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Tico: a colloquial term for a Costa Rican native


Fusion cuisine: a combination of various forms of cookery… different cuisines of a region into a single eating experience… dishes alongside one another and offering dishes that are inspired combinations …quality and creativity …a more eclectic approach, featuring original dishes using varieties of ingredients from various cuisines and regions and combining them…dishes inspired by a combination of various regional cuisines with new ideas…a form based on one cuisine, but prepared using ingredients and flavors inherent to another cuisine or cuisines.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

DISPONIBLE! 20 de diciembre al 27 de 2013 y / o el 28 de diciembre hasta el 05 de enero 2014

DISPONIBLE! 20 de diciembre al 27 de 2013 y / o el 28 de diciembre hasta el 05 de enero 2014

READ THIS IN ENGLISH

Villa de playa de lujo con vistas de aguas blancas IMPRESIONANTE, y rodeado de dosel de la selva y observación de la fauna. 2 master suites, rey y reina - Max 4 adultos, más 2 niños adicionales. 3 baños

Fácil acceso a la autopista de la costa, cerca de todo en la zona Sur - Manuel Antonio / Osa / Dota Nube Forrest. Seguridad las 24 horas.

En calle tranquila en la parte superior de la colina con vistas a la playa y la bahía - zona tranquila con sólo 3 casas más allá. Nunca antes rentados - bien equipado sistema de sonido iPod y conexión a internet de banda ancha por cable - propietarios que viajan estos días de fiesta.

TARIFA PLANA - LIBRO por $ 2200. Utilice algunos o todos los días - tan poco como $ 275/noche!
DEL 20 de diciembre al 27 de 2013
O DESDE 28 de diciembre a través de 05 de enero 2014

RESERVA HOY! glp@letterclick.com


Idoneidad: se admiten niños, sólo no fumadores, no se admiten animales


















TARIFA PLANA - LIBRO por $ 2200. Utilice algunos o todos los días - tan poco como $ 275/noche!
DEL 20 de diciembre al 27 de 2013
O DESDE 28 de diciembre a través de 05 de enero 2014

RESERVA HOY! glp@letterclick.com

AVAILABLE Dec 20 2013 through Jan 5th, 2014 - Dominical LUXURY Villa Rental

LEA ESTA EN ESPAÑOL

AVAILABLE! 

December 20 through January 5th, 2014

RESERVE TODAY! glp@letterclick.com

LUXURY BEACH villa with AWESOME whitewater views, and surrounded by jungle canopy and wildlife viewing. 2 master suites; King and queen - Max 4 adults, plus additional 2 children. 3 Bathrooms

Easy access to coastal highway, close to everything in Southern zone - Manuel Antonio / Osa Peninsula / Dota Cloud Forrest.

On quiet road at top of hill overlooking beach and bay - quiet location with only 3 houses beyond. Never before rented - owners travelling these holidays. Well equipped ipod sound system and cable broadband internet. 24 hour security.

FLAT RATE. Use some or all days - as low as $245/night!
  • BOOK FROM Dec 20 through 27, 2013 for $2200
  • OR BOOK FROM Dec 28 through Jan 5th, 2014 for $2200
  • OR BOOK FROM for any length stay greater than 8 days, up to 16 days for $3900 (as low as 245/night)
RESERVE TODAY! glp@letterclick.com

Suitability: children welcome, non smoking only, pets not allowed









FLAT RATE. Use some or all days - as low as $245/night!
BOOK FROM Dec 20 through 27, 2013 for $2200
OR BOOK FROM Dec 28 through Jan 5th, 2014 for $2200
OR BOOK FROM for any length stay greater than 8 days, up to 16 days for $3900 (as low as 245/night)

RESERVE TODAY! glp@letterclick.com









FLAT RATE. Use some or all days - as low as $245/night!
  • BOOK FROM Dec 20 through 27, 2013 for $2200
  • OR BOOK FROM Dec 28 through Jan 5th, 2014 for $2200
  • OR BOOK FROM for any length stay greater than 8 days, up to 16 days for $3900 (as low as 245/night)
RESERVE TODAY! glp@letterclick.com

Sunday, June 9, 2013

BATCHING for 5-bean salad...ALSO: Hummus, Chili, Black bean side

How many dishes can I cook here?...all working towards the 5-bean salad

DAY 1: Garbanzo

  • night before - soak 1 package Garbanzos
  • Slow cook

Hummus

  • That night, make hummus. 
    • Enjoy some now
    • Put some in a container for rest of week
    • Freeze the rest to enjoy next week or in 2 weeks.
  • Save some for the 5-bean salad
  • Freeze the rest of the Garbanzos - good for green-leaf salads

DAY 2: Red kidney beans - 2 packages

Chili

Kidney + Coconut Dessert

DAY 3: Black beans - 2 packages

Side for breakfast & meals

DAY 4: White beans - 1 package

SET of Recipes: Red Kidney beans

"Red Beans are the healthiest dried beans available, rich in antioxidants and loaded with fiber."
Combine this with my batching system...cook a lot at one time, and continue to enjoy the many meals for days to come, without getting bored with it...
So this is how it looks like:


  1. Boil 2 packages of beans for 10 minutes to get the bad stuff out. Cook until soft.
  2. Separate the beans for different recipes: main course AND dessert and/or soup and/or salad.
  3. Enjoy!

SALAD

5 bean salad (See SET of Recipes for Gabanzos and Black beans.

MAIN COURSE (make enough for 2 meals)

Chili

SOUP over Rice (can be used with white beans)

Fry meat, when coked...
Saute Onion, celery, carrot, garlic
Tomato Paste, or tomato sauce - just a little
Add chicken broth with water...simmer...not too watery, just saucy
Throw in tenderized beans
Cubed kamote & banana
At the end, add green vegetables (DIFFERENT TWISTS: Bak Choy, green beans)
SAUCE: onion, garlic, tomato paste, dilute with water, oregano, salt & pepper

DESSERT


http://thaifood.about.com/od/thaidesserts/r/beandessert.htm

Sunday, April 7, 2013

CAKE: Drunken (ala Tortuga) Pineapple Upside Down cake

I googled "recipe for pineapple upside down cake"
Betty Crocker says: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/pineapple-upside-down-cake/a1c9a639-0748-4f2c-89f5-fd33cf138986

I googled "copycat recipe tortuga rum cake"
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Tortuga-Rum-Cake/
It seemed too complicated, so I just did the Glaze part: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Tortuga-Rum-Cake/step7/Create-the-glaze/

WHAT I ENDED UP DOING HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUNGLE!


  • Use a Yellow Cake Mix like Pillsbury
  • Bake on 2nd to the lowest rack for ~50 minutes
  • Fork holes and drizzle the glaze to drunken

RECIPE IDEAS: Mad about Mint

I've tried several times to grow mint, without success until recently. I now have a plant that is growing like crazy...and now I am mad about mint, looking for all sorts of ways to use up this fresher than fresh mint.

I googled "recipes for fresh mint"


http://localfoods.about.com/od/mint/Mint.htm

  1. Mint Drinks (3)
  2. Mint Salads (12)
  3. Mint Sauces & Condiments (7)
  4. All About Mint


?Mint plants like it cool and shady.?


I googled "recipes for fresh mint tea"



P.S. I googled "growing mint"

to find out what I was doing right to do more of it, and got this:
Dos and Don'ts of growing mint: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-dos-donts-of-growing-mint-147458
It's easy to grow
Mint is not just easy to grow, but its roots, which are called "runners," are incredibly invasive: they quickly grow, sprouting new leaves and new plants as they go. 
morning sun and partial afternoon shade. 
• Plant on a patio, in a container. 
• Harvest mint sprigs before the plant flowers. 
• To extend the harvesting season, pinch off the flowering buds as they appear. 
• If planting your mint in a garden bed, apply mulch to help keep it from spreading. 
• Locate mint plants fifteen inches apart, and thin them regularly. • Don't Plant the herb in super moist conditions where it won't dry out.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

RECIPE: Arugula salad

I googled "recipe for arugula"
This one is easy, I mostly have the ingredients, and I will substitute figs with raisins:
Fig and Arugula Salad
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/fig-and-arugula-salad/detail.aspx

I liked this "9 Recipes to Inspire and Satisfy" but some ingredients are not easy to get in CR :-(
http://www.thekitchn.com/crazy-for-arugula-9-recipes-to-118826


How much do we love the sharp, zesty flavor of arugula? Answer: a whole lot! Arugula is really one of our favorite greens to come out of the early warm months. It seems to add just the right touch of fresh summer flavor to whatever we happen to be making, whether it's salad or pizza or pesto!

1. Arugula with Orzo and Garden Tomatoes - Very simple no-cook pasta for a warm summer evening.
2. Potato Salad with Yogurt, Arugula, and Dill - We just made this for dinner again last night. So good!
3. Cream Cheese and Arugula Toast Bites - Perfect for an afternoon snack or a simple dinner party appetizer.
4. Egg, Arugula, and Herb Tartine - Quickly sautéed over high heat, arugula takes on new character.
5. Wilted Arugula and Pear Salad - Bold flavors make a very satisfying salad.
6. Strawberry-Arugula Salad with Lemon Ricotta - Spicy arugula pairs amazingly well with sweet summer fruits.
7. Arugula Vichyssoise - Arugula adds another layer of flavor to this classic chilled soup.
8. Comte, Olive, and Arugula Grilled Cheese - This would be heavenly for those random chilly nights.
9. Spring Greens Pesto - A spin on traditional pesto!

FRUTAS OF THE WEEK: Guanabana fruit, also called graviola or soursop

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soursop

HEALTH BENEFITS:
Nutritionally, the fruit is high in carbohydrates, particularly fructose. The fruit also contains significant amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2.

Natural Therapy Pages: 

http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/the_health_benefits_of_soursop_fruit

The Health Benefits of Soursop Fruit


Soursop fruit is packed with vitamins and other healthy ingredients. These include:
Vitamin C

Vitamin B 1

Vitamin B12

Calcium

Iron

Healthy fats

Protein

Healthy carbohydrates
In addition, soursop fruit is cholesterol free and low in calories, making it an ideal snack or flavourful addition to a dessert.

Culinary Uses for Soursop Fruit

  • The white pulp is eaten along with the black seeds. 
  • Drink squeezed and chilled soursop juice. 
  • Soursop cheesecake has a distinctively delicious flavour and texture and it is used in homemade ice creams. 
The Health Benefits of Soursop Fruit

Benefits of:

http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-guanabana/

Benefits of Guanabana

1. Anti-bacterial properties

Guanabana fruit is thought to have potent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. It is therefore useful in preventing infections caused by bacteria and viruses in the body. Actually, a mixture made of immature guanabana fruits is used in certain areas like a treatment for dysentery. Frequent guanabana fruit intake may further help to eliminate intestinal parasites and worms.

2. Cancer treatment

In herbal medicine, guanabana fruit consumption is said to have the benefit of controlling cancer cell growth.

3. High carbohydrate content

Guanabana fruits have rich carbohydrate content, particularly fructose. Other than carbohydrates, these fruits also possess various beneficial nutrients like B vitamins, calcium, vitamin C and dietary fiber among others. The high carbohydrate amount found in this fruit increases energy and lowers cholesterol in the body.

4. Sedative effects

The strong sedative effects of guanabana fruit make it effective in controlling blood pressure in individuals with hypertension.
It also calms erratic heartbeats, preventing strokes and heart attacks.
treat their disorders and enhance their sleep cycles.
An additional benefit of consuming guanabana is that it reduces convulsions and spasms.

Possible side effects related to guanabana intake include:

vomiting and nausea, particularly following the consumption of large doses.

Photo courtesy of:
https://www.google.com/search?q=guanabana&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vyIqUdnZOoPa8ASFuoHQAQ&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1122&bih=579#imgrc=DFRmwHLeVHpNMM%3A%3B6XP40Rz_z4XD2M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fiscly.files.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F08%252Fguanabana2.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fiscly.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F08%252F28%252Fla-guanabana-prevencion-del-cancer%252F%3B266%3B225




Sunday, February 10, 2013

SALAD: Arugula and Ginger Beets and Pecans

For the beets, I used this:
http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-honey-ginger-balsamic-g-155611

Then, I did the TicoFusion twist:
1 jungle-sized beet, scrubbed and boiled, then removed skin
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons peeled and chopped ginger
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon of the syrup I created from the brown-molasses+ lemongrass & ginger that I usually use for tea, instead of honey

Served with Arugula tossed in a oil & vinegar dressing + toasted pecans.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Hummus

I begin the journey...
*1) THE DECISION: I could have bought canned Garbanzo beans...but why? when I don't have to. I'm thinking this is healthier without the preservatives?

*2) THE GARBANZO BEANS: I googled "how to cook garbanzo beans in a slow cooker"
I found this: http://freshslowcooking.com/88/cooking_chickpeas_in_your_crock-pot
Cooking dry chickpeas (or other dry beans) in your slow cooker is as easy as it gets. It also has many advantages over using canned beans. If you have a large slow cooker, you can cook big batches and freeze them in ‘can-size’ portions to make them convenient too.


Cooking Chickpeas in Your Slow Cooker
Dissolve 3 tablespoons of salt in 16 cups (4L) of cold water.
Soak 1 pound (2½ cups) dry chickpeas in the salted water overnight in a covered bowl or pot.
In the morning, drain the water and rinse the chickpeas. Place them in your slow cooker, cover them with about 1-inch of water and cook until tender. Low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

Shrimp Fettucine Alfredo

I started with the AllRecipes "To Die For" and "Shrimp Fettucine Alfredo", and...:
- Used half a stick of butter (somewhere between healthier and richer)
- 5 cloves on garlic
- Took out the shrimp after 12 minutes
- Put 1/2 cup white wine at the end
- Mixed the pasta, then put the shrimp back on top...looks better for presentation as well!

Great with!
- Boiled carrots with butter & lime
- Toasted buttered Toasties

Sunday, January 20, 2013

TEA: Agua Fresca - Jamaica Hibiscus

I googled "Agua Fresca- Jamaica Hibiscus" and found this:
MY PICKS!
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/agua_de_jamaica_hibiscus_tea/
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/agua-de-jamaica-hibiscus-water/

THIS IS WHAT I DID:


  • 10*3/4 cups water (I couldn't find my 1 cup)
Boiled with:
  • 1/2 cup sugar, or 1/4 brown sugar cone
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • a few bits of ginger to give it a zing

  • Remove from heat and throw in the prepared ~10*3/4 cups Jamaica Hibiscus
  • Let sit overnight or longer in the fridge before straining
  • Mix with optional soda for a bubbly delight

BENEFITS:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/426215-what-are-the-benefits-of-jamaica-flower-tea/

BLOOD PRESSURE 

Drinking a tea made from a standardized hibiscus flower extract may lower mild to moderate hypertension. 

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Jamaica flower tea has antioxidant properties and is a source of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C. Antioxidants are important for protecting your cells and organs from harmful free radicals.

http://www.ehow.com/list_5814709_benefits-jamaica-flower-tea_.html

OTHER LINKS:


http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/bebidasdrinks/r/aguahibiscus.htm
You can use it as a diuretic, a laxative or a digestive supplement. A diuretic increases the excretion of water from the body through elevating the rate of urination. A laxative induces bowel movements to help loosen stool, and you can take it to relieve constipation. A digestive supplement catalyzes the body's digestive system and enhances the normal digestive process.





I got distracted from task, and also found this beautiful flower when I searched.
http://flirtyfleurs.com/flower-science/nightfire2/