The Amazing Aztec Nation:
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3 FASCINATING FACTS
CINCO COMIC DERBY EMERALD GEMINI GRADUATION LILY MEMORIAL MOTHER
The Aztecs were an expansive and vibrant nation when the Spanish arrived in the New World around 1519. They had a rich culture, innovative agriculture, and one of the world’s most impressive cities. Many fascinating facts about them are not taught in school, so prepare to be amazed.
They worshiped chocolate. Chocolate was hugely important to the Aztecs — the delicious substance was part of many religious and cultural ceremonies. It was also used as currency to buy everything from food to clothes. As a result, only royals consumed chocolate because they were literally eating money.
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The most popular method for drinking chocolate was a cold and frothy concoction of ground chocolate, seeds, and
Citrus BBQ Chicken
spices sweetened with honey. Royalty emphasized frothiness and used various techniques to maximize it. For example, they poured cold cocoa while standing up into a cup on the ground. They built floating gardens. Aztec agriculture relied on floating gardens. They would create tiny islands called “chinampas” near modern-day Mexico City. Chinampas were built by braiding reeds with stakes underwater. These aquatic fences accumulated mud and vegetation until they became visible on the surface. The Aztecs built canals around them for transportation. Why did they go through the trouble? Chinampas offer several benefits. First, they’re fertile and can grow anything from beans to flowers. They also allow people to take advantage of the river and maximize their limited space. Furthermore, they promote bio-diversity, which is helpful for everyone. For these reasons and more, chinampas are still used around Mexico City and the country’s southern areas. Their capital city was an ancient marvel. When the Spanish arrived, Tenochtitlan was among the world’s largest cities. It had a population of over 200,000. Only Paris and Constantinople were bigger. This ancient capital of the Aztecs was also built in the center of a lake. Boats surrounded the city and were used for trade, transportation, and agriculture. The Spanish drained the lake to expand the city’s borders, but the lake’s wet soil remains, and Mexico City sinks a little each year. Unfortunately, the Aztec Empire fell after disease ravaged their population and the conquistadors betrayed and murdered their leadership. That’s not to say the Aztecs vanished. While their reign ended centuries ago, their legacy lives on in Mexico.
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
Ingredients
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 2 tsp ground cumin • 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika • Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 skin-on chicken leg and thigh pieces
• 1 1/3 cups ketchup • 2 tbsp brown sugar
• Juice and zest of 1 orange • Juice and zest of 1 lemon • 3 cloves garlic, minced
Directions 1. Place chicken in a large resealable plastic bag. Combine all other ingredients in a small bowl. 2. Reserve 1 cup of the sauce and add the rest to the plastic bag. Toss to evenly coat the chicken and marinate overnight. 3. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add remaining sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer to thicken sauce, about 10 minutes. Set aside. 4. On grill set for medium-high heat, arrange chicken skin side down. Cook until grill marks form, about 4 minutes. Flip chicken, cover grill, and cook until a thermometer inserted into thighs reads 165 F, about 20–25 minutes. 5. Serve with remaining sauce.
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