Blog - Sweet Life

Agua Fresca de Aguacate (Avocado Cooler)

Sweet Life Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with the Hass Avocado Board. Thank you for supporting the companies I collaborate with to bring you exciting new recipes. Video By Gerald Flores. I love making aguas frescas. They are light, fruity, refreshing plus I find it a thrill to try out new combinations with each new season. Agua Fresca (fresh waters) are light-bodied drinks made from fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and grains. You can find them sold at local mercados throughout Mexico and are pretty popular here in South Texas. A tall glass of agua fresca is a great option for… Read More

How to Host a Tamalada

Photos by Jason David Page How to Host a Tamalada It wouldn’t be Christmas without tamales. The smell of tamales steaming on the stove-top reminds me of my childhood, my abuelita, mami and aunts and uncles all huddled in my abuelita’s kitchen. Tamales are a traditional dish served at Christmas, but they’re so much more than that for many families here in South Texas. Tamales are a deeply rooted connection with our past, our present and our future. The communal event of making tamales, a tamalada, goes beyond coming together to create this aromatic treat. Making tamales with family and… Read More

Turkey Blackberry Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Salsa Verde Spread

Sweet Life Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Unilever. Thank you for supporting the brands I collaborate with to bring you exciting, new recipes. Hosting Thanksgiving comes with plenty of perks and I love them all. From spending time with the family, board games with the kids, thanksgiving football game and let’s not forget about the best perk of them all – plenty of leftovers. Oh tasty, tasty leftovers make this gal super happy. I’m pretty much set for the next two weeks for meals, anything from turkey enchiladas, turkey tostadas, nachos to soup Thanksgiving leftovers are the best…. Read More

How To Make Homemade Pork Tamales

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. Makeup by: Monica De Jesus How To Make Homemade Pork Tamales The holiday season is upon us, which means regalos (gifts), spending time with family, friends, parties and plenty of tasty food to be shared. In the rush of the holidays I always take the time to slow down to embrace a celebration that is close to my heart, our annual tamalada. One of the best things… Read More

Spiced Thanksgiving Sangria

Sweet Life Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Sprouts. Thank you for supporting the companies I collaborate with to bring you exciting, new recipes. I’m kicking of November with a toast in celebration of Friendsgiving. I’ve teamed up with Sprouts for a virtual Thanksgiving celebration featuring 11 amazing bloggers. Fun! We’ve got you all covered for Thanksgiving from appetizer, side dishes and desserts. I was pleased to be asked to share a Thanksgiving cocktail. My first thought was to create a fun, fizzy cranberry cocktail featuring champagne, but when I browsed the Sprouts produce I was inspired to create… Read More

Slow Cooker Pozole Verde

A quick and easy slow cooker recipe for the Pozole Verde. Made with tomatillos, shredded chicken, and hominy, this slow cooker pozole verde is the perfect dinner to make on a busy day. Slow cooker pozole verde is one of my favorite easy weeknight dinners. Made with tomatillos, shredded chicken, and hominy, this slow cooker pozole verde comes together quickly and is even tastier the next day for lunch. A hearty Mexican soup, pozole (which translates to “hominy”) is a traditional soup that can be made with chicken or pork. Variations include pozole rojo (red pozole from chiles)… Read More

Trix Cake Bites

Sweet Life Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with General Mills. Thank you for supporting the brands I collaborate with to bring you exciting, new recipes. The importance of sharing my heritage with my children in explaining the tradition of Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began with a few hiccups. I found it difficult to find the words needed to speak about death. Death is never an easy topic to discuss and I found myself stumbling over words or becoming emotional. I found being in the kitchen kneading, chopping or stirring – working with my hands I… Read More

How to make Marigold Infused Wine

How to Make Marigold Infused Wine My abuelita is the epitome of beauty to me, She carried herself with grace, dignity and never lost her temper under pressure. She introduced me to things I still to this day treasure. As soon as October arrives I purchase a box of eat Count Chocula cereal, she used to buy us a box every October to enjoy on the weekends. At the beginning of every school year she would take me to pick out a pair of keds – one year I selected a bright yellow, the following year a vibrant turquoise. I… Read More