I want to introduce to you the “Caribbean Lasagna”! Tiers of fried ripe sweet plantain strips, picadillo (cuban style ground beef) and mozzarella that is baked until golden brown. The mix of sweet and savory is absolutely perfect! A great alternative for boat trips, picnics, feeding large groups and easy make ahead meals. It goes…
Mascarpone Cream Sauce
My Mascarpone Cream Sauce is simply the best! I don’t like to thicken pasta cream sauce with flour or cornstarch, so I find the Mascarpone is a great alternative to reach the desired creaminess adding subtle flavor. Savory, easy and quick to make. I use it for raviolis, gnocchi or penne pasta with veggies. Also,…
Hispanic Heritage Month
Today starts Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15), in which the important contributions of the Hispanics in the United States are recognized. Celebrating this tradition started in 1968 and became a law in 1988. This period of the year was chosen because Mexico, Chile, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala, all celebrate their…
Eggs in a Nest
If you have been following this blog, you already know we are “boat people”. I grew up spending many weekends and vacations on my father’s boat. The freedom and liberty you feel while navigating the ocean is exhilarating as well as therapeutic. There is something about being in contact with nature, on the open water…
Arroz con Salchichas
My grandmother Ita always says an “arroz guisado” (stewed rice) is as good as the “sofrito” you make. In Puerto Rico, sofrito refers to a blend of oil, onions, garlic, aji dulce (sweet peppers), bay leaf, tomato sauce, “alcaparrado” (a blend of manzanilla olives and capers), cubanel and bell peppers, culantro (recao) and sometimes, ham,…
El Departamento de la Comida
A couple of weeks ago, my good friend Claudia told me she joined a delivery service for organic/local/ecological/artisanal foods. She sent me the website information and I decided to give it a try. To my surprise, one of the partners of the company is Olga “Bebe” Casellas, a friend from adolescence whom I haven’t seen…
Barrigas de Vieja (Pumpkin Fritters)
Barrigas de Vieja means “the belly of an old lady”, because they are flabby, soft and without a consistent shape. I know its a funny name, but these sweet pumpkin fritters are truly delicious. They are also called “tortitas de calabaza”. I grew up having these fritters sometimes as a snack or appetizer before dinner….
Three Bean Salad
Beans are a great source of protein, complex carbohydrates (the good carbs that give energy to brain and muscles) and dietary fiber. Also, beans have the “good fat” your body needs and a low glycemic index, meaning they have the ability to give you energy over a sustained period of time by slowly releasing its…
Omission in Double Chocolate Brownies recipe
Sorry to bother you, but it was called to my attention that I omitted the step when the sugar is to be added in the Double Chocolate Brownie recipe. I already made the correction for the benefit of the readers. Oops! I apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused you. FYI, I usually list…
Double Chocolate Brownies
There are so many different recipes for brownies out there that it is a bit overwhelming to look for one in the internet. Everyone claims to have the ultimate brownie recipe. Most people I know are very particular about their standards of what a great brownie should taste like. Some like crumbly, others fudgy, others…