If you happen to be Latino(a) chances are you are eating tostones a few times per week. Tostones are fried green plantains. A food so nice they fry it twice! Plantains are the nutritional staple of most of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. It’s a subsistence crop that grows all year round. They can…
Side Dishes
Authentic Southern Shrimp and Grits
Hi, how’re y’all doing today? I am doing just fine because I am sharing my authentic southern shrimp and grits recipe today. Yes, I know, I am Hispanic, what do I know about authentic shrimp and grits? Well, I do know a thing or two. And, since I can’t head south for the real thing…
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…
Marvelous Memorial Day Recipes
Yikes, picnic season is here without any warning other than the calendar telling us it’s here. To make your life easier, I’ve come up with some marvelous Memorial Day recipes. They’re really good for any picnic that lies in your future. As always, there’s something for everyone. Let’s start with dessert, why not? I…
Black Beans, Feta, Basil, Red Onion, and Tomato Salad
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 with all of you. Spread the love, you know!…
Bacon Candied Walnut Scones with Maple Glaze
I love scones because you can do so much with them. Sweet, savory or both! Yup, absolutely! Today I get to make bacon candied walnut scones with maple glaze and I have a special ingredient: Little Creek Maple Farm Syrup. It is delicious. An old (well, younger than me) coworker now lives in New Hampshire…
Tabouleh Recipe – Middle Eastern Parsley Salad
Tabouleh is a refreshing and nutritious Middle Eastern dish. Tabouleh’s main ingredient is bulgur wheat, an ancient grain dating back to 2800 B.C. It was once considered a sacred food due to its resistance to insect attack or spoilage. There are also biblical references of bulgur regarding the Babylonians and the Hittites. As a dish,…
Mango Black Bean Salsa Recipe
Mango Black Bean Salsa is what I would call Fusion cuisine. It is neither Latin American or Caribbean, however, it utilizes ingredients that are native to that cuisine. Mango Black Bean Salsa works well as an appetizer, as a side dish, or even a relish. Mangoes have the natural advantage of being extremely nutritious. They…
Yuca Fritters – Carimañolas
Panamanian food is delicious Here’s another yuca recipe that happens to be one of my favorites: yuca fritters – carimañolas. But, before I go on, the correct pronunciation for this tasty tuber is you-kah, not yuck-ah(yucca). One is a root vegetable, the other a desert plant. Two similar spellings? Yes! This is where the similarities…
Indonesian Coconut Turmeric Rice with Cashews
Have you tried coconut rice? Indonesian coconut turmeric rice with cashews will liven up any meal. Turmeric is the trending ingredient that everyone is talking about. I love turmeric, the bright yellow color, and the pungent bitter flavor that adds a beautiful punch to all kinds of foods. Turmeric’s color is similar to that of…
Fantastic Fourth of July Ideas
I cannot believe that the Fourth of July is here, just around the proverbial corner. As much as I love this holiday, its arrival reminds me that summer is half way over. Indeed, for someone living in the frozen north and not a lover of snow, I greet this holiday with apprehension. Nevertheless, I have…
Cannellini Bean, Parsley, Tomato, Red Onion Salad
Not your average bean salad! Cannellini bean, parsley, tomato, red onion salad is perfect for a hot summer night or day. Serve it as an appetizer with tortilla chips. Use it as a relish to top grilled chicken or just simply stirred in with your favorite greens. It is so versatile! Take this cannellini bean…
30+ Best Ever Easy Summer Picnic Foods Recipes
Picnics with friends and families are fun, there is no doubt about that. But, there is an aspect of picnics that in my opinion can be quite scary:food. I am speaking from experience. Face it not everyone is a foodie! Picnic foods don’t need to be scary, especially with this great list of 30+ best…
Saffron Rice with Dried Cranberries and Almonds
Let’s face it, dried cranberries are just plain delicious Aaaaand healthy too because just 1/4 cup equals 1/2 cup serving of fruit. It goes without saying that they also add great taste and texture to ANY recipe. So, what about those textures? Well, if you’re anything like me, you’ll love the texture varieties in…
Spinach Salad with Pomegranate Dressing
Spinach salad for the win Finding new and creative salad recipes with spinach is my ever present quest. One thing that I love to do is incorporating fruits and nuts into my salad greens. I adapted this recipe for spinach salad with pomegranate dressing from a similar Middle Eastern dish that uses cooked spinach. I…
