Preparing a great meal not only requires the right food ingredients, it often calls for unique tools and techniques to bring everything together. I believe this is the reason why the food that my mother, grandmothers and aunts prepared when I was a child is so memorable! That being said, you can only imagine my excitement when my wife's grandmother Valentina gave me her molcajete! A molcajete and the accompanying tejolote is the Mexican equivalent of a mortar and pestle. This kitchen tool has been in the family for a long time! It actually belonged to Grandma Valentina's grandmother! That would be my children's great, great, great grandmother!
Everyone has their favorite, and/or most-used tool in the kitchen. Most of us have a favorite knife, spatula, mixing bowl, or other item that you simply cannot do without. Aside from my chef knife and cleaver, I simply cannot function in the kitchen without my molcajete! Here is a collection of photos that demonstrate how a well made kitchen tool can literally serve GENERATIONS! :)
The one on the left, I have had for at least a decade. The one on the right is considerably older! :)
This tejolote is much newer...
After many generations of use...
It easily conforms to my hand...
The left side of the molcajete has a worn place where it has been held for generations! :)
It is like holding the hand of your ancestors! :)
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