[ranchos] Zacatecas and Jalisco Nopales, Ensalada de Nopales

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It appears we have several things in common: I like nopalitos, I also live in San Jose and we just may share some distant relatives. According to a brief autobiography of my mother (Guadalupe Flores), her biological father's name was JOSE CARRILLO. Lupe was orphaned at a very early age in Ciudad Chihuahua. She believed her mother's name was Maria Garcia (Hidalgo de Paral) but my research indicates her name was Maria Macias. Maria died Ciudad Chihuahua at the age of 17 (1905) leaving her small daughter in the care of an old couple Tomas/Petra Dominquez who later left the child in the care of Alejandra Castillo. MARIA GARCIA/MACIAS supposedly married JOSE CARRILLO (Zacatecas) in Ciudad  Chihuahua. I have not been able to find/verify Guadalupes birth (Dec. 12, 1903) in Ciudad Chihuahua nor the marriage of Maria to Jose Carrillo.
 
Guadalupe woujld eventually end up in McFarland, Calif. as the adopted daughter of Alejandra and Gaspar Flores. Alejandra met Gaspar Flores in Ciu.Chi. where Alejandra had been a close friend of MARIA GARCIA/MACIAS. It was Alejandra who would later take the child GUADALUPE GARCIA/MACIAS/CARRILLO away into the USA never to return. Indications are that Jose Carrillo was drafted (1905?) by Porfidio Diaz's army and was sent to serve his enlistment in Sonora. Upon returning to Chihuahua City, he learned of Maria's death. sADLY, It is believed that the child, Guadalupe, was taken to the USA before Jose returned from Zacatecas with enough money to repay Gaspar/Alejandra for her upkeep while he was in the service. Guadalupe Flores (my mother) died in 1985 and is buried in Delano, CA. with my father (1963), foster grandparents Gaspar/Alejandra Flores and most of my family. 
 
Life can strange at times. As such, it is possible that one can sometimes discover long lost friends and/or relatives living in the same neighborhood. I would appreciate your consideration of the meager facts I have presented you with in the hopes that a connection can be discovered with regard JOSE CARRILLO husband of MARIA GARCIA/MACIAS. Perhaps this chance interest in your reseta for nopalitos will prove to be the connecting link needed to fill in the blank pages in the life of GUADALUPE CARRILLO/FLORES/FELIX. If you wish to talk, I can be reached  at 408/251-0685./Adelante/ Raul R. Felix
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 6:40 PM
Subject: [ranchos] Zacatecas and Jalisco Nopales, Ensalada de Nopales

Ensalada De Nopales
 
Cut and clean the nopales. That is what we call it limpiar (clean) los Nopales.
 
Dice into bite size cubes. Boil in water with fresh oregano 2 sprigs, fresh cilantro two sprigs, two smashed cloves of garlic,  1/4 onion, 2 tsps salt. Boil until they reached the desired tenderness about 20 minutes. Drain and rinse thoroughly. Allow to cool completely.
 
Remove the smashed garlic, 1/4 onion, sprigs of cilantro and oregano.
 
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 tomato diced
fresh cilantro chopped finely about 10 sprigs
1 cup queso fresco, diced or crumbled (this is mexican cheese) In California it's usually El Mexicano brand but there could be others. Other states I don't know.
1 serrano or jalapeno chile finely minced
For dressing, juice of 1/2 lemon, 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar,  olive oil about 1/2 cup,
salt and pepper to taste.
 
Enjoy!  I guessed on the quantities because of course everything is passed on by word of mouth or visually you just put in a little bit of this and a little bit of that and it usually comes out ok. Feel free to change the recipe quantities or to add or subtract ingredients.
We grow our own nopales so we get them very fresh. I have always liked them as I grew up eating them at home. I have lived in San Jose' Calif since 1952 when I was two years old.
 
If you want more recipes for nopales I will gladly share some more.
 
Buen Provecho!  Alicia