It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform everyone that Mary Jane has passed away in recent months. She leaves this legacy of creative work at MJ’s Kitchen for everyone to enjoy. Mary Jane gave so much to this website, filling these pages with joy, passion and her cooking experience. She began this cooking journal over 12 years ago and continued sharing recipes and experiences all while dealing with a long term illness. MJ’s Kitchen will be archived and live here in memory of Mary Jane.
I wish to thank everyone who came here and interacted with Mary Jane. She loved talking about food and cooking and sharing different ideas on how to make creating in the kitchen easier. So many people helped to edit, advise and share guest articles. A great big thank you to each and everyone who made a contribution. When Mary Jane first started I helped her with the design and photography but this was always her creation and every part came from her heart. After the first year MJ became interested in creating the photography and it did not take long before she was taking all the photographs for the site.
Many of my most cherished moments that I have with MJ are when we would cook together in the kitchen. She taught me so many things and those experiences began at an early age with her time in the kitchen with her mother. Her mother grew up in rural Louisiana on a small farm and much of that experience was passed down to Mary Jane. She shined so brightly in life and shared much of that joy within these pages.
All of my love my dearest, may your memory live on within this wonderful resource – Bobby
Thank you for keeping MJ’s spirit alive. I now live in Maine after 25 years in northern New Mexico, and chile was the one thing I desperately missed. Between these recipes and the Hatch Chile Store I am rediscovering those flavors most Easterners don’t understand. I’m also finding others who also appreciate real NM flavors and am sharing MJ’s recipes with them!
I’m so sorry to learn of MJ’s passing. I was coming to the site today to thank her for her wonderful recipes. I’m currently making her Pollo Chile Verde and my house smells wonderful. I hope she knows how much her blog meant to me and her other readers, and that she will live on in our hearts and kitchens.
Bobby thanks so much for letting us know. What a beautiful write-up. I’m so saddened by the news. I think I’ve followed MJ since the beginning. I felt like she was a friend, even though we had never met in person.
I grew up as a gringo in SE New Mexico and I was never taught how to properly cook the foods of my home. I had no abuela to teach me how to make a red chile sauce from dried pods, or that the base of a green chile sauce is a simple roux, or how to pull off a perfect calabacitas. It was from MJ that I now hold the flavors from my home. Although we never met, MJ was my abuela and I hope her recipes and life continue to inspire others.
– Robert Heyn
Bob, I am very saddened to learn of MJ’s passing. I will be in ABQ in the next couple of months and was looking forward to seeing her and recollecting our years of teaching at TV-I. Now I must wait to see her in the next life. May the pain of your loss be lessened in 2024.
Her memory is truly a blessing! What a gift she gave us all in this cooking journal! Sending her family and dear ones lots of care. Thank you for archiving this. I hope MJ knew how many lives she touched. I’m making adovada today and will raise a glass in her honor!
I’m so very sorry to hear this news. My mom and I have enjoyed so many of MJ’s recipes and the exchanges we had over the years. Her memory will indeed be a blessing to me and I will refer to these archives often. Thank you for letting us know .
It’s Christmas Eve 2023 and I decided to look at MJ’s Posole recipe when I read about her passing. Like others, I wondered what was going on since there had not been new posting for some time. My heart sank when I read that MJ had passed and I quickly stopped and said a long prayer for her because it was her lung ailment that caused us to meet. Being a Respiratory Therapist and seeing that she was on supplemental oxygen, we struck up a conversation. She looked pretty healthy and was taking a Spanish class that I was in also. She seemed like such a kind person and I felt for her to be struggling with an illness. She told me about her cooking website and I have gone to it many times. I’ve been sad today eventhough it’s Christmas Eve to learn She has passed but also know that terminal illness is so hard that I’m glad she is no longer suffering. My goal is to print all her recipes and bind them. I only wish I could have known her longer.
I am so sorry for your loss. New Mexico was my first home away from home. I loved living there and still work there occasionally. When I discovered MJ’s Kitchen, I felt I had made a friend. I am forever grateful for the short cut tamales . We will make them on Christmas Eve with a toast to MJ .
Patty, her short cut tamales were a keystone of her creativity. Keep it simple but don’t sacrifice flavor. Thanks. – Bobby
I’m so sorry to hear of MJs passing. God bless her and all her loved ones. I used the search bar for her short cut tamales, but am unsuccessful. Can you please direct me in locating this recipe I hear so much about?
I am so sorry for your loss Bobby. I came across her wonderful site about a year ago following a link to a recipe and was so impressed with the detail and quality of it that I began to look through her collection and stories. I was delighted to discover that she had a number of New Mexican recipes and that she and I arrived in Albuquerque about the same time. I moved there in 1976 from Dallas. I left in 1980 but my love of NM food, especially green chile. She was an exquisite recipe writer (not a common thing on the interwebs) and a marvelous story teller. I could tell from her stories that you were much loved and the two of you were quite the team. I am so very thankful you are keeping her wonderful site. It truly is a blessing to us all.
Thank you for your thoughts Martha. You are very kind. – Bobby
My deepest condolences – I am so sorry for your loss. I have enjoyed MJ’s website since almost the beginning – as my mom stumbled upon it back in the day. She loved these recipes. Thank you.
Thank you Stephanie. – Bobby
I am so sorry to hear this news. I found MJ’s wonderful website a couple of years ago and have tried and enjoyed a number of her recipes. I actually stopped here today for inspiration and ideas for the holidays. 🙂
Thank you for maintaining her archive and my deepest condolences to you, and all her family and friends.
Thank you Becky, the best to you and yours for the holidays. – Bobby
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I just subscribed to this site and receiving updates. I am loving the recipes and looking forward to trying them. No words for your loss. I do know MJs legacy will live on with these wonderful flavors.
I am so sorry Bobby. I have always hoped to catch up with MJ in New Mexico as Colorado is not far away-but alas it never happened. She has left us a wonderful legacy and one I will turn to over and over. Thanks you so much for sharing with us, as I know she was so well liked among the blogging community. Her memory will always be a blessing-and when ever I make her wonderful recipes. Hugs to you.
Thank you Abbe, the stories as well as the recipes are her cooking legacy. It is a privilege to to help keep it a part of the community. – Bobby
This is a beautiful tribute to Mary Jane. It’s clear that she was a passionate and talented cook who loved sharing her knowledge and experiences with others. Her legacy will live on in the pages of MJ’s Kitchen, which will continue to be a source of inspiration and joy for generations to come.
Thank you for sharing this with us, Bobby. My heart goes out to you in your time of loss.
Thanks Raymund. – Bobby
Bobby, I’m so sorry to hear this. You have my deepest condolences. MJ was one of my earliest, and best, blogging friends. Virtual friend, that is — we never met, although we’d comment on each other’s posts, and would sometimes email as well. I’ll miss her.
Yes John, miss her greatly. Thanks – Bobby
My sympathies, Bobby. There’s no place or food quite as unique as northern NM. So I was elated to discover MJ site, her understanding of red and green, her fine sense of taste and appreciation of simple homemade meals. She will be sorely missed. I’m so sorry for your loss. Ty for keeping this site archived.
Thank you Debbie. – Bobby
My deepest sympathies. I grew up in, and spent much of my life in Gulf COast Mississippi, until a chance visit to New Mexico. I’ve lived here over a decade now and finding MJ’s Kitchen really spoke to me. I’ll make one of her recipes soon and remember her. She was a singular writer and cook.
Thank you Lisa.
So sorry to hear about this. My condolence to the family! REST In Peace, MJ.
Thank you.
So sad to hear this. I didn’t know MJ but I often would visit this site for her down to earth, delicious Southwestern recipes and ideas.
I am so grateful she took the time to educate me in all things chile/chili!
I’ll raise a glass to her tonight while I eat my enchiladas with green chile cheese sauce.
Thank you for the kind comment Mo.
So sorry to hear this, I wondered why there haven’t been any new post on Facebook. I didn’t know M J but stumbled upon her recipes and have made many of them. My deepest condolences 🙏