Mocha cake with espresso frosting, Mama Ía blog

Mocha cake with Espresso cream cheese frosting —and my Valentine’s

Mocha cake with espresso frosting, Mama Ía blogWhen thinking of what special treat I’d make for Valentine’s Day I knew I had to find something with coffee. Dave has a sweet tooth AND he loves coffee. So mocha, the combination of chocolate and coffee, was a good option. 

I didn’t know, however, exactly what to make or how to make it, and I ended up going through recipe books and doing Google searches. Finally, taking a bit from here and a bit from there and then adding my own ideas, I ended up with this cake: mocha cake with espresso cream cheese frosting.

Fox Island Park, Mama Ía blog

I have to say I don’t like calling myself a recipe developer. I am not one, and I don’t intend to be one. I am not a professionally trained cook, so I do not (more…)

Salmon cakes, Mama Ía blog

Salmon cakes —and the January mood

Salmon cakes, Mama Ía blogAfter the rich and sometimes heavy meals, and indulging in sweets and baked goods, January calls for moderation and healthy meals, right? At least that’s in almost everybody’s minds, and salmon cakes are a perfect option.

I love the month of January. I may have said this before — actually, I know I have. But while I still love most aspects of it, I have to tweak my affirmation. 

Home, Mama Ía blogBrothers, Mama Ía blog

When my sons were younger, the month of January meant the back to normal, both literally and figuratively —or in other words, both in the house as in my mind.  After a couple of months of the craziness associated with (more…)

Roscón de Reyes, Mama Ía blog

Roscón de Reyes, Kings Cake for the feast of the Epiphany

Roscón de Reyes, Mama Ía blogAfter a few years of very good intentions, finally 2022 sees the recipe for roscón de Reyes, Kings cake, on the blog. Not that I haven’t been making it! But I am not a great planner of the recipes that I will post on Mama Ía blog and the Christmas hustle and bustle always caught up with me.

Reyes Magos in Alcoy, Mama Ía blog

Kings Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar at the January 5 Three Kings Parade in Alcoy (Alicante, Spain)

Nativity Scene, Mama Ía blog

Nativity scene at the Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago

That always seems to be the case. I do have some method and loose plan of what I will post on the blog. However, more often than not, I will cook or bake something that (more…)

Panellets, Mama Ía blog

Panellets, marzipan pastries for a Spanish flavored 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.

Christmas 2021, Mama ía blog

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

Christmas 2021, Mama Ía blog

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…)

Fruit and pinenut stuffing, Mama ía blog

Fruit and Pinenut Stuffing —November means Thanksgiving

Fruit and pinenut stuffing, Mama ía blogEvery time Thanksgiving comes around, I feel I have to explain myself about why I post these recipes. Because today’s recipe, fruit and pinenut stuffing, is not something I ever cooked in Spain. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Spain, therefore its cuisine and traditional dishes are something purely American. 

Vegetable garden in fall, Mama Ís blogPears, Mama ía blog

Most of what I cook at home are dishes from my homeland, Spain, sometimes adapted to the American market and the ingredients I can find here. But on many occasions I go by the traditions of the place where I live. My family wouldn’t have it any other way. 

One such traditions is Thanksgiving. After (more…)

Roast chicken with potatoes and shallots, Mama Ía blog

Roasted chicken with seasoned potatoes and shallots , weeknight meals made easy

Roast chicken with potatoes and shallots, Mama Ía blogI am often asked about simple meals —as in easy to make—, for mid-week dinners. Today’s recipe, roasted chicken with seasoned potatoes and shallots, is one of those meals. 

Roast chicken with potatoes and shallots, Mama Ía blogSaints futbol 2021, Mama Ia blog

I have a simple method (or a little secret) to decide if a recipe is easy to make or if it’s time consuming: if it requires (more…)

Ajoblanco, Mama ía blog

Ajoblanco —and the Healthiest City in the World 2021

Ajoblanco, Mama ía blog

I heard on the radio recently that again, Spain was ranked as the healthiest country in the world in 2021. When I started digging some more, trying to find out if there were other factors added to the ones that had ranked it in the same position when I first wrote about it in 2019 (you can check it here), I came across another ranking, that of the Healthiest CITY in the World.

Ajoblanco, Mama ía blog

Plaza del Arzobispo, Valencia, Mama Ía blog

Puerta Barroca de la Catedral, Plaza del Arzobispo

I was curious, and then happily surprised (or rather, validated) to see at the top of the list Valencia, my hometown! What a great way to accompany (more…)

Soupy rice with langoustines, Mama Ía blog

Creamy Rice with Langoustines —and beach days in Spain, two years later

Soupy rice with langoustines, Mama Ía blogI am missing fish, and I am missing shellfish. My brother-in-law Jaime makes the richest, most flavorful arroz con bogavante, soupy rice with lobster, and while I’m not able to replicate it here in Indiana, this creamy rice with langoustines is the best close second. So whenever I find whole shrimp at the store —that is, shrimp with the heads on, or even langoustines if I’m really lucky— I’ll make it.  

Langoustines, Mama Ía blog

Alcocebre, Mama Ía blogThis is what happened recently —I found langoustines!—, and I couldn’t wait to share with you my recipe for creamy rice with langoustines, a dish that (more…)

Pesto and sundried tomato cheese torta, Mama Ía blog

Pesto and sundried tomato cheese terrine —and gathering again

Pesto and sundried tomato cheese torta, Mama Ía blogThe pesto and sundried tomato cheese terrine I’m presenting today is the ultimate party appetizer. Yes, I said party! Because you feel it in the air, you see it on the streets: the summer of 2021 is going to look nothing like that of 2020. Masks are for the most part optional everywhere, but what is more important, we are going to be able to safely gather! At least those of us who are vaccinated.

Lunch in Taroncheral, Mama Ía blogBarbacoa in Taroncheral, Mama Ía blogAnd with that, parties will happen in backyards, people will gather on the streets, and potlucks will provide a reason for people to choose a (more…)

Basque cheesecake, Mama Ía blog

Basque cheesecake —and Part 6 (and last) of the vegetable garden: the ground cover

Basque cheesecake, Mama Ía blogYou’ve probably heard of Basque cheesecake, San Sebastián cheesecake, or cheseecake from La Viña restaurant. I’m sharing that recipe today, which is not mine, but Santiago Rivera’s, chef at La Viña resturant in San Sebastián.

Vegetable garden, Mama Ía blogBasque cheesecake, Mama Ía blog

I thought this cheesecake was perfect to accompany Part 6 (and last) of the construction of our vegetable garden last year. My aunt Isa loves gardening, and she has a green thumb —her garden is always colorful and exuberant— and gardening reminds me of her.

I’ve mentioned my aunt Isa on this blog before. My aunt (more…)