It is known as the most expensive spice in the world, but a little pinch goes a long way. I love the taste and color that Safron gives to food. It has a delicious honey-flower flavor. Spain and India are known to be the biggest producers of this spice.

It is a key ingredient in the world famous Spanish dish, Paella, which  is one of my favorite dishes.

Here are some dishes that I’ve made using Saffron: Read more…

Melado is syrup that is popular in Colombia. It is used with some of our traditional desserts and it is made with panela.

What is panela? Okay, panela is a product that is made with sugarcane, it is sweet and brown, it is sold in blocks or grated and the flavor is similar to brown sugar. However, panela has a lot of vitamins and minerals and is supposed to be good for you. In Colombian it is used in a drink called “agua de panela”, which literally means “panela water”. It is also used to sweeten coffee, chocolate and to make desserts. Agua de panela with lime is used by a lot of grandmothers in Colombia to help with flu symptoms.

La panela is also popular in other countries and is known by many different names. In Central America it is known as (papelón), Mexico (Piloncillo), Ecuador, Perú and Bolivia (chancaca). Read more…

Achiote is also known as annatto seed and is used to give a yellowish color to food. Some people use it instead of saffron as a food coloring. Achiote can be found in Latin supermarkets and in some American grocery stores.

This spice is an important ingredient in Colombian cuisine. We use it to color our rice dishes, soups, stews and more. Read more…

I adore cilantro and a Colombian kitchen isn’t complete without this delicious herb. Cilantro has a distinct flavor that can make this a love it or hate it herb. Colombia is not alone in its love of cilantro and use in most kitchens around the country. Other countries such as India, China, Mexico and many other Latin America countries also cook regularly with cilantro. Read more…

On those days when I feel homesick, it doesn’t mean I don’t like living in the United States and being an American citizen, but just that I miss my family and friends a lot. Those are the days that I will go to the closest Latin market and crazy or not, I go to the Colombian food aisle and feel like I am home. Just the other day I was walking in the supermarket looking for some Masarepa and I saw this little box of Triguisar and I was so happy that I wanted to buy a dozen! Maybe you are thinking, “what is the big deal, maybe she needs a shrink”. Read more…

Let me begin this post by saying that I really wish I owned an ice cream machine, but I don’t, so I used the David Lebovitz method, “How to Make Ice Cream without a Machine”.

Colombians love maracuya or passion fruit. We use it in sauces, juice and desserts and it is one of my favorite ice cream flavors. If you can’t find fresh passion fruit, use frozen pulp, which you can find at Latin markets or at your local supermarket. I used Goya brand. Read more…

Aguardiente or “Firewater”, is a strong alcoholic drink made from anise and sugar cane.

This is a traditional drink from the Andean region of Colombia.