My dear friend and Puerto Rican cooking muse, Luis, approves of this simple, flavorful dish. The hard part (which isn’t all that hard) is making the recaíto. This frothy, emerald mix of aromatic herbs and spicy peppers will bring a little Cocina Criolla right into your kitchen. Since learning how to make recaíto, I always…
Recaíto
Rich and flavorful Puerto Rican cuisine has been influenced by an amalgam of cultures and flavors. The Spanish and Africans, as well as native Taino and Arawaks, all had their hands in creating what local people call “Cocina Criolla.” Indigenous ingredients were mixed with foreign spices, old methods mixed with new, to create unique flavor…
Chestnuts
Did you know the once mighty American chestnut trees were virtually wiped out by a deadly blight in the early 20th century? Fortunately, a renewed interest has been growing to save and replant native chestnut trees across the US. The American Chestnut Foundation is working to restore the American chestnut tree to its native range within the…
Sunshine Award
It was such an honor to be granted the Sunshine Award by Richard from REM Cooks. Richard is an attorney by day, and chef extraordinaire the rest of the time. I hope you enjoy his creations as much as I do. Rules of the Sunshine Award Accept the award. Post the award on your blog together…
For Mom and Apple Pie
If I close my eyes, I can smell tangy citrus mingling with the aroma of warm butterscotch. A feathery light, golden yellow cake appears in my mind, glistening with a sweet drizzly glaze, sparkling with lemon zest – my mother’s unique and lovely Lemon Bundt Cake. My mother, Evelyn, cooked with the hands of her…
Heirloom Tomatoes
Did you know that all Heirloom tomato varieties are open-pollinated but not all open-pollinated tomato varieties are heirlooms? A little bit of a tongue twister, certainly, and perhaps just as confusing as the term “heirloom” itself. Heirloom plants (known as heritage plants in some parts of the world) were those grown during earlier periods of…
Homemade Peach-Infused Vodka
The peaches have been so lush and flavorful this season that I decided to infuse some vodka for our big annual barbecue. It would make a lovely, light summer drink, I thought, and add pizzazz to our outdoor bar, all shimmery and shiny in its ice-frosted glass. I peeled and sliced my peaches, covered them…
Blueberries
Did you know that botanists estimate blueberries have been growing on this earth for more than 13,000 years? Blueberries are the state fruit of my very own New Jersey, and my absolute favorites, so I hope they will continue to flourish for at least another 13,000 years! Try some in my hot-off-the-presses recipe: Blueberry Breakfast Cake. You can…
Mulberries
Did you know that mulberries are at the center of one of the world’s oldest love stories? Star-crossed lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe, agreed to tryst at the well-known white mulberry tree on the banks of a cool spring. When Pyramus arrived late and came upon a lioness with Thisbe’s veil in her mouth, he mistakenly…
Pound Cake
Did you know it’s called a pound cake because the original recipe called for one pound each of flour, butter, sugar and eggs? That makes sense, and it’s easy to remember, but what a massive cake that would make! Try this recipe for a more manageable pound cake, with a hint of hazelnut essence: Million…
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