Vietnamese tomato fish (cá sốt cà chua) is dairy free, protein rich, and very healthy. I learned about it from my daughter when we visited her in Vietnam. She took us to this placed dubbed “the ration restaurant”. It was done up in 70’s Vietnam style. It was decorated with radios, letters, clothes, and…
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Salmon Quiche
Quiche! So many possibilities, so little time. Today’s post: Salmon quiche! The French are famous for their fabulous quiche. What could be easier than throwing together a handful of fresh yummy ingredients, covering them in an egg custard and baking everything to golden perfection? Nothing, I think. Wait, quiche is German?! Although quiche is considered…
Avocado, Black Beans, Queso Fresco Empanadas
When it comes to food for parties, avocados are top. Especially when they are in vegetarian empanadas. Soft, creamy, buttery. Avocados are king for so many reasons. They are evergreen, and can be used in so many recipes from salads to desserts. Desserts? Yes, but that’s the subject of anther post. My take on avocados…
Cinnamon Snaps – A Cinnamon Lovers Cookie
Cinnamon snaps are for more than just Christmas In this post I am offering another installment from my Aunt Lou Archives series – Cinnamon Snaps – a close cousin to the ubiquitous Ginger Snaps cookies. It’s a cinnamon dessert that won’t disappoint. At first, I was somewhat skeptical about cinnamon snaps. Cinnamon Snaps just…
Spicy Black Bean Enchiladas
I love Mexican food. It is bursting with flavor. Cumin, cilantro, chili powder, queso fresco! I drool over these. Enchiladas are among my favorite Mexican dishes. I’m making this for my vegetarian friends. You can adapt it and use different beans too. Spicy black bean enchiladas are vegetarian without sacrificing taste. Whenever I make chili…
Black Bean Burgers with Spicy Pico de Gallo
Veggie burgers are the rage! People are making these delicious bites from anything and everything. My take on these healthy gems? Black Beans!! Latin style black bean burgers with spicy pico de gallo, to be more precise. Being Latin American, I grew up eating black beans. I will be honest with you and tell you…
Arroz con Gandules
Arroz con Gandules is a Puerto Rican favorite. It’s also popular in other Latin American countries. As an added plus, arroz con gandules goes amazingly well with bistec encebollado. Gandules or Guandu depending on where you are from, are a small roundish bean that grows in a perennial bush. There are three different types of…
Blueberry Crostata – A Fruit Tart For Any Occasion
A crostata or galette is a rustic dessert. It’s pie dough wrapped around fresh fruit and baked to delicious goodness. I consider blueberry crostata a “healthy” dessert, since it is mostly fruit, right? I love making blueberry crostata. Without being a good baker I was successful the very first time! YAY. Even my husband, the designated…
Bun Cha: Vietnamese Pork Meatballs
While visiting Hanoi I was introduced to bun cha: Vietnamese Pork Meatballs. It was a life changing experience. Really, it was. During the Christmas holiday in 2017 my family and I took a trip to Vietnam. My daughter is an English teacher there. On one of our first days she booked us a street…
Black Beans Salad with Feta, Onions, and Tomato
A delicious side dish for any of your summer meals. Black beans, feta, basil, red onion, and tomato salad goes great with anything and everything. I recently made it for a family gathering, and it went over really well. Having said that, I thought I’d share the latin fusion with all of you. Spread the…
10 Easy Easter Recipes
Holy cow! St. Patricks’s day came and went and Easter’s right on top of us. I hope these 10 easy Easter recipes give you some good ideas for your family’s upcoming Easter dinner. I decided to split things evenly: five desserts and five main dishes. There’s something for everyone in this roundup. Every single one of…
Spicy Thai Style Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps are a great summer meal. Light, crunchy, and delicious. This is the kind of dish you crave when the mercury rises and heavy foods are out of the question. For those who are looking to curb the dreaded carbs, they are perfect. What’s a lettuce wrap anyways? I first tried thai lettuce wraps…
Authentic Brazilian Cheese Bread – Pão de Queijo
In Portuguese, the name is pão de queijo. I heard a lot about this authentic Brazilian cheese bread my gluten-free friend. She’s a celiac, and therefore no wheat. I’ve always been intrigued for a long time. I recently met a lady from Brazil at a conference. Her name is Claudia, and she runs a hip and…
Irish Butter Cookies
You’ve heard the expression “It’s better with butter”, you can now add Irish to this old saying. Am I exaggerating? No! Irish butter cookies will prove this to you. Irish butter cookies are to die for! They will literally melt in your mouth, thanks to the magic of Kerrygold butter. No this is not a…
The Easiest Shortbread Crust
The arrival of the holidays means being busy busy busy. There are presents to buy and wrap, decorating the house, and parties to attend. With all the hustle it can be easy to cave to your local grocery store for ready-made desserts. I get it. As much as I love my desserts. I don’t like…
