Peppers. Oh how they excite! Whether sweet or spicy, they can either make or break a dish. Capsicum, as they are commonly known, are one of the oldest vegetables/spices in the world with many health benefits.
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Bone Marrow is a favorite at high-end restaurants around the world. Usually served as a luxe starter dish with a side of toasted bread points. It can also be paired alongside a beautiful cut of beef transforming an ordinary meal into an elegant dish.
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Fennel is one bulb that has scarcely graced my kitchen countertop which won't be the case moving forward. After tasting this mildly sweet and crispy flowering plant on the grill I'm hooked. Not to mention all the wonderful benefits it provides. Fennel contains a combination of phytonutrients with antioxidant properties. The anethole - natural aromatic compound and flavoring substance - reduces inflammation and prevents the occurrence of cancer while dietary fibers absorb water in the digestive system and help to rid the colon of carcinogens.
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When planning a long vacation, it's tradition that my family plan some meals in advance. Abby, my grandmother, holds all our favorite Cuban recipes. I asked for her help when planning our 2 week Bahama trip where most of it would be spent on the boat diving, fishing and island hopping. In doing so, we made one of my favorite snack foods called Carne Fría. This is the perfect snack to cut up on the boat with some crackers and fresh lime squeezed on top.
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The old saying "you are what you eat" no longer holds much value. You have to go deeper, "you are what you eat is eating". An animal's diet not only affects up to 3 generations of its offspring, but also has an enormous impact on the person that eats its meat.
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"Bone Broth Will Resurrect The Dead" -South American Proverb.
There's a reason why your grandmother made you chicken soup when you were ill. The truth is traditionally prepared soups really do boost your immune system and make you feel better. When I say "traditionally prepared" I'm referring to a time before bullion cubes existed where bones were used to make the base of soups. The benefits of bone broth are extensive; with it's high concentration of protein, collagen, glycine and minerals. These nutrients aid in digestion, joint health, detoxification and mineral intake.
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I was in Cuba for a whole of two weeks with nothing more than a mere sighting of a wand that I could only assume was once used as a ceremonial tool by a Santero while practicing Santería. I quickly scanned the area in the hostel-like home I was in hoping to find other items to strike up a conversation on the subject, but no luck. All I saw was a cowry shell and feather wand in this "casa particular".
Then on my final day, after pushing my disappointment aside, I stumbled upon it. Actually, I'm not sure whether I found it or it found me... but it was real and authentic nonetheless.
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Paladares in Cuba were, and some still are, Cuba's speakeasies. They're where you should be eating when visiting the country as they provide a way for the people to run small businesses.
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"I've started dreaming in Spanish, which has never happened before. I wake up feeling different, like something inside me is changing, something chemical and irreversible. There's a magic here working its way through my veins. There's something about the vegetation, too, that I respond to instinctively - the stunning bougainvillea, the flamboyants and jacarandas, the orchids growing from the trunks of the mysterious ceiba trees. And I love Havana, its noise and decay and painted ladyness. I could happily sit on one of those wrought-iron balconies for days, or keep my grandmother company on her porch, with its ringside view of the sea. I'm afraid to lose all this..." -Cristina Garcia, Dreaming in Cuban
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"Bone Broth Will Resurrect the Dead" - South American Proverb
Here's a recipe that will boost your immune system, aid in digestion, rid you of joint pain, and give you beautiful hair, nails and skin.
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I love California for it's many weekend road trip options. You want to go the desert, snowboarding in Big Bear or Tahoe, surfing in Mexico? How about wine country?
One random Saturday my friend Iris and I decided to head to Los Alamos to do some antiquing, check out wine country and just get out of town. We had lunch at an amazing little restaurant that I highly recommend called Bell Street Farm. The food was divine. We roamed around the quaint little town checking out all the picturesque buildings.
Mushrooms. You either love them or you fear them, which I've found is mainly a texture thing. If you are living in fear of mushrooms then you're most definitely missing out on some unbelievable benefits.
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Fermentation is an art which has been practiced by nearly every civilization in history. It can be traced back to Neolithic times, the latter part of the stone age. Yes, that was quite sometime ago! Rarely is an ethnic meal eaten without at least one fermented food. An example of a fermented beverage is wine and beer.
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For thousands of years civilizations used the process of lacto-fermentation as a natural preservative for foods as it inhibits putrefying bacteria. This is probably the closest I’ll ever get to alchemy, which I’ve been fascinated with as long as I can remember, so this will not be my last fermentation post! Just think, you can create a superfood in your very home. Much like a medicine. It’s pretty exciting stuff! To see a list of the cultures who’ve embraced this process of preservation please visit my fermentation post HERE. It’s also packed with basic information on fermentation including the nutritional benefits.
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If you make almond milk on the regular then you've probably been asking yourself “What should I do with all this leftover almond pulp?” If you’ve been asking this question every few days as you make your fresh almond milk, rest assured you’re not the only one. As it turns out many people are wondering the same thing. I know some who have been making milk for years now and still haven’t come up with a recipe to utilize the leftover, rather expensive almond meal. In my last post that I did on almond milk I left you hanging for a recipe. Well, here is one I found for simple almond crackers. When I say simple, I mean it. This recipe calls for just 3 ingredients, yet you can tack on more if you like. It was my first time making these and I was quite pleased with the outcome. They are perfect for cheese or whatever it is you like to put on crackers. Feel free to include any herbs you wish. For this particular recipe I used some fresh thyme from my garden. Rosemary sounds like a good alternative as well.
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Almond milk is no stranger in my kitchen as I use it nearly everyday. The main issue is that I’ve been using the store bought processed version as I’ve been making the excuse that it’s too much hassle to make myself. This is just nonsense as my roommate makes it every few days right before my very eyes so I know what it entails.
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Bowls. The kind of bowls I’m referring to are the ones found at health food cafes. I don’t know about you but I’m constantly amazed by the variety of ingredients that each is comprised of as you go down the extensive list on the menu at one of these establishments.
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I showed up to the farmers market a bit late over the weekend and the fish lady was out of my usual buys so I decided to make something I’d never made before. Although I’ve eaten my fair share of whole fish, whether it be sauteed, baked, grilled or fried, I’d never actually prepared a whole fish myself. So, with what better fish to start than the small branzino?
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One of my staple batch cooking recipes happens to be my homemade tomato sauce. It's the absolute simplest recipe, with just 4 ingredients, and I'm certain to make enough to freeze so it's always on hand. The finished product can be converted into multiple sauces and soups. When serving it over pasta I typically only add crushed red pepper. When making an eggplant parmesan I've been known to also include some Italian seasoning to transform it into a sauce with more depth.
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Who doesn't love a great caprese salad? They're simple and easy to make and if you get your hands on some fresh ripe heirloom tomatoes you're golden! These salads are one of my favorites in the Summer months when tomatoes are abundant and chock-full of pure sweetness. Now, when you pair them with a creamy burrata cheese you're talking a whole new realm of deliciousness.
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