Roger at Lupitas

One of the reasons we flew to IL. was to help Mary do an Arbonne booth at a trade show. Due to the weather being very bad there were some very slow times. I went to the food demo at the trade show presented by a local restaurant owner named Roger from Lupita of Kenosha. He was fantastic. I learned to make fresh salsa, guac, rice and some type of pork Scott loved. What I enjoyed the very most was his spirit and his story of coming to America and turning his life over to Christ.

I wish I had a photo of him... (I do have one of my with Sponge Bob which I at first thought was a big Chunk of cheese.) Roger was a warm and friendly man with a great love of family, freedom, and food. He came across the border illegally at age 17. He got in to drinking and lead a very unhappy life. Some one gave him a chance to change and make something of himself. He thought of his parents in Mexico and all they had done for him and he took this chance. He quit drinking and he went to church where he met and fell in love with his wife (of many years now) He was not making much money so he moved up north where he was given another chance as an insurance sales man. He barley knew English. He became a citizen and worked very very hard to pass the tests and exams in insurance. After years and much money he did it. He worked for years in the business and did well. Then one day a memory came to his mind of his mother in Mexico and how she used to sell food on the roadside. Roger would help her. He took a huge risk and opened a restaurant. It is named Lupita after his mom. She came to America to visit and they took her for a walk. As she looked around she saw the sign and said hey-- there is my name. They told her yes there is your restaurant. I wish I could record his story I am not doing it justice... if you are ever in Kenosha, IL you must go eat at Lupita and meet Roger and hear his story. It made me cry.
Yummy Mexican Rice

2 tbsp. Goya Olive Oil

1 tomato, diced small (or boiled and put in blender with water)

1 packet Goya Cubitos En Polvo - Powdered Chicken Bouillon

1 Packet Goya Sazón with Coriander and Annatto

1 cup Goya Extra Long Grain Rice

2 cups hot water

garlic powder (a little)
onion powder (a little)
I think also some salt

1. Heat oil on medium in a saucepan with a cover. Stir in rice and cook for one minute. Stir in tomato, Cubitos En Polvo and Sazón and cook for one minute.
2. Add water and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, cover and lower heat. Simmer for 25 minutes. Fluff and let sit covered for 5 minutes before serving.

Yummy fresh salsa on the spot

In the blender in this order…

½ yellow onion, cleaned and cut

1 to 3 whole jalapeños, boiled (Optional to taste)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 to 3 garlic clove peeled

squeeze ½ a lime

1/4 cup fresh Cilantro, chopped (he grabbed a huge chunk of it chopped off the ends and threw it in the blender)

6 large, red ripe tomatoes, boiled (for a few minutes) peeled

add a little of the water from the peeled tomatoes

You can help push down the ingredients. Blend in blender… leave it still a little chunky.

Chips he makes using corn tortilla fried in veg. oil