Culinary Class is in Session
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…
Let me introduce you to my go-to protein: chuletas fritas (CHOO-leh-tahs free-tahs). I marinate center cut, bone-in pork chops in a flavorful spice blend popular in Puerto Rican cuisine. After a nice rest in the marinade, I pan-fry the chops in a small amount of oil or lard until juicy and crisp. If you are…
People’s affinity for flan is probably because of how easy it is to prepare. A custard of eggs, canned milk and sometimes sugar are thrown into a blender together, then baked in a water bath over an amber crust of caramelized sugar. The thrill of the dessert comes in the serving of it. A flourishing…
Arroz con gandules is a very popular Puerto Rican rice dish. Rendered pork fat and spices flavor the rice before the pigeon peas are added and the whole lot is steamed until fluffy and soft. You’ve probably seen, if not tasted, Arroz con Gandules if you’ve ever had the honor of being invited to a Puerto…
I may not be a southern girl, but you wouldn’t know it by my desserts. 7up Pound Cake is a clear southern dessert table favorite with its easy prep and low-maintenance decoration. This pound cake can sit on picnic tables with no problem, but it also graces even the poshest buffet lines. Though it’s a…
Hey, friend! Grilling season seems to be drawing to a close- at least for me- so I want to hit you with my best burger recipe. Mofongo is a dish that’s super popular in Puerto Rico. Burgers are a classic staple recipe in the US of A. So, what does my half-Black, half-Puerto Rican soul…
Peach season is dwindling down to its last few days, so I wanted to be sure to drop an old-fashioned Peach Cobbler on you. My version is topped with a quickly-laminated dough covering a brown sugar-bourbon filling. When it bubbles, it’s done. There’s nothing easier, or sweeter, than that. Seriously, the most difficult part about…
Welp! Another year is on my books. Today’s my birthday, Friend. Clearly, a celebratory drink is certainly in order. If it’s my drink, it needs to be fabulous, potent, and easy to make. A Jungle Bird cocktail fits the bill to a T. What is a Jungle Bird Cocktail? Similar to a Mai Tai, the…
Y’all can have Roscoe’s or Hattie B’s chicken and waffles. Me and mine know the real deal is served in my kitchen. I took a little bit of everything from the chicken and waffles houses I’ve come to know and love and combined them in one amazing recipe. Now I share it with you, because…
Let me tell you about the time my husband almost stabbed a guest in our home over the skin you see in the photo above. It was traumatic. It was scary. Totally justifiable, but still scary. That right there sitting atop that mound of deliciousness is chicharrón. Pork rind. Crackling. Heaven. It is one of…
