Make the holidays extra festive with one of my favorite twists on the classic: a peppermint espresso martini! The perfect boozy pick-me-up to serve after a long family dinner, your guests will love this sweet and minty holiday cocktail. Jump to:RECIPEIngredientsMethod Peppermint Espresso Martini Ingredients Espresso martini… but make it festive! If you’re still looking …
This version of pozole rojo is from mi amiga who lives in the Bajío region of Mexico (west-central Mexico). It is a luscious slow-cooked stew made with pork, hominy, Mexican spices, and a blend of mild to moderate chile peppers in the rojo sauce. It is simple to make without a lot of hands-on time, …
Move over, fake-tasting and sugary supermarket vanilla vodka! Find out how to make delicious vanilla vodka yourself at home using just two ingredients: vodka and real vanilla beans. Jump to: RECIPE | Ingredients | Method | Ideas for Drinks I love playing around with making my own liqueurs! Whether it’s something summery like blueberry-infused liqueur …
This simple potato side dish is a mainstay on the Swedish smorgasbord at Christmastime, where it is referred to as Jansson’s Temptation or Janssons frestelse. It is a rich and creamy comfort food made with potatoes, onions, cream and the secret ingredient of anchovies. Perfect for the holiday table, no matter which country you celebrate …
Hoppin John is a cajun stew (slow carb compliant) popular on New Years Day for bringing luck in the new year!
Looking for a hot drink to serve for the holiday season? This year, let’s skip the mulled wine and go for a warming classic from Mexico instead. Mexican ponche navideño is a traditional fruit punch bursting with comforting flavors and a spiced aroma that will make your home smell heavenly. Serve it like a tea …
These shortbread thumbprint cookies are filled with a bright, citrusy lemon filling and then dusted with powdered sugar. Perfect for spring baking or for an Easter treat. The lemon filling can be store-bought lemon curd, lemon marmalade or even an orange jelly. The shortbread cookie part is easier than making a pie crust, so they come …
Calabaza en Tacha (aka candied pumpkin) is one of the traditional treats served on Mexico’s Day of the Dead Celebration, “Dia de Muertos”. The flavor is similar to what is served in the US as candied yams or sweet potatoes, but the key ingredients to this Mexican recipe include piloncillo syrup, cinnamon sticks, orange peel …
Strata is basically an egg casserole with varied fillings and a creamy custard base. It is often likened to a bread pudding. This breakfast strata is filled with swiss chard and sausage and topped with a smoky cheese. It is perfect for serving a crowd at brunch or as a stress-free make-ahead dish for holiday …
Those of us who like to host during the holidays will know the struggle between wanting to serve something fancy and keeping things stress free. Here are 3 DIY seafood platters that range from an easy, inexpensive tinned seafood plate to a cold platter with shellfish to a luxury platter or tower for the seasoned …
Tamales are special. While not the easiest thing to make, I can share a few methods to make it easier by revising the step where you rehydrate, deseed and roast the dried peppers, replacing this process with a homemade powdered spice blend. These Mexican pork tamales have excellent flavor and texture, while offering an easier …
The Brits do love their steamed puddings, from the Christmas “figgy pudding” to all kinds of sweet and savory renditions. After making this persimmon steamed pudding, I echo their pudding love. It was delicious, and doesn’t require specialized equipment. Most of the “time” is down time while it is steaming away. Jump to: RECIPE | …
Oyster stew is a classic Christmas Eve recipe, but it also serves as creamy comfort food that will get you through any cold evening. Fresh oysters are ideal for this soup, but canned oysters can work almost as well if fresh are not available. This soup/stew recipe is made with a base of bacon and …
Camarão na Moranga (Shrimp in Pumpkin) is a creamy seafood stew from Brazil beautifully served in a colorful pumpkin. Traditionally it would be served in a pinkish heirloom variety of pumpkin called Moranga (see photo below). If you can’t find this variety however, an orange baking pumpkin will work just fine. The flavor and the presentation …
Brussel sprouts are often hailed as one of the most-hated foods. However, Caesar salad is one of the most popular. This unique combination of brussel sprouts and Caesar salad brings out the best in both dishes for a spectacular side dish to any meal. Jump to: RECIPE | Health Benefits of Brussels | Substitutions | …