Sweet Life

Cooking, Eating, Living My Sweet Life in Texas

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Pumpkin Margarita

The Thanksgiving countdown has begun!! Are you excited? I know I am. Thanksgiving after all is a day dedicate to stuffing your face with glorious food.  Countless hours chopping, dicing, basting, baking and prepping.  Now that’s what I call a good time!  This week in my attempt to bake the perfect pumpkin empanadas I was left with plenty of pumpkin puree. That’s when it hit me. My Thanksgiving table needs a great margarita, a pumpkin margarita. Why should the empanadas, pies and muffins get all that great pumpkin flavor. Pumpkin Margaritas. Cooking for the big day just got alot less hectic with this… Read More

Texas Monthly Pecan Pie

  A Texan’s Thanksgiving table in not complete without a Pecan Pie.  Our State tree, a source of pride we Texans take pecan pie pretty serious.  Married 12 years, my husband not once has asked for a chocolate cake or strawberry tart for any birthday.  Everyone knows, he wants Pecan Pie.  As we make plans to head over to spend Thanksgiving with our family, his number one concern, will there be pecan pie?  I love him!

Dia de Los Muertos – Chocolate Skull Cake

Today I want to share a Holiday that is very dear to my heart, Dia de Los Muertos.  A time to reflect on the loved ones we have lost, celebrate their lives and rejoice in knowing their legacy will be carried on with our children.  Sugar skulls and Cempasúchil (marigolds) are a placed on the Altar to honor the dead. With my familia being in town for an extended Halloween Fiesta we took the chance to explain this Holiday to the children.  As the kids worked on making papel picado and handmade marigolds my mom spoke of this Holiday’s rich history.  To end the evening on a sweet note… Read More

Spicy Watermelon Margarita

      Halloween is spooky fun for the kids but, what about the parents?  Shouldn’t we be rewarded for our efforts in helping our kids in their quest for the biggest load of candy? They want spooky.  I want spicy!  My fellow margarita lovers do I have a treat for you!! Spicy Watermelon Margaritas.

Quinoa Salad

Quinoa (keen-wa) was once called “the gold of the Incas,” or “mother grain.” The Inca tribe turned to this ancient grain to increase the stamina of their warriors and believed the grain to be sacred. I like the Incas also believe Quinoa packs a powerful punch. The punch our body needs, craves and deserves. Weeks of working, family activities and living life to the fullest can leave us feeling a bit drained. So when I am in need of a boost I turn to Quinoa.

Apple Margarita

Last week we had exactly two days of Fall weather. Lows in the 60’s.  I threw open every window in our tiny apartment, shut off the AC and soaked in every ounce of crisp air.  In South Texas any day when the temperature falls below 90’s is a cause for celebration.  I had planned on celebrating with a batch of brownies. My kids had other plans. I sipped my pumpkin spiced coffee as my girls fiercely argued that on a day this perfect “we should be at the park or taking a walk.” Don’t you love kids?  They were spot on. Why spend the day cooped away when we could immerse ourselves in Fall.  In the… Read More

Pepita Brittle

Be it Fall, Summer or Winter you can always find pepitas in my pantry.  I love adding them to my salads, crushing them to coat chicken or for making pipian (mole).  But pepitas in brittle,  ahh makes my heart go pitter.. patter…  Enjoy!!