Year: 2020

Learning to Make Fresco de Tamarindo

Today I made fresco de tamarindo for the first time ever. As someone who grew up drinking fruit juices (frescos, as we call them in Costa Rica), this is a bit embarrassing. In Costa Rica, you can find frescos in almost every color of the rainbow: limón, cas, guanábana (white); carambola, maracuyá, piña (yellow); melón, papaya, naranja (orange); fresa, sandía, frutas mixtas (pink); mora (red), and tamarindo (brown). * Almost any fruit can be transformed into a refreshing drink by adding a little water, sugar, and ice. Growing up, I liked frescos that were a little tart, and tamarindo was one of my favorites. Tamarindo is super refreshing and a perfect drink to enjoy in the summertime. It’s finally warm again in Marin, so I decided it was about time I learned how to make this. I was able to find tamarindo pods at the local supermarket in downtown Fairfax. In Costa Rica, tamarindo is sold in little compact blocks, just the fruit without the shells, and I believe you can find it packaged in …

french toast

French Toast « New Orleans Style »

I went on a hike up the hill this morning. Two kilometers, 3,000+ steps, 28 floors. Not bad. All I could think of on my way down the hill was the almost complete loaf of challah bread laying on our kitchen counter. It has been there for a few days, and by now, nobody wants to eat it. So… what to do with challah bread? Of course, you know the answer to that! At our house, only Patrick and I like French toast. The kids have never really wanted to try it. (I know! I don’t get it either.🤷🏼‍♀️ ) So, I’ve learned to make just enough for two. It’s super easy to make. But ever since I visited New Orleans when I was a teenager, I’ve liked to serve mine « New Orleans style. » I don’t know if there’s such a thing. I just remember that when I ordered French toast for breakfast at the inn my mom and I were staying at, what they brought to our table was the definition of …