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

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…)

After 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.

After 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.

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.

Every 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.

I 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.




I 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.
This 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
The 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.
And with that, parties will happen in backyards, people will gather on the streets, and potlucks will provide a reason for people to choose a
You’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.
