Culinary Class is in Session
Is there ever a time when stealing is okay? Asking for a friend. Okay, okay, I’m that friend. Honestly, I’m currently staring out of my office window at my neighbor’s tree. It’s loaded down with ripe persimmons, and this Persimmon-Walnut Muffin recipe is begging to be made with them. But then I think of how embarrassing it…
Pasteles are a Puerto Rican institution. Without fail, every Christmas, Puerto Rican kitchens the world over are packed with Abuelas and their acolytes, all with one mission: prepare, assemble, and package enough pasteles to divvy up amongst the family. Bundles of meat-filled, ground green banana patties are packed away into plastic bags. The family members disperse to their…
Planning to make a bunch of Hispanic or Caribbean recipes? Well, Friend, Achiote Oil is your weekend project. Many dishes in the Hispanic culture include achiote in some shape or form. Its oil is easy to make and even easier to use. The only warning I offer: don’t get it on anything you care about! What is Achiote Oil? Achiote…
This Vegan Pastelón – a meatless version of the Puerto Rican “lasagna”- is sure to please everyone, even the staunchest carnivore. Made with fried slices of sweet plantain and a plant-based picadillo, this baked casserole is a spin on the comfort food many Puerto Ricans know and love. With quality ingredients and a step-by step guide,…
Thank you, Decoy, for sponsoring this post. I’m just going to say what everyone else is thinking: I am really okay with living in sweats and yoga pants for the rest of my days. Life has thrown us all for a loop this year and, though we never thought it possible, we’ve figured out ways to…
When I get bored, one of two things are bound to happen: either I chop off my hair, or I create a riff on a classic recipe. Since I shaved my hair off at the beginning of the year, I decided a new spin on arroz con gandules was more appropriate. So, my friend, I…
Thank you Karo® Syrup for sponsoring this post. Celebrate sweet moments together with Karo®! My Pumpkin Caramel Sticky Buns deliver on their promise of sticky, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. These rolls have that familiar flavor (and aroma), which- let’s be honest- is the way to most of our hearts. With the…
I was going to name these cookies “Pillowy Clouds of Fall Goodness,” but that didn’t have the same umph. You have to possess a serious amount of confidence to say something is the softest ever. Between the light-as-air texture of these cookies and the bold, spiced flavors inside (and out) of them, I’m over here…
Puerto Rican and African dishes are full of flavor and variety. The plethora of fruits and vegetables available in their subtropical regions makes for a wild time in the kitchen. Pastelón bridges the gap- if there ever was one- between my two cultures in a delicious way. In the traditional dish, slices of very ripe, fried…
Tis’ the season for Pumpkin Spiced everything, y’all! I held out as long as I could before sharing a pumpkin recipe, but time waits for no woman. These Spiced Pumpkin Muffins are moist, spicy with the flavors of fall, and use a whole can of pumpkin puree! That’s right, no more trying to figure out…
Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend made with a combination of bright, earthy spices is much better than anything you can pick up in the stores. Since I have never been a fan of paying for things I know I can make myself, I started making my own Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend at home. This year, I hadn’t gotten…
