My food = magic thing has been going on for some time. This, mis queridos amigos, is inspired by my recent re-viewing of one of my favorite movies, Como el Agua Para Chocolate, Like Water for Chocolate, and the passing of one of my favorite authors, Gabriel García Marquez. Movies,... Read More →
It’s not just because these beans are named after Lima, Peru that I like them. No, my friends, the buttery flavor of lima beans caught my attention before I knew that. And so, mis queridos amigos, I’m inaugurating a springtime series on salsas! Versatile, bright, and always tasty, salsas—as you know… Read More →
What is a caipirinha? Aside from being Brazil’s national cocktail, it’s a sultry burst of springtime flavors, blended with samba and all I adore about the biggest country in South America. I’m in love with Brazil, and dreaming about my next visit. Another sip of caipirinha… So, why do Iove caipirinhas… Read More →
If you’re a fan of sweet and salty, well, my friends, this one is for you! Recently I rediscovered this one…originally published in Calypso Coolers and “brought it back” for a Caribbean-themed cooking class. I had forgotten how lovely the sweetness of the roasted ripe plantains blends with the salty… Read More →
Yes, my friends, spring is here! As I write this, I’m listening to Celia Cruz (ah…magical!) and looking out at the sun shining, shining, shining. We all need this. And speaking of needing, this cocktail, Caribbean in a glass, is a welcome burst of spring. I originally wrote about my… Read More →
Lately many people have been asking me about my source of inspiration for my Latin-influenced recipes. Well, my friends, many of you know, there are so many: I pull from my collection based on my travels, life abroad, and my friends, and my students—who hail from all over the globe…. Read More →
Every once in a while I rediscover the merits of a particular ingredient. This, my friend, is the case with peppers and me. Right now I’m focusing on one of my personal favorites: the bell pepper. Even a short period of time on a grill or in the oven transforms… Read More →
Amigos, We’re back in the cold, cold weather…and comfort food calls. One of those warming dishes is rice and beans. Still, my friends, it’s important to note that when people talk about rice and beans, they might not realize that, as you know I love to say, the sky’s the… Read More →
Maybe it’s this crazy weather, or maybe it’s the fact that life has just starting going so quickly that it’s hard to keep up. But, whatever the reason, it seems that comfort foods are what many of us crave most these days. Recently I’ve been thinking more and more about… Read More →
Mis amigos, I’m sure you’ll agree that sometimes simple is best. An evening at home, with a great book (nice glass of wine…) or a walk on a beach (ah…remember the beach?) can be beyond dreamy. Well, friends, the same can apply to the food arena, and even to those… Read More →
When I was growing up, chef’s salads were all the rage. I remember trying to transport this idea to Spain; we, one of my roommates and I, were hosting a luncheon in her mom’s home in Tarragona. I don’t remember what else was on the menu, but I do vividly… Read More →
Variations on classics are born from many different types of inspiration; these Stuffed Brazilian Cheese Puffs are no exception! First, let’s start with the classic pão de queijo, or “cheese bread.” These sweet yuca-flour and parmesan cheese “balls” are ubiquitous treats throughout Brazil, and here in New York, as many of… Read More →
Yes, my friends, many of us have two things on our mind: getting rid of this frigid weather and the Super Bowl. Okay, of course I may be oversimplifying, but I bet I’ve touched a familiar chord with many. And speaking of familiar chords, let’s talk about things we might… Read More →
It was probably the first day that I arrived in Peru—before I even knew that I’d end up living there for a year—when I fell in love with two things: pisco sours and sweet potato chips. Well, actually, I fell in love with the whole country. I left New York about… Read More →
I didn’t grow up with black beans. What I remember most, actually, are the Boston baked beans my mother made. Lima beans were also visitors to our table, though I wasn’t a huge fan. Well my friends, in my old age (!), I’ve become quite fond of many varieties of… Read More →
Way before sparky chocolate was popular here in the States, it was alive and well in Mexico…and when I was a little girl, my mom made Mexican chocolate cookies. Like me, my mom always had an affinity for Latin culture, and spent some time in Mexico (actually both my parents… Read More →
Magical times of year call for out-of-the-ordinary festivities. For this reason, I bring to you a not-so-usual drink: the Machu Picchu Cocktail. As, my friends, you may know, Machu Picchu was built around 1450, not too far from the Inca capital of Cuzco in Peru. If you’ve had the pleasure… Read More →
One of the most wonderful parts of language is that it’s alive and ever evolving. My friends, recipes can be like that, too! Inspiration for change comes from so many places; in my case, it comes from my family, my guests, and my students. This is the case with my… Read More →
If you ask a Puerto Rican friend about coquito, you’ll probably hear something like, “Oh—my mom makes the best coquito!” (By the way, this is not unlike the response I get when I mention lasagne to Italian-American friends!) But back to coquito—pronounced Koh-KEE-toh—it’s a typical Christmas drink, often compared to… Read More →
After sharing these Brazilian treats with many, and receiving a “Wow! I didn’t realize you could buy this in Westchester” I want to tell you, my friends, that there is a little Brazil right near us…and it’s got so much to offer, including Brazilian candy! But first, let’s talk food… Read More →
Happy Day-After-Thanksgiving to you, mis amigos! I just ran to the bank and the teller expressed my exact sentiment when he commented, “Ah, I’m feeling so bloated!” Well, part of the joy of the holiday is also the pain of gluttony—if we’re lucky! We’ve survived not only a sometimes- difficult… Read More →
Family friendly cocktails? Yes! After all, we want everyone to join into the holiday festivities—even those who don’t imbibe! Of course there are many was to adapt and create holiday cocktails so that there are both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions. I was asked to do a pre-Thanksgiving Telemundo segment for… Read More →
This, my friends, is an interesting time of year…and we’ve all got a lot going on! Now, many of you have said to me that you’re looking for something different—a little taste of variety. And so, mis queridos amigos, I bring you a salsa-meets-salad option: the Garbanzo, Roasted Pepper, and… Read More →
Photo by Ellie Miller A few years ago, I heard an interview on NPR with Nigella Lawson that changed my life. What she said is that thanks to her cooking class participants she had improved many of her recipes. This idea gave me one of those head-slapping moments. After all,... Read More →
My dear friends, I’m not just thinking about sunny flavors because it’s a rainy Friday. I’m thinking about orange margaritas to commemorate a holiday in Mexico and many other parts of the Americas that started many, many moons ago: El Día de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead. Now… Read More →
It’s a sparkly cool Friday. The sun is bright, the sky is azure, and the orange, red and yellow leaves are dancing. The colors, and coolness, are inspiring. So, this week, I’m thinking about cozy brunches, and my coconut pancakes! Actually, my friends, I have a confession: I was going… Read More →
Pumpkin + orange + ginger? Yes, my friends! These ingredients do come together to make a fun, fresh, colorful and seasonal cocktail! Let me start by saying I was not, previously, a huge fan of flavored vodkas. However , this may be the dawning of a new era! I received… Read More →
Mis queridos amigos, perhaps you’re already a big fan of totopos: those usually triangular-shaped corn-tortilla chips that offer the perfect crunchy balance to your salsas and more. Maybe you don’t know that you have choices in the field of the tortilla chips. Or perhaps you’ve been settling for one that doesn’t… Read More →
The feel of sun on my face, the sound of waves against the shore and palm leaves clapping in unison, the salt-filled air gently hugging….this is what passion fruit brings to me. There’s something about maracuya (passion fruit) that inspires the tropics which, despite my love of fall, seem to… Read More →
Yes, I love fall…but when it’s crispy blue-sky sunny outside, albeit coolish, I go through a kind of split personality thing: part of me is so excited for boot and hot soup whether, while the other part yearns to hold on to the sandals and outdoor barbecues. My solution this… Read More →
