This, my friend, is what we in the business call a “money shot”. If you have a Mexican friend in your life, and they haven’t introduced you to Cajeta, you need to have a hard talk with them. Anyone who would keep this secret from those they love is suspect. I’m just saying. As you can…
ethnic
Caipirinha Cocktail (Sugarcane-Cachaça Libation)
I enjoyed my first caipirinha at a cutesy little Bohemian bar. Bossa Bistro was a Brazilian-themed spot in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C. They had a Samba band playing, and the was cachaça flowing. I drank too many caipirinhas and ended up samba-ing my behind right to the throne of shame. But, me and the Soldier enjoyed that date…
Guarapo: Sugarcane Refresher with Lime
You need an update on the weather here, don’t you? It’s still hot as hell. Nothing follows. Well, that’s not true; this Guarapo (gwa-RAH-poh) recipe follows. This sugarcane “juice” is what a lot of my, and the Soldier’s, ancestors sipped on to endure those sweltering days back in Puerto Rico. Guarapo is still enjoyed by…
Pan Sobao: Soft, Chewy Puerto Rican Bread
Never have I had so hard a time naming a recipe as I had with this one. Pan Sobao has no English translation that makes sense. For starters, sobao is good Puerto Rican Spanish for sobar (or knead). So, directly translated, it means “Kneaded Bread”. Obviously I’m not going to name it “Kneaded Bread” because that’s an alliteration. Nearly all breads…
Larb Moo: Laotian Sour Minced Pork Salad
I’m writing this post from the waiting room of a hospital’s surgery ward. The Soldier is beginning the process of repairing more than twenty-five years of beating up his body. I’m a pessimist by nature. Writing helps me keep my mind off of the variables associated with surgery of any kind. This Larb Moo is also helping me…
Peruvian-Style Coleslaw: South American Salad
My husband says things like, “You know what I’d like to have for dinner?” and I say, “What’s that?” and he says, “That Peruvian coleslaw that you make…with fish tacos.” And that’s when I have to remind him that we are still in Central Texas where there is no mahi-mahi or (for that matter) any other…
Paloma a Fuego (Spicy Grapefruit and Tequila Cocktail)
Paloma a Fuego literally translates to “Dove Afire”. Now, before you go calling PETA, no doves were harmed in the making of this libation. No doves even came close to this drink. I’m afraid of doves, actually. Paloma cocktails are a gift from our Mexican friends and are perfect for the hot weather ahead. Unless…
Sabich Bowls
Thankfully, this post is much lighter than my post from earlier in the week. Little David was brought out from under sedation on Tuesday. He’s suffering from seizures, but the doctors think it’s just his brain rebooting. Please continue to keep him, my sister, and my BIL in your prayers! In the meantime, we need to…
Amba: Pickled Mango Chutney (Vegetarian and Vegan)
Look at it. That bright orange Amba sitting innocently in that mason jar is the stuff dreams are made of. This pickled-salted-fermented sauce is something that shouldn’t make sense but, clearly, it does. It’s the drunk uncle at the family reunion who you should avoid, but can’t. His stories are too good to walk away from….
Egyptian-Style Falafel Made with Fava Beans
Falafel is a big deal in New York City. So far, though, the only falafel I seemed to find was the Palestinian/Israeli version. I have yet to find a falafel cart/stand/joint that makes Egyptian-style falafel. Maybe it has something to do with the aversion some of us have to the mention of fava beans. We…
