We Ate a Lava Flow

Last weekend my mother, my sister and I drove up to visit my daughter April in Turlock, CA where she lives and works. We had so much fun! Even though it's just a weekend trip I always come back feeling so relaxed and happy that it's almost like I took a two week vacation.

April does a great job keeping us all entertained. She knows all she has to provide for me is a thrift store and I'm a happy camper. She took us to two thrift stores. I didn't really find anything this trip, but it was fun to look and I did help April find about eight books which I hope she will be passing on to me to read soon. 

In order to keep my sister Lisa happy, April took us to the Mall in Modesto where they had a chair massager like the one pictured here. No, that is not my sister. I didn't take a picture of her or of my daughter April who also had one as I wouldn't want anyone taking a picture of me in such a vulnerable position. Actually I was too busy trying to find a bathroom and eating a Strawberry Sundae from Dairy Queen because we don't have Dairy Queen in Kern County! I just read that line again and let me clarify that I wasn't finding and going to the bathroom at the same time as I was eating my sundae. I went to the bathroom first, then on the way back I found Dairy Queen!

And in order to make my mom happy April let her cook even though my sister and I had told my mom that she wouldn't have to cook all weekend! But my mom lovingly made "Arroz con Leche" for her granddaughter. It's one of her favorites and it's true comfort food. 

Arroz con leche translated means Rice with Milk. I make it also but not as well as my mom does. Maybe I'll get her to make some this week and I'll jot down the recipe and take photos as she goes. It's basically rice boiled in water with condensed or evaporated milk (don't remember which right now), cinnamon and sugar. It's delicious. 

What would a weekend to visit April be without her taking us to our favorite restaurant to eat our favorite dish. The restaurant is Mi Casa which translated means My House. You've all heard the saying, "Mi Casa es su Casa" which means, My House is your House.

The last time I posted about this restaurant I used pictures that didn't do justice at all to the food and many people said they were glad I enjoyed it even though it didn't look very good. This time I took excellent pictures. I think it's because I took them before I had my margarita's! I'm just saying, that may be part of the reason. Or maybe the lighting was better, but doesn't that look delicious? 

Mi Casa will serve your food in a red-hot molcajete. A molcajete is the traditional Mexican version of the mortar & pestle. In it's natural state, it would look like this picture. The stone inside the bowl is called a Tejolote and is what grinds down the food such as corn for corn meal to make corn tortillas. Or it can be used to mash foods such as tomatoes for Salsa or Soups. Mi Casa restaurant heats up that stone molcajete until it's just a big hot rock and then pours the food into it and they add cheese right before serving so that when the cheese starts to melt right before your eyes at the table and it's bubbling because the stone molcajete is so hot it looks like you're about to eat a lava flow! It's a bit intimidating I have to admit. This was the first time I tried it.

Here's a close up of mine, which was made with Chicken. I believe my sister and my daughter both had the Beef one. The cheese hasn't quite melted yet in mine and you can see the broth underneath that has the chicken in it. I'm not sure how it's made but it's so good it makes you want to slap your momma! I'm glad my momma was on the other side of the table and too far for me to slap!  (Be sure to click on the pictures to enlarge them for a better look, but I must warn you...I and the blog, Titere con Bonete cannot be held responsible for you drooling on your keyboard!)


The onions and the oranges can be eaten, but mostly they are a garnish. They also bring you a plate with Mexican Rice, Re-fried Beans, Pico De Gallo, Sour Cream and Guacamole and some flour or corn tortillas, depending on your preference to eat this with.

Be sure if you go there that you aren't in a hurry because you will be blowing and waiting and blowing and waiting to eat this yummy dish for quite a while. Thank goodness they serve a mean margarita to sooth your burning tongue!