Christmas is a magical time for many kids.  Certainly for me, it was a time to enjoy playing with my out-of-town cousins, and to eat special treats that were only prepared at this time of year.

Traditional Mexican Christmas Apple Salad

Now it’s our turn to create lifelong memories for our kids

Now that we’re a little older, it’s time for us to create pleasant memories for the kids (and adults) who come to celebrate the holidays at our homes. And what better way to create lifelong memories than with food!

This year, I turned to my childhood for inspiration to prepare a beautiful, yummy, and kid-friendly treat: the traditional Mexican Christmas Salad.

And I thought to share it here in case you want to feel adventurous, cosmopolitan, or just willing to make something easy for that holiday party in which you have no clue what to bring: Continue Reading…

Shakespeare once wrote: “Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing?”

Halloween candy is the perfect example of a good thing

When I was a kid, Halloween candy was a perfect example of too much of a good thing.   After going Trick-or-Treating,  I could only eat a few pieces of candy before they all tasted the same to me: too sweet.

So my friends and I experimented with ways to enjoy our candy without growing tired of it.

Taming the sweetness monster

We started with balancing the sweetness of our candy with not-so sweet elements that would make the sweetness of every piece of candy pop as if it were the first one.

Experimenting with other flavors

In one experiment, we added salty elements.  Have you ever tried a salty pretzel or a little cheese right before a piece of candy? Yum…

Here is a really fun Halloween-inspired treat with a bite of pretzel and a little cheese (via CocinandoConCatman):

Salty Pretzel and Cheese Broomsticks

Other times, we added a little bit of a tangy flavor to a piece of chocolate by taking a bite of fruit with it… (my favorite!)

Aren’t these fruit-filled jack-o-lanterns the cutest? Continue Reading…