I learned about Puerto Rican style roasted pork shoulder from watching Chef Daisy Martinez on public television when I first moved to NYC, circa 2005. Traditionally called “Perníl” in Spanish, the pork shoulder is marinated in a garlic-based “Adobo” wet rub and a few other key ingredients, all mashed together into a paste using a…
Caramel Coquito
Coquito is a creamy coconut-and-rum-based cocktail that is very popular in Caribbean Latin households. It’s similar in concept to eggnog, except there’s no egg. When the Holidays are approaching, it’s common to receive a bottle of homemade coquito from various Puerto Rican friends and/or co-workers, and the concoctions can vary quite a bit from kitchen…
Flourless Chocolate Raspberry Torte
Flourless cake recipes have been on the rise since the gluten-free movement emerged. Dietary reasons aside, the concept of trying to mimic the volume and texture of a “with-flour” cake is also a fun culinary challenge. My first recollection of making a flourless dessert dates back to the late 1990s when flourless “cakes” took on…
Skillet Baked Mac and Cheese
Recipes for a comforting batch of macaroni and cheese can quickly go from inspirationally gooey to a tragic cheese casserole of mush if not handled with care. Overcooking the pasta and too many cheeses are the two biggest mistakes that ruin this most-popular comfort food. To achieve a smooth and creamy cheese sauce all it…
Cranberry Apple Crisp
As Fall approaches and the temperature begins to drop, apple pie always comes to mind. However, making a really good pie crust certainly has some complicated obstacles, so making an apple crisp is an equally exciting easier option. What’s even even better about apple crisp is that both the filling and crumb topping can pre-made…