I’m going to give it to you straight: the only reason I care about the big game is that it means food. Baseball is my favorite sport, followed very closely by soccer. Football is a sport I don’t think I’ll ever understand, nor do I ever care to. Food, though? Food is something I care a great…
Main Dishes
Black Eyed Peas: A Savory Southern Favorite
I’m participating in the 2021 Black History Virtual Potluck. A collaborative menu of recipes contributed by 40+black bloggers from around the globe in honor of Black History Month. See a sampling of some of the amazing participant recipes down below.I grew up eating Black Eyed Peas and white rice every year on New Year’s Day….
Pavochon with Mofongo Stuffing
I have to sneak in a new turkey recipe on you for this year. Since today is the day you need to pull out the largest turkeys, you have plenty of time to review my recipe for Pavochon with Mofongo Stuffing. This pavochon is going to be the star of the Thanksgiving dinner table. A stuffing of…
Guava BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Wings
You might be thinking of Turkey Day, but I’m most certainly thinking of how many times I can make these Guava BBQ Air Fryer Wings before Thanksgiving. Like most people, I prep for the holiday meal days in advance. By the time dinner rolls around, I’m not thinking of an extravagant meal. That’s where these air-fried…
Curry Sriracha Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Nothing is more gratifying than a stack of wings being doused in hot sauce. Nothing, that is, unless they’re Curry Sriracha Air Fryer Chicken Wings smothered in even more curry sriracha sauce. Let’s pause for a second and enjoy this image. I’ve pumped these wings so full of island flavor. Using a Jamaican curry spice rub and…
Pasteles Puertorriqueños (Puerto Rican Pasteles)
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…
Vegan Pastelón (Puerto Rican Plantain “Lasagna”)
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,…
Date Night Meal: Three Courses in 30 Minutes (or Less)
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…
Healthier Pastelón (Puerto Rican Plantain “Lasagna”)
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…
Chuletas Fritas (Puerto Rican Pan-Fried Pork Chops)
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…
