December 21, 2021

Panellets, marzipan pastries for a Spanish flavored Christmas

Natacha Sanz Caballero Desserts and Sweets All Saints Day, almond cookies, almond dessert, Christmas, confections, mazapán, postres de Navidad, Spanish Christmas

Don’t we all crave the flavors of our childhood at Christmas time, the treats that bring us back to our younger selves, the sounds of the songs sung and the games played with siblings and cousins in crowded, noisy and happy homes? Okay, I’m describing my own memories, but I’m sure each of us has our own, those which bring a smile to our faces and make us long for those care and stress-free days. Marzipan pastries or panellets are a treat that brings me back to the Christmases of my childhood.

Handel’s Messiah by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic at gorgeous First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, a Christmas tradition

The recipe I’m sharing today is that of a traditional Spanish sweet, more typical of All Saints Day than of Christmas, depending on what region of Spain we’re talking about. In Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic islands these almond treats are called panellets, and are eaten and sold at the pastry shops mostly on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, November 1 and 2nd. In other regions of Spain they are called simply mazapanes, marzipans, and even though they are made and sold throughout the year, Christmas is where you’ll find them more often at the pastry shops. The most famous ones are from obrador Santo Tomé in Toledo, an institution founded in 1856. (more…)

February 8, 2018

Banana Nut Bundt, and a Christmas Family Reunion

Natacha Sanz Caballero Breads, Desserts and Sweets banana, bizcocho de plátano, Christmas, family reunion, merienda, plátano, Spanish Christmas, tea time

I know what my children will say when they see this post: banana nut bread (in any of its forms, like the banana nut bundt recipe I’m sharing today) is not Spanish. I’ll have to remind them then that this blog includes the recipes that I make at home, most of which are Spanish, but some of which are not. If I make it often enough and is part of my repertoire, chances are, it’ll make it to Mama Ía blog. I’ve been living in North America for over two decades, after all!

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December 20, 2017

Tiramisu, an Italian Dessert for a very Spanish American Christmas

Natacha Sanz Caballero Desserts and Sweets Christmas, Christmas treats, Italian dessert, Spanish Christmas

It is true that this blog is dedicated to Spanish cuisine in America; it is also true that some dishes have been made on both sides of the Atlantic, and beyond, for many years. Just like sangría is now made in many countries, with different variations on the original Spanish recipe (which you can find here, on this blog), I would think another of those dishes is tiramisu, an Italian dessert that has become, like many others, almost international. I make it often at home, so it has become part of my repertoire of recipes. As Christmas, and the festive days ahead, approach, with many of us hosting family and friends, this is one dessert that will not disappoint, and that can be made in large sheets and refrigerated, ready to feed a crowd. With coffee and some liquor in it, it is a crowd pleaser (and I don’t let the coffee and liquor part stop me from sharing it with my children, ha!)

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Spanish nougat mousse, Mousse de turrón, Mama ía

January 17, 2017

Spanish Nougat Mousse, Mousse de Turrón —or the Spanish habit of conservation

Natacha Sanz Caballero Desserts and Sweets almonds, Christmas, honey, Navidad, nougat, nougat candy, Spanish Christmas, Spanish desserts, Spanish nougat, Spanish traditions, torrone, turrón

It happens every year around Christmas time: I buy too much turrón, Spanish nougat. And every year I tell myself that next year I won’t buy as much, but invariably, I do it again. Not that I don’t buy many other Christmas sweets, and make them, too, of course. But turrón is closest to my heart. I talked about Christmas nostalgia in other (more…)