Celebremos la cultura hispana Lección 2

My group has decided to get together and bake up some Pan de Muerto.  We haven't had to much time to really sit down together and discuss exactly what we are going to do and decide who is responsible for what, though I'm sure we'll follow a recipe very close to this one:

Ingredientes:

5- 6 tazas de harina

½ taza de azúcar

2 paquetes de levadura seca

1 cucharadita de sal

1 cucharadita de semillas de anís

½ taza de leche

½ taza de agua

½ taza de mantequilla

4 huevos

1. Mezclar 1 ½ tazas de harina, la levadura, sal, anís y azúcar.
2. Calentar la leche, agua y mantequilla.
3. Combinar el líquido con las ingredientes secos.
4. Mezclar con los huevos.
5. Añadir el resto de la harina para hacer una masa blanda.
6. Amasar para 10 minutos.
7. Cubrir y poner la masa a crecer por una hora y media.
8. Formar la masa en un círculo y decorar con huesos de masa.
9. Poner la masa a crecer por hora otra vez.
10. Calentar el horno a 350º F. Cocinar para 40 minutos.

Decorar con azúcar.

We do know that we are getting together on the Sunday evening the week that our project is due to bake the bread.  I think it's important that we do this as a group because Spanish families make their altars for their loved ones together and decorate and celebrate together.  It seems like it would take away some of the culture behind baking the bread if we were to do this individually.

I really enjoyed watching the videos posted on Blackboard (mainly the one concerning the Aztecs).  My favorite part was probably seeing all the stone scultpures and art that they made along with the very beginning of the video when they were discussing the structures around their empire that they built.  It was amusing and interesting to me to hear that it has been documented that these cities were apparently very clean for that time.  The one part of the video that I had a hard time with was hearing about the human sacrifices and how they would wear the skin of their vicitims.  Graphic, yet still interesting in a strange way.
Aztec Art:

(aztecartandmore.com)



El Dia de los Muertos  has an important influence on Mexican culture because, in my mind, it really signifies what that culture seems to be about.  The importance of family, a great love of food (which is why they leave the family member's favorite foods all over the altars), and celebrating and enjoying life whether it's here on Earth or in the afterlife.  That's what this holiday is all about.  Celebrating life after death.