Desserts and Sweets

A treat from Andalusia, made usually during Lent and easter.

Pestiños, an Andalusian Lent and Easter treat

Pestiños, Mama Ía blogWith the end of the season of Lent and the beginning of that of Easter, I bring you a Spanish treat typical of this season, pestiños. Don’t ask me to translate it, because I would have a hard time doing it. You’ll have to call it by its original name, and I will help you pronounce it: pehs-teen-yohs. 

Holy Week in Spain, Mama Ía blog

Holy Week processions in Sevilla. Holy Wednesday, Hermandad del Baratillo – Brotherhood of Baratillo

Pestiños, Mama Ía blog

The season calls for Lent and Easter meals, with meatless, savory ones enjoyed on Fridays and sweet ones (many of them) enjoyed on Easter, when traditionally lenten promises and (more…)

Gingerbread layer cake, Mama Ía blog

Gingerbread layer cake, for a holiday season like no other

Gingerbread layer cake, Mama Ía blogThis gingerbread layer cake was my birthday cake, but it turned out so festive and beautiful (and delicious!) that I think it will make for a wonderful end of your Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas day brunch or lunch.

Thanksgiving table 2020, Mama Ía blogChicago, Mama ía blog

The molasses in the gingerbread layer cake give it a very characteristic flavor, and you could substitute the molasses with dark corn syrup for a smoother flavor. The addition of the Guinness beer is surprising, and perfect. And then, the nutmeg in (more…)

Turrón ice cream, Mama Ía blog

Turrón ice cream —and Summer 2020 in Santa Barbara

Turrón ice cream, Mama Ía blog

It happens every year: Summer dwindles away and I hold onto it for dear life. It’s easy to think that way, when I look through my window and the sun is shining, and I go outside and sit on the patio and I don’t even need a light jacket. I scroll down through Instagram and all the beautiful, talented people I follow are praising the coming of fall and embracing it with open arms.

Santa Barbara Court House, Mama Ía blogTurrón ice cream, Mama Ía blogI, in the other hand, hope for the Indian summer, the “veranillo de San Miguel”,  as we call it in Spain. And for (more…)

Zucchini layer cake, Mama Ía blog

Zucchini Layer Cake –and building a Vegetable Garden (Part 2)

Print RecipeZucchini layer cake, Mama Ía blogIf you like carrot cake, you’re going to love zucchini layer cake. The first time I made zucchini loaf bread I couldn’t even imagine you could put zucchini into a dessert. Yet, the result was outstanding. Less known than its cousin the banana nut loaf bread, zucchini bread is one to discover. 

Zucchini cake, Mama Ía blogVegetable garden, Mama Ía blog

For Spaniards, carrot cake is a late discovery, and zucchini loaf bread is a complete unknown. So needless to say, this cake is not a Spanish recipe. You know Mama Ía blog is the place for Spanish cooking in America. But as I say in (more…)

Triple cheesecake with amaretti crust, Mama ía blog

Triple cheesecake with Amaretti crust and Caramelized Blood Oranges ––a glimpse into confinement

Triple cheesecake with amaretti crust, Mama ía blogHave you noticed something different in this post? Okay, you will have to scroll all the way down to the recipe. Which by the way, you’re going to love. It’s a triple cheesecake with amaretti crust and caramelized blood oranges. What a combination of flavors! One bite and you’ll realize how they were made to be together. For the amaretti crust —or almond cookie crust—, you’ll be able to use the recipe of my previous post. Those almond cookies are good on their own and they are outstanding for this crust.

Garden 2020, Mama Ía blog

But I’m digressing. Let’s go back to my first sentence: if you scroll down, you will see the look of the recipe has changed. I’ve incorporated a new format that will make it easier for you to (more…)

Almond cookies, amaretti, Mama Ía blog

Almond Cookies (amaretti-like), and a trip to Perugia

Almond cookies, amaretti, Mama Ía blogAlmond cookies, amaretti-like, to sweeten up this very odd situation. It’s hard to believe what’s happening right now in the world. When I remember the times, not that long ago, when we could travel, I can’t help but think that we are living in a dystopian movie, and that, like in the movies, it will have a happy ending.

Perugia, Mama Ía blog

Temple of Sant’Angelo

My flight to Spain this summer has been canceled by the airline due to the pandemic and the closing of borders in many parts of the world (certainly the borders of Spain). I can now only travel in (more…)

Nazareno hot cross bun, Ía Mama a blog

The nazareno, “hot cross bun” from Málaga — Easter at home

Nazareno hot cross bun, Ía Mama a blogWhen I first saw this Easter sweet from Málaga called nazareno, which literally translates as nazarean, my first thought was: hot cross buns! Their look is very similar, so I wonder if they are influenced by each other (maybe a traveler that brought them from one place to the other?). Nazareno, hot cross bun cousin.

Nazareno hot cross bun, Ía Mama a blogMiami, Mama Ía blogA few differences are that, in the nazareno, the raisins are soaked in Málaga‘s sweet wine, and it also incorporates candied fruit and walnuts. As for the cross –characteristic on both of them–, the recipes vary: some use flour and water while some (more…)

Apple cake, Mama Ía blog

Apple cake with caramel glaze, what we need now

Apple cake, Mama Ía blogWe all need some comfort at this time in our lives – this time in humanity‘s life –, and apple cake falls into the category of comfort foods (anything apple, including apple tart, or apple ring fritters). As I’m writing this, in the warmth of confinement at my home in Fort Wayne, I should be in Santa Barbara, California, visiting my son Matthew, whom I haven’t seen since Christmas.

Brothers, Mama ía blog

Holy Week starts Sunday, and many of you had plans to go to the beach, to go skiing, or to participate in the many religious celebrations that would be happening in all parts of the Christian world. No, this is not normal, and one day we will tell our (more…)

Cranberry and lime tartelets, Mama ía blog

Cranberry and Lime Tartelets, and a One Day Visit with Matthew at Purdue

Cranberry and lime tartelets, Mama ía blogWhen I saw this recipe I thought I had to make it. The sugared cranberries, the beautiful creamy pink filling, and the crumbling crust, had my name written on them. But I was a bit weary: sometimes beautiful recipes don’t end up tasting as great as they look.

Purdue University, Mama ía blog

This one, in fact, was no exception, and I had to tweak it to turn it into something quite dazzling, not just in looks but in taste. Cranberry and lime tartelets will be (more…)

Lemon mousse tart, Mama ía blog

Lemon Mousse Tart —and Ethan, from Graduation through first year of University

Lemon mousse tart, Mama ía blogOne year after his graduation from high school, this blog post is for my son Ethan. I wanted to choose a dessert recipe to go with it, something sweet, because that’s how he is. I chose my recipe for lemon mousse tart, a light dessert I’m sure you will love as much as we do at home.

Ethan baccalaureate, Mama ía blog (more…)