Saclatino december final 2013

December 2013

Volume 1 Issue 7!

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www.saclatino.com!

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$3.99

Latino Health: Elder care Happy Holidays!!! and youth protection

Poinsettias: A Gift From the Aztecs

Happy Holidays! !

SacLatino Magazine will be entering its second year of publication in 2014, and I have to admit, itʼs been a life-learning experience so far. But, more importantly, I feel we have been able to begin reaching Latinos and non-Latinos through this publication and sharing information that is meaningful and useful. !

As we approach the end of 2013, I believe it important to reflect on the many events, historical and of interest, that have shaped our lives. !

At the national level, we had Obamacare, perhaps the nationʼs most critical law that could be of great assistance to the many working families who lay on the cusp of poverty. From itʼs nonfunctioning website, to the millions of middle class citizens being dropped by their own health insurance, the formula to make this work has sent millions across the nation to question its sensibility. !

In California, Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 4, which essentially allows for oil companies to conducting hydraulic fracturing of shale rock underneath the Central Valley. Known as “fracking,” this extraction of oil and natural gas will create up to a million jobs, according to the Labor Department. !

Then, there is our own “Latino Professionals Development Project,” an effort to address the educational, economic development and political empowerment of our communities. !

Weʼre ready for 2014 and invite you to be a part of our growth. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all us of to you.

Stephanie Salinas, Publisher info@saclatino.com The Staff: Stephanie L. Salinas, Publisher Adrian Perez, Editor-In-Chief Cris Perez, Chief Operations Officer Cecelia Perez, Illustrator/Graphic Design Sherry Martinez, Account Executive About SacLatino !

SacLatino and SacLatino.com are published and owned by SacLatino LLC, a private, for-profit public relations and communications business. For comments, information, or submit articles, write to: SacLatino, 2213 Del Paso Blvd, #149, Sacramento, CA 95815 or email us at info@saclatino.com .

Any article and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of SacLatino, SacLatino.com or SacLatino LLC, but remain solely those of the author(s). SacLatino and SacLatino.com are copyrighted and its contents may not be copied or used without prior written consent. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

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Magazine is your key news source on topics affecting California Latinos... “SacLatino Magazine brings attention to big issues, separating what is important from what is not. It explains confusing and misleading information into factual knowledge. And, provides a wealth of thought provoking topics in exceptionally well written articles complimented with stunning photography. “ ! ! ! ! ! !

- Stephanie Salinas, Publisher, SacLatino

Native, static, or linked, SacLatino Magazine reaches your market Find out more by calling (916) 914-4665 or email us at info@saclatino.com

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COVER STORY

Poinsettias: A Christmas Gift from the Aztecs It has become an American Christmas tradition of decorating homes and offices with poinsettias. The beautiful green and red leaf shrub is commonly sold at variety stores including drugstores, hardware stores and supermarkets. Had it not been for an American Ambassador to Mexico, the shrubs given as gifts to office coworkers, families and friends may have never been. !

Called “Cuetlaxochitl” (quet-la-so-chill) by the Aztecs, poinsettias bloomed wildly each December in the lower lands of what is now central Mexico. The shrub was harvested for Aztec royalty where the sap was used to control fevers among the ill and the red leaves were used to make red dye. !

In the 1820s, Joel Roberts Poinsett was American Ambassador to Mexico under President John Quincy Adams. On a December trip to Mexico City, which was once the Aztec capital, he noticed the red flowered shrub decorating a nativity scene in a Taxco church. !

Being a botanist, he had plants and cuttings sent back to his green house in South Carolina. It was there where William Prescott, a historian and horticulturist, saw them, later naming the plant “Poinsettia” after his friend. !

Since then, it has become an American Christmas tradition of decorating homes and offices with the poinsettia. !

The beautiful green and red leaf shrub is commonly sold at variety stores including drug4!

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stores, hardware stores and supermarkets. In fact, Ambassador Poinsett is undoubtedly the reason why Christmas today is filled with the beautiful aztec shrub.

Our Kids' Community Breakfast Club A Self-Sustaining Empowered Community Our Kids' Community Breakfast Club (OKCBC) a community engagement model, is designed to improve the quality of life for kids and their families. The program operates during the time when school is not in session on Saturdays. The five program components include: • • • • •

Nutritious Breakfast Arts and Crafts Literacy and Math Activities Parent Education Basic Health Screenings

OKCBC currently takes place on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10:00am-12:00pm at Oak Park Community Center, located at 3425 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Sacramento, CA. OKCBC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Tax ID 27-3502550

contact@okcbc.org DONATE

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Cover Story !

Called “Cuetlaxochitl” (quetla-so-chill) by the Aztecs, poinsettias bloomed wildly each December in the lower lands of what is now central Mexico. The shrub was harvested for Aztec royalty where the sap was used to control fevers among the ill and the red leaves were used to make red dye. Today, Americans use it for its aesthetic beauty. !

It was not until the early 1900's when the Paul Ecke family of Southern California began growing poinsettias for use as landscape plants and as cut flowers, did the public begin to take notice. Recognizing that they only bloomed in late-fall season and the colors accented the red and green associated with Christmas, poinsettias became an American tradition.

Today, the Ecke family grows 80 percent of the poinsettias sold, which are priced according to the number of blooms (the more blooms, the more expensive). In nature, this perennial shrub can grow up to ten feet tall and the red, white, and pink colors many believe are flowers, are actually leaves. There are over 100 varieties of this non-poisonous shrub, making it safe to have around kids and house pets. !

In Mexico, December 12 of each year is known as El Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe), a day

commonly celebrated with red roses. But in the U.S. it is known as National Poinsettia Day, where the over $220 million dollar business takes hold for an average of six weeks. !

Red Poinsettias are favored by 74 percent of Americans, followed by white (8 percent) and pink (6 percent). Women 40 and older are the most common purchasers of the plant (80 percent). !

Not to be out done, the NCAA has an annual Bowl game in San Diego named…the Poinsettia Bowl. Network and local television production sets are typically decorated with dozens of poinsettias, at times encircling the TV announcers and guests. Poinsettias are also used on the display windows of major retail stores like Macyʼs.- SacLatino

(Above) Statue of Ambassador Poinsett, South Carolina (Left) The many shades of poinsettias today.

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Latino Christmas Foods

Buñuelos: A tasty Latin treat !

When the Moriscos (Arabs) occupied Spain for more than 700 years, they introduced a deep fried dough ball, similar to a donut hole. It has changed since, and different regions of Mexico and Latin America make them different, mostly according to taste.

In Mexco, they are made with yeasted dough and flavored with sugar and cinnamon or syrup. In Colombia, they are they are made with salty white cheese and

traditionally served with natilla or manjar blanco. In Cuba, buñuelos are made with yuca and malanga and are drizzled with a simple anise-flavored syrup. !

Today buñuelos remain a popular treat in Muslim countries like Morocco and Turkey and have taken many variations throughout Latin America - SacLatino.

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Latino Christmas Foods

Latin Americaʼs most traditional Holiday Food - Tamales !

The Nahuatll called them “tamalli” were made in by the Olmec and Toltec civilizations as portable food to support their armies. Hunters and travelers also carried them for subsistance.

But, all in all, this product of Ancient MessoAmerica remains a great holiday food today among Latinos and many non-Latinos. !

The tamale is made of masa (corn) that is spread on a corn leaf and filled with pork, chicken, cheese, or any other favorite filling, and steamed or baked until fully cooked. !

We want to thank our ancestors from giving us this incredible food delight on the joyous days of each year. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

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Latino Christmas Foods

From the East Coast to the West Coast, empanadas fill the gap

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Empanadas are a European treat that can trace its roots back to Galicia and Protugal. Very similar to Italian calzones, empanadas can be filled with a variety of meats, vegetables and even sweet custered. Or, in the tradition of pan dulce (sweet bread) with fruit fillings like pumpkin, pineapple, apple, etc. !

Empanadas came to the Americas through Brazil, once a colony of Portugual. They were also introduced to other parts of Latin America when the Galicians immigrated here. !

So whether you prefer meat, fish or sweet empanadas, they are another Latin treat for the Holidays.

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Latino Christmas Foods

Something to go with your tamales...Atolè !

A true Mexican treat, atolè brings warmth to the heart and happiness to the taste buds as a drink to go along with tamales. The sweetened porridge-style drink is made with masa, water, cinnamon vanilla and optional chocolate or fruit. !

By toasting the masa on a griddle then adding it to water boiled with cinnamon sticks, the mixture can either be left as a liquid or a porridge. But, if you donʼt care for masa, replace it with rice, flour, or oatmeal. However, the traditional method is using Masa. !

The recipe for Atolè has been handed down for generations from the Nahuatl. They also blended in chocolate, which changed the name of atolè to “Champurrado” and only adds to the flavors of the Holidays. Provecho!

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From Us to You and Yours

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!