Blog - Sweet Life

Homemade Hibiscus Cinnamon Syrup (Plus 3 Cocktails to Use It In)

Photos By Jason David Page Homemade Hibiscus Cinnamon Syrup When it comes to cocktailing at home – I prefer to make my own simple syrups, they simply taste better than store-bought versions that contain fillers and additives. I always have homemade simple syrup on-hand, plus a few seasonal variations that make shaking up cocktails a breeze. My family and friends love my homemade simple syrups and often ask me to make them a few bottles to take home. This year I thought it would be nice to create a holiday simple syrup to gift all my cocktail loving friends and… Read More

Atole de Tamarindo

Sweet Life Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Imperial Sugar. Thank you for supporting the brands I collaborate with to bring you exciting, new recipes. Photos by Jason David Page Nothing warms you up like a piping warm cup of atole. Atole is a warm drink from Mexico made from ground corn mixed with spiced water to for a thick, creamy beverage. Enjoyed throughout the holiday season with pan dulce and tamales atole is a much-loved breakfast in Mexico. Atole can be made sweet or savory. Popular flavors include blackberry, fresa, pecan, pears, pineapple and my favorite tamarind. My… Read More

Coquito Cupcakes with Toasted Coconut

Sweet Life Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Imperial Sugar. Thank you for supporting the companies I collaborate with to bring you exciting, new recipes. Photos by Jason David Page You know it’s the holidays when the coquito makes an appearance. Coquito is a traditional Puerto Rican beverage similar to Mexico’s Rompope or America’s eggnog that is served throughout the holidays. Made with various milks (condensed, coconut and evaporated), eggs, vanilla extract and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg Coquito is often spiked with rum. Today I am adding coquito to cupcakes to create a festive coconut cupcake that would make… Read More

Guava and Pear Infused Vodka

Photos by Jason David Page Guava and Pear Infused Vodka I’m gifting the gift of infused vodka this Christmas. Last year I made cranberry infused vodka and it was such a hit with my friends I decide to make two different kinds this year, pear and guava. Today I want to share with you a simple pear and guava vodka infusion that you can easily make in less than five minutes. Ready to sip on in five to seven days these infusions make for great gifts. What I love about infusing is that it can be made with the season… Read More

How to Make Blackberry Pecan Empanadas {Video}

Sweet Life Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with HEB. Thank you for supporting the companies I collaborate with to bring you exciting, new recipes. Photos by Jason David Page. Video By Gerald Flores. Blackberry Pecan Empanadas ‘Tis the season for familia, tamales and plenty of empanadas. One of my fondest childhood memories, is spending time in the kitchen with my abuelita and mami making tender, flaky empanadas stuffed with rich pumpkin, apple or cajeta fillings. Over the years, I’ve shared a few recipes here on Sweet Life, and they’re one of my favorite things to serve during the… Read More

How to Make a Corn Husk Wreath

How to Make a Corn Husk Wreath Photo by Jason David Page ¡Hola! I’m back with a fun and festive way to show case all those beautiful corn husks you purchase to make tamales. For our annual tamalada I wanted to create something to display on my front door to Welcome my guests. I spotted this corn husk wreath on the Martha Stewart site last year and have always wanted to make it, plus I’m a tad bit obsessed with the Martha Stewart Living Magazine and have many of her cookbooks. My little sister took the lead in this DIY… Read More

How to Make Flavored Sugar (Lavender & Toasted Coconut)

Photos By Jason David Page How to Make Flavored Sugar I firmly believe that the very best gifts are of the edible sort. Nothing makes me happier than receiving a homemade edible gift – a Christmas tin of pan de polvo, a dozen of warm tamales or jar of homemade mole I simply love that someone took the time to bake, cook or create something special just for me. My mami was a rockstar when it came to gifting homemade edible gifts to her family and friends. Every year she gifted cookies, tamales and blackberry jam to her family and… Read More

Fritos Candy

Photos by Jason David Page In 1932 C. E. Doolin of San Antonio, Texas purchased a recipe and equipment form a local gentleman named Gustavo Olguin. Doolin had spotted Gustavo making an extruded corn chip out of masa. He would fry them and sell them in snack size bags. Gustavo called them Fritos, “little fried things,” and Doolin thought these would be a perfect snack item to sell in his confectionary store. He carried the equipment home and began testing the recipe. His mother would later perfect the recipe. Doolin soon hired farmers across Texas to grow a special corn… Read More