Breakfast Favorite

I love food. And between all meals, I don't think I can choose a favorite. But today is about breakfast. Only a few years ago I discovered the amazing-ness that is cottage cheese. When I can get it (not in Peru) I eat it alll the time. Especially for breakfast. Here's what I like.

cottage cheese! add some raisins, almonds or nuts, and a touch of cinnamon for a little sweetness. Perfect.

What's your go-to breakfast? 

My Top 10 Peruvian Foods ~ The Expat Diaries

Hello friends. And hello to winter holidays in the heat of summer! The holiday season hasn't quite hit me because of the weather and the under-commercialization of Christmas here in Peru. Although, I was really glad to indulge in all kinds of Thanksgiving delights last weekend with good friends. Life's good, I can't complain :)

Woohoo - I'm linking up with Rachel, Chelsea, and Kayleigh for The Expat Diaries!! Thanks gals for opening up this community space for expats and travelers to share. I'm going to bring the focus back to food...I hope you're on-board with that. 

So Peru is becoming more and more well-know in the food scene. Before I even came here I began to notice quite a few Peruvian restaurants popping up back in states. While there are tons of dishes and things out there I could go on about (perhaps there'll be a 2nd edition), I just narrowed the list down to 10 that I find particularly delicious and/or interesting. So, join me for dessert (it's always first, right?)?

Top 10 Peruvian Foods

Uno. PICARONES: These are pretty much fried sweet potatoes dough drizzled with a spiced honey syrup. Oh my yum (can you tell by my expression?)

{photo: Katie Alvarado}

Dos. ARROZ CON LECHE and MAZAMORRA: Another typical dessert which is sweet rice (with milk and cinnamon) and a pudding-like sauce from maÍz morada (purple corn). Mixed together, they're a perfect combo in my book!

{source}

Tres. ANTICUCHO: A very typical street food that are basically meat skewers, punctuated with a potato. In the evenings, mamítas(women) bring out their barbecues to grill these up! Oh, and they're typically made from beef heart (I'm not fond of) but there are other types too.

{Photo: Jan Ger}

Cuatro. CHOCLO: This is a variety of corn. I think it's really fun to eat because the kernels are so big! It's often boiled in a big pot right on the street corner and served with some squeaky (and salty) Andean cheese.

Cinco. CEVICHE: One of the most typical dishes in Peru. If you want some good ceviche, there are lots of good places I've heard on the coast in Lima. While I'm not a huge fan, most people really love this fish cooked by a lime marinade. Plus, it's a classic so it had to make the list!

{Photo: Jan Ger}

Seis. CUY: Aka, guinea pig! Yep, this is a special plate often found in the Andes for birthdays or other celebrations. It's pretty taste-y if well-prepared, as I describe in {this post}. If you can get over the little claws and head (nothing is hidden here), then I'd recommend giving it a chance. And you get bragging rights :)

{Photo: Frances McCorkle}

Siete. SALTADOS: Chicken, lamb, noodles...These are typical Peruvian-Asian fusion. Before coming to Peru I had no idea that there is such a large Asian influence (a Chifa post will come), much less that it would show in its gastronomy. This plate is one of my favorites because it's pretty much a stir-fry (can't go wrong!). In this picture, I attempted to reproduce pollo saltado in California for my parents...it turned out pretty well - I think they'd vouch for me ;)





Ocho. HUATIA: This isn't as much a type of food as it is a festival/tradition. Essentially, in the Andes during the harvest, people create underground ovens to cook veggies like potatoes, beans, etc. I really love this celebration of the season!

{read and see more here}

Nueve. TAMALES: These are another absolute favorite (I guess that's obvious because it's on this list)... Typical Limeño tamales are very different from Mexican tamales I'd had often (I'm from California p.s.). First they're wrapped in banana leaves for some extra flavor. And they don't have much meat in them. They are so delicious and the olive just tops it off wonderfully!

Diez. SOUPS: So in the U.S. occasionally you have the choice between a soup or salad at meals. Well, in Peru it's soup, soup, and soup! In fact, it's a typical part of nearly every meal. I miss having salads but I really like this tradition of having soup too. This one below was an interesting one made from some type of banana in the jungle.

Welp, thanks for having a little taste with me! Have you tried any of these? Or do you have another Peruvian favorite?

P.S. Another of my food-y posts here! Expat to Expat Q+A: Yummy Food

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Hey there! I've been on the pumpkin kick for the last week or so. Maybe you've noticed it's been quite pumpkin-y? It's so awesome I can pretend it's fall here in Peru :) 

While looking for pumpkin pie recipes, I stumbled on this pumpkin cheesecake recipe over at The Crunchy Moose by Ashlee and I decided it was an even better idea! Her post has pictures of the steps so I didn't include those here. 

Ingredients

- 2 cups of vanilla cookies (or graham crackers)

- pinch of cinnamon

- 3/4 cup butter

- 6 oz. of cream cheese

- 2 tbsp corn starch

- 1 tsp vanilla extract

- 2 eggs

- 1 chia egg or an egg white

- 1/4 cup evaporated milk*

- 1/4 cup sugar

- 2 cups pumpkin puree

* The original recipe calls for heavy cream but I used evaporated milk and it still turned out. 

** These are approximate measurements

Prepping...

the crust

Blend cookie crackers well in a food processor until they're fine crumbs. Here you could also blend in some kind of nut, if you'd like. Mix in the cinnamon.Then melt butter until liquid and mix into the crumb mixture. Form crust evenly into an greased pie tin.

the filling

Mix the following in a blender: cream cheese, sugar, corn starch, vanilla, eggs, and chia egg. 

(In this step it's really important to make sure the cream cheese is went blended. I don't have an electric/hand blender, so I just mixed by hand. I learned that it doesn't melt into the cake, as I thought it would. You can see what I mean in the photos.)

Then hand mix the milk and puree into the mixture. 

Now, pour the filling into your pie tin.

Bake...in oven for about an hour. I'm not sure what temperature (our oven is only on or off. really.) but I imagine it would be around 350*. It should be lightly browned around the corners, the crusted baked, and the filling slightly jiggly. 

Let it cool for a bit, then pop in the fridge for an hour or 2 to finish it off. 

For my first ever cheesecake, it turned out pretty taste-y. The crust is sooo delicious! The filling was good too, but I learned that the cream cheese really needs to be blended well. Here are some photos:

Thanks for stopping by :) Have you made any pumpkin recipes this season??

Keeping the Pumpkin Recipes Rollin'

Hello all! So I've been cooking up a pumpkin storm these days...and still have about 4 cups of pumpkin puree to go. Soooo - keep the pumpkin coming!

Here's a little recipe update:
First Rafa and I carved the pumpkin/made puree. Then I made a pumpkin cheesecake (recipe to come) and toasted the seeds (just with salt and some garlic powder). Sunday morning was a good day for pumpkin chia pancakes. And yesterday I actually tried making these Pumpkin Wonton Ravioli's (which I'll post soon too!) and they turned out really nice. 

Ok...so to keep me going with the pumpkin, I found a few more recipes to try (plus a few non-pumpkin ones since it won't last me that long).

These are my new fall recipe picks:


1. S'mores popcorn balls at Club Narwhal. This gal Amy makes mouthwatering culinary creations and I'm all about trying this one!

2. Curried Pumpkin Soup with Coconut Milk @ Curry and Comfort. This has been on my to-make list since this post in mid-September. I may just have to splurge for coconut milk soon.

3. Pumpkin bread at Tastes of Lizzy T. Classic pumpkin bread is a must. I just wish there was pumpkin spice in Peru!

4. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Wantans at Peas and Crayons. Google-ing 'wantan recipes', there weren't many sweet options that came up. But this one definitely stands out. Anything cookie dough-y - I'm in! 

5. Pumpkin Pie Frozen Yogurt at Emily Bites. This looks perfect - yummy and simple! 

Didya notice that most of these are sweet things? I think I'd choose sweets over salty, most days. What about you?

Pumpkin Chia Pancakes!

Hello lovers of fall... today the pumpkin fun continues! Since we carved a pumpkin and made puree the other day, I have been trying lots of pumpkin recipes. Which means, you'll be seeing some on them right here, on this little blog!

This morning was the perfect day to experiment with some pumpkin chia pancakes. I put together this little recipe to share. Let me know how yours turn out :)

Ingredients:

I really made it by feel, so these measurements are rough estimates

1/2 cup flour

3/4 cup pumpkin puree {from can or make it yourself}

1/2 cup milk

1 egg (oops, not shown in photo)

1 scoop chia

pinch of cinnamon powder

pinch of ginger powder

add sugar or vanilla extract for more sweetness

and an egg!

To Make: 
Mix all the ingredients together. 

Get your pan really hot and add a little butter. Use a spoon, cup, or - I used an ice cream scoop - to get a consistent size. I made mine small because...aren't small things are always cuter? They're like little orange pumpkins :)

Cook until lightly browned and voila ~ there you have them! With a little melted butter and sprinkle of sugar on top, they are even better...They have a subtle pumpkin flavor and are just the right sweetness. Plus, they're a little healthier with the chia. For some more chia recipes head over here! 

Thanks for stopping by! I wish you a lovely, restful, adventurous or (fill in the adjective you'd like) Sunday!

Fall Food Must: Pumpkins!

Hello there, how's it going? Good to have you here on this lovely Sunday. I love seeing how everyone else is diving right into the beautiful fall season in the states! I'm just imagining the trees and the innumerable shades they are turning... But in reality, I'm in Lima and glad to be leaving the foggy days of winter and transitioning into sunnier spring days (t-minus 7 days!).

BUT I would still like to reminisce those things I love about fall! Today I'm linking up with my Snail Mail partner, Elizabeth, and her friend Stephanie for Autumn on My Mind. Every few days there is a different prompt, all about different aspects of autumn. So here we go with today's:
Do you have a favorite food that you associate with fall? This is the time to highlight those yummy fall goodies!

This time of year is all about the pumpkins!!! I love the tradition of the harvest and celebrating Thanksgiving by eating delicious foods! In addition to adding pumpkin spice to everything (coffee and all baked goods), I have 3 pumpkin foods to share.

1. Toasted pumpkin seeds

Every year when I was younger, my family would carve pumpkins. Then my mom would wash and toast the seeds with just a sprinkle of salt. So delicious!

[source]

2. Pumpkin soup

I am also imagining some warm, creamy pumpkin soup. I've had some good butternut squash soups, but would like to try out a pumpkin recipe sometime. This one I found looks like a winner in my book - creamy coconut and with a bit of curry spice. Yum!

[soure]

3. Pumpkin pie

And a Thanksgiving classic favorite in my family is pumpkin pie (with Cool Whip on top). I don't think it was ever home-made but I would like to try that one next time I'm in the states for the big feast. Well, last year I did make a squash pie that turned out pretty tasty {read up on my Thanksgiving in Peru here}.

[source]

Alright, so what are your fall favorites?? Any good recipes to share, I'd love to hear (and take notes)!

Recipe: Sweet potato croquetas

This croqueta recipe comes from a new Latin cookbook my friend gave us for our wedding. Then I kind of tweaked it around and re-invented it. Ohhh, this makes me miss Spanish food (even though the book recipe is from Cuba)! 

Croquetas!

Ingredients:
~ Pinch of salt and pepper
~ Pinch of cayenne powder
~ 1/3 cup flour
~ 2 lbs of sweet potatoes (or regular potatoes)
~ About 5 slices of ham
~ 1/2 of medium sized white onion, diced
~ 1/3 cup of diced zucchini
~ 1/4 cup of diced olives (I used purple salty ones they have in Peru, but green will work fine too)
~ 1/3 cup of cheese
~ 1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
~ 1 large egg
~ vegetable oil for frying
*cut all veggies, ham & cheese very tiny (about 1/4 of a dime size). They will be the filling.

Chop it

Directions:

Mash it

1. Peel and boil sweet potatoes. Let cool and smash with fork until smooth. Mix in egg, flour, and spices.

2. Cube and cook onions and zucchini.

3. Cube ham, olives, and cheese.

                        4. Mix cooked and raw filling ingredients.

Flour may help it not stick to your hand

5. Now take a spoonful of your dough mixture and flatten in your hand. Place a dime size amount of filling and seal up.  Roll in bread crumbs.

Ready for frying

Just a few at a time

6. In a deep frying pan, add about an inch of vegetable oil and heat. Place a few in at a time and make sure all sides are well browned on all sides. They should take about 5 minutes each.

7. Repeat process until they are complete, or save the mixture in the fridge and make more later.

            8. Set on plate with paper towel to absorb excess oil.

                    9. Voila! Serve as an appetizer or even a side dish.




A few helpful tips:
 * All filling ingredients should be chopped very finely, since they will be inside the small croquetas.
 * Opt for oblong, not circles. After a few trials, I found that oblong shapes cook more easily than circles in the frying process.
 * While I like my marshmellows lightly browned, that's not the case with these ones. You know they're done frying when they're a darker brown color. Otherwise, the cheese doesn't melt and there's not a flaky exterior.
  * This recipe is said to make 20 croquetas. Maybe I made them small but I could have gotten about 40!

Expat to Expat Q+A: Yummy food!

Cusco, Peru

Hey all! I’m excited for this 2^nd expat Q+A hosted by Bailie from Hemborg Wife and Belinda at Found Love Now What. And the theme is a yummy one that we all love…food!! Here comes my sweet tooth...

1. What is your favorite food tradition in your new country?  

Ohhh there’s so many good postres (desserts)!! A few favorites of mine include:
Picarones – basically fried dough with a honey cinnamon infused syrup.
Mazamorra y arroz con leche – this is a warm, pudding-like dessert. Part is made from purple corn and fruit. Mix with arroz con leche and you’ve got a perfect combo.

Peruvian version of doughnuts, picarones!

Also, it’s very typical to have soups with meals and I kind of like this tradition. This one below was a typical one from the selva (jungle) made with a type of banana!

Banana soup!?

2. Where have you traveled to that you thought had the best food to offer?

I love the food in Costa Rica. Platanos fritos (fried plantains), rice and beans are very common. And always lots of fresh fruits and juices.

Tapas and gelato in Southern Spain!

A typical Costa Rican dish, casado. Soooo yum!

And the wide array of international variety in San Francisco.

3. What is the typical breakfast where you currently live and would you eat it back home?

Huevitos – it’s basically potatoes and a hard-boiled egg with a special green sauce called ocopa(made from a herb, huacartay). I would eat it back home but it’s really not as good without the sauce.

4. What type of restaurant, either style or type of food, do you think is lacking in your new home?

Gelato food art, Granada Spain.

Let’s just say that for as ‘international’ of a place Cusco is, it lacks this variety in food. I soooo miss a good burrito (my bf and I found one place, claiming to be Mexican. It’s not, but still is delicious so that’s my sub for Mexican food). Also, I wish there were some affordable Asian restaurants – Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Indian. There are a surprising number of chifas (Peruvian Chinese food) but unfortunately, I can’t highly recommend them.

Missing me some coconut soup and curry!

5. Do you think your home state/city/province has a food everyone should try?

Deli sandwiches with all the good stuff!

6. What is your favorite dish to prepare that you would never have made back home?

Believe it or not…crepes! My roommates taught me how and I’ve been able to practice quite a bit. Not your typical Peruvian food, but definitely delicious. The trick is getting them so thin, which I’m still perfecting.

7. What is the oddest food in your new country?

They really eat all parts of meat…stomach, feet, head, yep. The textures and smells tend to weird me out so I stay pretty far away from them. My boyfriend thinks it’s weird I get queasy seeing all the raw meat parts at the market. Cuy (guinea pig) is also a delicacy here, but it’s enjoyable. Read more here.

8. If you could have a crate of one type of food sent to you from your home country, what would it be?

Dried fruits and all kinds of nuts, spreads and sauces!

9. What three foods remind you of summer?

Watermelon, popsicles, and BBQs.

10. What food from your country are you surprised to enjoy?

Potatoes…there are thousands of varieties and colors here. And the best part, they’re real aka GMO-free. Nope, no grapefruit sized potatoes here!

Bonus: Where was your favorite place you ever took a summer vacation to?

There’s a bunch, but I’ll just pick one: road trip on the US Northwest coast. Firstly, because I just love roadtrips – being with friends, blasting music, and hair blowing in the wind. Secondly, because driving along the coast is so gorgeous.

There you have it, folks! I think I broke some rules because I have trouble picking favorites, oops...What's your favorite cultural food??