Add Some Authenticity to Your Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Cinco de Mayo is around the corner, which begs the question -- how do you like your tequila?

I like a good añejo (aged), and I like to sip it straight. If I can chase it with a sip of sangrita (not to be confused with sangria), even better.

Sangrita is a partner to a shot of straight tequila (sort of like a palate cleanser to complement the flavor), traditionally made with tomato juice, fresh lime and orange juice, and chili peppers.  In English, the literal translation is "little blood." I was introduced to it earlier this year during a visit to JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa. They make a mean one, and I fell in love. 

Thought you'd enjoy adding a bit of authenticity to your Cinco de Mayo fiesta, so you'll find JW's recipe is below. Try something new, save hundreds of calories by forgoing the sugary margaritas, and have less of a hangover. It falls on a Sunday this year. 

Read on for the recipe. 

As published in City Style and Living Magazine, Spring 2013. 

I've been really busy with my new job and haven't had much time to post a new recipe, so I thought I'd let my good friend David Berry show the blog some love... literally! You may already know him as a fitness pro, but he's also a very talented and extremely savvy writer who focuses on a topic we can all relate to - relationships! And we can all use a little insight there, too...

The Healthy Dating Plan
by David Berry

We’re a month into 2013, if you can believe it, and that means that our New Year’s Resolutions have already been challenged – or ditched altogether. And I’m not talking about food, either. I’m talking about guys, girls!

If you’re a reader of The Fit Cook, then you’re obviously awesome; and keen on taking care of yourself. Well, consider me The Fit Dating Guru. And for the sake of simplicity, I’ve got three things to share with you regarding you and your love life in 2013.

One. Keep your standards high. Dating isn’t like picking between one or two-ply sheets of toilet paper, so why are you still wasting your time on assholes? You know who you are; you know what you have to offer. And just because you haven’t found ‘him’ yet doesn’t mean that you should start compromising your core beliefs just to fill an imaginary void in your heart. Be confident in yourself and wait it out. You’ll be glad you did.

Two. Give him a chance. I don’t know who ‘he’ is, but give a guy a chance to prove you wrong. Okay, he’s short *cough*cough*. Or maybe he’s a bit nerdy. Guess what? That doesn’t make him any less capable of being an awesome guy. He might not end up being ‘the one,’ but he might surprise you. And in the process, he might open your eyes to a world of guys you never noticed.

Three. Be the best version of ‘you’ that you can be. I can’t speak for all guys, but I can speak for quite a few when I say that the most attractive woman is the one who’s living a life filled with passion and purpose. Whatever it is that defines ‘you,’ go out and do it, either professionally or for fun. If you do? You won’t need a guy to complete you – but you’ll want one to join you. And what’s better than that?

I’m under no illusion that these three tips will revolutionize your dating life and land Mr. Right on your doorstep, but it’s a start. And let’s be honest – you kind of deserve it. Go out and get the love that’s coming to you this year. And visit me on www.iamdavidberry.com to check out more of my blogs.

Exiting day! I'm a featured chef in KIND's New Year, New You social media campaign. My two cents? Healthy never has to be boring! I always play with condiments and spices to make dishes interesting, regardless of how healthy they are.

Thank you KIND (whose products I really, enjoy... for real!) for including me, and for all that you do!

Download or print my poster here: 
http://bit.ly/NYNYDAY18

xo,
Luisana

Join me tonight, Jan. 8th at 9pm EST, as I host a Twitter party with Torani, makers of flavored syrups and sauces. Our theme? A flavorful 2013... who doesn't love that?

We'll be chatting for an hour live, beginning at 9pm EST. I'll be joined by fellow blogger Shelley from The World According to Eggface. 

Follow us @luisanacooks, @eggface and @torani to join the conversation. Torani is giving away prices including a Mr. Coffee coffee maker and Torani products.


Use hashtags #flavorful2013 #lowcalflavor and #zerocalflavor

Get excited! Talk to you tonight!

xo
Luisana

In my {big, fat, Venezuelan} family, we ring in the new year wearing yellow undies for good luck and hold money in our hands for wealth, we eat 12 grapes right before midnight, then eat a cup of lentil soup first thing after midnight for prosperity, and in our grand finale, we run around the block with luggage hoping it brings travel... it's all totally normal.

Wishing all of you a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! And thank you for helping to make 2012 a memorable year - I am very grateful for your support!

Last Sunday I was lucky to work at and attend a live chocolate cooking demo by one of Miami's most talented chefs, Eating House’s Giorgio Rapicavoli.

Using Tierra Nueva Fine Cocoa’s “Cruz Chocolates” and “Coffee Thins” to prepare two original, chocolate-inspired dishes, Rapicavoli, who earlier this year became Miami’s first winner on Food Network’s “Chopped,” took the stage with chef and partner Henry Hané. Together they prepared a dish of seared scallops over a turnip puree infused with Tierra Nueva white chocolate and finished with brown butter powder, followed by a “Tierra Misu” made with Tierra Nueva’s Coffee Thins, a chocolate-free bar made with a blend of 100% natural coffee.

Photos courtesy of The Cuban Art Project.

In Piedmont, Italy, winemaking is a process to be celebrated, and from vineyard to table, it’s always the perfect time to raise a glass. 

by Luisana Suegart

Published in Aventura Magazine, November 2012

Sweet melon balls wrapped in salty prosciutto di parma; melt-in-your-mouth capicola delicately stuffed with soft, homemade mozzarella; fresh bib lettuce lightly tossed in fruity extra virgin olive oil; six assorted cheeses, including the creamiest of Gorgonzolas; and bottomless baskets of crusty Italian bread. It’s all paired with crisp Itynera Prosecco. Dessert is a warm apple crostata with a scoop of vanilla gelato, the sweetness perfectly complemented by a glass of chilled Moscato d’Asti.    

Introducing Guest Blogger #2, my good friend and biggest fan (although he will never admit it!), David Berry. David is here to introduce the fitness element into The Fit Cook blog, because pairing a healthy diet with a consistent exercise routine always equals awesome results! If you have any questions for David, write them in the "Comments" area below and David will be sure to get back to you in a timely manner, or else! ;) 


How to Begin an Exercise Routine...
and Stick to It!
By David Berry, NASM Certified Personal Trainer

Congratulations! If you’re reading Luisana’s blog, you’ve likely chosen healthy eating as a key element to living a healthy life. So why am I here? To talk about another major element – exercise!

I know, I know. ‘I hate doing cardio’ or ‘I don’t have time to go to the gym’ are knee-jerk reactions when it comes to exercise. Or maybe you’re actually a wannabe fitness nut but aren’t sure how to get started. What should you do?

My name is David Berry, and I’m a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Day in and day out, I work with individuals from all walks of life, in all levels of fitness. And I help them make positive changes that work for the long term. Not just a week or a month, but years down the line. I’m talking about total lifestyle change.

Staying Fit with the Freedom
By Brianna Collins

Upon entrance into college, I became starkly aware of the new freedoms that came along with living away from home. With the lack of curfew and supervision, came a surprising new freedom I hadn't thought about before: food. 

There were no longer family meals to attend to or homemade lunches to bring to school. My meals were consistently made by restaurant equipment rather than hands of conscious of health. Nights were later and schedules were less defined.