If your heritage is Mexican, you already know about nopales – the pads of opuntia ficus-indica, the prickly pear cactus. This species also produces the spiny, fruit-like reddish-purplish-green “pears” ...

If you are not familiar with cactus, you might be surprised by a few things: They can have as pretty a flower as a perennial plant. They often fare better when neglected rather than over watered. And ...

Nopales, also known as cactus pads or paddles, have long been a part of my California culinary life. I've had periodic bursts of enthusiasm over their slightly lemony flavor and firm-to-the-bite flesh ...