Croquetas de Jamón, Mama ía blog

Croquetas de Jamón Serrano, Serrano Ham Croquettes, the Last of the Leg of Ham

Croquetas de jamón serrano, Mama ía blogIt is a fact that many families in Spain make an effort at Christmas time to buy a leg of ham, and not just any ham, but the best ham they can afford. That might seem like a strange concept for my American audience, but most Spaniards would understand it. In Spain you can buy jamón serrano, cured serrano ham, of various qualities, all the way up to the crown jewel, what is considered a luxury product, a leg of Iberian ham.

Cerdo ibérico, Mama ía blog (more…)

Arroz Negro, Black Rice with Squid, Mama Ía blog

Arroz Negro, Black Rice with Squid, a Showstopper

Arroz Negro, Black Rice with Squid, Mama Ía blogI know, I know, two posts in a row with recipes for fish. Not only fish, but mollusks, so popular where I come from, Spain’s Mediterranean coast, but not so where I live, Indiana. There’s an explanation, I’m still on detoxification mode from sweets after Christmas, and hard on the Mediterranean diet, the tried and true. But don’t fret: Valentines is around the corner, then a number of family birthdays, and soon after, Easter. Lots and lots of opportunities for sweets. So tag along with me, follow the Mediterranean diet, and your heart (and your waist) will thank you.

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Octopus with potatoes, Mama ía blog

Octopus with Potatoes, the Unexpected Guest at our Christmas Table

Octopus with potatoes, Mama ía blogThe anticipation of Christmas break is always special, no matter what one’s age. As a child, it was a magical time in every sense —the miracle of the birth, the visit of the Three Magi, loaded with toys, and the school vacation! As an adult, the excitement doesn’t wane, but new layers are added: this year was the first one we had two of our children away at college, and therefore back home for Christmas. What better opportunity than to celebrate with special dishes they don’t usually eat?

Octopus with potatoes, Mama ía blog

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Lemon Layer cake with lemon curd buttercream, Mama ía blog

Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Curd Buttercream and Ginger cookies, a Christmassy Birthday Cake

Lemon layer cake with lemon curd buttercream, Mama ia blogAnother birthday, yay! I’ve learned to embrace them, feeling blessed to be counting one more (thank you, Byron!). Because what’s better than adding one more year of experience to your biography? Spending one more year with your loved ones? Live life fully no matter what your age? So happy birthday to me, and to everyone who can count one more. To celebrate it, a super special cake: lemon layer cake with lemon curd buttercream and ginger cookies.

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Roast turkey, Mama ía blog

Roast Turkey with Sherry Gravy, Happy Thanksgiving!

Roast turkey, Mama ía blogWe are talking turkey today. I know, not a very typical Spanish dish. But like many others I have been cooking for years, this one had to be on the blog, because even though we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Spain, we do celebrate Christmas. And I have been eating turkey for Christmas since middle school. Seriously!

Roast turkey, Mama ía blog

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Roasted carrots and fennel, Mama ía blog

Roasted Carrots and Fennel with Dijon Dressing, More for Thanksgiving

Roasted carrots and fennel, Mama ía blogThis post could be a continuation of my last one, as I am still trying out recipes for side dishes for Thanksgiving. So I will not expand too much, as you can refer to my last post to find out a bit more about how our family spends Thanksgiving.

With this recipe, I think I got another winner! This one, in fact, (more…)

Garlicky sautéed cauliflower, Mama ía blog

Garlicky Sautéed Cauliflower, Considering Thanksgiving

Garlicky sautéed cauliflower, Mama ía blogI call the recipe I’m sharing today coliflor fritita con ajos, by its Spanish name, and would translate it as garlicky sautéed cauliflower. It feels like such a Spanish dish that it almost feels wrong to translate it.

Thanksgiving, also known as turkey day, is fast approaching. This year it is even more special than before, because my two college sons will be home. We haven’t been together as a family since August! They will be home for only a few days, I know, but at this stage of our family life, it will be great, and we’ll take what we can get.

Aboite in the Fall, Mama ía blogFranke Park Fort Wayne, Mama ía blog (more…)

Flan caramel, Mama ía blog

Flan Caramel, A Classic

Flan caramel, Mama Ía blogFlan, or flan caramel, is one of those desserts I, and everyone my age, grew up with. Actually, it could be the dessert we grew up with. Every mom, every household, would make it, with just slight variations in the recipe. And not only at home, but every restaurant menu would have it, together with peach or pineapple “en almíbar”, in syrup, and different flavors of ice cream, most often chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. When I say this, I don’t mean that flan is an “old” dessert, made long ago, and that has been replaced by others in the 21st-century. Not at all! In fact, flan is a classic that never goes out of style, and shares restaurant menus with many other newer, fancy desserts.

Franke Park bike trails, Mama ía blog

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Rabo de toro, Oxtail, Mama ía blog

Braised Oxtail, Rabo de Toro, Cows and Cattle

Rabo de toro, Oxtail, Mama ía blog

A few months ago, I posted a recipe for oxtail, a traditional Spanish dish (you can click here to check it out). However, back then I couldn’t find oxtail, but I was set on to making the dish, so I settled with short ribs, and the result was really delicious, a good substitution for sure. But last week, at my regular supermarket, I found them!

Vacuno, Mama ía blog

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Blackberry lavender ice cream, Mama ía blog

Blackberry Lavender Ice Cream, Saying Farewell to Summer

Blackberry lavender ice cream, Mama ía blog

Lavender fields, Mama ía blog

Lavender fields in Brihuega, Spain

I am drawn to lavender. If I have to choose between scents, that will be the one I choose, whether it be hand soap or dish soap, laundry detergent or air freshener, lavender is my scent. I don’t know why, I think it is its freshness, but it could be its color, too (you just have to have a look at my closet!). But most of all, (more…)