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Tucson, Arizona

Known for saguaro cacti, college hoops, and Sonoran-style Mexican food, Tucson nestles back into the foothills of three mountain ranges. The name Tucson comes from a Pima Indian word that means “spring at the base of the mountain.” Tucson stakes a claim to having invented the chimichanga, the deep-fried burrito that is a star of Sonoran-style cooking. Some of the best Mexican food in the world can be had in Tucson. In a nutshell, Sonoran-style cuisine tends to favor wheat tortillas (rather than corn), beef, and milder chiles. Cacti are an important food item, going back to the native Pima and Papago tribes, who made jams and syrups from the sweet fruit of saguaros and ate the spiky paddles of the prickly pear (nopales, in Spanish). There’s still a bit of Old West in Tucson, a holdover from its past as a cattle ranching town. Thick steaks cooked over mesquite remain a local specialty, and beef is a star player in carne seca and as filling for chimichangas, burritos and tacos.

Featured Cook Michelle Cooking Level: Intermediate Home Town: Tucson, Arizona, USA Living In: Hillsboro, Oregon, USA

About me: I am 29 years old and have been married for 10 years. I have two children and I am also a certified foster parent raising my neice. Most of my cooking skills came from my mom, but since she was a single mom w/6 kids, most of what I can make are low cost, which isn't bad, but I am looking to expand my knowledge, and my family's menu! My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews | Photos Recipes | Blog Create your own Cook's Profile | MORE Cooks »