Happy Birthday Mum!

My Mum never really wants presents for special occasions, because she'd much rather have a good meal. Whenever I ask her what she wants, she just says "cook".

I love 2500 miles from my folks, so this can be tricky. Happily, the entire family has conspired to fulfill her birthday request this year. If there's anything we enjoy more than eating, it's conspiracy.

Actually, that's not true. There's nothing we enjoy more than eating.

It came to my attention recently that Mum has never had posole, the traditional Mexican pork and hominy stew known for its therapeutic effects (especially by hangover sufferers). Perfect! Mum loves Mexican food! And pork! And drinking!

If all has gone according to plan, a package was delivered, Pop reheated the contents and prepped the garnishes, and birthday dining is in progress. Putting it together made me feel just like Kevin Spacey in Se7en! Only instead of coordinating decapitation and wrath, I sent a delicious savory stew.

ANYWAY.

For the full effect, please follow along with the pictures below, and imagine pithy repartee and endearing cooperation. It'll be just like we were there in your kitchen, only there will be fewer dirty dishes.

Please note for the record that The Man of the House is entirely responsible for the creation of this fantastic posole. He deserves 100% credit for it. I only deserve credit for being clever enough to marry a chef.