Brunch and such

So I took a little break from blogging since we had a holiday last week. Today I've posted 2 delicious entries!

Today, I had a brunch thingy at Jenne's along with my buddy Howie. Jenne made some yummy boiled then sauteed potatoes with onions/scallions(?), garlic and other yummy things. I brought chicken apple sausages and Jenne cooked them while I poked holes so they wouldn't explode everywhere. Howie brought Heath bar scones....epic: ) Howie made these scones, and let me tell you...so GOOoooooood. We sat around and ate and talked while Nino Bravo played in the background(Think Spain's answer to Tom Jones). Such a beautiful way to start the day. After eating we saw a movie. 'MOON' was entertaining. It starred Sam Rockwell, one of my favorite actors. He was great in the film. Howie decided to get a GI-normous popcorn which we only ate half and brought the rest home for my mom and sister. That was my day...now off to have more fun! ::::ZOOOOOOOOOOM:::::

Peruvian Ceviche

There's nothing I love more than lemons. I love to drink them in the form of lemonade. I love them in food. I love the way it smells. I love their color. I heart lemons...and anything that is citrus really. One of my favorite dishes that has lemons in it is CEVICHE! Lemons and summer go hand and hand. Ceviche and summer go hand in mouth.

Now it has been argued by many as to whom invented ceviche. Everyone knows the Peruvians invented ceviche...so all those who claim they invented it...ha ha dream on! Ceviche is basically fish cooked in lemon juice....or marinated. It's delicious and probably one of my favorite dishes I remember my father making, and making it very well. My mom has learned how to make it and she does it pretty well.

This time around she used Tilapia, cut in small cubed pieces, culantro, garlic, salt, pepper, 5 lemons, aji amarillo(a yellow pepper that is a tiny bit hot and gives magnificant color to food) and onions. She puts the cubed pieces in the mixture and leaves it marinating for a couple of hours. Typically Peruvians eat it with white rice. My mom cooked a seasoned rice with the ceviche. Delicious....SO FREAKIN' GOOD!

This ones Peruvian

Hey-OH!

This weekend was great. Had Tracie's chicken Biryani which was delicious. After that amazing culinary experience all I remember was laughing and giggling. Let's just say I accidentally ate something that could potentially get you under the influence. ACCIDENTALLY. Anyway *giggle* we had the chicken biryani with some rice...I believe jasmine rice, and a lovely salad that I think Jenne made which complimented everything nicely. My favorite thing to eat is salad and rice...I know it's a little weird. It's what my grandmother cooks for me on my birthday...along with her delicious steak picado...one of my all time favorite dishes. I'm getting hungry again!

Today my mom cooked lomito saltado. A dish which is a staple Peruvian food. You can find it in any Peruvian restaurant anywhere. Basically, what it consist of is some sort of meat...either chicken or more commonly used steak, onions, bell pepper, tomatoes, and potatoes. Potatoes are usually cut french fries style and the base of the sauce consist of olive oil, tomato paste, garlic and other spices...depending on the cook. My mom uses her typical spices: Cumin, salsa Alfado(a.k.a salsa Lizano) and curry. When she made it today she used chicken breast a more healthier meat. The potatoes were boiled and sauteed with a little olive oil just to get them a nice crust on the outside cut width-wise down the potato(I don't know what they call that style)....not the french fries cut. Side dishes: Large steamed zucchini and a tomato/cucumber salad. Salad had a little salt olive oil and lemon....I love lemon:) Very nice meal not at all heavy like the typical Lomito Saltado with steak that's served with rice. Fully satisfied and a beautiful meal for the end of today.

Sopa Negra

Last night my mom made pork roast and black beans and rice. I didn't have any because I went and got sushi with Howie and Jenne. I tried this Monk fish liver and it was delicious. Texturally it was like Pâté...tastewise it was fishy/livery.

So for breakfast....or should I say brunch...if you make black beans and rice, traditionally the next day for breakfast or brunch you make something of the leftovers. Most of the time my mom makes gallo pinto(I will write about that another day) BUT today she made sopa negra. Delicious! The black beans have all the flavor. They're seasoned with salt, pepper, olive oil, culantro, onions, garlic, cumin and curry powder. Then they're blended! After that you warm them up again and add the rest of the rice and hard boiled eggs. It's so creamy and delicious you want to just eat the whole pot. It's definite comfort food for me.

Baked Tilapia

Today was a wonderful day. I spent it taking frequent walks with Lola in the nice sun, while the cool breeze licked our precious little faces. Nothing better than that! Saw the tallest man ever! He looked like Thor. Really strange. Lola ran up to this really cute girl and I wanted to flirt with her but didn't...oh well. Maybe we will see her again and I won't be SO tongue tied.

Since it was a new week my mom and brother went grocery shopping at Pancho Villa. Everything they got was fresh and delicious. The bread, tortillas, and the veggies!

Today's dinner was going to be fish. Tilapia! A cheap fish but not necessarily a bad fish. She sprinkled salt, pepper, lemon, olive oil and baked the fish. It was served with baked yellow potatoes, garlic, onions, zucchini, green bell peppers sprinkled with salt/pepper/olive oil....or as I like to say "SPOO!". She made a basic salad w/ tomatoes, romaine lettuce and a basic vinaigrette. The fish was cooked perfectly and everything else was just nicely roasted with a golden crust that was delicious. Really easy cooking. Very simply ingredients. Check the pic!. No leftovers, we usually just make enough for everyone in the house. Sorry:( Now I'm craving something sweet:)

It's been my pleasure

I've been very lucky in life to have been surrounded by wonderful delicious food. Since birth I've been eating outstanding Costa Rican meals(from my Costa Rican mother) and Peruvian meals(from my Peruvian father). My mother never stopped at just CR meals. She always cooked different things her way. Italian, Irish, Chinese, American...whatever the food whatever the holiday, she would add her touch of Costa Rican flavor...which is splash of Salsa Lizano.

Later on in life I met more people that can cook amazing food. My friends. I then jumped into the wonderful world that is the FOOD world...or I became a big foodie. Which the term foodie is not my fav. I perfer foodlover....but that's me. I love going to someone's house and everyone is in the kitchen. Some of us(me) are just there to entertain....we're all there for support and giving that food love and attention. Awwww, that's pretty damn good I must say. Coming together with friends or family to eat is a beautiful thing.

I don't cook...let me explain. I don't cook as much as I should. I'm hoping this blog will change that. I've created this blog to just talk about food. I don't want to review or criticize I just want to talk about food and the experiences we have with it. This is an open invitation for anyone to invite me over for breakfast/lunch/dinner...then I will post pictures and write how wonderful the food was...what we talked and laughed about. Mainly, in this blog I will talk about what my mom cooked each day and make you all hungry and jealous. I plan on visiting my Mexican aunt and try some home cooked meals from her, my adopted Cuban family who stuff me to the gills with great Cuban food. GINNY! You better make me some enpanadas before your ass goes to Italy for a whole darn year! Tracie you know I love me some of your cooking. Jenne, oh delicious Jenne, and your cookies and pies and brownies!

Hopefully, you all will be entertained by my witty words and smartass remarks. There's so much to do. Until we eat again...