Blog - Sweet Life

Piccadilly Raspa Recipe

My Piccadilly Raspa (snow cone) recipe is a sweet and sour snow cone made with cherry syrup and pickle chunks topped with Tajin, chamoy gummy candies. A Piccadilly is a deliciously sour treat to enjoy on a hot summer day in South Texas. The name raspa comes from the Spanish term hielo raspado, or scraped ice. I grew up on raspas – Brownsville, Edinburg, Matamoros every chance I had I would ask Papi (my dad) buy me a raspa. Raspas remain popular in Texas – you can find little stands or trucks parked near grocery stores, laundromats and… Read More

Poblano Artichoke Dip

My poblano artichoke baked dip is a guaranteed party hit! It’s deliciously creamy, cheesy, and spiced up with poblanos. Served with warm tortilla chips, your guests will devour it! If you love hosting and are on the hunt for a new appetizer that is simply delicious …have I got a good one for ya! My poblano artichoke poblano dip is for you! It’s creamy, cheesy, and brimming with one of my favorite chiles, the poblano. It’s so good that every time I make it, it’s the first appetizer to go. My guests inhale it – that’s a sign… Read More

Coconut Water Strawberry Vodka Cocktail

My coconut water strawberry vodka cocktail is a refreshing and hydrating coconut water cocktail made with vodka. A twist on vodka tonic without the tonic this easy to make cocktail will keep you hydrated in the Texas heat. Looking for an easy cocktail made with coconut water? I’ve got you covered. My coconut water strawberry vodka cocktail is perfect for a hot day. It’s made with just 5 simple ingredients – coconut water, vodka, strawberries, sugar and orange juice. If you love the combination of vodka and coconut, this easy cocktail is going to be one of your favorite… Read More

How to make Agua Preparada

Agua preparada made with agua mineral, fresh lime juice and plenty of Tajin combine to create a refreshing cooler that helps to beat the Texas heat. Agua Preparada translates to “prepared water,” served over ice in a glass rimmed with chamoy and Tajín, it is especially popular in northeastern Mexico and South Texas, notably in border towns. Agua preparada, a refreshing Mexican beverage made with sparkling mineral water (like Topo Chico) and other flavorings like lime juice and Tajín, can be found at various locations, including fruterias, Mexican restaurants, and even some bars. You can also find it at some… Read More

Big Red Fajitas

I cooked up these Fajitas for Father’s Day, with a Texas twist. Big Red fajitas made with skirt steak marinated in big red soda, brown sugar, salt and pepper add a ton of caramelization to the fajitas when grilled. I served my big red fajitas with beans, guacamole, and warm flour tortillas. It’s a great recipe to grill indoors, but you can easily fire up the grill and grill them up outside. We all know big red pairs perfectly with barbacoa, why not take it a step further and marinate fajitas in big red goodness. Why Big Red… Read More

Lemon Margarita

A Lemon Margarita is a fresh twist on the classic margarita cocktail bursting with lemon freshness. Lemon margarita made with fresh lemon juice, tequila, Cointreau, simple syrup and rimmed with a lemon sugar rim make for one simply beautiful margarita. This lemon margarita cocktail is one of my favorite cocktails to make at home. I love shaking this beauty up for three reasons. First, because it’s so simple. If you have tequila, lemons, and orange liqueur on hand, you can make it in under 5 minutes! Second, because it’s so delicious. The lemon juice gives it… Read More

Slow Cooker Guajillo Chicken

Moist, perfectly seasoned, and easy to shred – my slow cooker guajillo chicken is tender and juicy. Made with chicken breasts, guajillo chile, tomatoes, chicken broth cooked low and slow in the slow cooker. My slow cooker guajillo chicken is one of the very best weeknight shortcuts to create meals for the week. From tostadas, flautas, taquitos, tacos, chicken enchiladas, sopitas, burritos, sopes, to nachos shredded chicken makes meal planning a snap. How to Store Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Shredded chicken is one of my to-go for a week on meals. I like to keep my… Read More

Pineapple Poblano Salsa

Move over, tomatoes! This summer we’re whipping up fresh fruit salsa! Pineapple poblano salsa made from fresh pineapple, poblano pepper, onion, jalapeño, lime juice and cilantro are the perfect sweet & spicy combo. The table isn’t set until the salsa hits the table, and I’m always looking for new ways to create a tasty salsa. Tomatoes are a staple of salsa, they are juicy and give salsa their body. I wanted a juicy component with a hint of sweetness and decided to try fresh pineapple. Wowie! Fresh pineapple worked so well. The pineapple gives this salsa a fresh… Read More