When I think of a day spent at the amusement park… I instantly think of a crispy glazed funnel cake too. I picture myself on a warm Summer night enjoying a freshly fried plate of this finger licking crunchy treat in between water rides and firework shows. Ahhh memories of summers past. I miss those experiences and am really craving some Summer fun.

When I was a wee young girl, I attended a Magnet elementary school in Brentwood, CA and used to get bussed there. It was a one hour ride in each direction as we zigzagged our way through my beloved City of Angels. I feel like I learned so many back streets and the lay of the land beyond East LA from that bus ride. We used to make a stop in front of Phoenix Bakery in Chinatown, and the owner’s son would get on board the school bus. A handful of times he brought a box of cream puffs to share from his famed bakery. It was then that I was introduced to the delicate pastry.

For St. Patrick’s Day this year I’m celebrating with some tie-dyed shamrock looking Polvorones, the ultimate Mexican sugar cookie. These cookies will make you feel so LUCKY like you just fell into a pot of gold. Okay, maybe not a pot of gold but you’ll feel GOLDEN for sure. They will have you doing a little Irish jig and furthering the similarities between Mexicans and The Irish…. What a beautiful union of people and cookie dough.

The first time I had a three layer banana pecan cake was at my Uncle Luke and his bride Vita’s wedding. I was a little girl under the age of ten and had never tasted anything so fine. Having banana cake at a wedding wasn’t a popular thing to do in those days. I distinctively remember instantly falling in love with the taste of banana cake and wondering WHEN I would have this enchanting taste in my life again?

Wake up for the holiday season to a cranberry coffeecake with hibiscus glaze:

I’m low key crazy for coffeecake. I always have been. I remember my grandfather would give me $3 everyday to buy nutrition at school, and I would use a portion of that money to buy a piece of coffeecake without fail. That’s where my love of coffeecake began. Fast forward to the present day and the want of waking up to fresh coffeecake at home is strong, especially during the festive 12 days of Christmas.

Did you know it’s #paletaweek ? Yup. Fun right!?! I decided to join in on the lively celebration  and shake things up a bit with a 21 and over version for the adults. 

I’m calling my creations Margarita Enchiloso Paletas! I made a chile lime tequila ice pop to enjoy when you want to get boozy on a stick. If it’s been an extra hard day, make it a double with a shot of tequila on the side. I dipped the tip of my spiked paletas in a mixture of salt sugar tajin and crushed chile peppers! Perfect for a summer night cap or day drinking.

Upside-down Strawberry Shortcake Cobbler: Exactly what it sounds like. A cobbler served like a strawberry shortcake served upside down!

I’m a woman that loves staying in for the night playing fantastic music and eating delicious food. A few weeks ago I got an advanced copy of Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Juanes (which is out May 3rd on CMH Label Group). The album features gorgeous, lullaby versions of Juanes best-known and beloved cuts. I know the album is intended for babies, but it is so easy on the ears and really plays to the baby soul in me.