Anthony Bourdain Hard Rock Cafe Orlando, 2013

Certainly a dream come true having Anthony Bourdain visiting Orlando, FL, city which now I call home for the last thirteen years. The purchase of these tickets was an early birthday gift from my husband who also loves Tony and his adventures in the TV series “No Reservations” and latest “The Layover“.

“Tony” the friendly name I give Anthony Bourdain is the bad boy of the foodie and entertainment industry, is one of those that can get away with anything because he’s the real deal no fake, no make up what you see is what you get. Great writer, storyteller, sarcastic individual and a lot of fun. Never imagined a chef would have the audience mesmerized for two hours talking about his life, the importance of parenthood and how his daughter has changed his life, how he feels about Mario Batali and Paula Deen and stories of what happens behind the scenes when he’s filming his famous Travel Channel programs. Tony is a very talented man, aside from a chef he’s a great entertainer, he had us laughing with his stories and also recognizing that being true to what you are is the name of the game.

After the show ended, we were invited to join Tony in the Hard Rock Live terrace to enjoy some of Chef Bourdain’s favorites like “pastrami sandwich” and good beer. During this soiree we met with our Orlando foodie friends Droolius and Ricky Ly from Tasty Chomps. After few minutes finally got the chance to meet him in person. Of course no flash allowed and only brief conversation but all was worth it. Tony likes Latinos a lot, he considers latino chefs to be talented and invaluable cooks, underpaid and unrecognized even though they have become the backbone of the U.S. restaurant industry so when I told him I was from Mexico and a foodie he said to me: “We need more of you here in the US, you are all hard working people”.

Adriana Martin and Anthony Bourdain

During our conversation I shared with Tony had the chance to visit Brazil’s Mercadao Municipal in Sao Paulo this year where following his recommendation I tasted the brazilian beloved “Mortadela” he smiled at me and confirmed we both shared same tastes buds for good food and then he proceed singing  my “Mercadao Visitors Guide” to keep as a souvenir and sealed our meet and greet with a smile to the camera.

Anthony Bourdain and our love for Brazil and Mortadela

This was an unforgettable evening for me, an experience that will be in my memories forever. I hope one day I get to travel with him to Mexico and show him the real DF, our food and the real spirit of our people. Promise Tony no “Octagon” on this trip.

Anthony Bourdain and Orlando Foodie Friends @Droolius & @TastyChomps

Hasta pronto Chef Bourdain, see you again soon!

Florida Hospital Gourmet Soiree

Last night I had the chance to fulfill other of my dreams while supporting a great cause, Florida Hospital Foundation invited me to be part of the 2013 Gourmet Soiree, Dining to a Healthy 100. What an evening many people gathering, renowned chefs, local foodie fans and Florida Hospital executives all holding hands for a great cause while learning the importance of eating healthy and using fresh products.

Cooking with Chef Jason Wolfies Orlando

Gourmet Soiree is an interactive dinner demonstrating how exciting healthy cooking can be. This unique event with live and silent auctions,  fabulous meal prepared by Orlando local top chefs and their guests at each table. I shared table with fellow foodie bloggers and Chef Jason Schofield from Wolfies Orlando, great person and very knowledgeable on fresh and locally sourced ingredients. He gave us many cooking tips including the fact that herbs have an aroma as a mechanism of defense, who would know. He prepared for us homemade chimichurri with his secret recipe alongside beef dressed with onions and roasted tomatoes and tasty chicken infused with lemon juice and lemongrass.

The Gourmet Soiree Ingredients and Dishes

The dream come true was to meet humble Chef Robert Irvine, a renowned Food Network TV celebrity that has cooked his way through Europe, the Far East, the Caribbean and the Americas, in hotels and on the high seas. Chef Irvine is also host of the hit series Restaurant: Impossible and has previously been seen on Dinner: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America and The Next Iron Chef all my favorite programs.

Meet & Greet with Chef Robert Irvine

I had the chance to chat for few minutes with him and learned about his interest in helping children suffering from terminal illnesses such as cancer and changing the lives of so many people helping business owners having successful restaurants. Irvine is also the author of two cookbooks: “Mission: Cook!” and “Impossible to Easy” which one of these was personally autographed for me. He told me he’s the owner of two restaurants: Robert Irvine’s eat! in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Robert Irvine’s nosh in Bluffton, South Carolina, I see a trip to the Carolina’s on my future!

Queso Fundido on the Grill

Grilling and good food is my passion that is why today I want to share with you an easy recipe to prepare queso fundido using your grill at home. Queso fundido is basically melted cheese that in the Mexican culture we eat as an appetizer alongside warm tortillas. Sometimes we do the queso fundido with chorizo, other’s just the cheese. Looks complicated but it is not!  This post was compensated and developed in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and the California Milk Advisory Board though all opinions are my own.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups of  grated Jack cheese from Real California Cheese
• 2 poblano peppers roasted and cut in strips or juliennes
• 2 serrano peppers
• Cooking non-stick spray
• Chips or warm tortillas

Preparation time: 15-30 minutes. Approximate cost per portion (serves 2) $4.00 depending on ingredients market price. You will need a clay bowl appropriate to cook at high temperatures and of course a grill.

How to prepare queso fundido on the grill

Spray non-stick cooking oil to your clay bowls, this will allow the cheese not to stick on the bottom. Then add 2 cups of the the grated cheese in each bowl and top with poblano strips and serrano chiles cut in halves. Turn on your grill let it get to 400 degrees, place the bowl and close the grill for 5-7 minutes. Open and check again, when cheese is bubbling is ready to serve.

This dish is very popular in Mexico, it is one of those that you will find on the menus on many local taquerias and is a treat welcomed by all. As an immigrant I always crave for my Mexican cuisine flavors and having brands that cater to my culture is very important.

Queso Fundido done with Real California Cheese

California produces more than 25 varieties and styles of Hispanic-style cheeses bearing the Real California Cheese seal, which certifies they are natural cheeses made in California exclusively from California milk. Using Hispanic California dairy products is an easy way to elevate everyday meals and add an authentic touch. Many California dairy products are sold nationally and most California dairies are family-owned. When you look for the Real California Milk seal you know that your dairy products are made from 100 percent California milk from California’s over 1600 dairy families.

California Milk Advisory Board

That is why I invite you to try Real California Cheese and prepare this is a delicious appetizer in your  next family gathering.

Wish Farms Blueberry Margarita

Today I’m sharing with you my latest inspiration using fresh blueberries from Florida and yellow lemons. Blueberries  are a wonderful fruit for beverages and the tart flavor goes very well with Mexican Margaritas. And nothing better for 5 de mayo than celebrating with  homemade margaritas. This is what you will need…

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups of fresh blueberries from Wish Farms
• 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed yellow lemon juice
• 1/2 of water
• 4 teaspoons of sugar on the raw
• 1/2 cup of tequila blanco
• Salt and ice

Preparation time: 5 minutes. Makes 4-6 drinks. Approximate cost per person $4.00 depending on ingredients market price. You will need a blender and margarita or martini glasses.

Combine all ingredients with the exception of the salt and the ice  using the blender, until you a smooth watery consistency. Serve in a nice margarita glass with a salted rim.

If you love blueberries best way to keep them fresh long term is to freeze them here a tip from our Wish Farms friends:

In order to keep your berries from clumping together in the freezer we recommend rinsing and allowing to fully dry. Then, place the blueberries on a cookie sheet (or other flat surface) and put them in the freezer until frozen. Once fully frozen, transfer to a freezer bag until you’re ready to eat!

This Cinco de Mayo or for any other celebratory occasion enjoy this sweet tart cocktail with your guests, “Viva México”.

Blueberry Margarita for 5 de Mayo

Wish Farms  is a blueberry supplier, marketer, and processor, sourcing the highest quality blueberries from Chile, Argentina and British Columbia.  They also source from US blueberry growers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan and New Jersey. This post was developed in collaboration with Wish Farms though all opinions are my own.

Please drink responsibly and do not drink and drive.

Rose Flan

Mother’s day is fast approaching and wanted to remember my mom with this very special flan using organic roses. My mother’s name was Rosa Elena and she loved pink roses that is the inspiration behind this one of a kind dessert.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 can of condensed milk
• 1 can of evaporated milk
• 1/4 cup of water
• 1 teaspoon of rose extract
• 4 eggs
• 2 edible organic fresh roses

Preparation time: 1 hour. Approximate cost per person $3.50 depending on ingredients market price. You will need a blender, pressure cooker and a flan baking pan. Edible roses can be found in specialty stores.

In the flan baking pan melt the sugar until it becomes caramel, cover well the walls and the bottom of the pan, let it cold. In the mixer place the eggs, the milk, water, condensed milk and the rose extract, combine well. Pour the flan preparation into the baking pan and cook in the pressure cooker for 30 minutes, turn off the stove and let it rest without opening for another 15 minutes. You can also cook the flan using the water bath technique in the stove or in the oven with low flame. When ready refrigerate and take out of the mold place in a nice plate, decorate with edible rose flowers.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Pizza Friday at The Martin’s

Who doesn’t like pizza, this Italian dish has become internationally known  and a favorite for many worldwide; at the Martin’s household we like pizza and enjoy it Friday night to celebrate the end or a hard working week with a nice glass of wine and a fresh salad. You would think it is very difficult to do but it is not when using your resources and taking advantage of what your local supermarket and bakery have to offer, this is what you will need…

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound of pre-made pizza dough (you can find it fresh at your local supermarket’s bakery section)
• 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce
• 1 Roma tomato cut in rounds
• 1/2 small onion cut in rounds
• 1/2 cup of shredded Italian cheeses (mozzarella, Romano, Parmesan)
• 1 bunch of fresh basil cut in juliennes
• Olive oil, pepper, oregano and salt

Preparation time: 20 minutes. Cost per person $1.00 depending on ingredients local market cost. Serves 4 people. You will need an oven (preferably convention oven type) and a pizza pan.

Take the pizza dough out of the bag and make a round using your hands; pretend you are a pizza professional by flipping from one side to the other that helps expanding the dough and create the perfect round, don’t be intimidated have fun while doing it.

In a pizza pan place the dough and spread the tomato sauce evenly with a spoon, sprinkle oregano, salt and pepper, add the shredded cheese and place the tomato and onion rounds; drizzle with olive oil and bake for 10-15 minutes at 210 F or until golden brown.

Serve hot and garnish with freshly cut basil juliennes, drizzle some olive oil and pair with a salad  of your choice, while savoring a glass of your favorite wine.

Pizza is a very personal thing, if you prefer other ingredients you can replace with pepperoni, ham, salami, mushrooms you name it. The ingredients I used for this recipe were basically what I had inside my fridge and in my vegetable garden that day.

Make it your own, be creative and start the Pizza Friday tradition at your home!

Irma Martinez sharing her favorite A-list Spring trends and revealing how she simplifies her daily routine with innovative ¿Ya Probaste Esto? products from P&G

During Hispanicize 2013 I was invited to partake with Hispanic celebrity stylist, Irma Martinez who currently has a partnership with ¿Ya Probaste Esto? campaign from Procter & Gamble. In this special event she shared her top tips & tricks in fashion and housekeeping in order for us to get ready the warmer months. Irma is  the founder and creative director of Trendy Inc, and has more than 20 years experience working with the biggest Latin stars, top brands and Fortune 500 companies and I had the chance to meet her in person and learn about fashion and fashion trends for this Spring. Green and pastels are the thing for the season as well as black and white combinations. One thing that I like the most is that even though she’s a big celebrity she was humble and down to earth sharing her own story and how to integrate some of the “Ya Probaste Esto” products into our routine to have a better life.

Procter & Gamble products

Procter & Gamble has been always one of my favorite brands they have such an array of quality products that are known worldwide  like Tide and Downy, as well as women care like Olay, Pantene and Head and Shoulders. I have grown up using these products and never have been disappointed with the results.

Hassle free cleaning with Swiffer Wet-Jet

And for me having a clean home is essential for healthy living that is why I use quality products such as Swiffer Wet-Jet that makes that task of mopping the floors an easy one. I like the fact that P&G’s ¿Ya Probaste Esto? program and it’s innovative and high-performing products make my life easier so that I can take care of myself, my family and my beautiful home, using products that will deliver great performance.

It is easy to do laundry with Downy and Tide

Laundry is a weekly task at my home and want to have products that work well to clean my family’s clothes and kitchen cloths. With the new Tide products and Downy Unstopables you can do it in just one step these P&G products really are great leaving clothes sparkling clean and with a long-lasting fresh scent. I invite you to visit ¿Ya Probaste Esto?/ Have You Tried This Yet? website and get inspired to try and learn about high-performing products for yourself, family and home from brands like COVERGIRL®, Olay®, Crest®, Swiffer® and Downy®. You can also take advantage of product ratings and reviews, receive great savings including coupons and samples, score expert advice from our Trend Trio and watch product demonstration videos with Vanessa Lachey and Irma Martinez.

As part of the Have You Tried This Yet? Target provided us a gift card that helped me kick-off my newest Spring and Summer wardrobe

 This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Procter & Gamble. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

#KikkomanSabor Twitter Party

Join me at the #KikkomanSabor Twitter Party  this Thursday April 25 at 9 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. PST alongside fabulous Latinas Crafty Chica, Estilo Familiar, Mama Noticias, Nibbles and Feasts, Whispered Inspirations and moderated by Ana Flores and Latina Bloggers Connect. There will be up to $700 in prizes you don’t want to miss as well as great ideas from Chef Helen Roberts who will be joining us for this special event.

Kikkoman soy sauce is a versatile ingredient that can be used to cook many different types of cuisines and it is naturally brewed. You can use the sauce to enhance the flavors of your dishes, specially on  seafood, grilled meats and vegetables. Kikkoman sauces come in different flavors for example the Lime ponzu enhances the flavor of meat dishes like carne asada, carnitas and fajitas. The Kikkoman Teriyaki sauce you can use before cooking your meat by brushing it to enhance flavor and add a tangy barbecue flavor. My favorite the Kikkoman Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce features Asian spices and chili peppers, this is a hot sauce that adds a kick when used as a marinade for meat or as a condiment, truly delicious!

Did you know Kikkoman also has rice vinegar this is ideal for emboldening flavor in salads, paella and soups and even use in ceviche or for pickling. If you want to replace the use of salt with soy sauce you can do it by using 1/2 tsp. Kikkoman Soy Sauce in place of 1/2 tsp. table salt, the sodium content of the recipe is cut by 1000 mg. You can replace sodium in: Soups, salad dressings, roast chicken, ground beef dishes and even tomato sauce.

If you want to learn more about how to use Kikkoman sauce visit their website which is also available in Spanish and has fabulous ideas and recipes.

Meet Chef Helen Roberts, Manager of Culinary Development watch her prepare Ponzu Glazed Chicken, Mac N Cheese and Green Beans, yum!

This article and Twitter party are in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and Kikkoman, though all opinions are my own.

Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Nothing better than a hassle free dinner that only requires for you to buy a rotisserie chicken, a bag of lettuce and fresh seasonal fruits from your favorite supermarket. This recipe is dedicated to all women that juggle many roles including being mom, friend, provider, lover, confidant and everything that makes our family happy and healthy.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 rotisserie chicken
• 1 bag of field greens
• 1/4 of a purple onion cut in rounds
• 1/2 cup of blackberries
• 1 peach cut in slices

For the dressing:

• 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons of honey
• 1 cup of olive oil
• Salt & pepper

Preparation time: 15 minutes. Serves 4 guests. Cost per person $2.00 depending on local ingredients cost.

Place the field greens in a nice plate, cut the chicken in parts and serve favorite part to each guest. Add the fruit and the onions. To prepare the dressing combine all ingredients together and drizzle on the salad. Enjoy with the family while everyone shares how their day went. Sometimes you just have to make it work and feed your family the best options available I think this easy meal could turn into a family favorite for those busy days.

Enjoy!

Mango Cream Dessert

Mangoes are now in season and my mom was used to prepare this delicious and easy dessert for us, here the ingredients…

INGREDIENTS

3 manila mangoes cut in cubes

1 can of condensed milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 cup of raspberries to garnish

Mango Cream Ingredients

Preparation time: 15 minutes. Serves 4-6 guests. Cost per person less than $1.00 depending on local ingredient costs. You will need a blender.

Place all ingredients in the blender and combine well until getting a smooth cream. Serve in dessert bowls and garnish with raspberries. This dessert is so easy that you can involve the kids in the preparation. You can also use as a base for trifle or for mango pudding using layers of ladyfinger biscuits  and mango rum. This cream can also be frozen making it a nice option for frozen natural fruit pops.

Enjoy the summer time!