Carolyn Swaney's Blog (41)

Spanish chefs always seem to hit the mark when it comes to dishing out immense flavor with the simplest of ingredients. So many of the most fabulous plates from the Iberian peninsula incorporate only a few ingredients, whose flavors meld together in the most amazing way. Higos…

It's a well researched fact that we, as humans, make judgement on a first impression within the first 15 seconds of our experience with another person, with a place, or in a situation.  Restaurants that know that fact entice you with delicious appetizers, tasty drinks, and if…

Summertime barbecues are the greatest.  They bring family and friends together, allow us to revel in the great weather, dine outdoors, and to blend special flavors that break out of the ordinary.  Wow your friends at your next barbecue when you skip the burgers and dish up some…

The beauty of this Colombian style lentil soup is that it is super easy, and is just as tasty when it's only lukewarm as it is when it's hot.

A version of…

You say churrasco and the ears of Latin food lovers perk up. Charred steak, tender enough to cut through with a fork, but more packed with flavor than you can imagine...mmmm, mouth watering yet?

Just about every South…

Early summer isn’t just the best time of year because of the weather. The food – especially the produce – is off…

Nothing says Puerto Rican food like this Boricua-style blend of velvety tomatoes, citrusy capers, and tangy olives.

Like so many Puerto Rican dishes, the roots of Mojo Isleño, or Island Sauce, are dug deep in the gastronomic history of the…

Nothing says comfort food like beef, braised in its juices, with some quintessential South American favorites -- Worchestershire sauce and Coke. The real deal is sometimes made with local sodas, but here in the US, good old Coca-Cola has to do. The sauce has a rich sweetness that is…

What’s not to love about tacos? A taco is a meal all wrapped up in a tasty tortilla:  vegetables, filling meats or seafood, and a little starch to satisfy. Throw on a little salsa or guacamole and you’ve got a taste explosion. Hands down, my favorite food. Luckily,…

Spicy and delicious, but shockingly easy and healthy, these chiles rellenos bring almost a modern twist to one of my favorite Mexican dishes. However, these rellenos are not for the faint of heart. Both the chiles and the sauce are super spicy, but the heartiness of the…

EVERYONE loves fajitas, it's easy to see why. It's an entire meal rolled up in a fluffy tortilla -- veggies, chicken (or beef, or shrimp...) some spicy salsa, and you're in a grilled up heaven.

This…

The Bolivian highlanders must have been the most energetic people, if they were noshing on quinoa, the most energy producing grain. Who needs noodles, when you have these flavorful nuggets of whole grain, bringing hearty flavor and meat free filling to an otherwise delicious…

A good old shrimp cocktail is the best appetizer... cheap, quick and easy. Of course, growing up, shrimp cocktail meant cold shrimp getting soggy and rubberyas it rested on a bed of ice, and a store bought jar of cocktail sauce that had to be beaten to be…

Pupusas may be a typical choice for Salvadorean cuisine, but they certainly have changed my life since began making them a few years ago. You know how busy life can get.  So busy that, in this country at least, more than $110 billion dollars will be spent on fast food in one year.…

For this version, the fish, huachinango, or red snapper, isn't masked by the usual sauce, but rather accompanied by a fresh tasting, salsa-style sauce that incorporates all the flavors of the traditional plate, but still lets the flavor of the fresh fish shine. Not to…

Mil Colones Stew was born from a delicious Pollo Guisado that I had at a soda near the beach in Costa Rica. The little old Tica lady who owned the home near Playa Avellana served up the delicious, much needed guiso that I needed. In the summer heat, dehydration got the better…

I love Thanksgiving meals that offer a new twist on traditional flavors, adding even more comfort to the ultimate comfort meal. I love watching our family's holiday food traditions evolve over the years to suit our changing tastes. And I love when those changes take our Thanksgiving spread from good to sublime. Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash certainly fits the bill. What makes this quinoa-based stuffing so fantastic is more…

Butternut Squash Tamales

Makes 12-20 tamales, depending on size

Dough:

2 cups butternut squash, diced

3 cups vegetable broth

6 green onions, chopped

1 tablespoon adobo sauce, chiles reserved for filling

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3 cups masa…

Sancocho de Gallina is an extremely flavorful, comforting chicken soup-meets-stew, that is hearty and delicious. A myriad of Colombian staples, potatoes, corn, yuca and chicken dominate your bowl and fill you up, while the gorgeous smells of this tasty soup waft through your kitchen.

This recipe was adapted from the fabulous Erica at mycolombianrecipes.com,…