Gina Ruiz on March 8th, 2010

My grandparents were avidly religious, devout Catholics which meant that my grandmother spent a lot of time working for the little church down the street, Christo Rey.  When I was little, they’d have little tardeadas or late afternoon celebrations.  There were booths where food was sold to make money for the programs at the church, [...]

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Gina Ruiz on March 7th, 2010

My daughter-in-law Mireya is from the state of Puebla in Mexico.  Sitting in her very modern kitchen 2200 odd miles from where I was born and raised, brings back memories of another time, another kitchen.  In that kitchen with it’s creaky old floors, the Los Angeles sunlight that streamed through the small window along with [...]

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Gina Ruiz on March 6th, 2010

The rain beats against my window with no rhythm, no rhyme.  At times it is unrelenting, vicious in its determination to get inside.  It batters the windows, rattles them; then frustrated, it takes a breath and prepares for the next assault.  It’s been raining five days now in Los Angeles.  There have been tornado warnings, [...]

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Gina Ruiz on November 2nd, 2008

This is a really simple, homey recipe.  There are no quantities listed because it all depends on how many you want to make and sweet potatoes vary in size.   These tacos are slightly sweet and the orange-honey dipping sauce gives them an extra kick.  Very good on on a cold day.
Sweet potatoes
Water
Cinnamon stick
Corn tortillas
Olive oil
Peel [...]

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Gina Ruiz on September 17th, 2008

Fiestas Patrias is a big deal for me.  I usually go all out and have a big party, invite tons of people, make mountains of red, white and green food, have papel picado and paper flowers decorating the house, my Aztec dancer group dances, the big Mexican flag is out, there’s music (sometimes mariachis) and [...]

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Gina Ruiz on September 3rd, 2008

So there was this chocolate sauce just sitting in my fridge, left over from the eclairs.  The chocolate glaze was in there too.  Seriously, they were calling me, begging not to be left in there on their own.  Several times, i walked over and thought maybe I should make more eclairs.  Maybe creampuffs.  No, it’s [...]

Continue reading about Call Me Crazy – Cream Puff Crazy

Gina Ruiz on August 31st, 2008

Jasmine really loved the chocolate glaze.

The Challenge: Chocolate Eclairs from Pierre Hermé’s book, Chocolate Desserts by Pierre Hermé.
The Hosts: Tony Tahan and Meetak
Many, many thanks to our wonderful hosts this month. What a wonderful recipe they chose and how supportive and marvelous they were. (Insert applause here).
Hurry up Autumn, I’m getting a [...]

Continue reading about Daring Baker’s Challenge – Eclairs in August

Gina Ruiz on August 18th, 2008

I’ve been craving my grandmother’s arroz con pollo for a couple of days now.  I’ve been a little obsessed actually.  I can’t remember when the last time I had it was, but it had to have been when I was in my teens.  I tried making it a couple of times when I was married, [...]

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Gina Ruiz on August 16th, 2008

Oh,…I looked out the window and what did I see,
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree.
Spring had brought me such a nice surprise, popcorn popping right before my eyes.
I can take an armful and make a treat, a popcorn ball that would smell so sweet.
It wasn’t really so… but it seemed to be… Popcorn popping on [...]

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Gina Ruiz on August 13th, 2008

My memories are drenched in food.
Coming from a Mexican family with an amazing group of cooks for aunts, grandaunts, second cousins and my phenomenal grandmother Lupe meant that I was surrounded by food: cooking, talking, eating, making, reading about, growing, learning. Food was everywhere and it was never just simple because in my family, [...]

Continue reading about Orangette, Oranges & Grandma Lupe