Book of Days Tales

The 3^rd Monday in November is Revolution Day in Mexico, marking the overthrow of army general and dictator Porfirio Díaz after 35 years as president of Mexico (1876-1911). In the 1910 presidential election, liberal politician Francisco Madero opposed Díaz. Díaz jailed Madero, who then escaped, issuing the Plan of San Luis Potosí on October 6^th 1910. In that plan, Madero declared the results of the 1910 election fraudulent, nullified them, asserted that he was provisional president, and called for Mexicans to rise up against Díaz on November 20^th 1910. He wrote “Throw the usurpers from power, recover your rights as free men, and remember that our ancestors left us a heritage of glory which we are not able to stain. Be as they were: invincible in war, magnanimous in victory.” For a while November 20^th was the holiday commemorating the overthrow, but it was eventually changed to the 3^rd Monday in November.

Pick any Mexican dish you like for the day. I am going to make guacamole.  You will need:

Avocados: ripe but not overripe.

Onion/shallots: in Mexico they use a yellow onion peeled and diced fine, but I prefer the taste of finely chopped shallots.

Tomatoes: cut around the watery insides with the seeds and use them in another dish.  Finely chop the firm flesh.

Cilantro: fresh and finely chopped.

Jalapeño: not too much, and chopped very fine.

Lime: freshly squeezed.

The quantities are up to you. Begin by scooping out the avocado flesh and mashing it well with a fork. Squeeze a lime over it as you are mashing to prevent it from browning.  Then add the other ingredients and mix well. The fineness of the chopping of the other ingredients is important for the finished product. Add some salt if you use it, and serve with corn chips. Or, do as I do – roll the guacamole up in a flour tortilla to make a burrito.