Agua de Sabor

It was on my second trip to Peru that I first tried Agua de Sabor. I was living and teaching yoga at Kapievi, an Eco-village in the Amazon, where the family, friends, and guests would come together to eat lunch. Always present on the table was a pitcher of Agua de Sabor or as I like to call it ¨fruit water¨. Through the years I began to realize that this tradition of having Agua de Sabor available at lunch time was not just Peruvian but common throughout all of Latin America including Mexico.   

So, what is Agua de Sabor and why is it not found or served in the USA?

The Best Way to Reheat Pizza

The Best Way to Reheat Pizza

This post takes me back where it all began! Twelve years ago I packed two bags and moved to Peru. I spent a lot of time cooking and was quite successful despite the limited resources. I was able prepared most of my own meals as my tiny studio apartment came furnished with a stove/oven. I maintained a healthy vegetarian diet by eating at home, but I did have one weakness, French fries. Yes thats right, I needed something greasy and salty to remind me of home. The French fries were like a comfort food. I began dreaming of other ¨comfort foods¨ that I could make and I added moms chili and veggie spinach lasagna to the list. Then, I was faced with reheating food. How do you reheat a single serving of lasagna? My apartment did not have a microwave and I really didn’t need one. The oven, I though, was another option, but it seemed like such a waste of energy to heat up the entire house for a serving of lasagna or a slice of pizza, I knew there had to be a better way.

Kitchen

Cooking in a Clean Kitchen

 Cooking in a Clean Kitchen

The idea for this post came to me after we arrived to our friend’s house for an afternoon social including drinks and snack foods. Well, we arrived right on time, and so did our hosts, yes they had been out and had just got home themselves. They immediately jumped into action and within 5 minutes the entire kitchen was a complete disaster. Noticing the time, I asked if I could help, but by now the counters were completely cluttered, in fact there was not even a spot for me to set my drink. 

This situation is not uncommon. Even while simply discussing food and different recipes with my friends, many of them admit that ¨they want to cook more¨ but are more intimidated by the mess they will create and the inevitable cleanup. There is only one thing that gives cooking a bad name, yes, the clean-up!

Chai Tea

What Is Chai Tea?

OMG, this is so good!! These are the words from a person who has just had their first taste of chai. What is Chai Tea? Let’s start with definitions; “Chai” is the word for tea in many parts of the world, and the term “masala chai,” meaning “mixed-spice tea,” is the proper term when referring to this drink made with milk, black tea, and spices. There really is nothing like a homemade cup of chai. Are you becoming curious? Still asking, what is Chai Tea? And what about that spice blend? Well, to answer these questions, let’s have a closer look at what makes up chai tea and the many benefits it can offer us.

Victoria’s Secret Salsa

Victoria’s Secret Salsa

Victoria’s Secret Salsa

The other day, out of the blue, I remembered the pure simplicity of La Victoria Salsa, a thick, rich salsa without the spice. If you are not familiar with La Victoria Salsa, at least in California, it was without a doubt the salsa of choice and always present at parties and holidays. Now, living here in Mexico where I have every ingredient, every type of chili pepper, and can create any salsa imaginable, you must be curious as to why I would be thinking about La Victoria Salsa. Well, we had a party the other day and I realized that there are many people who do not like spicy food, and so to offer a salsa for everyone to enjoy, to create a a salsa rich in flavor but without the spice became my goal.

First a little history, is it salsa or sauce? 

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