Empanadas are a traditional appetizer in Colombia. We have different variations of this delicious dish throughout the country and these meat empanadas are one of them.

Empanadas de Pipián are typically associated with the del Cauca zone of Colombia and are made with corn masa and stuffed with roasted peanuts and potatoes.

I can resist many foods, even when they are very tempting and I am terribly tempted, but I cannot resist a Colombian empanada. They are the ideal snack. It’s hard for me to just have one! They are perfect at breakfast, lunch or as a snack during the day. One, two, three…six, seven…how many can you eat? I can eat a lot of these wonderful empanadas Read more…

Marranitas or Puerquitas are a popular appetizer from the Pacific zone of Colombia. Just because we call them appetizers, doesn’t mean you can only serve them as a snack or before a meal. As a matter of fact, if you eat six of these marranitas, you are not going to have any room for dinner

Marranitas literally traslate as “little pig girls” and are fried green plantains stuffed with chopped chicharrones. I know, I know, this is not exactly diet food, but they are absolutely delicious. We Colombians, don’t think about diet when we are eating our Colombian fritters Buen provecho! Read more…

Bistec encebollado or steak cooked with onion sauce, is a Colombian classic. It is also a dish that I love! it is especially good over white rice with tomato-avocado salad on the side.

My mom makes the best Bistec Encebollado! Thanks Mami

Buen Provecho! Read more…

This spinach cake is really simple and delicious. I have a weird relationship with spinach, sometimes I hate it and sometimes and I just can’t get enough of it. It all depends on how it’s prepared.

One of the ways I love to eat spinach is when it’s in this Spinach Cake This is a great vegetarian side dish. Enjoy it! Read more…

Do you remember my Colombian-style roasted chicken legs ? If not, don’t worry, here’s the recipe. Well, here is another variation of roasted chicken that we have in Colombia and this time I used a whole chicken. The skin was crispy and flavourful. It is a beautiful roasted chicken, don’t you think? Although I am sure my vegetarian husband wouldn’t agree with me

The aromas of chicken, beer, onion and spices together were fantastic and the house smelled delicious! Remember, it is important to let the chicken marinate overnight for better flavor.

I hope you enjoy it! Read more…

This time of year there is nothing better than cooking in your crock pot. One single pot, slow cooking and great smells. Now that’s comforting and that’s what I love to cook during the winter. This lentils and beef stew is really easy to make and delicious over white rice. The perfect weeknight dinner. Enjoy it! Read more…

Do you have pork spine?, I asked the butcher at my local market. He looked at me like I was from another planet and said “no, we don’t have that!” Okay, thank you, I said.

I was plannig to make Sopa de Maiz Pelao, a soup that my grandmother used to make. She would add pork spine(espinazo de cerdo) and the flavor was fantastic. So I started getting the rest of the groceries and thinking about that soup I was craving so badly. Well, I decided to buy pork ribs and use them instead.

I made the soup yesterday for lunch and it was delicious. I did not miss the pork spine at all. After I had my soup I called my aunt in Florida and told her the story. She laughed and told me that in this country pork spine are called pork neck bones.

So, if you want to make the soup the way Mamita used to make it, ask your butcher for pork neck bones, but if you prefer my way, use pork ribs. Either way, it is a wonderful soup!

For those who don’t know what hominy is, it is white or yellow dried corn and is used in Mexican pozole. In Colombia, we use it in arepas de maiz pelao, mazamorra or soups. You can buy it and cook it at home from scratch, or just buy it pre-cooked in cans. Read more…