Candied pumpkin fiber almond turnovers, Mama Ía

Pastelitos de Cabello de Angel, Candied Pumpkin Fiber Almond Turnovers

Candied pumpkin fiber almond turnovers, Mama ÍaThanksgiving is two days away and I haven’t seen it coming. Blame it on the warm weather, or on recent travels, or on the busyness of life. Blame it on the elections, still fresh. Thanksgiving is in two days, and I had better get ready.

We have this tradition, my friend Shelby and I, where we take turns hosting Thanksgiving. Her house or my house, (more…)

Cod in salsa verde, Mama ía

Cod in Salsa Verde, and Valencia’s Ciutat Vella

Cod in salsa verde, Mama íaIt is the season, I know, for pumpkins and squashes, for persimmons and stews, and soups, of course. It is autumn, after all. And yet, I’m thinking fish, and had to make bacalao en salsa verde, cod in salsa verde, green sauce —cod, as you know, is one of my favorite kinds of fish. When I’m in Spain, I buy it in salt, then soak it for hours, changing (more…)

Apple ring fritters, Mama ía

Apple Ring Fritters —and Celebrating Johnny Appleseed

Apple ring fritters, Mama íaAn apple recipe, finally. I was resisting it, not really wanting it to be autumn. But autumn is here, and I’m welcoming it now with open arms. It’s not that I dislike autumn, not at all. It’s the anticipation of winter that I dread, and the longing for summer. But I’ve made peace with it, and celebrate with these buñuelos de manzana, apple ring fritters.

Of all the Fort Wayne festivals, the (more…)

Tomato basil soup, Mama ía

Tomato Basil Soup —easing into Autumn

Tomato basil soup, Mama íaEarly October, and the fields are beginning to show it. Colors have started to turn from green to shades of yellow and golden brown, leaves are drying, and corn stalks look as if ready to crumble under the hands of a giant. And yet, we have been enjoying summer temperatures. I’m not kidding you! This week we’ve been enjoying (more…)

Fresh white anchovies in vinegar, Mama ía

Fresh White Anchovies in Vinegar, Boquerones en Vinagre

Fresh white anchovies in vinegar, Mama íaI have to warn you about this post: if fish is not your thing, particularly the way it comes out of the sea, then stop right here. Don’t keep reading. Don’t scroll down. The images might hurt your sensibility.

I once had a colleague, my counterpart in England (in a previous “life” I used to work in Madrid for a British (more…)

Blanco y negro, Mama ía

Blanco y Negro, Espresso Granita with Sweet Cream Ice Cream

Blanco y negro, Mama íaI don’t know about you, but I am finding it hard to focus on autumn recipes, fall products and produce. Today I did my first trip to the pumpkin farm. It was supposed to be my only trip to the pumpkin farm this season, but as it turned out, today was my first of at least two. See, the farm was still closed to the public! I should have been surprised, (more…)

Tomato and onion salad, Mama ía

Tomato and Onion Salad with Olives, always reliable

dsc_0479webI was hesitant to post the recipe for tomato and onion salad with olives, because honestly, it can’t really be called a recipe. After all, I’m just slicing and tossing together ingredients, there’s no elbow grease, not much elaboration, and the key is in the ingredients, which have to be of the best quality. But when I think about salads in general, (more…)

Pear and Almond Cake, Mama Ía

Pear and Almond Cake, and Art and History in Fort Wayne

Pear and Almond Cake, Mama íaI don’t know about you, but when it’s hot outside, and still summer, I don’t feel like having heavy desserts, like anything chocolate, or cakes, and the like. Don’t get me wrong, I love those almost at any time of year and any time of day! But my body asks for something fresh, cold even, fruit, or fruity desserts, or ice cream. However, (more…)

Summer potato salad, Mama Ía

Summer Potato Salad, and a day in Peñíscola

Summer potato salad, Mama ÍaI don’t know if it’s just me, but I associate potatoes more with fall and winter than with summer. When I think of potatoes, I imagine some deliciously roasted chunks, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with rosemary, baked to perfection, with a soft, moist inside and a somewhat crusty outside. And yet, potatoes appear in salads all through the summer, from (more…)