Blog - Sweet Life

Frida Kahlo’s Ensalada de Calabacín (Zucchini Salad)

A simple Mexican salad of grilled zucchini, avocado, and salty, crumbled queso fresco is a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving table. Frida Kahlo’s Ensalada de Calabacín is drizzled with a quick and easy red wine vinegar made in a mason jar. Art plays a major role in our household. I love filling my walls with colorful art from talented Texas artists. My daughter is also passionate about Art, she dreams of majoring in art. She paints daily, and makes this mami happy – my walls are filled with her creations. We often chat about Frida, her art,… Read More

Pan de Elote

A Mexican sweet corn cake made traditionally with fresh corn, sugar, and egg whites. Pan de elote is light, fluffy, and sweet. A delicious addition to your Thanksgiving table pan de elote brimming with fresh corn flavor and paired perfectly with cranberries. This recipe was created as part of my partnership with Imperial Sugar. You can find the recipe here. Pan de elote is a Mexican sweet corn cake made with fresh corn, egg whites and lightly sweetened. Also known as pastel de elote. Every family has their own variation on pan de elote. My Abuelita… Read More

Roasted Acorn & Chayote Squash Salad with Marigold Vinaigrette

Roasted Acorn & Chayote Squash Salad with Marigold Vinaigrette. Acorn and chayote seasoned with agave, resting atop a bed of green, topped with pomegranate seeds, queso fresco dressed with a marigold vinaigrette. A delicious fall salad to pay homage to my Abuelita. Roasted Acorn & Chayote Squash Salad with Marigold Vinaigrette, a fall inspired salad for Dia de los Muertos. Día de Muertos is upon on. I find myself craving heartier, vegetable filled meals much like my Abuelita made for us when the temperatures dropped. The smell of marigolds reminds me of my Abuelita, so I also find… Read More

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Tequila Hot Toddy

My slow cooker pumpkin tequila hot toddy made with pumpkin puree, maple syrup, apple cider, cinnamon, star anise and tequila reposado is guaranteed to keep you warm and cozy this holiday season. From pumpkin carving to Thanksgiving menu planning to make making tamales tis the season for hot toddies baby! There is a lot of wonderful things I love about the holidays. I love the cooler temps (we Texans thrive in this weather), love hosting family dinners, planning our annual tamalada, love holiday baking, and I really love hot toddies spiked with tequila. Y’all know… Read More

Creamy Hominy Soup {Made in under 15 Minutes}

A creamy dreamy soup made from canned hominy. My creamy hominy soup made from hominy, onion, broth, and heavy cream is the perfect soup for a chilly evening. Topped with crispy fried tortilla strips this creamy hominy soup is simplicity at its best. I adore hominy, simply adore it. It is the real star in pozole and menudo. Tender kernels that add texture to pozole and menudo, while soaking in all the brothy flavors. Gimme all the hominy. Growing up my Mami always added extra hominy to her menudo and pozole, she knew us kids too well. We… Read More

Apricot Horchata {Made with Dried Apricots}

A delicious twist on the traditional horchata apricot horchata made with dried apricots, rice, cinnamon and vanilla is delicious. This apricot horchata is a huge hit at Casita Gris, we simply love it! Creamy served over ice we make apricot horchata often for dinner, on the weekends or for family dinners. Sometimes we add coconut to the mix, pumpkin puree works beautifully, and strawberries are a summer favorite. Today I want to share a delicious spin to horchata using dried apricots. Dried apricots add a touch of sweetness to the horchata and adds a punch to the… Read More

Apple Dulce de Leche Bread {An Easy Quick Bread Recipe}

A quick and easy Apple Bread recipe that’s loaded with apples and dulce de leche. Spiced with cinnamon and brown sugar this apple dulce de leche bread is perfect for fall! Dulce de leche pairs perfectly with apples and, combined, both delicious ingredients make up a wonderful quick bread. I love quick breads. They are easy to make, usually one bowl baking and are perfect for gifting, the holiday season and travels well. The name “quick bread” comes from the fact that the batter can be baked immediately and does not require yeast or rising time. Quick… Read More

Ground Beef Gorditas

Tender homemade beef gorditas stuffed with a flavorful ground beef made with onion, tomato, garlic, serrano chile and plenty of spices. Beef gorditas remind me of my Mami. Warm masa cooked over a comal, stuffed with ground beef was her go-to after Sunday Mass. My Mami would make a huge tray of gorditas on Sunday after church. Warm off the comal, she was a pro at slicing the gordita while still warm. She would stuff them with ground beef, lettuce and tomato and serve them with plenty of salsa. To this day if she asks me what I… Read More