Flan Me Up Baby

Creamy Spongy Caramel Covered Craziness. Love me some Flan and have been craving it for a while. Figured out why we don’t make it often- I made two (8 inch) custards and we ate one whole one between us! When I say us I mean me and William!!! Ahhhhh!!! 🤪

I prefer the spanish version with eggs, milk and real vanilla. No cream cheese in this version just a few simple ingredients and you have pure magic….I like to add a pinch of salt to the custard blend and a wee bit of fresh squeezed orange juice and a whisper of spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. Really just a hint 😉 I also add a pinch of salt to the sugar once it begins to bubble and you gotta watch that sugar (like a hawk!!) so you don’t burn it and then move quickly to pour it in your flan pan before adding the custard and baking. Bake one hour in a water bath fully covered and then check to see if it’s done (toothpick, butter knife, should come out clean) let cool COMPLETELY!! This does not mean stick it in the fridge and rush it. Lol. Let it chill out on the counter before you flip it and then be sure to scrape alllllllllllll that yummy caramel sauce out on top and then slice and share. Or try to share. 😂

#flan #spanishflan #custard #dessert #bakedgoods #halfbaked #eggs #caramel #madewithlove #homemade #sweets #ingredients #instachef #whatsfordinner #dinneratmyhouse m #inthekitch #foodblogger #foodfotos #foodphotographer #foodpix #mmmmmmmm #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #chef #foodblog #foodculture #inthekitchen #recipeshare #latininspired #latin

Caldera de Pollo

This was a giant caldera of Pollo Guisado I made in preparation for a stay at home kinda weekend watching all the wind and rain and weather gather all around me….
⚡⛈💧🌦 So rich and vibrant, so colorful and full of flavor and oh so filling 😊
Served with short grain white rice and soft centered Cuban bread to soak up all the juices… mmmmmmm
We kicked it up a notch (of course) with some scotch bonnet, and William ate the entire pepper after it simmered in the stock for a bit. 🔥🔥🔥 guess we like that heat!! *A #vegetarian alternative would be an adobo marinated and pan fried tofu as the protein star and a (preferably) homemade veggie stock. I guess we swing both ways 😏😉😁 Have an awesome day! And stay classy Jacksonville ❤

#caldera #polloguisado #pollo #sopa #stew #soup #latininspired #instaeats #ingredients #instachef #whatsfordinner #dinneratmyhouse #nom #inthekitch #foodblogger #foodfotos #foodphotographer #foodpix #mmmmmmmm #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #chef #foodblog #foodculture #inthekitchen #recipeshare #oliviagonzalezevents #vegetarian #PUERTORICO #prrecipe

Arepa Please!

Homemade #Arepas are like holidays. So magical and full of awe and wonder they are like little gifts from santa stuffed with pure awesomeness.
This arepa stocking stuffer came topped with green leaf lettuce, charred flank steak, roasted red pepper sauce and whipped goat cheese. Let’s not forget those fabulous pickled onions and a side of roasted fingerling potatoes.
Thanks Santa!! I must be a very good little girl. 😂

#latininspired #instaeats #ingredients #instachef #whatsfordinner #dinneratmyhouse #inthekitch #foodblogger #foodfotos #foodphotographer #foodpix #mmmmmmmm #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #chef #foodblog #foodculture #inthekitchen #recipeshare #oliviagonzalezevents #redpeppersauce #flanksteak #goatcheese #colombianfood colombian #colombianrecipes #latinfood #latin #spanishtapas #gloobyfood #arepaplease

Jamaican Patties ♡

These little savory hand pies have me mentally packing my bags and flying out to Jamaica 💛 its one of our favorite places to travel and we can never stop talking about the amazing food, culture and the people.
We will be headed back there soon, yeah mon ✌🇯🇲❤🥰

#jamaicanpatties #beefpatty #jamaicancuisine #mobay #kingston #negril #jamaicanscotchbonnetpeppers #scotchbonnet #onelove #yeamon #JAMAICA #ingredients #instachef #whatsfordinner #dinneratmyhouse #nom #inthekitch #foodblogger #foodfotos #foodphotographer #foodpix #mmmmmmmm #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #chef #foodblog #foodculture #jamaicanoproblem

Tamales Lechon

Anybody else hear the romantic sound of a mariachi bands lonely guitar, bright trumpeter and soul wrenching accordion?
Man. I do. And I am about to settle in to this warm comforting serenade for your mouth in about two seconds.
Nothing like homemade Mexican Style Tamales with Lechon, Family and a Shot of Silver Tequila 🎼🎶🎺🎷🎸 #tamalesmexicanos
#tamales #mexican #mexicanrecipes #latininspired #hottamales #chili #ranchero #corn #cornhusks #inthekitch #foodblogger #foodfotos #foodphotographer #foodpix #mmmmmmmm #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #chef #foodblog #foodculture #inthekitchen #recipeshare #oliviagonzalezevents #mariachi #serenade #soulfood #tequila #familygoals #gloobyfood

Jerk Spice if You’re Nice;)

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings
So good you just wanna push your face right in and get yummy jerky awesomeness all over your face. 😉 Not many things you wanna do that with.
Lolz 😂😂😂 *
Jerk Spice (but only if your nice 😉)
*
1 TBSP of each of these:
Dried Thyme & Parsley
Smoked paprika
Salt
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder

Now 1 TSP and a 1/2 of these:
Cayenne
Black Pepper
Red Pepper Flake
Nutmeg (fresh grated pls)
Cinnamon
Allspice (fresh if possible pls)

I tossed these wings in a little oil and half the spice blend and then put into a roasting pan. Sprinkled the other half of the spice blend right in top… If I would have had more time I would have let marinade for a day for so, but I was really in the mood and didn’t have on my patient pants.
Roasted at 445 for an hour and then a light garnish of parsley and BAM. Served with a side of you guessed it #scotchbonnet and garlic aioli, fries, pineapple coleslaw and homemade mac and cheese.

#JAMAICAN #jerkchicken #jamaicanjerkchicken #jamaicanmecrazy
#homesweethome #noplacelikehome #ingredients #instachef #whatsfordinner #dinneratmyhouse #nom #inthekitch #foodblogger #foodfotos #foodphotographer #foodpix #mmmmmmmm #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #chef #foodblog #foodculture #inthekitchen #recipeshare #spiceifyournice

Picadillo Me-Oh My!

This post deserves 5 stars so I’m giving it 10
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ _______________________________________________________

Menu:
Fried pork chops with caramelized onion, picadillo, white rice and avocado, cuban bread and brie and later a little bit of coffee. 🙂

#picadillo #puertoricanrecipes #inthekitch #foodblogger #foodfotos #foodphotographer #foodpix #mmmmmmmm #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #chef #foodblog #foodculture #inthekitchen #recipeshare #oliviagonzalezevents #beherenow #positivevibes #somethingaboutolivia #spiritualgangster #mindfullness #gratitude #nurture #plantains #latininspired

Dirty Old Cloths;)

Right next to my name in the year books…should have said “plays with her food”… 😂😂😂 okay okay so yes, I play with food and I love it okay!!

This is Ropa Vieja and it’s one of my favorite dishes. It’s of Latin descent specifically Cuba, Canary Islands, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico and legend has it that it was created by a poor man who in efforts to feed his family when they had very little shredded up his old clothes and simmered them into a stew and the village people magically appeared with bits of meat, vegetables and herbs to help season the aromatic stew…. kinda reminds me of the old Nail Soup story from when I was a kid.

The words Ropa Vieja mean Old Cloths in spanish and perhaps the name and the dish are derived from more the way the dish looks than a fairy tale but you know me, always down for a little enchantment 😉

The main tip for me or the key to this dish is [Shredding The Beef] by hand in the smallest of strands until you have a mountain of fine shreds that can individually soak up all of the bright and tangy tomato sauce and the perfectly au dente peppers and onions. I add a splash of white wine, tomato sauce, a squeeze of lime, plenty of garlic and cumin and a bit of cilantro and then finish with salt and pepper to taste.

I love to cook for my family and friends and can’t wait until the day I can cook for all of you! 🍃

#inthekitch #foodblogger #blogger #foodphotographer #latinfood #latininspired #ingredients #nom #foodporn #foodwriter #jacksonvilleeats #jaxfoodies #chefsofinstagram #ROPAVIEJA #recipeshare #oliviagonzalezevents #nailsoup #foodhistory #legendhasit #fairytale #dinneratmyhouse #whatsfordinner #yaaaaaasss #imaletyoufinish #cubanfood #cuban #puertoricanfood #caribbean #islandfood #904

A Nod to Julia ♡

“Food is everything we are” -anthonybourdain

It’s in our deepest roots and in the story’s we learn in our childhood. Its woven into the fabric of our existence with threads of joy, heartache and home. It’s a way we can communicate and its language is universal.

The language of love, humanity and life. Its given and its taken away and its shared between friends and strangers.

If you have eaten at my house. If I have fed you, cooked for you or broke bread with you. Know that I’ve shared a piece of my heart with you and a piece of my very soul. Food to me is personal…its intimate.. deeply reflective of how I feel and what I want you to feel. It’s how I say I Love You. ❤

This is one of my all time favorite meals to prepare, nothing says I love you quite like Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon and Whipped Potatoes with Garlic Brown Butter and Parsley.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ #juliachilds #BEEFBOURGUIGNON
#foodforthought #joyofcooking
#love #creativespirit #passion #chef #foodblog #foodculture #inthekitchen #recipeshare #oliviagonzalezevents #nailsoup #give #home #madewithlove #nom #inthekitch #foodblogger #foodfotos #foodphotographer #foodpix #mmmmmmmm #904eats #jacksonville

Pasta Siciliana

This simple, rustic dish is just incredibly full of flavor and can be served as a main entree or side dish with or without meat.

I sauteed 10 cloves of garlic with red pepper flake, a pinch of sea salt,  2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of real butter. I added in about 1 full cup of julienned sundried tomatoes after the garlic was translucent and then a quick drizzle of white wine and about a cup of stock. Lowered that to simmer down a bit and make love while boiling the pasta to a perfect au dente 🙂

After draining the pasta-  I add half of the sundried tomato sauce to the pasta and toss and then pour into a nice serving dish and garnish with remaining half of sauce, fresh parsley, bright lemon and lots of parmesan…

Additional add ins would be something like baby spinach or mushrooms, really anything you like but not too much as our objective is to create something light, delicate and simple.

I cooked up some crispy chicken tenders for the guys and we are all completely content and seconds have been had three times over! Lol

#yaaaassss!!! #vegetarian #vegetarianrecipes #sicliano #pastasiciliana #pasta #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #chef #foodblog #foodculture #inthekitchen #recipeshare #oliviagonzalezevents #instaeats #ingredients #instachef #whatsfordinner #dinneratmyhouse #nom #mmmmmmm #foodblogger #foodfotos #foodphotographer #foodpix #getupanddance