Enjoy the Southwest - seasonally

Each area of the United States provides its inhabitants with a unique lifestyle.  What images come to mind when you read the words "Southwestern Lifestyle"?  Do you see people dressed in cowboy boots and hats, desert landscapes, and bowls of salsa and tostadas?  Perhaps, but a glance beneath the surface reveals so much more about life in the Desert Southwest.

I was born in El Paso, Texas and have made that city my home all of my life.  El Paso is located on the United States/Mexico border in the Chihuahuan Desert.  It is a bilingual, bicultural city. Even though I love to travel to far off lands, one of the best parts of a trip is coming home. When I am gone, I miss our mountains, the dry air, spectacular sunsets, and spicy food.

Life in El Paso can be enjoyed in varied ways, depending on the season of the year.

Yes, we do have four seasons in the Desert Southwest!  They may not be traditional seasons with snowdrifts in December, showers in April, and welcome sunshine in July, but every three months, we have an opportunity to enjoy changing weather and activities, including preparing special dishes for friends and family.

Winter will arrive in less than two weeks. We are already experiencing frosty nights and cool days.  What a great excuse to build a fire in the fireplace in the early morning and drink coffee. Winter brings the promise of a Christmas season with customs from both sides of the border. As the weather cools, I feel an urge to spend the afternoon in the kitchen, making red chile sauce for enchiladas by hand with an old-fashioned vegetable press.  My thoughts go to homemade tamales.  Should we host a tamale-making party this year or order them from a local bakery?

Spring arrives earlier in the Desert Southwest than in other areas of the country.  This season does not greet us with gentle rains but rather with strong winds that howl interminably. In the springtime, I begin dreaming of a yard full of fragrant flowers and a garden full of tomatoes and herbs.  I wait anxiously for the projected last frost date, usually around April 1st.  Mother Nature has occasionally tricked me, however, and brought one last snowstorm in April.  I make special dishes for spring holidays, like Irish-American Soda Bread on St. Patrick's Day and Eggs Delmonico on Easter.

Summer is a very long season in El Paso, lasting from approximately May through September. And how hot is it?  Darn hot!  As soon as the sun dips below the horizon, summer evenings can be enjoyed outdoors at festivals, musical entertainment, and sporting events. Thirsty hummingbirds begin appearing at the feeder. Summer is the season for crisp salads with homegrown tomatoes and guacamole made from plentiful avocados.  I use the weather as an excuse to make up a three-ingredient recipe for Coconut Ice Cream.

By the time summer releases its fiery hold, El Pasoans are mentally and physically ready for cooler weather.  The yard needs a fall clean up, and pears need harvesting before birds peck at them all.  Autumn is greeted locally with a burst of activities — church bazaars, Renaissance Fairs, and, of course, football.  I can finally bear to turn on the stove and oven in the kitchen again.  It's time to plan a Southwestern Thanksgiving Dinner with chipotle cranberry sauce and pumpkin chiffon pie.

Four seasons with unique weather, food and activities make for an enjoyable Southwestern lifestyle. If you are interested in reading more about living in the Southwest, I have recently published a book — Seasons and Seasonings of the Southwest, available on amazon.com or Create Space for $12.00 ( and soon to be available on Kindle).  I have written short creative non-fiction pieces and included recipes for each season of the year.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome! Happy Holidays to all, Southwestern or otherwise!