Desserts And Good Food

      Sofrito is the base on Puerto Rican Cuisine. This method of cooking have been in use for thousands of years around the world. What makes Puerto Rican Sofrito unique is the combinations of ingredients and the passion that's goes in making it.      Sofrito have two parts, first the base, some people call recaito. This part include, a combination of onions, garlic, peppers and herbs. The second part is to slowly fry the ingredients, adding annatto oil, cook ham, tocino(bacon), green olive, capers, tomato sauce and others ingredients (depend of the recipe ). Ingredients: 4 yellow onions, peeled, large dice 1 head of garlic, peeled 1/2 bunch of Culantro, rinse well and drain  1/2 bunch of Cilantro, rinse well and drain  1/2 pound of Ajices dulces, rinse cut in half and seeded  4  Cubanelle peppers, rinse,  seeded and chopped 1/2 tablespoon dry oregano Combine all the ingredients in the bowl of the food processor and g...

     The other day I was looking in a box where I have all the recipes I been writing for many years. I found a folder with my plantain recipes and I thought it would be a good idea to share a recipe that uses ripe plantains. In this recipe you are going to learn how you can transform a plantain in a complete meal.       The first recipe I want to share with you is called "Canoas de platano" (Plantains Canoes). This recipe is both savory and sweet due to the natural sweetness of ripe plantains. When you bite into it, your mouth will feel a myriad of flavors and textures.                                                         Ingredients: 4 ripe plantains, peeled 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese  Stewed ground beef, refer to Stew ground beef recipe Preheat the oven at 350°F Make a long cut on the peel of t...

     Today I want to share a recipe for a very special salad. It has been on our Puerto Rican table since before I can remember. It is one of those meals you never change, because there is nothing you can do to make it better.                        Ingredients: 1 pound of bacalao, recipe below             2 large avocados, medium dice 2 large Roma tomato, small dice                 1 small yellow onion, small dice                    1/2 cup olive oil  1 tablespoon lemon juice In a large salad bowl add all the ingredients and gently fold until combined. Serve as a sandwich, over a toast as an appetizer or simply by itself. Enjoy.  About bacalao and how to prepare it:      Bacalao is a dried salted fish used very widely in Puerto Rican cuisine. When I...

      Make this easy pastry recipe for you next party using my homemade pineapple jam recipe. You are going to delight your friends.      dessertsandgoodfoodblogspot.com Ingredients: 1 box puff pastry 8 ounces cream cheese 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup simple syrup (recipe below) 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon of water Defrost the puff pastry 20 minutes on the counter. Meanwhile in a small bowl mix the cream cheese and vanilla. Set aside. Lightly sprinkle the work surface with flour and unfold the puff pastry.  Lightly dust the rolling pin and roll over the dough a couple times to smooth out the surface. Cut the dough in 3 x 4 inch rectangle and put 1 teaspoon of the filling in the center. With the pastry brush lightly apply the egg wash over the edges of the pastry. Fold over the pastry and seal with a  fork. Apply egg wash over the turnov...

        At the end of the second war in Puerto Rico rice was the food to fill your tummy.  During that time all the resources went to the soldiers who were fighting for our country  so food was very limited. If you were lucky white rice with stewed beans would be at your dinner table every night.      Throughout the years we developed many rice recipes.  No longer do we just eat white rice and stewed beans.   The recipe that I want to share with you today is one of the first ones my mother developed in her kitchen.  dessertsandgoodfood.blogspot.com Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil oil 1/2 cup ham steak, small dice 1/3 cup yellow onion, small dice 1/4 cup carrot, about 1 small, dice 1/4 cup celery, small dice 1 tablespoon achiote oil 1/4 cup red bell pepper, dice 1/4 cup green bell pepper, dice 1 large clove of garlic, peeled and minced 1 tablespoon of fresh cilantro, minced  1/3 cup of green olive...

      In Puerto Rico we call  the seeds of the Annatto plant  achiote . With these seeds we make achiote oil to add color and  flavor  to  sofrito, stews, sauces and many other recipes.                                                                                                                     dessertsandgoodfood.blogspot.com Ingredients: 2 tablespoon of achiote  3/4 cup of olive oil or vegetable oil In small saucepan over medium heat combine oil and annatto seeds and cook the mixture until the oil turns deep orange color. When the seeds begin to sizzle remove the pan from the heat. Let cool to room temperature. Using a sieve...

     Plantain spiders are crispy and delicious one of the favorites appetizers on Puertorican table. There is nothing better than a  bowl of hot soup and the contrasting texture and flavor of the plantain spider. Top then with some gazpacho salad or your favorite salsa for your next party, they going to be gone before you know it.                                               dessertsandgoodfood.blogspot.com Ingredients: 1 green Plantain 1 teaspoon adobo or salt, see note below 1 cup of water Oil for frying  Grate the plantains using one of the largest settings in your grater. Place in water with 1 tablespoon of adobo or salt, see note Pour about 2 inches of oil into the fry pan and turn the heat to medium high. Drop a little of the plantain mixture into the oil and when the mixture starts to sizzle the oil is r...

          Plantains are from the banana family. They are larger than regular bananas and their skin is thick. They came to Puerto Rico when the Spaniards discovered America.      You find plantains through the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, Africa and in other places with tropical climates.       From green plantains you can make appetizers like tostones (fried plantains) arañitas (little spiders) and soups (like mofongo con caldo) . Even a sandwich called the jibarito (sandwich made with flattened green plantains) is made with plantains as the "bread". When plantains are ripe you can still use them to make entrees or desserts.                             dessertsandgoodfood.blogspot.com Ingredients: 2 green plantains  1 cup of water mixed with  1 teaspoon of adobo or salt (see note below) Oil for frying (Avocad...