Archives for September 2020

peach pecan crisp + candied bacon + dulce de leche ice cream + bourbon caramel

September 3, 2020 by ren acosta

It’s Georgia peach season, folks! All year I look forward to this sweet, juicy delight and stock up heavily when summertime hits. There are so many uses for this delectable stone fruit, and summer always brings a whirlwind of frenzied creativity that allows me to maximize my peach intake without getting bored! Peach pie to peach salsa, peach ice cream to peach chutney, peach relish, peach preserves, turnovers, cobblers–each holds its own special place in my heart. Yeah, it’s safe to say I love peaches with a fervent passion! But my favorite peach recipes are in the dessert category.

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brie manchego croquettes + sweet raspberry habanero dipping sauce

September 2, 2020 by ren acosta

Growing up Cuban in Miami, croquettes or “croquettas,” were pretty much a daily thing. Almost always cylindrical and made of ham with a crispy crust and creamy center, they are available everywhere and everybody loves them! My Abuela used to make some out of mashed potatoes, peas and carrots. When I was an impetuous youth I always thought that croquettes were strictly a Hispanic Miami thing. Then in my late teens I went to my first French restaurant and was surprised to see a variety of different croquettes on the menu. There were disk-shaped cheese croquettes, spherical salmon croquettes, and conical ones made of beef and game. Imagine my embarrassment when I found out that they were actually Dutch in origin. I learned two extremely valuable lessons here–that what I believe to be the truth may actually not be, and to always keep an open mind.