Blog - Sweet Life

Mini Ruby Red Grapefruit Cupcakes

Sweet and citrusy, these mini ruby red grapefruit cupcakes are made with a flecked ruby red grapefruit zest batter and topped with a rich ruby red grapefruit cream cheese frosting. I am a HUGE fan of ruby red grapefruits. I look forward these ruby red gems every year and scoop them up by the basketful. Halved with a light sprinkle of sugar they are delicious for breakfast of late afternoon snack, spoons of sugary tartness – so good. Not everyone in my home is a fan of ruby reds, which leads me to find creative ways to sneak in… Read More

Coconut Horchata Iced Coffee

Coconut Horchata Iced Coffee! For my coffee lovers out there have, this homemade Coconut Horchata iced coffee is absolutely delicious, simple to make and is the perfect afternoon recharge. I adore homemade horchata. Horchata (pronounced or-CHAH-tah) is a Mexican drink made with rice. Flavored with cinnamon, sugar or nuts and seeds this creamy beverage is popular served over ice in summer. Horchata is a dreamy, creamy rice-based Mexican drink that is can be found in any taqueria here in South Texas. South Texans drink gallons and gallons of Horchata throughout the year, but in Summertime it is especially popular. We… Read More

Blackberry Lime Mocktail

This blackberry lime mocktail is refreshing, tangy and can easily be transformed into a cocktail with a splash of rum or vodka. When I entertain family or friends, I always like to have a mocktail on-hand for my guests. A few weeks ago, we hosted a small brunch where I set-up a beautiful mimosa bar. I made a blackberry-lime syrup that I topped with champagne. Next, to the champagne bucket, I placed another champagne bucket filled with sparkling mineral water so guests could choose a mimosa or mocktail. I simmered fresh blackberries with sugar, and plenty of fresh lime juice… Read More

Sopa de Fideo con Garbanzos

Sopa de fideo with garbanzo is a comforting weeknight meal. Made with fideo (vermicelli pasta), chicken broth, carrots, onions and garbanzo beans this dish is ready in under 30 minutes. Nothing beats a bowl of fideo. Brothy served with warm corn tortillas – it is pure comfort. Fideo is a Mexican sopita, made with vermicelli pasta. Lightly sautéed until golden brown then cooked with broth and veggies. Sopa de Fideo was one of the first foods my mami cooked for me when I was able to eat solid foods. I fell in love with it after my first spoon and… Read More

Strawberry Pecan Bread

A delicious quick bread made with fresh strawberries, pecans and cinnamon is tender, moist and wonderful for breakfast. I have been making this strawberry bread for over ten years. A quick bread batter that comes together in a snap. I found the recipe on a cooking forum I was a member before the blogging days. I was living in Killeen, Texas at the time. Mi carino was an Army Medic serving at Fort Hood. I was a stay at home mami. We only had Angelica at the time. She was four, so we spent our days doing schoolwork, reading time… Read More

How to Make Hibiscus Salt for Cocktails

Creating your own custom rim salt is a great way to elevate your cocktails and impress your guests. And this cocktail gal absolutely loves creating custom flavors to fit each occassion! Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or themed event, homemade rim salts add a special touch and are the perfect gift for cocktail lovers. The best thing about making your own rim salts at home is that you can customize them however you like. Set up your own custom salts bar and invite your guests to experiment with different salt textures and flavorings to create a custom mix that… Read More

Mexican Wafer Cookie Bark

My Mexican Wafer Cookie Bark is the ultimate Mother’s Day gift. Make this Mexican Wafer Cookie Bark in under 5 minutes and it only requires 3 ingredients. It’s the perfect edible gift for the mami. Crunchy wafer cookies filled with delicious cream come in various colors. Sweet, crunchy and addicting my abuelita always had these sweet babies on-hand when we visited her in Brownsville, Texas. My favorite are the chocolate ones, but my mami loves the pink ones. Once when enjoying them with her afternoon coffee she told me they were the shade of amor. This little sentiment always stuck… Read More

Strawberry Pecan Margarita

Happy Cinco de Mayo Y’all! I’m giving my Cinco de Mayo a delicious Texas twist y’all – Hands down one of the reasons I LOVE living in Texas is the amazing flavors our farmers bless us with each season. From strawberries from Poteet, Ruby Red from the Rio Grande Valley and don’t even get me started on the pecans, they are the BEST! When Tequila Cazadores reached out to ask me to be a Los Altos Amigos Ambassador to share the amor of tequila. Y’all know my adoration for tequila y margaritas? After all, I have an entire page… Read More