It’s not that I don’t enjoy a salad with just oil and vinegar, but sometimes I want a little bit more! First, my friends, a confession: I was a devoted Russian Dressing girl for years. In fact, I remember making a dinner party for a bunch of my roommate’s parent’s… Read More →
As soon as the weather gets warmish, it’s time to think of outdoor dining. Well, my friends, was Thursday a gorgeous afternoon or what? These days are magnificent for so many reasons. (Have you seen the azaleas? Wow!) The bold and brilliant colors outdoors inspire so many of my creations… Read More →
Well, my friends, unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, haven’t read the newspaper, watched television, checked Facebook, or walked into a holiday-driven locale, you know that Mother’s Day here in the US is on Sunday. Actually, in many countries of Latin America, El Día de la Madre is celebrated… Read More →
Mis queridos amigos—What would a Cinco de Mayo Celebration be without margaritas? Margaritas are fun, always, because they’re festive and refreshing—not to mention versatile! Actually, with this gorgeous weather we’re having in the Lower Hudson Valley, it’s hard NOT to think about barbecues and festive drinks al fresco. Well, since Sunday… Read More →
Tomatillos Roasted with Red Onions Mis amigos, as you well know, sometimes, in order to grow, you have to move out of your comfort zone and take some risks. Well, my friends, this applies to the area of preparing and enjoying food, too. Now please don’t get frightened; I’m not… Read More →
Photo by Ellie Miller, for Calypso Coolers, ©2006, Arlen Gargagliano “Sal de la vida es la amistad.” The salt of life is friendship. Juan Luis Vives Though Juan Luis Vives, the 16th century, Valencian-born humanist, said this close to 500 years ago, it speaks loud and clearly to me, and I’m… Read More →
Mis queridos amigos, last Friday I wrote about my love affair with salads; this is a second part, and brings in another one of my favorite salads: tuna. Part nostalgia (wrote about egg salad here a few weeks ago!), part ease of preparation, all flavor and versatility, tuna salad—with a… Read More →
Finding a new variation to an old theme can be refreshing—and fun! This take on tuna is one I hope you’ll enjoy.Read more about it here! Print Latin Twist: Tuna Salad with Spark Serving Size: 4 My friends, you can always adjust the ingredients in this very versatile tuna salad… Read More →
It seems like our definition of salads—like that of so many other dishes—is evolving. Or maybe it’s just that our salads, like the times, are a changin’! I remember when I was about 19 (and actually when I lived in Spain!) creating ones with chunks of iceberg lettuce topped with… Read More →
Inspiration comes from so many different sources and, as I’ve mentioned before, is sometimes right in front of us! I’ve been on a taco theme, so tortillas are on my mind. I know what you may be thinking: the wrap thing is so 2010 (or older!) but, my friends, I… Read More →
Isn’t it funny how we go through certain food phases? Right now I’m touting the wonders of the taco. Versatile and easy, these tortilla pockets are simple and satisfying—for snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, whenever you’re in the mood! The thing about tacos—and I wrote about salmon tacos on Wednesday on… Read More →
“Verde que te quiero verde,” (Green, how I want you green) are the first lines of a poem by Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. (Here it is in English, followed by Spanish…where it really does shine). In celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day, spring—or both—green is the color of the season! This seasonal… Read More →
“Well, here in Santo Domingo it’s 85 and sunny!” That was one of the tropical-friend comments that I’ve received this week. Yes, mis amigos, it’s not 85 and sunny here in New York. Au contraire, I’m looking at a winterwonderland as I type. But hey, winter will end eventually. In… Read More →
There were many desserts I enjoyed when I lived in Peru—from my absolute favorite melt-in-your-mouth alfajores (shortbread sandwich cookies with a dulce de leche filling) to silky and flavorful cinnamon-spiced mazamorra (purple corn pudding). Another one I often crave, is crema volteada, also known as Peruvian flan. Here ’s the… Read More →
Yuca Fries with Peruvian Pepper Sauce from Acuario in Port Chester: the Inspiration for Today’s Recipe! Don’t get me wrong! I love pisco sours (posted here in July) and ceviche (posted here in October)! But, mis amigos, Peruvian cuisine has so much more…and we are so lucky to have access to the… Read More →
Let’s face it: snow, though it’s beautiful, gets old after a while. And I’m sure many of you are with me in the dreaming-of-sunny-warm-places mode. Well, mis amigos, if, like me, you can’t get to your dream destination at this moment, why not bring some of that tropical paradise to… Read More →
Don’t be fooled by its Spanish name; Sopa Paraguaya is not a soup! It is, however, a lovely and cheesy interpretation of cornbread. Cornbread, as many of you know, is made in different ways throughout the Americas. This one, the Paraguayan cornbread, was recently re-brought to my attention by… Read More →
Many of you have Super Bowl on your mind, and though this is not your typical football cocktail, maybe it can be. Or, it could be the perfect brunch drink served on Super Bowl Sunday, or, well, any Sunday! We made Bellinis last week in a cooking class, and once… Read More →
Con este tremendo frío—with this amazing cold—I can only think of warming dishes. This, my friends, is one that will warm you inside and out! It’s a stew chock full of delicious layers…including chick peas, Lima beans, hominy, roasted acorn squash, and more. (Yes, there’s meat in this version, but… Read More →
This summer I had the chance to visit Block Island (ah…so lovely, and here’s a picture of a Bloody Mary—and a fabulous one at that—from the ferry ride over) and it was there that my inspiration for talking about brunch, and all that it can be, was first kindled. THEN, as… Read More →
If you like tomato juice, you’re a bloody Mary fan—and you enjoy tequila from time to time—this drink is for you! I was introduced to this drink several years ago in Mexico (south of the city) at a lovely lunch in at the market in Coyoacán, home of the amazing… Read More →
Maybe it’s because wow, it is cooooooold (muy, muy frío!!!) out there, I’m still yearning for warm drinks! Actually I did write about one warm cocktail on December 7th (Peruvian Winter Wine) and, quite frankly, have been playing with my drinks since. And, well, does anyone else love Kahlúa the way… Read More →
Mis queridos amigos, first I have to tell you: despite the champagne title, these days I don’t make this cocktail with it (lately I prefer to use Prosecco!). But, well, since we do associate that amazing sparkling wine with festivities–those New Year’s Eve related and beyond–so I’m keeping the name!... Read More →
With so many sweets around—and not that I don’t enjoy sweets (love ‘em!)—lately I’ve been craving more green, more fish, more fruit (maybe it’s this boot camp that has had me working out every morning?!). Anyway, because of my personal craving, I’ve decided to share this tapa with my family… Read More →
There’s a thrill to rediscovering a recipe you made and enjoyed a long time ago. This is the case for me with panuchos. I first “discovered” them in Mexico in 2004. Well, eight years later, I realize how much I’ve missed them…and want to share them with you! Now you… Read More →
Winters in Lima, Peru are, well, quite different from what we get up here in New York (or what we usually used to get!). But still this Peruvian-born wine drink is as perfect on a chilly and damp winter’s day in Lima, as it is here! Fragrant and warming, this… Read More →
And so, mis queridos amigos, it begins. Once the tree in Rockefeller Center has been lit, the pre-holiday and then holiday vortex descends. Though the fiestas may be a lot of fun, so many of us—and for good reasons—get totally stressed. Because of this, I’d like to share some entertaining… Read More →
What to do with leftover turkey? How about making some arepitas! Being in the kitchen the day after Thanksgiving is not something that lures many people (beyond cooking nerds like myself!). Still, well, we’ve got a lot of food—thankfully—and would like to consume it, or have it consumed! As I’ve mentioned… Read More →
OK, I admit it: I cheated! When I made this last Sunday, I used Trader Joe’s Cornbread mix (and added sour cream and apple cider in addition to the suggested milk, oil, and egg, and along with the chorizo, apples, cumin, and chives—but NO sugar!). The result was quite good!... Read More →
Mis queridos amigos, my salad kick continues! When I had the great pleasure of visiting Barcelona a couple of weeks ago (now seems long ago!) I had dinner at my former roommate’s home. She prepared an amazing, amazing meal… Part of it included the Pan con Tomate and Tortilla Española… Read More →
