Blog - Sweet Life

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

How to make Dyed Corn Husk Flower Vases

Photo by Jason David Page Hola! I’m back with a fun and festive way to showcase all those beautiful corn husks you purchase to make tamales. For our annual tamalada I wanted to create something to display my Lone Star Living Bouquets. Lone Star Living Bouquet is the first floral bouquet dedicated to celebrating your Texas life sold exclusively at HEB. I am obsessed with their flowers and showcase them in my kitchen weekly. My little sister took the lead in this DIY and we both loved the final result so much that I featured them in my tamalada post…. Read More

How to make Champurrado

Champurrado is a traditional Mexican chocolate based atole that is comfort in a cup. Atoles such as champurrado are thickened with masa harina (corn flour) and flavored with spices, fruits or chocolate. Served for breakfast in the cold months champurrado is thick, creamy, and rich and coats the belly in pure comfort. When the temperatures drop nothing beats a warm cup of champurrado. Who doesn’t want to enjoy chocolate for breakfast!? My abuelita made us champurrado on chilly mornings before we would head out to early Mass. I clearly remember sitting at her table grasping the warm cup, slowly sipping… Read More

Tamales de Pollo con Mole (Chicken Mole Tamales)

I recently visited Oaxaca with Eat.Drink.Cook.Mexico. It was a magical trip filled with amazing food, daily market tours and plenty of mezcal tastings. I was in a group with fellow food lovers who made the trip even more memorable by sharing their love of food with me. The highlight of the trip for me was that I was able to travel to Oaxaca with my daughter. Visiting Oaxaca for the first time with her made the trip truly special. To see her excitement as we cooked, shopped at the local markets and climbed the stairs of the ruins warmed my… Read More

Join Us for the Smithfield #CocinaConSmithfield Twitter Party

Sweet Life Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with DiMe Media & Smithfield. Thank you for supporting the brands I collaborate with to bring you exciting new recipes. It’s time to start preparing para los dias festivos! Are you ready?! I know I am! There’s a lot of things I love about the holidays, but my favorite thing is entertaining, so I’m always on the hunt for new recipes that I can serve alongside my favorite traditional dishes. Start looking through your recipes and pictures to share with us! We’ll be chatting recipes, all-things-bacon and ham, and home entertaining tips… Read More