Today marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which will last until October 15. On September 15, Mexico celebrates their independence from Spain, with most Central American countries celebrating on September 16, and Chile celebrating on September 18. It is a time for the United States to acknowledge and commemorate the contributions and achievements of Hispanic Americans. The influence of Central America is everywhere in the United States, from food to culture to language.
Interested in cooking? Try these Mexican cookbooks:
Chicano Eats: Recipes from My Mexican-American Kitchen by Esteban Castillo
Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in México by Ricky Martínez
Plant Powered Mexican: Fast, Fresh Recipes from a Mexican-American Kitchen by Kate Ramos
Planning your next vacation? Explore Central America and beyond:
Lonely Planet’s Best of Central America
Footprint: Belize, Guatemala & Southern Mexico
Love history? There’s plenty to learn:
Our America: A Hispanic History of the United States by Felipe Fernández-Armesto
El Norte: The Epic and Forgotten Story of Hispanic North America by Carrie Gibson
And of course, there are plenty of authors with rich bibliographies to further expand our appreciation:
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
-Linnea
Read it or Weep 