Featured Posts – July 2010 Archive (24)

Summertime in Spain is filled with delectable flavors that can only be savored during these few months of the year. The aroma of sardines permeates throughout Spain during this time. Although it is commonplace to bake sardines, this particular grilled recipe traces its roots to the days of the Ancient Romans in what is now known as Murcia.…

Feliz 28! July is Peru’s independence month and this year we will be celebrating 189 years of independence from Spain, which was achieved on July 28, 1821.



In Peru, the celebrations normally start on July 27 and end on July 29. Schools and offices…

Calabacitas con puerco is a traditional comfort food with many variations, especially along the Mexico/Texas border. As a hearty stew in its authentic form, you can make it, freeze it, and keep it ready for a cold wintry day. When you start to crave it during warmer months, however, it's time to change it up a little - all Tex-Mex, of course!



By breaking out some of the ingredients for a grill, you can have both fresh air…

Torta de Ochenta Golpes

Yields two 9” cakes



Ingredients



Sponge

1 oz. fresh yeast [also…

If I could take you for a walk through the Plaza Mayor in Mérida, the bustling capital of the Yucatán…oh what a walk it would be. The sleepy peninsula wakes up in the city where modern life meets ancient culture. Just like the way your taste…

You must be thinking “minestrone soup”? In Peru? Yes, the soup shows some of the many influences of Italian cuisine in Peru, brought by Italians who migrated to Lima as far back as 1530s. The base color of the soup is green from the combination of spinach and basil. But there is so much more to it than just soup – it’s a meal in itself. Filled with meat, beans, legumes and vegetables, and served with…

By Hispanic Kitchen contributor Cindy Kennedy



Even when choices are limited, choosing the right olive oil to do the job can be confusing. Labeling isn't always clear. For instance, if it says "light," that does not mean calories are reduced. Here are a few basics that may be helpful when shopping for olive oil.



Olive oil comes from green olives only. Italy…

Barbeque is a summertime pastime for dining throughout the world. Some say the true origins were yet another discovery by Columbus on the island of Hispaniola, home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The cooking techniques of the Taíno Indians interested him and were imported back to Spain and remained as barbacoa. From Spain, barbacoa was…

Chicha Morada (“chicha” for short) is one of the most popular non-alcoholic drinks in Peru, especially on the coast. Made of purple corn, which gives it its distinctive color and lends the name “morada” or purple in Spanish, Chicha has been a staple of every birthday party in my family, whether for children or adults.



I remember my mom and aunts making Chicha in big pots on a portable…

Instead of potato patties, give yuca - also known as cassava - a try. This recipe is courtesy of our friends at Dominican Flave.

Ingredients:

1 pound grated yuca (cassava) flesh

1 egg

1 teaspoon butter (optional)

aniseed (to taste)

¼ +/- teaspoon ground sea…

Going for breakfast at a Cuban bakery is a daily ritual for many people in Miami. It's not a pleasure I often take, but it had been some time and my wife talked me into it. Twist my arm, she did. No, actually not much arm-twisting at all. I love Cuban pastries, the "pastelitos." Not very good for the waistline, but sinfully good nonetheless.



My wife had a cheese pastry and a "cortadito," (Cuban coffee with a shot of…

If you plan to watch the World Cup final, you might want to have these chicken rolls around. Enjoy!

Yields 3 servings



Ingredients:

3 chicken breasts, seasoned to taste

3 slices Swiss cheese

3…

Nothing beats coming home after a long day to dinner, already done, delicious smells throughout the house, and the anticipation of tasty, spicy, juicy meat rolled in a soft tortilla. My filling of choice for these out of this world plate of tacos? Carnitas! This delicious carnitas recipe could be braised on the stovetop in about 2 hours, but for those busy back-to-school days, or a day that you'd…

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients:

2 mangoes (peeled and sliced)

3 peaches (peeled and sliced)

½ cup Tequila

¼ cup triple sec

¼ cup lime juice

10 ice cubes, crushed

 …

This beef recipe from Cielito Rosado is richly satisfying and can be enjoyed with rice or vegetables. Like all good things, it does take a bit of time, though.

Yields 8 Servings



Prep. 15 Mins. Cooking: 2½ hours…