I think this may be too difficult on email. I didn't mean at all that
Afghanistan influenced Inida and that's the interpretation (among other
'off' interprtations) of my meaning. I see how somoen arrives at that,
though I thought I was being clear. Email is just too condensed and
it's too hard to say, "No, I didn't mean thatm but this."

I think this is maybe too hard, but it's also my fault for not
isolating specific sentences of hers. I will say howver that rereading
the first pragraph where she mentions Paz' statement about Hindus then
uses that as a jumping point for the entire Arab world is a little
difficult for me personally to accept as proof that Mexican cooking
evolved from the Arab.

If we want to say that the spice routes influenced all cooking
threafter we are not incorrect. But then, there would be no polenta
wihtout the gift of corn and polenta is different from the tortila.

As Paz, not Laudan, states, all warm countries developed spicy foods
for the sweating induced, etc. Is it possible that this is just a
natural happening in a hot counrty and not the Arab influence?

Well, one thing is certain - the Vikings are not responsible for
Mexican cooking in any way shape or form.