVB50MrprMTDMzwRVZcAA6AThPDjNCDy8Mj9F-aF5O5FFS5gJ-tDVwE8fQyh1hqrx-LVuJeoDKSYpz2P4_1qt87o1YXKMOKJZYz_meHSw5sn2rYs/s1600/hud_cover_cowboys+indians_clr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Oy936CessIUMFgX53kRerGPFY9evVB50MrprMTDMzwRVZcAA6AThPDjNCDy8Mj9F-aF5O5FFS5gJ-tDVwE8fQyh1hqrx-LVuJeoDKSYpz2P4_1qt87o1YXKMOKJZYz_meHSw5sn2rYs/s200/hud_cover_cowboys+indians_clr.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><b style="color: #990000;">Movie Synopsis:</b><br />
A classic character study of Hud Bannon, a ruthless young rancher without a heart, who abuses and eventually alienates everyone in his “big fish in a little pond” Texas Panhandle world.<br />
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<b style="color: #990000;">Location Site: <span style="color: #45818e;">Claude, Texas</span></b><br />
Most of <i>Hud</i> was filmed in and around the tiny town of Claude. The sleepy Texas Panhandle town was the perfect backdrop in which to tell the common, yet tragic, story of the Bannon family. This movie, which was beautfully filmed in black and white, perfectly captured the banality of the humdrum, dead-end feeling of a small Texas town and the personal dramas of its inhabitants in the early 1960s. More...<br />
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<b style="color: #990000;">See the entire feature about <i><a href="http://movies.nm-unlimited2.net/1960s/6hud.html">Hud</a></i> in <a href="http://movies.nm-unlimited2.net/">Movie Locations of the Great Southwest</a> on <a href="http://taos.nm-unlimited.net/">Taos Unlimited</a></b>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-13798483353211837242012-02-29T16:58:00.014-07:002012-03-12T17:27:41.207-06:00The Lone Ranger Shooting in New MexicoAn exciting new remake of <i>The Lone Ranger</i> will film exteriors and studio work in New Mexico, followed by locations in Arizona, Utah and Colorado.<br />
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Armie Hammer stars as the Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp is his faithful sidekick, Tonto, in Gore Verbinski’s feature-film adaptation of the iconic tale of Old West vigilantism.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3Mw65iOmdQTKBrjHcLvgEbjPmvCL2uTlb09uJN-WmMhB2aZqUSQMjwN-i9tZo37T7Pr6-kV9odoy7wo5_taLG45XWmovKvsvca9-QDU2O3V6Wvk5MxXOWd6UfUaFR_yu-Zg65T5nI4s/s1600/johnny_depp_as_tonto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3Mw65iOmdQTKBrjHcLvgEbjPmvCL2uTlb09uJN-WmMhB2aZqUSQMjwN-i9tZo37T7Pr6-kV9odoy7wo5_taLG45XWmovKvsvca9-QDU2O3V6Wvk5MxXOWd6UfUaFR_yu-Zg65T5nI4s/s400/johnny_depp_as_tonto.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The film reunites the filmmaking team of the first three <i>Pirates of the Caribbean</i> blockbusters, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, with Johnny Depp, who created Captain Jack Sparrow in his iconic, Oscar-nominated performance and contributed the voice of the title character of Verbinski’s Academy Award-winning <i>Rango</i>.<br />
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Depp and Hammer are joined by a prestigious international cast which includes Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson, and Helena Bonham Carter.<br />
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According to a recent press release, <i>The Lone Ranger</i> is a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior, Tonto, recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice, taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction, as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.”<br />
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<i>The Lone Ranger</i> is scheduled to be released on May 31, 2013.The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-78090181722543531782012-02-27T12:03:00.012-07:002012-02-27T12:03:00.595-07:00Taos A to Z Excerpt: HornoHorno is Spanish for “oven.” In the Southwest, a horno generally refers to a wood-fired oven made of adobe mud, often in the shape of a beehive. Native Americans still use the outdoor horno to cook a special delicacy called “fry bread.” Recently, dog houses have been made in the igloo shape of a horno, for those Santa Fe and Taos residents who want their pooches to enjoy New Mexico style. ~Aimee<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XFHMHggi8tYISfKWmaQvAuwzg8EN_f01wBldBSqmAzH6QnT2vnOTE6Me2wNXjpws2jmBMxDfrA-oe6qaXH28vflXrA0BBAo_y8-vpx7giJ25nc9J2BBhiJdL09FwnkJUzLrhVpbusXc/s1600/horno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XFHMHggi8tYISfKWmaQvAuwzg8EN_f01wBldBSqmAzH6QnT2vnOTE6Me2wNXjpws2jmBMxDfrA-oe6qaXH28vflXrA0BBAo_y8-vpx7giJ25nc9J2BBhiJdL09FwnkJUzLrhVpbusXc/s400/horno.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://a-to-z-t2.nm-unlimited.net/"><b style="color: #990000;">Read more about Taos, Santa Fe, and Northern New Mexico on Taos A to Z</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-22567119355993062982012-02-24T17:05:00.014-07:002012-02-28T17:10:39.499-07:00National Tortilla Chip DayMy goodness, if you live in the Southwest, or anywhere in America for that matter, tortilla chips are a crunchy, delicious treat that should be on everybody’s favorite snack list.<br />
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Tortilla chips are made from corn tortillas cut into wedges and then fried to perfection. Light, crunchy and just salty enough, they consist of simple ingredients: corn, vegetable oil, salt, and water.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bh5Eo0T1qtGlUitlKG7WmCb1nC23gjXdKqrcCtUiZLitlimFh6zc9NZHcKMFO5YCHVCgKN6thwaX_HhwddHf1N0xmhYW92nC6Mah1HhmRwibqdbONE8DOzdfxWUlV2mJZrbn5uUDmGA/s1600/bowl_tortilla_chips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bh5Eo0T1qtGlUitlKG7WmCb1nC23gjXdKqrcCtUiZLitlimFh6zc9NZHcKMFO5YCHVCgKN6thwaX_HhwddHf1N0xmhYW92nC6Mah1HhmRwibqdbONE8DOzdfxWUlV2mJZrbn5uUDmGA/s200/bowl_tortilla_chips.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>These delectable chips are the result of an unexpected, but brilliant, innovation by Rebecca Webb Carranza. During the 1940s, she and her husband ran a Mexican delicatessen and the El Zarape Tortilla Factory in Los Angeles. They were among the first to automate the production of tortillas. The machine often produced misshapen tortillas and Carranza decided to try and use them instead of throwing them away. She took the less-than-perfect tortillas, cut them into triangles and fried them up, selling them for a dime a bag. Carranza received a Golden Tortilla Award for her contribution to the Mexican food industry in 1994.<br />
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For decades, tortilla chips have been a nationwide sensation, served alongside salsa, chili, guacamole, and a variety of other appetizers. In fact, Nachos, which are tortilla chips topped with a variation of shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, etc. (said to have been created by Ignacia Anaya in 1943) account for 30% of all tortilla chips used in American restaurants.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPARjCMgbN01YA89ZTMb8GzZLXwvQlRPlzdGGoOWeYHbVEaYMwUhRsQor4DtCh6N0Ww5JAvdYQep3j1wzX4o6TLN_fgzNutKRY2ZSSNd4YgKG7gah_nxeKBP4o56YLN0qcc3kr5Ctw5U/s1600/tortilla_chips+salsa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPARjCMgbN01YA89ZTMb8GzZLXwvQlRPlzdGGoOWeYHbVEaYMwUhRsQor4DtCh6N0Ww5JAvdYQep3j1wzX4o6TLN_fgzNutKRY2ZSSNd4YgKG7gah_nxeKBP4o56YLN0qcc3kr5Ctw5U/s200/tortilla_chips+salsa.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The Doritos brand was the first toasted tortilla chip launched nationally in the U.S. in 1966. There are, however, many local brands, especially in the Southwest, that are considered to be “more authentic” and therefore more desirable for salsa and guacamole dipping.<br />
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Grab some of those delicious, crunchy tortillas and celebrate the day!The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-70528433968222426272012-02-22T12:07:00.016-07:002012-03-15T12:12:36.715-06:00Recipe of the Month: Chile Cheese Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BPoug0hyphenhyphenqxnnoshbxtpcdGQSKgggQPD8pbjZSNrqpIFccyKqNBnPiA8LoZqrmh-HzuN1RKK-aaVeo8mTJ4_bOrEvj88KzVCcjIKTr1IhI6RmVSfmZli5VPn2KqO94SjGc1gQr-wB5ok/s1600/ChileCheeseBread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BPoug0hyphenhyphenqxnnoshbxtpcdGQSKgggQPD8pbjZSNrqpIFccyKqNBnPiA8LoZqrmh-HzuN1RKK-aaVeo8mTJ4_bOrEvj88KzVCcjIKTr1IhI6RmVSfmZli5VPn2KqO94SjGc1gQr-wB5ok/s400/ChileCheeseBread.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b style="color: #990000;">Ingredients:</b><br />
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3 cups unbleached bread flour<br />
1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast<br />
1 tbsp. brown sugar<br />
1-1/2 teaspoons salt<br />
1 tbsp. oil<br />
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red chile flakes, to taste<br />
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10 oz. flat beer<br />
4 oz. grated sharp cheddar cheese<br />
4 oz. grated Monterey Jack cheese<br />
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<b style="color: #990000;">Directions:</b><br />
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Warm beer over low heat to 110° to 115° F. Transfer to large mixing bowl, add sugar and yeast. Cover bowl and place bowl in oven over pilot light to keep warm.<br />
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<b>Proof the yeast:</b> Let stand approximately 10 minutes. Foam should appear on top of the mixture. If any yeast granules are still present, return to the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes.<br />
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Once yeast is proofed, add the oil to the mixture. Gradually stir in flour and salt, mixing until dough becomes firm enough to knead. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Start adding cheese and red chile flakes, working them evenly into the dough as you knead. <br />
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When the cheese and red chile flakes have been incorporated into the dough, knead another 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Add small amounts of flour to the surface of the dough if it begins to stick. Note: Depending on the humidity and your altitude, you may need to use a little more flour.<br />
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Form the dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with moist towel and set in a moderately cool place to rise slowly. <br />
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<b>Note:</b> Setting dough to rise in a warm place causes the dough to rise too quickly. This produces a bread with uneven, open texture and undeveloped flavor. I prefer to let dough rise in a cool place for several hours. This produces an evenly textured, deliciously flavored bread. The difference is remarkable!<br />
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Let rise for 2 hours or more, until the dough has doubled in size and does not spring back when pressed. Turn the dough out and knead briefly. Set aside to rise again. When dough has doubled in size again, turn it out, knead briefly and form into a round or oblong loaf. (You can also bake this bread in a cloche, which gives your bread the flavor and texture of having been baked in a brick oven.)<br />
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Place on a baking sheet or baking stone. Slash the top of the loaf. Bake at 350° for approximately 50 minutes until loaf is nicely browned and hollow sounding when tapped on the bottom. Remove loaf to cooling rack. Let cool almost completely before slicing, and completely before storing.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://food-t.nm-unlimited.net/"><b style="color: #990000;">For Authentic New Mexico Chile visit the Taos Unlimited Food Section</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-56314679847749799522012-02-20T13:17:00.018-07:002012-02-27T13:27:15.440-07:00President’s Day = Skiing in Taos!Many of us are familiar with the parable of the six blind men and the elephant:<br />
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Once upon a time, there lived in one village six blind men. One day some neighbors told them there was an elephant in the village. They had no idea what an elephant was, so they decided to go “see“ it. The men surrounded the elephant, each of them touching a different part of the animal.<br />
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“Hey, the elephant is a pillar,“ said the first man who touched his leg.<br />
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“Oh, no! It is like a rope,” said the second man who touched the tail.<br />
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“Oh, no! It is like a thick branch of a tree,“ said the third man who touched the trunk of the elephant.<br />
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“It is like a big hand fan,“ said the fourth man who touched the ear of the elephant.<br />
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“It is like a huge wall,“ said the fifth man who touched the belly of the elephant.<br />
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“It is like a solid pipe,“ said the sixth man who touched the tusk of the elephant.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQQlhszrh3HUf5Wn0YuDPp6zjHaTm7M0EphTciMZ8ZW0pi_Msc59ZKzkkW9eDjAv6wcO2bg1PkmA3NqSKkB50A0gZOPzPW9A9KwWlglTpREzKymyXfz7iKDGwcMMmYt-x3Vpl7QNhxvI/s1600/george_washington_portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQQlhszrh3HUf5Wn0YuDPp6zjHaTm7M0EphTciMZ8ZW0pi_Msc59ZKzkkW9eDjAv6wcO2bg1PkmA3NqSKkB50A0gZOPzPW9A9KwWlglTpREzKymyXfz7iKDGwcMMmYt-x3Vpl7QNhxvI/s200/george_washington_portrait.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>When I was a kid, we celebrated Lincoln’s Birthday on February 12th, and Washington’s Birthday on February 22nd. In 1968, Congress decided all federal holidays should fall on a Monday, at which point they proceeded to discombobulate most everyone’s ability to remember when national holidays took place, and in many cases, what they were. To top it off, they couldn’t actually decide what the official name of the third Monday in February should be, so after much hemming and hawing that it should probably be Washington’s Birthday, they never actually named the day. This left the naming and the celebrating of the day up to the individual states, causing it to be called Washington’s Birthday in some states, and Presidents Day in others.<br />
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So if we imagine the six blind men could “see“ this day from different places and different perspectives, here is what they might say:<br />
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“Hey, this day is George Washington Day, honoring the first president of the United States,“ said the first man, who was in Virginia.<br />
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“Oh, no! It is Washington’s Birthday, commemorating the birth of the first president of the United States,“ said the second man, who was in Massachusetts.<br />
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“Oh, no! It is Washington and Jefferson Day, honoring the two founding fathers,“ said the third man who was in Alabama.<br />
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“It is Presidents Day, as well as a combination of Washington and Lincoln’s Birthday,“ said the fourth man who had spoken with a number of average Americans in several states.<br />
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“It is Presidents Day, and is meant to honor all Presidents,“ said the fifth man who had spoken with another group of Americans in a different state.<br />
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“It is a holiday created by merchants so they can hold big sales every year,“ said the sixth man who had read a number of newspapers in braille.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLRCNbqN-YmkZOfieWyHCRpUjn9p_FcqH35Vu4f0Nd946oOySs6JSo71Is3TqNFrdIPFI9JefMijZc3dNyd-r-qY-Byt59IP7NnztGUSI4oI9igMaz6mL7nco-i6h8t-UGToAJd4Y4uY/s1600/abraham_lincoln_portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLRCNbqN-YmkZOfieWyHCRpUjn9p_FcqH35Vu4f0Nd946oOySs6JSo71Is3TqNFrdIPFI9JefMijZc3dNyd-r-qY-Byt59IP7NnztGUSI4oI9igMaz6mL7nco-i6h8t-UGToAJd4Y4uY/s200/abraham_lincoln_portrait.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>Here in Taos, I don’t think too many people pay much attention to what the actual name of the day is. Many people here, and those who make there way here for the third week in February have one thing, and one thing only, in mind. They are grateful to whichever Presidents may be responsible for a special long weekend of skiing! ~Aimee<b style="color: #990000;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #990000;">* * * * * *</b> </div><br />
I found Aimee’s story to be funny, yet sad, when I think about some of the changes that have come about in our culture in regard to preserving history for future generations. This morning, I was glad to see that the History channel has devoted its whole day of programming to President-related shows. I’ll be spending the day recording some of those programs, but again, I find it funny that they chose a special on Thomas Jefferson, instead of airing programs about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the two Presidents whose birthdays are being remembered on this day.<br />
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But, hey, beggars can’t be choosers. I’m glad the channel had the decency to honor the day at all! (I also noticed that the Bing search engine has a beautiful photo of the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument on its main page, while Google didn’t change its logo at all for this special day.)<br />
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And last, but not least, to those who came to visit Taos over this holiday weekend ... Happy Skiing! And to everyone ... Happy President’s Day! ~JeanThe Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-33026610410477208062012-02-17T16:48:00.010-07:002012-02-28T16:51:49.945-07:00Random Acts of Kindness DayNot much is known about the origin of this recognized day or who came up with it. But it is a nice idea and can help swing people’s throughts from the negative pole to the positive. The world can certainly use all the kindness it can get!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcpvyM_BIotXwGibuAMN8n8NSx9xOOFrwK6BXhU9r6JLlVcT7rLIZg5ymMtkKSjQktF2be-TfqaU4YJ7GrJjGLmy_tHC18QXx9roWgtbswYFjvoThbqz5OiFBX-EMCDVXp4omHyhUkYc/s1600/kindness_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcpvyM_BIotXwGibuAMN8n8NSx9xOOFrwK6BXhU9r6JLlVcT7rLIZg5ymMtkKSjQktF2be-TfqaU4YJ7GrJjGLmy_tHC18QXx9roWgtbswYFjvoThbqz5OiFBX-EMCDVXp4omHyhUkYc/s400/kindness_art.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
There is an interactive website called <a href="http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/">The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation</a>. People go there to share their stories of the giving and receiving of kindness in one form or another from their fellow human beings.<br />
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Please feel free to leave your own personal stories about “Random Acts of Kindness” in the comments section of this post.<br />
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Let’s think “kindness” today and everyday! ~ Jean and AimeeThe Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-17155747954748205372012-02-15T14:17:00.003-07:002012-02-27T14:21:49.395-07:00Mardi Gras in the Mountains: Red River, New MexicoNo one knows for sure how Mardi Gras came to the Mountains. One myth has it that a gold prospector from Louisiana made his way to the Red River Valley just before the turn of the 20th century. Unaccustomed to being confined to the indoors for the winter, the miner found some much needed relief from cabin fever by introducing Mardi Gras to his fellow miners. Legend has it that the dance halls of Red River City were soon jumping with the sounds of squeezebox and Cajun fiddle.<br />
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At least that’s the way one story goes. But for sure...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUKavMs2-rhLv1VfNJ-JlHV0JfBg-i_hzMshla9DNFl64EvFmbQaJUIm2TNCwoM7PRKFNa602SFjCxTJkb7DLfTP08AIgmXPryFYjhPH0oWM8Ik9SwN1j5YG7h6vQY8ywYhFpczzVtN8/s1600/MardiGrasRR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUKavMs2-rhLv1VfNJ-JlHV0JfBg-i_hzMshla9DNFl64EvFmbQaJUIm2TNCwoM7PRKFNa602SFjCxTJkb7DLfTP08AIgmXPryFYjhPH0oWM8Ik9SwN1j5YG7h6vQY8ywYhFpczzVtN8/s1600/MardiGrasRR2.jpg" /></a></div>Mardi Gras is such a big event in Louisiana, that schools are closed for the week, giving Louisiana families a late winter or early spring vacation. Over the years, more and more Louisiana folks have chosen to spend the week before Mardi Gras enjoying a ski holiday in Red River. In 1992, Red River decided to honor their visitors from Louisiana by throwing them their own Mardi Gras-Away-From-Home. And those folks from the Delta couldn’t have picked a better mountain town to throw them a Mardi Gras celebration, because Red River is a town that knows how to party!<br />
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Today, Red River’s “Mardi Gras in the Mountains“ is a six-day celebration with over 50 events inspired by the Louisiana Cajun traditions, ending on the official day of Mardi Gras. It’s a fun time for locals and visitors alike. Often, Spring Break will overlap Mardi Gras as well, making for an extra special vacation for all...but it’s cold in Red River, and there are lots of small fry about, so there’s a nix on begging for beads while topless. Luckily, there’s plenty of the shiny treasures to go around.<br />
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<a href="http://circle-t.nm-unlimited.net/Pages/Features/MardiGrasMtnsRR.html"><b style="color: #990000;">Read More about Mardi Gras in the Mountains</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-31559355753197134952012-02-13T13:59:00.016-07:002012-02-27T14:12:49.300-07:00Tomorrow is... Valentine’s Day<b style="color: #990000;">The Two Loves of Georgia O’Keeffe</b><br />
<b style="color: #990000;"> </b>Georgia O’Keeffe had two loves in her life, her husband, modernist photographer Alfred Stieglitz, and the high desert and Rocky Mountains of Northern New Mexico. Sadly for O’Keeffe, Stieglitz did not care for the hot, dry climate in New Mexico, preferring the green canopied Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, where he had a summer home at Lake George.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjYb8nkFTOP48w4JfMnohVzUSWBNBLOauNp5jsJ0FGIXemBgSmhlu2RlJ8uprqXBr6vcV3gmvdgPzELdvUbkVXzQoXQ0plyaiBceCIK4W_T-tJLtpIKHmuGZVAS7yy3grgFHsHTWEhwg/s1600/OKeeffePoppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjYb8nkFTOP48w4JfMnohVzUSWBNBLOauNp5jsJ0FGIXemBgSmhlu2RlJ8uprqXBr6vcV3gmvdgPzELdvUbkVXzQoXQ0plyaiBceCIK4W_T-tJLtpIKHmuGZVAS7yy3grgFHsHTWEhwg/s400/OKeeffePoppies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
In the early years of their courtship and marriage, O’Keeffe spent summers in Lake George with Stieglitz, but a visit to D.H. Lawrence at his ranch near Taos, NM in 1930 would change that forever. Before meeting her husband, O’Keeffe spent several years teaching in the Texas panhandle, discovering a love for the desert and canyons of the area.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CRGmcoXCSFMqhf0sFB0NADoHyE6ETgjMqd8zd3k3dCzOMETWn7KRoruZzXAt6KpJBJ1s-xP5t9qyI076cBTxtwZ5m5MRnh0EZ-V-xvP4el1M146QB4YVxfT_Nr0R7AreJPxf-pNHH6g/s1600/GhostRanchLabyrinthSized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CRGmcoXCSFMqhf0sFB0NADoHyE6ETgjMqd8zd3k3dCzOMETWn7KRoruZzXAt6KpJBJ1s-xP5t9qyI076cBTxtwZ5m5MRnh0EZ-V-xvP4el1M146QB4YVxfT_Nr0R7AreJPxf-pNHH6g/s200/GhostRanchLabyrinthSized.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>During that time she wrote quite a bit about her walks and hikes in the region, later finding the experiences a real inspiration for her painting. Her visit to New Mexico rekindled that passion, and from the time of her visit with Lawrence, O’Keeffe spent most of her summers in Taos, and then Abiquiu, where she purchased a home she named Ghost Ranch. She spent her winters in New York City with her husband until his death in 1946, at which time she moved to New Mexico permanently. <br />
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<a href="http://colony-t.nm-unlimited.net/Pages/Bios/GeorgiaO%27Keeffe.html"><b style="color: #990000;">More about the unique marriage of Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz</b></a><br />
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<a href="http://lodging-t.nm-unlimited.net/Pages/BandB/GhostRanch.html"><b style="color: #990000;">More about Ghost Ranch: The Home of Georgia O’Keeffe</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-31795059595252221952012-02-10T11:55:00.012-07:002012-02-10T11:55:00.293-07:00Taos A to Z Excerpt: Ghost RanchLocated in Abiquiu, New Mexico, Ghost Ranch was the home of artist Georgia O'Keeffe from 1949 until her death in 1986. Located in an area known for its breathtaking red rock formations, it is now a retreat and popular tourist attraction in Northern New Mexico, an easy day trip from either Taos or Santa Fe. ~Aimee<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLADNnbeVyWnJ_DOoyYWqYknyFSezmIP72lwd2dlZmGFJTxXgcfhnmhQzNubtxP2_MiaXK6Mgi9AW7lFz_IQUYeTY5AyeW9VfA_ngZ85uURlgsWSfp43ay7QhZpMK8NqpBAqbsuWC8kbQ/s1600/ghost-ranch-graySkies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLADNnbeVyWnJ_DOoyYWqYknyFSezmIP72lwd2dlZmGFJTxXgcfhnmhQzNubtxP2_MiaXK6Mgi9AW7lFz_IQUYeTY5AyeW9VfA_ngZ85uURlgsWSfp43ay7QhZpMK8NqpBAqbsuWC8kbQ/s400/ghost-ranch-graySkies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://a-to-z-t2.nm-unlimited.net/"><b style="color: #990000;">Read more about Taos, Santa Fe, and Northern New Mexico on Taos A to Z</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-18156501710145825772012-02-08T11:47:00.009-07:002012-02-08T11:47:00.192-07:00Aimee’s Haiku for Februarychill evening stillness<br />
moonrise over the mountains<br />
lone coyote song<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAIEPDcGLizB0n6cHMAdhRpCKodqbdWUbKyVCPnInW9prHTZnYMMHTgXuAsh_RPGWKo2Dyz80t2orjAfdlld2WhMfgb3epDxAkdNnXR109sor7sqPZ-8p_cjtPgTHwxtteA9sSeLQAaw/s1600/MoonriseHaikuBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAIEPDcGLizB0n6cHMAdhRpCKodqbdWUbKyVCPnInW9prHTZnYMMHTgXuAsh_RPGWKo2Dyz80t2orjAfdlld2WhMfgb3epDxAkdNnXR109sor7sqPZ-8p_cjtPgTHwxtteA9sSeLQAaw/s400/MoonriseHaikuBlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-60275680731204974372012-02-03T12:15:00.007-07:002012-02-07T12:31:16.262-07:00Yesterday was... The Second Annversary of Our Taos Unlimited Blog!We are happy to be celebrating our second great year of blogging on our Taos Unlimited Blog. We had so much fun bringing our readers valuable and entertaining information on Taos, Santa Fe, and Northern New Mexico in 2011, that we can’t wait to start blogging in 2012! Visit us often, as we will be adding new posts on a regular basis, just like last year. ~ Jean and Aimee<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaNJ-CoUbOz5TN3F85hw4e3kpIbyfpGC-_vFjiLSoSdgfat5Cqt7L-aPpg5hkTkwgVVxFIfdyOzfd-rgCwaj2vC9wzKLrx3xdqe6oYgTUcLrRfy4WeT4dCeY3VvDVBxoEgi1Jn1geNGo/s1600/taos_mtn_anniversaryPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaNJ-CoUbOz5TN3F85hw4e3kpIbyfpGC-_vFjiLSoSdgfat5Cqt7L-aPpg5hkTkwgVVxFIfdyOzfd-rgCwaj2vC9wzKLrx3xdqe6oYgTUcLrRfy4WeT4dCeY3VvDVBxoEgi1Jn1geNGo/s400/taos_mtn_anniversaryPic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<b style="color: #990000;">Please visit our portal websites: <a href="http://taos.nm-unlimited.net/">Taos Unlimited</a> and <a href="http://santafe.nm-unlimited.net/">Santa Fe Unlimited</a></b>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-16613921053822115912012-02-01T16:41:00.009-07:002012-02-28T16:45:09.749-07:00National Wild Bird-Feeding Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMKmn9Acd4q4uB_LkKIS4CL4lU4VUvmwvGD0viFHD-Wt1E7MIWsdPnjrupnZPZGLLyBzYNrzymyJ74vdWrECw6xleXdcWyfEWrcCRgehhJexSuaoAH182aYwToTMmC_JgI1hsMXasnIU/s1600/wild_bird_feeding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMKmn9Acd4q4uB_LkKIS4CL4lU4VUvmwvGD0viFHD-Wt1E7MIWsdPnjrupnZPZGLLyBzYNrzymyJ74vdWrECw6xleXdcWyfEWrcCRgehhJexSuaoAH182aYwToTMmC_JgI1hsMXasnIU/s400/wild_bird_feeding.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Congressman John Porter (R-IL) read a resolution into the Congressional Record on February 23, 1994, proclaiming February as National Bird-Feeding Month. The formal resolution was as follows: <br />
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“Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize February, one of the most difficult months in the United States for wild birds, as National Bird-Feeding Month. During this month, individuals are encouraged to provide food, water and shelter to help wild birds survive. This assistance benefits the environment by supplementing wild bird’s natural diet of weed seeds and insects. Currently, one third of the U.S. adult population feeds wild birds in their backyards.<br />
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In addition, Mr. Speaker, backyard bird feeding is an entertaining, educational, and inexpensive pastime enjoyed by children and adults. Bird feeding provides a needed break from today’s frantic lifestyles. Adults enjoy the relaxation and peacefulness afforded by watching birds: nature serves to relieve the stress and can get one’s day going on a tranquil note.<br />
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Young children are naturally drawn to the activities involved in feeding wild birds, which can serve as excellent educational tools. Children can identify different species of birds with a field guide and can learn about the birds’ feeding and living habits. These observations can then provide excellent research opportunities for school projects and reports.<br />
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Feeding wild birds in the backyard is an easy hobby to start and need not overtax the family budget. It can be as simple as mounting a single feeder outside a window and filling it with bird seed mix. For many people, the hobby progresses from there. They discover the relationship between the type and location of feeders and the seeds offered in them, and the number and varieties of birds attracted. Parents can challenge an inquisitive child’s mind as they explore together these factors in trying to encourage visits by their favorite birds.”<br />
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So, let’s go... feed the birds!The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-85276691181487335292012-01-30T14:11:00.021-07:002012-01-30T14:11:00.288-07:00National Corn Chip Day<div style="color: #990000;"><b>Let’s Celebrate Fritos and Frito Pie!</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wReGwGEJ9t6LcH3clYhubee1b1xiHmMowX5d6cUddKgUkYzd0v8QA_QM12Iwum19a3JAZX0ehiAwCDDkLurf-BJKu9Oa3kTu2nYRnEYi9BPfXKa0vFGGZt7PX86W4Ap8rTttu0PpiD8/s1600/fritos_1949_ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wReGwGEJ9t6LcH3clYhubee1b1xiHmMowX5d6cUddKgUkYzd0v8QA_QM12Iwum19a3JAZX0ehiAwCDDkLurf-BJKu9Oa3kTu2nYRnEYi9BPfXKa0vFGGZt7PX86W4Ap8rTttu0PpiD8/s320/fritos_1949_ad.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>There’s no doubt that Fritos are the quintessential American corn chip. There is simply nothing quite like the tasty snack. In 1932, Elmer Doolin was so taken with the bag of corn chips served with his lunch in San Antonio, Texas, that he paid $100 for the recipe and started the Frito Corporation. His company refined the chips, mechanized the process, and then moved the company to Dallas to market the product. The new company was named the Frito Company and in 1961 it merged with the H. W. Lay Company to form the snack king corporation called Frito-Lay, Inc. Although there are many brands and types of chips, no one has been able to copy the distinctive taste, texture and crispness of Fritos. And so, when a recipe calls for Fritos, nothing else will do.<br />
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Original Fritos ingredients are limited to whole corn, corn oil and salt. Fritos are now made in the following varieties: Original, Barbecue, Chili Cheese, Flamin' Hot, Tangy Roasted Corn, Sabrositas (lime & chile), Scoops (wider chips intended for dipping), Pinch of Salt, Dirty Mexican Chicken, and Ranch Style.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8FLNakjtc1tQ8tvW1kP1KPi00Tog4AGIgZfjqnsWMkpqDtADU8hS_kIcSzhivAKtKK4Ffl2So04AXPXzISnwSOGr7FO-PC3w2ZzVJ1sl_SDHsEi6TX_P2reyznYGJgMGUizTrM32fds/s1600/frito_pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8FLNakjtc1tQ8tvW1kP1KPi00Tog4AGIgZfjqnsWMkpqDtADU8hS_kIcSzhivAKtKK4Ffl2So04AXPXzISnwSOGr7FO-PC3w2ZzVJ1sl_SDHsEi6TX_P2reyznYGJgMGUizTrM32fds/s200/frito_pie.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b style="color: #990000;">The classic Frito pie is this:</b> a single-serving bag of Fritos, opened lengthwise and topped with chili or chili beans, Velveeta cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. For the hearty, green chiles and/or jalapenos are added.<br />
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As to its true origin, some say Frito pie actually did get its start at the Woolworth’s on the Santa Fe Plaza in the 1960s, as a dish created by lunch counter worker, Teresa Hernandez. Corporate lore at Frito-Lay, however, claims that Daisy Dean Doolin, mother of the man who first bought the rights to market Fritos in 1932, not only perfected her son’s product, but also created the Frito pie recipe as a way to help market the corn chips. Regardless, this dish is extremely popular throughout the Southwest, especially Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. ~JeanThe Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-58655594808866335622012-01-27T18:45:00.010-07:002012-01-27T18:45:00.751-07:00Taos A to Z Excerpt: Tamale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZr0jt9sDeHH0O68LvcDURvF0YUprWLxNvanHB-Nf8a4lRU9hgTSpZL0CacBMEN2x-Ajf2egrcb3zl2bZ0C7KScgVVj8SapTKxnPhCVap7jDh5qfhw0i3Tr5hjcD2mlOComdLDesWHO8/s1600/tamales_on_plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZr0jt9sDeHH0O68LvcDURvF0YUprWLxNvanHB-Nf8a4lRU9hgTSpZL0CacBMEN2x-Ajf2egrcb3zl2bZ0C7KScgVVj8SapTKxnPhCVap7jDh5qfhw0i3Tr5hjcD2mlOComdLDesWHO8/s400/tamales_on_plate.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><br />
A tamale (in Spanish, “tamal”) is a traditional Mexican dish consisting of steam-cooked corn dough (masa) with or without a filling. The most common filling is pork, but chicken is also used, in either red or green salsa or mole. Tamales can also be filled with cheese, sliced chiles, or other ingredients. The tamale is wrapped in a corn husk before cooking. Tamales are a favorite dish in Mexico that take several hours to prepare and cook. In Northern New Mexican cities and towns, many locals market homemade tamales in shopping areas and supermarket parking lots. For those who love tamales, but don’t have the time or skill to prepare them, this is an easy way for them to enjoy the classic Mexican treat. ~Jean<br />
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<a href="http://a-to-z-t2.nm-unlimited.net/"><b style="color: #990000;">Read more about Taos, Santa Fe, and Northern New Mexico on Taos A to Z</b></a>The Team at Taos Unlimitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359022548660528122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413389501216086215.post-76621973997212441052012-01-25T18:45:00.000-07:002012-01-25T18:45:09.827-07:00Aimee’s Haiku for Januarysnowing blowing through<br />
upsy daisy limbs askew<br />
when the year is new<br />
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