We’re smack-dab in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month and do you know what that means for my Puerto Rican family? Absolutely nothing. That’s right. Since we celebrate our “hispanicness” on a daily basis, this weirdly-dated pseudo-holiday holds no importance to us. But, that’s just us. I do have a Hispanic recipe I want to…
Hispanic
Tostones (Twice-Fried Green Plantains)
All of us, at some point in our lives, have been lied to. This is a given fact. As a wife, I’ve told my fair share of tall-tales; “No, Hector, those shoes aren’t new. I’ve had them for years!” Moms lie as well, “Sorry, but the restaurant with the games and the oversized rodent has…
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…
Roast Pork Shoulder for the Holidays (Pernil)
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…
Puerto Rican Recao (Herb Flavoring Paste)
This is a picture of Green Gold, my friend. Commonly known as recao; some also call it sofrito. No matter what it’s called, this flavoring blend, found in most Caribbean cuisines, is money. I once knew a family in Brooklyn who got busted in a sting for operating a recao supply chain illegally. Word on the street was that a…
Frijoles Borrachos (Drunken Beans): Cinco de Mayo Recipe Ideas #4
I’m going to try my hardest not to perpetuate a stereotype. Let’s preface this post by saying that not all Latinos like, or eat, beans. Now, my family isn’t among them, nor are any of the Latinos I’m friends with. Every single Latino I know enjoys beans. Hell, we even have our Black and White friends eating…
8 Unique Paletas Recipes Perfect for Cinco de Mayo
Become the MVP of Cinco de Mayo with a fantastic paletas bar featuring 8 unique flavor combinations. Margaritas, even amazing ones like this one, while fun, become so ho-hum; but, paletas this uncommon will be remembered for years to come. So, break out your paleta mold (here’s my favorite) and let’s get to fiesta-ing…is that a word? Dragonfruit & Guava…
Hibiscus,Blood Orange & Cardamom Paletas
I have a thing for hibiscus flowers. It’s not only one of my favorite flowers to look at, hibiscus definitely my favorite flower to drink. Now, I’m on a mission to make it my favorite flower to eat. I spoke in detail about my passion for hibiscus tea in this Jamaica & Lime Margarita post. Passion has a…
