A few weeks ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to go away for the weekend without the kids for the first time in over ten years. Although we really missed our boys while we were away, having this time together made us realize how important it is to set time aside whenever possible to bond as a couple. Since we can't always get away, I started thinking about ways we could do this right at home. This doesn't mean that we can't enjoy some adult treats after the kids go to bed. It's summer vacation here in New York City so what better way to cool off after a long, hot day than by enjoying some Piña Colada popsicles. These are strictly for adults as the recipe does include rum. PIÑA COLADA POPSICLES This recipe will make 12 piña colada pops: INGREDIENTS 2 cups pineapple juice 2 cups cream of coconut 1/4 cup rum (or coconut rum) Optional- maraschino cherries DIRECTIONS 1. In a large pitcher, add the pineapple … [Read more...]
Patriotic Jello Cups
Next weekend is Memorial Day and many people forget that this special holiday is for remembering the men and women who died while serving in this country's armed forces. Although most usually spend this day surrounded by family and friends outdoors, it's very important to be reminded of the sacrifices that these brave people have made for all of us. There is no better way to show your patriotism than by using the colors red, white and blue in everything that you do during this weekend. My ten year-old son loves eating jello so I knew that making a special dessert that includes his favorite dessert will be a great way to teach him about our servicemen and servicewomen. Patriotic Jello Cups Ingredients- 2-3oz packs blue jello 2-3oz packs red jello 2-small envelopes of unflavored gelatin Whipped cream Red, white, and blue sprinkles Directions- 1. In a small pot, boil 1 cup of water and mix in two … [Read more...]
Strawberry Bread Recipe
Lately, I have been seeing photos all over social media of my friends and colleagues baking bread. I'm not sure if it is a new foodie trend but, what I do know, is that there is nothing like fresh, homemade bread when it is right out of the oven. You guys know that my number one requirement when it comes to cooking or baking is convenience. The following recipe is not only delicious, but it is also very easy to make for busy moms. I'm sure you and your family will enjoy it as much as my family did. STRAWBERRY BREAD Yields: 2 loaves (9 x 5” pan) Prep: 30 minutes | Bake: 50 minutes | Total: 1 hour 20 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups fresh strawberries 3 1/8 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups white sugar 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 ¼ cups vegetable oil 4 eggs, beaten 1 ¼ cups chopped pecans Directions: - Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9 x … [Read more...]
Dairy Free Blueberry Pecan Popsicles
They are dairy-free, gluten-free, and processed sugar-free but these Blueberry Pecan Popsicles are far from taste-free! Giving up milk is hard-replacing that creaminess especially in ice cream and other milk based desserts has been a bit of a challenge. Then I discovered canned coconut milk and realized how delicious it was, it is now my go to replacement in everything from coffee to homemade whipped cream to these popsicles. While the kids also love this popsicle recipe I made this one with the grown-ups in mind and with just 4 simple ingredients- creamy coconut milk, crunchy pecans, raw honey, and fresh blueberries...and yes they are as good as they look! These dairy free popsicles are so delicious and quite healthy- that makes for a great snack, dessert, or even breakfast treat on a hot day! Ingredients: 1 oz. can coconut milk ½ cup fresh blueberries 3 T. chopped pecans 2 T. raw honey Directions: -Wash your fresh blueberries well, … [Read more...]
Cinco de Mayo Sombrero Cookies Recipe
Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo and, for those of you who don't know the history behind this day, it commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. I actually know facts like these from the years that I taught middle school Social Studies and planned multicultural lessons for my students. The Battle of Puebla is significant because it is the classic story of the underdog defying all the odds to come out ahead. In this case, Mexicans were greatly outnumbered by the French who had not been defeated for almost 50 years. It's a wonderful story that I love telling to my Mexican students to instill pride in their heritage. This year, I thought I would also create some delicious treats to give out to my students as we discuss the day's historical significance. Cinco de Mayo Sombrero Cookies Recipe Ingredients: 12 Pillsbury Ready To Bake Sugar Cookies (or can use store bought) … [Read more...]
7 Tips For Cleaning Produce
Do you love cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables? If so, you might be wondering what the best way is to clean these items. Making sure your produce items are properly cleaned is the best and safest way to enjoy them, and doing this only takes minutes. If you want to be sure you are enjoying the cleanest produce, take a peek below at 7 tips for cleaning produce. You will be amazed at how easy it is. 1. Buy a vegetable peeler Many contaminates can find their way into vegetable skins and even if washed, can still hang on. Buy a quality vegetable peeler so you can remove the peels from items such as cucumbers, zucchini, and of course potatoes prior to preparation. 2. Rinse peeled vegetables Just because you removed the dirty skin, you still need to wash the inside of your produce items. Rinse the items under running water for a good 30 seconds so clean away any debris or dirt, even the stuff that is too small for the eye to see. 3. Buy a produce brush A produce brush is … [Read more...]
Coffee Flavored Caramel Flan Recipe @Folgers #Folgers #Ad
Growing up in Spain, drinking coffee was an integral part of every breakfast meal and often part of an after-dinner ritual. Flan and coffee speak to me about my childhood. Since my sons are being raised here in the United States, it is important to my husband and I to be able to instill values and traditions from our culture to them. Cooking and baking together has always been an important way for us to give them insight into past experiences during my childhood abroad. This weekend, I decided to create a coffee flavored caramel flan with them because, what better way to pair two staples from my childhood in the form of a delicious dessert?! The best part is that we are now creating new memories together and we can include the coffee that we love in our home, which is Folgers. It is the perfect combination of the past and the present to create experiences that our boys … [Read more...]
Minion Cupcakes Party Recipe
My younger son's birthday is at the end of this month and he is going to be ten years old! I'm very excited about planning his special day for him and making it unforgettable for him and the rest of the family. Since he loves the Minions, I thought it would be a great idea to make some Minion cupcakes for his celebration. I've been doing a lot of research online and checking out lots of photos of the different desserts that are out there involving the Minions. I'm so excited about how these came out and I cannot wait to replicate them for his party. I think I'm going to have to make a whole bunch because, between my sons and nephews, there are eight boys in the family and they all have hearty appetites. I hope you guys enjoy making them in your home as much as I did eating them! Minion Cupcakes Ingredients: Box Cake Mix Box of Twinkies Buttercream Frosting or you can use the homemade recipe … [Read more...]
Spooky Pumpkin Grahams
We are two days away from Halloween and I am here going crazy trying to make sure my sons costumes arrive on time. Both of our boys have been sick the past two weeks so I have been very busy taking care of them and trying to sanitize our home of all the sick germs. As a result, I am way behind schedule this year with all my Halloween preparations. There is always time to prepare and enjoy a delicious treat so I took some time this week to make some Spooky Pumpkin Grahams for my guys. I figured they could use a pick-me-up after being sick and I was tired of the monotony of cleaning everything so I needed a distraction. Not only am I really pleased at how they turned out, but everyone loved them. I plan of making more to give out to the Trick or Treaters on Saturday. Spooky Pumpkin Grahams graham cracker squares 12 oz package of Wilton orange candy melts (body) 12 oz package of Wilton green candy melts (stem) 12 oz … [Read more...]
Celebrate Latino Culture – Rice Pudding Recipe #HerenciaLeche @SiempreLeche #Ad
*This is part of a sponsored collaboration with MilkPEP and DiMe Media. However, all opinions expressed are my own. Enjoying delicious food is an integral part of Latino culture. There are so many recipes that immediately catapult me back to my childhood and remind me of my rich heritage. One particular dessert always comforts me and overwhelms me with happy memories about joyful family gatherings and being surrounded by those who truly have mattered in my life. For these reasons, I love to prepare and enjoy rice pudding with my own family in the hopes that they will also be reminded of these good times we spend together whenever they enjoy this decadent treat. The best part about making rice pudding for my family is that it contains milk and its 8 grams of high quality protein with every serving. I'm trying to raise strong boys and I know that the human body needs protein, which is found in milk, to build muscles and … [Read more...]
