¡Viva México!

Here's a happy thing from my life: Tuesday was Mexican Independence Day, when our neighbors to the south threw off the shackles of the Latin American rogue state Spain (or so John McCain would call it -- sorry, sorry, couldn't resist). Señor E., L. and myself celebrated with chiles en nogada; poblanos stuffed with picadillo, then topped with a creamy walnut sauce studded with bits of pomegranate. The pepper, sauce and pomegranate deliciously form the red, green and white of the Mexican flag. Although I was feeling quite sick for most that day, I Tylenoled up and felt well enough to gorge myself on the chiles, saffron rice and brownies topped with cajeta, an ultra-rich goat's milk caramel.