Feliz Dia de Las Madres

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

There is a wonderful piece that was written sometime ago commemorating
women everywhere. I've searched throughout the internet but have never found the author of this piece. If someones knows who wrote it, please let me know.

For the past nine years I have posted it on the internet and have dedicated it to my mother and to all women celebrating Mother's Day.

So whether you are a mother or not, young or old, any color of the rainbow or from any city or country in the world, this goes out to you.

How to Recognize a Latina Woman
(or ANY woman)

A Latina woman is proud of herself. She respects herself and others. She is aware of who she is. She neither seeks definition from the person she is with, nor does she expect them to read her mind. She is quite capable of articulating her needs. A Latina woman is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes that her love has great value and must be reciprocated. If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears.

A Latina woman has a dash of inspiration and a dabble of endurance. She knows that she will, at times, have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them. A Latina woman knows her past, understands her present and moves toward the future.

A Latina woman knows God. She knows that with God the world is her playground, but without God, she will just be played with. A Latina woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past. Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons, meant to bring her closer to self-knowledge and unconditional self-love.

( In memory of my mother. )
( En recuerdo de mi madre, Maria Luisa Cordero (1915 - 1997)



Mother's Day Mango-Walnut Cake

1 yellow cake mix
1 small box vanilla instant pudding
1 16-ounce container of sour cream
4 eggs
¾ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup mango nectar
1 cup walnut pieces

Grease and flour bundt cake pan. Pre-heat oven to 350°. Mix all ingredients except walnut pieces until well blended and smooth. Fold-in walnut pieces. Pour into prepared pan and bake in pre-heated oven for 1 hour. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.. Invert cake onto a cake plate and allow to cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 8-ounce package cream cheese (room temp)
1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter (room temp)
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large bowl, blend cream cheese and butter with mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Add powdered sugar, a little at a time, until all sugar is thoroughly incorporated. Add vanilla and increase speed on mixer to medium and mix until frosting is fluffy.

In a medium saucepan, heat 1 cup of the cream cheese frosting over low flame until semi-melted and pourable. Pour over bundt cake to cover. With remaining frosting, decorate around bottom edge of cake. Place mango slices and whole walnuts around cake to decorate.