This Vegan Lentil Stew will not disappoint you. Take all of the best elements from your favorite curry or stew and pile them into a pot. Add hearty, little lentils, simmer them all together, and you have a stew that even you won’t believe is vegan- it doesn’t matter if you’re the one who cooked…
Side Dishes
Black Eyed Peas: A Savory Southern Favorite
I grew up eating Black Eyed Peas and white rice every year on New Year’s Day. Mind you, they weren’t good black-eyed peas (BEP), but that didn’t stop us from having to eat them. In the Black culture (and probably in the collective South) BEP are eaten to usher in wealth and prosperity in the…
Slow Cooker Cinnamon Applesauce
Let’s whip up a quick side dish to serve at breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or dessert. With minimal effort and the kitchen workhorse known as the slow cooker, this warmly-spiced Cinnamon Applesauce can be the side dish of your dreams. When it comes to figuring out how to round out a meal, you can’t beat…
Farro Con Gandules (Farro with Pigeon Peas)
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…
Arroz con Gandules (Rice with Pigeon Peas)
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…
Mofongo Burgers (Burgers on Mashed Plantain Buns)
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…
Rellenos de Papa (Picadillo-Stuffed Potato Fritters)
Is it a potato or a snack? It’s both! My Rellenos de Papa, also known as Papa Rellena, are an optical illusion. They look like a potato, but when you bite through their crisp exterior, a savory meat filling is there to greet you. Lately, I’ve been on this cuchifrito kick. It might be that I’ve…
Macaroni Salad: Hawaiian Inspired
Show of hands of all the people who have cancelled vacations this year? Yep. That’s exactly what I figured. Unfortunately for most of us, 2020 is a wash. Since many of us aren’t going on a tropical vacay this year, let’s bring a taste of the tropics to us. Hawaiian-inspired Macaroni Salad that’s creamy and flavorful…
Guacamole Dip: Chunky and Ready to Party
Guacamole is the king of Mexican meals. It sits on its throne of dishes most sought after. I’ve never had too much guacamole, but I’ve been annoyed when it’s run out. And it always runs out. The creamy, veggie-studded dip goes well with most proteins or simply scooped up with chips. What is Guacamole? The…
Pico de Gallo Recipe: Easy to Make
Pico de Gallo means “rooster’s beak”, but I have no idea what beaks have to do with this recipe. Maybe it’s because it looks like food a bird would peck at or has pecked over? Who knows? The colors of pico de gallo pay homage to the Mexican flag. So it makes sense that this…
