New Mexico Archives - Cathleen Armstrong

Dec 18, 2014 · by Cathleen Armstrong · In: Celebrations, Last Chance, New Mexico, Seasons

“Every path, every curb, every rooftop was lined with thousands of softly glowing brown paper bags.” Christmas Eve traditions differ from region to region, from family to family. All Lainie Davis knew, before she got in her old car and headed east was that Christmas traditions were for other people, not her. This excerpt from Welcome to Last Chance describes her first Christmas Eve in Last Chance. Ray came by just at dusk Christmas Eve to pick up Lainie and Elizabeth, and on the way to San Ramon, the orange and crimson sunset faded to purple and the first…

Dec 10, 2014 · by Cathleen Armstrong · In: Celebrations, Food, New Mexico, Recipes, Seasons

You’ll find this tender, flaky cookie everywhere in New Mexico this time of year. Its sweet simplicity dates from a time early in New Mexico’s history when creative and loving cooks took the few ingredients available to them and produced celebration. It is, hands down, my family’s favorite Christmas cookie. The holidays wouldn’t be the same without them. I suppose you could use butter or shortening instead of lard, and maybe orange juice or apple juice instead of the brandy. You could even leave out the anise seed, if you wanted, and you’d probably wind up with a very nice…

Dec 2, 2014 · by Cathleen Armstrong · In: Family, Food, Home, New Mexico

The Bowl of the Wife of Kit Carson is a thick and warming soup, and a great way to use the last of the turkey. I don’t know its origins, or how it came to have such an awkward name. But I do know that the wife of Kit Carson had her own name. She was Josefa Jaramillo and she was from Taos, New Mexico. So, in her honor, and in honor of all those who stir the soup while others get the glory, lets call this Josefa’s Soup. Enjoy! Josefa’s Soup Serves 6 1 1/2 quarts chicken broth 2 cups…

Aug 13, 2013 · by Cathleen Armstrong · In: Food, New Mexico

When I was growing up, going out to eat usually meant going out for Mexican food. Probably a lot of that had to do with the fact that that was what was available, but it also just tasted wonderful. And it was hot. I really got those cartoon pictures of people eating something hot and having steam shoot out their ears. I could feel it, even if no one could actually see the steam. The yolk of a fried egg on top of the enchiladas tempered the heat a bit, and so did the honey squeezed into the interior of…

Aug 6, 2013 · by Cathleen Armstrong · In: Home, New Mexico

On a trip though Ireland a few years ago, I fell in love with the low hedgerows that divided the field from each other. They seemed to rise from the fields themselves, as integral a part of the landscape as the rocky crags that rose here and there, like they had been there forever. I wondered if even the owners of the fields had any idea how long they had been there, or who had planted them. Then, last spring, when Sarah and I were on our way to the Double E Ranch, I had to smile as I noticed…