Sopita de Letras The first week of September two things were certain growing up. School started and rain.  It always rained the first or second week of school casting a gloomy shadow on our early mornings and erasing any trace of the bright sunny days of Summer. As we all ran from mami’s car into the classroom trying our best not to get soaked the rain seem to make our day drearier.   The day slowly passed and all I could think of was that last bell, announcing the day was over.  All huddled in the car on the drive… Read More

Nieve Raspada de Aguacate y Coco   One of the highlights of spending a few weeks in Mexico growing up had to be the raspadas (raspas). Big cups piled high with shaved ice topped with the sweetest fruit syrup (almíbar).  My big sister loved tamarindo while my little sister always went for coco.  My little brother and I could never make up our minds, we wanted them all.    Over the weekend I decided to head into the kitchen and re-create this beloved childhood treat.  Head over to the Imperial website and check out my version of this popular dessert.   … Read More

*Disclosure: This post is part of my ongoing relationship with the folks from Sabra Hummus. I am thrilled to be a Sabra Tastemaker and excited to share recipes I have developed using Sabra Hummus. I am being compensated to develop recipes to share with you; all opinions expressed here are 100% mine. My mom makes a creamy roasted peanut sauce she serves over roasted chicken that my grandfather loved. He used to request on every visit us. It was made with fresh chiles, slowly roasted peanuts, pepitas, spices and crema. She would serve it with roasted chicken over a bed of… Read More

Pico de Gallo con Nopales Mi carnio  picked up a big box of fresh nopales this week and I instantly thought of adding a few pads to my fresh pico de gallo.   In the warmer months when the tomatoes are at their peak we serve a big bowl of pico de gallo every evening with dinner. The addition of nopales gives this pico de gallo a meaty bite. A huge dollop over a fresh bowl of beans is my absolute favorite way to enjoy pico de gallo, but my gals enjoy it with their fajita tacos or quesadillas.   Fresh… Read More

Biscoff Milkshake Pops Every week I visit my mother-in-law she makes sure I leave with a bag of groceries. She packs a few new items she spotted on her most recent grocery trip for the girls. A new cereal or breakfast bar tucked away for them to enjoy at home. For hubby its always gummy worms, gunny bears or gummy dinos; she knows he likes to snacks on them at midnight. And for me sprinkles, cupcake liners, food coloring or a new cookbook for my “recetas para el trabajo.” A few months ago she added a jar of Biscoff to… Read More

  Slow Cooked Tomatillo Beef My mom is the “la reina” (the queen) of make ahead weeknight dinners.  With 4 kiddos in school, her and my father both working full-time she made sure to always prep ahead.  After a full day of work, car-pooling kids from activity to activity she and the entire family was ready to head home to a hearty meal. This slow cooked tomatillo beef was one of her delicious ways to begin the week.  Having fresh salsa left over from Sunday breakfast and homemade chicken broth in the freezer, this meal was quickly thrown together in between… Read More

    Key Lime Pie Mami has a huge, bountiful lime tree in her backyard that we enjoy year after year.  She cares for that tree as if it was part of the family, an extension of her own children.  When I was younger, much younger I used to shrug my shoulders when she would ask for my help to gather limes.  She would carefully pull back the limbs, picking her limes one by one.  I on the other hand was in a rush to collect as many I could grasp so I was able to move on with my day…. Read More