Blog - Sweet Life

Ensalada de Noche Buena – Christmas Eve Salad

In Spanish Noche Buena means “Good Night.” In the month of December Noche Buena for Latinos becomes a celebratory part of the Christmas Holiday. Noche Buena means Christmas Eve or Poinsettia and is the final evening of Las Posadas. On Noche Buena families attend misa de gallo (midnight mass). After mass entire families, friends and neighbors come together for La Cena de Noche Buena where the year’s blessings, unity and love are celebrated. This night is celebrated with a fiesta of comida with flavors of every region. This includes tamales, pozole, menudo, turkey, mole, ponche navideño and ensalada de Noche… Read More

Cheesy Refried Beans

Cheesy Refried Beans The final days until Christmas are here!! I find myself in frantic mood trying to squeeze in every last detail on my to-do list. My scheduled/organized house is now upside down, sideways and in much need of some TLC. Lucky me my family is more than happy to chip in and help out with dinner. Our normal dinner ritual might have changed a bit with the busy season, but as long as we come together as a family for our meals. I’m happy. These cheesy refried beans came together easily with little prep… Read More

Homemade Corn Tortillas for the Holidays with Maseca

Homemade Corn Tortillas in the kitchen with Maseca for a holiday tortilla. My mom makes the BEST tortillas!! Hands down they are the best. I’m certain these are the words that flow proudly from every child whose mom makes tortillas, but my mom can seriously rock a tortilla. Every opportunity I get I sneak into the kitchen to gaze at her movements, her technique or any little trick I think would help in my quest to make mine taste even half as good as hers. She kindly reminds me that she has been making tortillas since she was 12. Don’t worry… Read More

Lime Flan

Lime Flan It has rained for the last three days. I have transformed into different person accomplishing so many tasks that had fallen behind and with the rain, giving me reason not to leave the house. I have become efficient. My girls on the other hand have sat through their entire holiday carton collection, filled an entire wall with Christmas art and have finally taken to following me from room to room. Goodness!! What’s a mom to do? Throw a party!! My girls needed a lift, a dose of holiday cheer, excitement. Bring on the Flan!! I’m not sure why I only serve flan… Read More

Polvorones de Chocolate

Polvorones de Chocolate Baking is in full swing here this week as our family prepares for Las Posadas. A celebration that begins on December 16 and ends on Christmas Eve with the Cena of La Noche Buena. This celebration reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem. These processions of los peregrinos lead to a different house every night for the culmination of the posada – a fiesta. A fiesta!! Lights twinkle in the background as the Mariachi’s sing traditional Christmas songs. Children play with friends in anticipation of whacking the piñata filled with dulces. Long tables are quickly brimming with regional favorites from Mexico. Tamales,… Read More

Citrus Margarita – Our Virtual Bridal Shower for Nelly – #NellysBigDay

“And …I said YESSSSS!” It happened one November midnight, in Twitterverse, we saw this tweet from our dear Nelly @nella22. Without missing a beat, we all knew Nelly had “said YES” to her beloved “M”,as she sweetly calls Brian Murray, her fiancé. So here we are,Nelly dear, your friends in the food world, wishing you and Brian,all the best. And with our wishes, a simple recipe with an easy formula for a life of bliss, rich with EVERYTHING in it! BLOGGERS RECIPE FOR NELLY ‘S WEDDED BLISS Mix together: A lot of Love, Patience, Perseverance, Respect, Courage, Strength, Trust,… Read More

Bolillos

On December 12 millions will gather for processions, prayer, song, dance and community to celebrate La Reina de Mexico (The Queen of Mexico) on her feast day. The Celebration of the Virgin Mary begins on December 3 and ends on her dedicated day the December 12. This day is set aside to honor the day she appeared on Tepeyac the pre hispanic site of the temple Tontanslin where her imaged appeared on Juan Diego’s tilma (cloak) as he consulted with the Bishop Zumárraga. Every year on this day my mom and I arrive to mass service at 4am. The… Read More

Rompope – Mexican Eggnog

Rompope is the Mexican version of eggnog, spiked with rum. This creamy egg based drink is often served during the Christmas season for Las Posadas. My mom loves Rompope and always made sure to purchase extra bottles for the Holiday season with every trip we made to Mexico. Mi abuelita loves to sip Rompope on chilly evenings spent chatting on her porch. It never feels quite like Christmas until we have our first sip of Rompope. Rompope originated in Puebla, Mexico in the 1600’s at the Convento de Santa Clara. The nuns prepared Rompope to welcome guests to the convent. The nuns appealed to the Mother Superior… Read More