Blog - Sweet Life

Loaded Baked Potato

Loaded Baked Potato I’ve been missing Edinburg, Texas big time lately. The people, the small tienditas I used to frequent and the food. It’s always about the food, que no? The first day we moved in mi carino drove out to a nearby spot to pick up dinner. He came back with greasy stained brown sacks loaded with hand tossed gorditas, sopes with frijoles y queso fresco and papas. Every combo meal in the area came with a Texas sized papa, loaded with cheddar cheese, sour cream, gobs of bacon bits and green onions. I was accustomed to the tiny containers… Read More

Chef Johnny Hernandez The Frutería – Botanero

Chef Johnny Hernandaez The Frutería – Botanero I was recently invited to the Grand Opening of Chef Johnny Hernandez’s The Frutería – Botanero in San Antonio for a Dinner with Tequila Pairing. Umm if you know anything about me, know that I ADORE tequila and couldn’t pass up the chance to sip on tequila, nibble on great food and finally meet Chef Johnny. Here’s a small recap of the event. As the guests arrived we enjoyed a Passed Cocktail ~ Jarrito cocktail, fresh grapefruit, orange and lime juice shaken with tequila. South Texas in a glass, fresh grapefruit juice. Chef Johnny… Read More

Coconut Pecan Chocolate Quesadillas

Coconut Pecan Chocolate Quesadillas Oh sweet chocolate madness! I don’t think there is any more suitable way to end the weekend without a bit of chocolate. Don’t you agree? A nibble, a bite or even a spoonful of silky sweet chocolate makes the bitter end of the weekend bearable. We’re not a Monday loving family. Who is? The family had been requesting quesadillas since Tuesday, but I turned a deaf ear. Everyone once in awhile I do this, it’s my small way of rebelling. Doesn’t happen much. The weekend came, we set about our business and I heard the same… Read More

Broiled Grapefruit Margarita with Candied Grapefruit Slices

Broiled Grapefruit Margarita with Candied Grapefruit Slices It’s National Margarita Day! Heads up my tequila loving, margarita making, salt rim dippers…. Today we celebrate everything Margaritas!! Margaritas brimming with the flavor of grapefruit, sweet! I think broiled grapefruit often gets a bad rap. Often considered boring, bland and only for breakfast. Sad. I love it! Well today we are throwing caution to the wind and serving up this breakfast treat with a splash of tequila, heck ya! Big juicy grapefruits topped with brown sugar and broiled until plump, golden and sticky good. Add tequila, lime juice and Cointreau, can… Read More

Avocado Grapefruit Tostadas

Avocado Grapefruit Tostadas I made a lot of tostadas (bean and cheese) as a newlywed. Not super creative, but at the time neither was I. They were easy to pull together, perfect for our tight budget and one of the few things I could cook at the time. Now being married 13 years I am happy to see things in our kitchen have gotten tastier. These tostadas are bright, colorful and super tasty, as my 8yr old would say. A layer of avocado sets the base for sweet segments of grapefruit, sliced red onion and queso. A quick sprinkle of cilantro… Read More

Agua de Toronja y Jamaica

Agua de Toronja y Jamaica I love aguas, in every shade of the season. The vibrant colors make me smile, they taste of sweet memories and with each sip I am transported to my youth. A slightly sour agua reminds me of my summers spent with Abuelita Cuca in Brownsville, Texas. She always served agua de Limón with our meals. Just enough sour sweetness to wash away the summer heat. Agua de sandia reminds me of weekends spent strolling the Centro in Matamoros. Little shops lined the street and at every turn there was something new to see, buy or… Read More

Grapefruit Buttermilk Granita

Grapefruit Buttermilk Granita Its grapefruit season in South Texas and I am slurping up every last drop of these little ruby red gems. In salads, in my morning juice or to vamp up my dinner fajitas grapefruits are a big part of my table at the moment. My grandfather adored grapefruit, my mom enjoys them as an after dinner snack and I buy them by the truckload. We are obsessed! A sweet, sweet, obsession. Add buttermilk to the mix and it only gets sweeter. A perky, pink, punch of Texas flavor.

Sopa Seca de Fideo

Sopa Seca de Fideo Growing up fideo was a weekly meal in our home. A celebrated pantry staple that works wonders for raising a family on a tight budget. A box of fideo ran for as little as 17 cents a box. Funny today they still run about the same price, but now you can buy them by the case (which I do). My mom made still makes the best sopita de fideo flavored with tomatoes, garlic, onion and cilantro. Swimming in chicken broth this sopita is true Mexican comfort food. Introduced to babies as one of their first soups… Read More