Thanksgiving Day in Mavi’s Kitchen

Yes I am Mexican and Thanksgiving is a celebration popular in Canada and the USA, not in Mexico, so what am I doing writing about Thanksgiving?  Well, to begin with, the concept of having at least one day to formally give Thanks, to share and enjoy family, friends and yes, Food, makes so much sense to me.

Ever since I was invited to my first Thanksgiving dinner to the home of our friends Jasper and Jackie, here in Puerto Vallarta, I fell in love with the celebration.  The sense of joy, the laughter and the aromas coming out of Jasper´s kitchen sold me on the celebration.

Then, in November of 1989 it was my turn to host it for the very first time.….Since those times were the beginning of “hostess for the mostess” career, I was kind of nervous with the task ahead, so the obvious choice was to run to get the advice of the most notorious and gorgeous Food Goddess I knew:  my closest friend Chacha´s mother, Amalia.

Amalia, was the one that gave me the secret to a great gravy (one that up to now I continue doing in the same way and that everybody loves),  a perfectly moist and delicious turkey, a well balance stuffing and the most delicious cranberry mold I have ever tasted.  That year, Thanksgiving, became a tradition within our own family.

Many thanksgiving dinners later, I find myself baking fresh “calabaza”(pumpkin)-cheese cake the day before D-Day and also a fresh corn cake- just to add something Mexican to the whole North American thing (recipe follows)- as my contribution to the dinner party that now my brother and his husband host , and I am still loving it!

Thanksgiving is a very important discipline to have.  To be grateful for one´s life should be the first thing we do in the morning.  In my very personal case, being able to do for a living what I love to do is a blessing by itself, to do it in the place I like to be the most: My home, is the icing on the cake.

I am grateful for the battles I fought, grateful for the lessons learned and the experience I gained. I am grateful for the successes and the failures, for the laughter and the tears.  I am forever grateful for the large family I come from and the one I formed with my husband, I am grateful for the friends I share my life with and the amazing connections I have made.

And is today, here in my kitchen, where this amazing feeling of gratefulness manifests clearly in a dish typical of the celebration of Thanksgiving and becomes a deep, aromatic, delicious combination of flavors and aromas.  The strong smell of cloves and cinnamon – that reminds me so much of my Grandmother – allows me to make out of the cooking with pumpkin an experience not a task,  and of my kitchen, a place where two cultures can meet and coincide.

IMG_6445Calabaza or pumpkin is plentiful at this time of the year here in Mexico as well and for many years we have been enjoying it as a traditional dessert, so in the spirit of sharing, here you have the recipe I got from my Mother, the same she got from hers, Calabaza en Tacha, which besides being a very old and simple recipe, is without a doubt, one of fantastic depth.  Enjoy it and have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Calabaza en Tacha

3 Kgs. Pumpkin

1 kg. Piloncillo

2 sticks cinnamon

4 cloves

  • Place the piloncillo, cinnamon and cloves in a large pot with 3 cups of water in medium heat. Let it come to boil, turn the heat down and let it simmer for about fifteen minutes (so all the flavors blend well).
  • In the meantime, cut the pumpkin in half and discard all the seeds
  • Now cut pumpkin in smaller pieces (about the size of your fist)
  • Strain the piloncillo mixture and discard cinnamon and cloves, return the mixture to pot.
  • Place the cleaned, seeded pumpkin pieces face down in the mixture.
  • Cover the pot and let it simmer for one hour.
  • Enjoy!!

Yes I am Mexican and Thanksgiving is a celebration popular in Canada and the USA, not in Mexico, so what am I doing writing about . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • sargassum-slams-cancun-playa-restaurantsSargassum Crisis in Cancún and Playa del Carmen Forces Restaurants and Beach Clubs to Cut Staff Businesses in Cancún and Playa del Carmen report steep losses due to sargassum, with restaurants losing diners and beach clubs sending staff on unpaid leave. Restaurants and beach clubs along the shores of Puerto Juárez in Cancún and Playa del Carmen are grappling with a sharp downturn in business due to a relentless invasion of…
  • tropical-storm-erick-warnings-mexico-coastHurricane Erick will bring heavy rains to Puerto Vallarta Hurricane Erick Puerto Vallarta will bring heavy rains to Puerto Vallarta by Friday but poses no risk to the northern coast of Jalisco. Meteorologist Víctor Manuel Cornejo López, of the Civil Protection scientific committee for the Bay, reports that Hurricane Erick will deliver significant rainfall to Puerto Vallarta without threatening the region’s safety. According to…
  • puerto-vallarta-flooding-landslide-hurricane-erickHeavy rains flood Puerto Vallarta streets and trigger landslide in tunnel Flooding from remnants of Hurricane Erick paralyzed key roads in Puerto Vallarta and caused a landslide in the Luis Donaldo Colosio tunnel, Civil Protection continues damage assessment. The city of Puerto Vallarta was overwhelmed Thursday night by heavy rainfall that caused major flooding, stranded vehicles, and triggered a landslide in the Luis Donaldo Colosio bypass…
  • huracan-erick-2025-mexico-peligroHurricane Erick Becomes Eastern Pacific’s Strongest Cyclone of 2025, Eyes Mexico’s Southwest Coast Hurricane Erick rapidly intensified off Mexico’s Pacific coast, becoming the second hurricane of the 2025 season and threatening southwestern Mexico with dangerous wind, rain, and storm surge. This story is available in Spanish: El huracán Erick se fortalece rápidamente y amenaza la costa suroeste de México The 2025 eastern Pacific hurricane season continues to surge…
  • hurricane erick damagePuerto Escondido and Pinotepa Nacional suffer severe damage from Hurricane Erick (VIDEO) Hurricane Erick caused widespread destruction in Oaxaca's coastal towns, including Puerto Escondido and Pinotepa Nacional, with downed power lines, flooding, and road closures. Oaxaca’s southern coast is reeling after Hurricane Erick made landfall early Thursday morning, slamming into Santiago Pinotepa Nacional at 5:30 a.m. with maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour. Although the…
  • Arrivals at Puerto Vallarta airport increases nearly 50 in JanuaryAirlines warn of possible flight delays and cancellations in Puerto Vallarta Airlines warn of possible flight delays and cancellations in Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and more due to Hurricane Erick. Flexible travel policies are now in place. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco — Travelers passing through Puerto Vallarta International Airport and other major airports across Mexico may experience delays or cancellations due to the ongoing effects of…
  • Know your consumer rights in Mexico Is it legal for restaurants to include the tipPuerto Vallarta restaurants face 33 percent staff shortage Restaurants in Puerto Vallarta face a 33% staffing shortfall as they prepare for a busy summer holiday season, aiming to boost sales by up to 60% despite ongoing labor challenges. As Puerto Vallarta prepares to welcome a surge of summer tourists, the city’s restaurant sector is grappling with a serious staffing problem—operating with roughly one-third…
  • tropical-storm-erick-hurricane-watch-southern-mexicoTropical Storm Erick Strengthening as Hurricane Watch Issued for Southern Mexico Tropical Storm Erick is forecast to become a hurricane before making landfall in southern Mexico. A Hurricane Watch is now in effect from Bahias de Huatulco to Punta Maldonado. Tropical Storm Erick continues to gather strength off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast and is forecast to become a hurricane by Wednesday, according to the latest advisory…
  • puerto-vallarta-flooding-first-storm-2025Puerto Vallarta hit by flooding, fallen trees, and damaged roads after first storm of the season Heavy rain and a nighttime storm caused widespread flooding, road closures, and downed trees in Puerto Vallarta. Several key roads remain impassable. PUERTO VALLARTA — The first major storm of the rainy season swept through Puerto Vallarta overnight, leaving behind extensive damage across the city, including widespread flooding, blocked roads, and fallen trees. By morning,…
  • american-woman-drowns-santa-maria-los-cabosAmerican Woman Drowns at Closed Beach in Los Cabos Despite Black Flag Warning A 57-year-old American woman drowned at Santa María Beach in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, on June 17, despite black flag warnings indicating the beach was closed due to dangerous conditions. Los Cabos, Baja California Sur – Tragedy struck the beaches of Los Cabos on the afternoon of June 17, when a 57-year-old American woman…
Scroll to Top