Blog Posts by Lili's Latin Kitchen

By Liliana Moyano for Shine Latina

During my first year of college, I had the most amazing experience studying abroad in Spain. My four sisters and I (we are only one year apart from each other) stayed in Madrid for a month and took summer courses at the local University of Maria Cristina. One of our first meals was an authentic Gazpacho de Tomate (Tomato Gazpacho soup). I thought it was something like la sopa de la abuela (grandma's soup) and went for it with a big spoon. To my surprise it was a cold tomato soup that tasted like plain salsa but without the chips. I was a little confused and asked the server to heat it up for me thinking they had served it cold by mistake. Later on, he explained that Gazpacho is a typical Spanish summer dish, and it is purposely served cold.

While in Spain, I never acquired the taste for it, and was even reluctant to ever have Gazpacho again, until I saw it in a restaurant menu as "Gazpacho de Aguacate" (Avocado Gazpacho). I ordered it and it

By Liliana Moyano for Shine Latina

 Healthy Cocina: Coriander Salmon with Warm Mushrooms and a Tropical SaladI grew up in a family of foodies starting with my father who was always in the kitchen. Food was always the reason for gatherings, whether we were cooking up carne asada or doing random guacamole nights during the week. However, today, for some weird reason when I say, "Oh, I know how to make that," people look at me with disbelief. They think, "She can't boil an egg for the love of God!" Well, let me tell you, I'm all about cooking and enjoying delicious food whether staying in or eating out. And it's never been about the recipe or the condiments.. It's really about what's in my fridge and how to put it together rápido and without leaving a mess.

Now in the thick of summer, I like to make sure my fridge and I are bikini ready, so I went on a mission to buy healthy food options. Coriander powder was my first item. It's a condiment from a root similar to ginger, and it has a bright yellow color that blends with almost any dish. Besides, its

Bloody Bacon (Liliana Moyano)By Liliana Moyano for Shine Latina

Last winter my friends invited me to Denver, Colorado to snowboard at a ski resort. I was very excited because I had never done any skiing before, and I thought it would be an easy sport to master. Once we arrived, the only slide open was the intermediate, which looked like Mount Everest to me. I was very scared, so I walked up to the lobby for a drink before my big adventure.

Once at the bar, I realized that everyone was having a red drink with bacon in it. Out of curiosity I ordered one, and to my surprise the drink with the bacon strip was a hit! I drank it como juguito de naranja (like orange juice)! That piece of bacon added a touch of saltiness and crunch to a perfectly made Bloody Mary. When I came back home, I couldn't wait to tell everyone about that "bacony" Bloody Mary, and made it for my family and friends. I gave it a Latin twist by adding some Mexican Sangrita and a jalapeño. Try one at your next brunch for a deliciously