Picante y Sabor Food©
 

Hi! This is a little bit about me and the reason why I decided to start my own blog. My blog is really about my love of food and cooking. I started cooking at the very young age of 10, my first time cooking, I made rice. It is just typical of Puerto Rico to teach kids how to cook and help at home. I was so excited about cooking that my mom was teaching me how to cook, but I could not reach the stove lol, so my mom used a can of export soda crackers. That was my very first time cooking. After that, I learned how to make beans and help with seasoning the meat.

 

I was born in East Manhattan, New York to Puerto Rican parents, but we moved a lot from New York to Puerto Rico. I learned so much about my parent's culture that I walked around so happy to be NYRican. I love the food, the music, the people, and a very good Salsa dancer.

 

I have to give so much credit to my Grandmother who is no longer here with us, but she left a legacy. Her legacy of cooking, I watched her cook in her apartment in Puerto Rico, Las Cumbres. I helped her prep the dishes. She cooked amazingly to me, well known in her community for her delicious alcapurrias, pasteles, Limber, and many more dishes. The holidays were amazing because she would cook for her family but also for the church she attended. May she rest in heavenly peace!

 

My Aunt, I learned so much from Titi Margie, I love you so much! I learned how to make pasteles from her, the recipe was from my grandmother, as were the many other recipes I learned from my mom and aunt. I remember her and my mom cooking together for our wonderful gatherings in the Bronx, where I was raised. We had amazing parties and celebrated everything together. Those were the best times!

 

My sister Lizi, who is no longer here with us, taught me how to make soup. I remember calling her and asking her how to make soup, she laughed and said, "That's the easiest recipe ever." Lol.

And she was right. The thing about us Puerto Ricans is that we don't measure anything lol we taste and adjust. But I am learning to use measurements so I can put the best dishes for you, but just season according to your liking.

 

My best friend, Maria, who is no longer here and I miss dearly, also made food with me. My moments with her in Southern Blvd the Bronx will never be forgotten. We danced Latin Freestyle together, ohhh how we danced the night away. Her family became my family and my family became hers, that was my little sister. We cooked together, and I learned how to make amazing beans from her mom. Omg, I loved Maria's mom's beans, these beans were delicious.

 

So here I am cooking for you guys, sharing my recipes and ideas. Soon, I will open my small, humble restaurant, so you can also enjoy these dishes. I truly enjoy it and hope you enjoy making my recipes too.

 

This is dedicated to my mom and aunt whom I love dearly and all the amazing women that are no longer here but taught me how to make great recipes, especially my grandmother Margarita Otero. I hope my kids and grandkids keep this legacy going.

 

Lygdda Anthony-Marin