It’s finally time to go back to school. After months and month of being together as a family our boy is headed back to in-person class. I find myself excited about our new/old routine and have promised my family to start the day with a delicious breakfast every morning. #MorningsMeanMore these days as a time to be present and connect before the distraction of the day. On special days Blueberry Oat Cereal Milk Pancakes (my son’s favorite) will be my go to breakfast and on the days when time is not on our side I’ll serve the epic combo of #RealCaliforniaMilk and Cereal.

I’m having the most delicious Summer! #SnackHappy vibes all around in this house. I’ve been whipping up Churro Cup Fried Ice Cream Banana Splits in my kitchen to enjoy as a sunset treat. The crispy cinnamon dusted churro is the perfect ice cream bowl for a scoop of vanilla, some banana action, crunchy cornflakes, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry on top. Okay, so I didn’t actually fry the ice cream, but the corn flake crumbles give it that CRUNCH. The whole bowl is so dreamy… so creamy! I usually ditch the spoon and just eat it with my hand.

It’s time to get back to life, and I’m gonna jump right into SUMMER with zero hesitation. For me and my friends there is nothing better than noshing on little snacks while picnic-ing, and diving deep into conversation sharing our intimate chronicles. Gawd, I’ve missed my bonding time with my pals.

We definitely consider ourselves connoisseurs of the tastiest snacks and anything on a stick is not only welcomed to our chatter huddle picnic but up for dissection. Me knowing this about my buddies encourages my creativity to dream up something special for them. In this case, melty Manchego and Membrillo sticks. I looked for the ‘Real California Milk’ seal when seeking out my Manchego cheese for this creation. I’m a devoted fan of Real California Milk products because they are sustainably sourced and made with milk from California dairy farm families. Yes, I know I’m getting the best and can #SnackHappy !

This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GrillingWithMazola

We are gradually starting to have very intimate outdoor gatherings and firing up our grill is definitely part of the family plan for Spring/Summer 2021. I choose to use heart healthy Mazola® Corn Oil as a marinade for grilling and as a base for my salsas and ceviche because a clinical study shows it reduces cholesterol 2x more than extra virgin olive oil. If this claim peaks your interest and you want to learn more, visit MAZOLA.com.

I usually repurpose one of my senior pie photos on #PiDay because I make pie all year round. I felt this year deserved a brand new photo and something a little fantasy and hopeful. Mini apple pies seem to be a good portrayal of how I’ve been feeling. It’s almost as if I could touch the beginning of Spring and am anticipating some happy changes in the next couple of months. Fingers crossed. To be completely honest, I’ve hit the pandemic fatigue wall and know we are in the final stretch… just gotta hold on tight a little longer.

I’ve been making Fried Bean And Cheese Empanadas for a while now. When I first started sharing my food creations back in 2011 I made a potato corn and cheese version of these empanadas… at the time I was calling them ‘Presley’s Pantry Veggie Gourmet Empanada/Pockets!’ – I know that’s a mouth full. I had decided to share them back then after hosting my extended family over for dinner one night. It was something to document since they had been a huge hit.

I remember it like it was yesterday.  I had just crossed the border into Tijuana, Mexico with my Dad (which was a rare occasion, since I hardly ever spent time with him).  He was determined to take me on an adventure and show me all the customs of TJ. From the stories that my Dad shared, TJ was a place with no rules, a grown-up fun house where you could take your shoes off and run through the streets and no one would say anything or look twice.  He also had a big love for the food and was hard set on taking me to his favorite torta shop.  My Dad has always loved a good torta de milanesa and this is one thing I know for sure about him, so I wasn’t surprised when this was the first thing he had on our agenda.