A Little Rice n Milk

Arroz Con Leche

Arroz con leche is a very traditional dessert in my family. All of us have had to stand in front of the stove and make this dish on our own at least once. Kinda crazy right? Not really because now we all have the feel for it and we all are able to pass down this delicious treat to our own little Cubans. 

Arroz con leche has many different varieties, they are all different according to where they come from. Personally, my favorite is the Cuban Arroz Con Leche. It is the creamiest and most tasty one I've tried yet. 

Arroz con Leche Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

•1 cup rice (short grain)

•2 1/2 cups water

•a pinch of salt

•1 cinnamon stick

•3 strips of lemon peel (or zest)

•1 can sweetened condensed milk

•1 can evaporated milk

•1 tsp vanilla

•2 tsp sugar

•grated cinnamon and or cinnamon stick for garnish

1) Wash the rice – this gets rid of much of the starch. To wash, place the rice in a large saucepan, cover with water and swirl around. The water will get cloudy. Pour out the cloudy water, use a strainer to keep the rice in the pot. Repeat 3 or 4 times until the water is clear.

2) In the same saucepan, over high heat, mix the following ingredients: rinsed rice, 2 1/2 cups water, cinnamon stick, lemon peel and a pinch of salt. Bring to boil.

3) Reduce heat, cover and simmer until water is mostly absorbed and rice is tender. About 15 to 20 minutes.

4) Remove cinnamon and lemon.

5) While the rice is cooking whisk together the condensed milk, evaporated milk and the vanilla.

6) Stir the milk mixture into the cooked rice.

7) Cook uncovered over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until liquid is mostly absorbed and you begin to see the texture of the rice as the liquid becomes absorbed. The mixture will take on a slightly caramel color – THIS IS A GOOD THING. Stir in sugar.

8) Remove from heat and spoon into individual serving dishes. Sprinkle with cinnamon and chill for about an hour before serving.

Chef B: Avocado Pasta's For Lunch

I've seen Avocado pasta floating around the internet forever now, but even though I have a major obsession with avocados, I haven't given it a shot yet. I just couldn’t really imagine warm avocado sauce. It’s not that I had a problem with warm avocados, they’re delicious! As was this pasta, when I finally decided to give it a shot.

The best thing about this recipe is that it comes together as fast as instant mac and cheese. You just have to boil your pasta, blend your sauce and it's ready to serve. I went with bowties because bowties are my favorite kind of pasta. I also threw an egg on top because in my world, eggs and avocados go together like mac and cheese.

This was kind of similar to how mac and cheese tastes too, texture-wise. It’s super creamy and rich without it feeling too overwhelming. It’s definitely a top dish and one of my favorites and has so many possibilities! Next time I’m going to change up the herbs and add some spices too!

Avocado Pasta recipe 

* 3 OUNCES PASTA OF CHOICE

* 1/2 AVOCADO, PITTED AND PEELED

* 1 CLOVE GARLIC, SMASHED

* SMALL HANDFUL OF CILANTRO, ROUGHLY CHOPPED

* JUICE OF 1/4 LIME (1/2 TABLESPOON OF JUICE)

* 1 TABLESPOON OLIVE OIL

* SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER, TO TASTE

* 1 FRIED EGG, IF DESIRED

* ROUGHLY CHOPPED CILANTRO (OPTIONAL)

Cook your pasta according to the package. While the pasta is cooking, add the avocado, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil to a blender and blend it well. When the pasta is cooked, save 2 tablespoons of pasta water to keep it from being too dry. Toss the pasta with the avocado sauce, thinning with pasta water if it is too watery. Season with salt and pepper to taste and top with a fried egg and cilantro, if you'd like. And lastly,  enjoy!

 

They Don't Want Us To Eat Homemade Breakfast Sandwiches

There is nothing better to wake up to, than a delicious homemade breakfast samdwich. As simple as some toast, with a little bit of bacon on top and two sunny side up eggs, accompanied by a traditional columbian side, an "empanada". 

I started this dish by toasting some white mountain bread on low for a few minutes,  to then I give it some flavor and I added two large tomatoes. But of course, you can't forget the bacon! I went ahead and threw two crunchy slices of bacon on there to add some sizzle. Then to finish it all off, I added two delicious sunny side up eggs. This meal was tampered with before I was able to take the picture, looks like someone already took a couple bites out of my masterpiece... But they were so worth it! Oh, but how could i forget that crunchy, delicious, steak empanada on the side! This was quite the meal. Never forget, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so eat up!