Girl Meets Fire Hola Reader There is something intimidating about cooking. There is the fact that sometimes we don't quite know how to cook an item, or use a tool, or even what the ingredients would taste like. Many of these things come with trial and error and practice. I like to use these emails to shed light on these pain points so that cooking is not so intimidating and you feel even more inspired to try something new. Even if something new is thousands of years old. If there are any...

Girl Meets Fire Dimelo Reader, I hope this email finds you well and that the included information for your kitchen is useful. Today, I would like to go over the French term “Mise en Place,” meaning everything in its place. I learned about mise en place when I first started culinary school. In a restaurant setting, having everything on the ready and at hand is crucial to the service's effectiveness. Having foods that are already cut or partially cooked makes the guest experience that much more...

Girl Meets Fire Wepa Reader I'm updating my post on Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce this week - the one where we make beef bolognese from scratch and stuff the shells with mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan. Which got me thinking: let's talk about ricotta, not as the ingredient but rather as a quick tip on how to handle it. If you've ever opened a container of ricotta, you know no two are the same. Some are solid blobs that hold their shape. Others have a layer of whey pooling on top....

Girl Meets Fire Hola Reader Today I would like to talk about one of Puerto Rico's most beloved legumes, the pigeon pea or Gandul (Cajanus cajan). 🫘 The Gandul grows from December to May, and because its peak season begins in December, it is associated with festivities and Christmas, and it is used in our favorite Christmas and national side dish, Arroz con Gandules. A gandul or pigeon pea is a small greenish-brown, sometimes purple pea. It is bigger than a lentil and smaller than a bean, and...

Girl Meets Fire Dimelo Reader, Here is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while: meal planning and prepping. Now, I know when people talk about meal planning and prepping, what usually comes to mind is a five- or seven-day list of things to eat. That’s not my approach. 🤭 But if that’s something you’re interested in, reply to this email and let me know. What I want to do instead is give you tools to conquer just two things: the fear of “what’s for dinner,” and the “I hate cooking”...

Girl Meets Fire Buen Dia Reader, So January is already coming to a close, along with many resolutions. Not because they weren’t good resolutions or because we “failed,” but because sometimes our expectations shift — or we don’t yet have a clear path to our goals. I’m not a big “resolution” person. I tend to focus more on intentions and small wins. I find those are what actually drive action. 🌱 One of my intentions this year for Girl Meets Fire has been to engage more with subscribers and...

Girl Meets Fire Buenas Reader, Today I want to talk about a tool that I just recently bought. While shopping at Marshalls I came across a broth infuser. A what? Yes, a broth infuser. Think of it as a larger version of a tea infuser. It works the same way. You open it, add the ingredients you don’t want floating freely in your broth, soup, or sauce, and drop it into the pot. When the cooking is done, you remove the infuser, and the flavor stays behind. Naturally, you might be asking yourselves...

Girl Meets Fire Wepa Reader This week, I want to focus on how to use broth in everyday cooking. I know what you might be thinking.“Broth, really?” Hi friends, Broth is one of the most versatile ingredients you can keep in your pantry or fridge. The first recipe I shared this year was Homemade Chicken Broth.That wasn’t random. Broth is an essential kitchen ingredient, and it’s important to know how to make it. But knowing how only matters if you also know why it’s useful. That’s what today’s...

Girl Meets Fire Dimelo Reader I’ve been thinking about trying something new with my weekly emails. Instead of random updates, you’ll get clear topics each week that actually help you cook better and feel more confident in the kitchen. Here’s what you can expect: Meal Prep/Planning: simple ideas to make weekly cooking feel easier.Ingredient Spotlight: one ingredient worth paying attention to and how to use it.Quick Tip: a small trick that saves time or adds flavor.Tools I Use: kitchen gear I...