Our Family's Magical Molcajete                                              

My Abuelita Magdalena and Mama's Mexican recipes were the reigning master chefs of our large family, and their recipes were filled with magic. Just one bite of one of their homemade enchiladas, tacos, guacamole, well, anything they made transformed even the most mild-mannered dinner guest into a spellbound babbling frenzy of food admiration that was a regular part of my childhood. And there were countless rumors about the source of the culinary magic, my tias; my mother's sisters were convinced that it came from our non-assuming black volcano rock molcajete (mowl·kuh·hay·tay) and tejolote. It's similar to a modern-day mortar and pestle, and abuelita and mama used it daily to grind spices, make salsas, and more, just like so many Mexican home cooks have for thousands of years.

Our molcajete was crafted in Mexico and is a treasured family heirloom that has been passed from generation to generation. My Abuelita Magdalena brought it when she immigrated from Mexico to California in the early 1920s. 

I've felt a powerful connection to our molcajete since my mama first taught me how to grind garlic when I was ten. I loved how loud and fun it was to pound into the volcanic stone bowl; it quickly became my favorite cooking assignment.

And now, decades later, our molcajete sits on my kitchen counter, and I continue to use it daily. I'm grateful that it continues to sprinkle my recipes with its generational culinary magic and connect me to women I've loved, cherished, and respected who are no longer with me. 

~Diana Silva Head, Molé Mama