March 2013 - Life Bites

Tofu broccolette stir fry recipe

This tofu broccolette stir fry recipe includes red bell pepper. Ground annatto seeds are added to the tofu to achieve an enticing, all natural color. "Your tummy likes a rainbow" is a great new teaching for kids in preschool. This is true for adults, and I would add that our eyes like a rainbow too. Start with medium to firm tofu. If your spice rack does not include ground annatto seeds (achiote, or bija), I highly recommend you get a jar. Bija can be used for coloring in many dishes from meats to grains. It is an all natural spice…

Maiz con dulce – Dominican sweet corn recipe

"Maiz con dulce" is a traditional Easter-time Dominican sweet corn dessert. Along with "habichuelas con dulce", pots of sweet corn are cooked and shared among family and neighbors in Dominican towns during Lent and Semana Santa (Holy Week). Because my mother had a preference for "habichuelas con dulce" or sweet beans, she rarely made maíz con dulce at home. So, I eagerly awaited the mug full of maíz con dulce from my aunt. Pictured here is her very own chacá, made this year. My aunt is a great cook. I will be sharing more of her recipes in this site.…

Seafood pasta recipe

This seafood pasta recipe uses a traditional red sauce, red bell pepper and the option to add artichoke hearts. A restaurant owner once told me that pasta was one of the most profitable items on a restaurant's menu. This because it costs them cents to make, and they can charge at least $7 for a plate of plain pasta. Add seafood, and you could be paying as much as $25, depending on the restaurant. Being that seafood pasta was the one thing I liked to order every time I went to an Italian restaurant, I learned to make it for…

Pot sticker dipping sauce recipe

This pot sticker dipping sauce recipe will teach you how to make your own pot sticker dipping sauce. I have two other posts that teach you how to make the filling and the wrappers for the pot stickers. Pot sticker dipping sauce recipe 1/3 cup of light soy sauce1 tea-spoon of sesame oil1 table-spoon black rice vinegar1 tea-spoon of brown sugar3 big garlic cloves (crushed and thinly sliced) Mix all ingredients in a small bowl, except for the garlic.Taste. Add more of the same ingredients to suit your taste.When the sauce tastes the way you like, add the garlic and…

Chinese inspired sirloin tip roast

This recipe was inspired by the exotic flavors in Chinese beef jerky, which my mother in law makes from time to time. The enticing tastes and aromas of anise seed and sesame oil combine with the beef to delight your palate in this sirloin tip roast recipe. Get your slow-cooker ready. One of my favorites! Chinese inspired sirloin tip roast 3 lbs. sirloin tip roast2 table-spoons of rice cooking wine1 table-spoon of light soy sauce1 teaspoon of salt1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper1 teaspoon of sesame oil6 start anise1/2 tea-spoon of ginger powderOptional: vegetables of your choice. Place the sirloin…

Una cosa dice el burro, y otra el que lo apareja.

Your Dominican wisdom bite of the day: "Una cosa dice el burro, y otra el que lo apareja". Literal translation: The donkey says one thing. The man who rigs it says another. Meaning: The plan that matters is the plan made by the decision-maker. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Use: colloquial

Baby octopus recipe

This baby octopus recipe includes snow peas and red bell pepper. A seafood and vegetable lover's dream. See easy print recipe at the end of this post. At home, we usually cook the baby octopus whole, only removing the head from the legs for easier cooking. If you would like to properly clean the baby octopus for this recipe (by removing the eyes and the gut), follow the tips on this video. The two best methods for cooking octopus are 1) using high temperature, for a very short time (2-3 minutes) or 2) using low temperature for a very…