Teresa Caballero Y Mier
My beautiful mama dedicated her life to the study of history, poetry and religion proudly collection books with my dad. Reading was her passion, her hobby, her daily meditation, and her escape. Through her books, she journeyed to other continents, learning about diverse cultures and traditions.
She dreamed of becoming an anthropologist but had to start working around the age of twelve. This didn’t stop her from continuing her education. As a teenager, she became a private secretary, training for the role while working at a prestigious fabric store in Mexico City.
At seventeen, she married my dad and left her office job without any idea how to cook. Her mother, Grandma Carmelita, was an excellent cook, but between work, school, and books, my mama hadn’t found the time or desire to learn. It was only after she married that she began cooking, eventually mastering the art of feeding an army of hungry kids.
Once we grew a bit older, she went back to school, becoming a nurse specializing in pediatric cancer care at the IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social) in Veracruz.
During my early childhood in Puebla, she focused on her artistic talents, painting large landscapes that adorned our walls. She also explored sculpture and ceramics, creating elegant bridal headbands with ceramic, porcelain, crystals, and silk ribbons. She even taught me ceramics, crafting little animals together.
The smell of glues, paints, the ceramics in the oven, and soups on the stove fill my memory of those afternoons.
I recently learned that the beautiful headpieces she worked so hard on were secretly sold by Coco—my dear sister-in-law and lifelong friend—at high-end stores. I often wonder where those pieces ended up.
While I attended middle school at the Antiguo Colegio de Santa Ines in Cuernavaca, enduring the nuns' strictness, my mama became a dental technician. She specialized in dental prosthesis, blending her artistic talent with her craft. If you don’t believe me, ask the dentists she worked for!
In between all of this, she studied French, learned coding (taught by my brother Alejandro at a tech school in downtown Cuernavaca), wrote novels, knitted, designed, sewed, and crafted—she even made my flower girl dresses for my brothers’ weddings. She cared for grandchildren, cooked wonderful meals, and enjoyed laughter-filled days with her cousin and best friend, my dear auntie Tita.
Her days were filled with visitors seeking her wisdom, company, and treasured recipes. Generously, she shared everything she cooked and everything she owned.
My mama's favorite soup
ELOTE & CALABACITAS SOUP
My mama's take on homemade esquites.
Ever experienced the delight of esquites? Picture this: in the heart of Mexico's quaint towns, particularly during late afternoons or early evenings at bustling zocalos, you'll discover this scrumptious traditional snack. Women at little carts offer elotes - smoked white corn adorned with butter, lime, and a hint of cayenne. But, for me, the pièce de résistance is esquites, an unparalleled snack – cool, refreshing, and downright exciting.
Traditionally, esquites are served with a dollop of sour cream or mayo (depending on the region in Mexico), a sprinkling of dry cheese like cotija or viejo, a dash of chile piquin or cayenne, and a squeeze of lime. My mother's recipe? It encapsulates 100 percent love. This vegan soup is a symphony of sweetness, spiciness, juiciness, and crunchiness, making it unequivocally my favorite. Without fail, at least once a week, my mama would conjure up enormous pots of vegan elote and calabacitas soup – a culinary anthem of our preteen and teen years. Purely delightful!
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A Bit About My Mama
My beautiful mama, Teresa, was born in La Ciudad de Mexico on October 18th, 1932.
Adored by her father, Camerino, a sweet and dedicated elementary school teacher, Teresa learned to write, read, and love books around the age of 5. Surrounded by two older and two younger brothers, she was the princess yet a motherly figure to them. Sadly, her older brother Carlos passed away due to a heart condition at the age of 16, and her loving father left this world due to a sudden heart attack when she was only 11 years old. Struck by grief and the need to support her mother and her little family, she completed middle school and immediately started working for a fabric store as a secretary while studying taquimecanografia (shorthand) after work. She was so young, and even though she hated lying, she lied about her age to be able to support her family.
One day, her boss called her in. My mama describes her boss as a gentleman with a sweet, kind heart. As soon as she nervously entered her boss' office, he asked her to sit down, and after looking at her deeply, with kindness, he said, "Look Teresita, I know your age, I understand why you are working at this young age. Your heart is big, sweet girl, but please tell your mother that you can work here, but you have to also continue with your school..." Then he mumbled, "not sure how you are going to do it," After breathing deeply grumpily, he said, "Tell your mother that if you don't continue school, I will fire you." Then he added, "You are an amazing assistant, amazing. Your dad in the heavens and your mom should be so proud of you, very proud... But hear me, sweet girl, after work you have to continue with your studies, or I will fire you! Continue with your studies!"
My mama in photos
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