Mmm, Me Gusta

Pineapple Ice Pops (Paletas de Pina)

Claudia Yuskoff — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:38:49 +0000

I grew up eating paletas. On every trip to Mexico, I looked forward to Paleteria outings with my cousins. These Mexican treats are pure frozen awesomeness because each bite is a burst of flavor!

Giveaway: Win a Zoku Quick Pop Maker. Watch this episode for more info. Contest Closed. Winner announced in the video below.

In this episode, Shamikah from Candy Slice Comedy is back for another cooking lesson and I ask other Youtubers: What’s your favorite paleta?

I’m also testing out the Zoku Quick Pop Maker. I first saw this pop maker at Sur La Table during the Summer and was dying to try it. In the past I’ve used other molds and always ended up with a shapeless, ice disaster. Those darn mold were my enemy, and who wants to wait overnight for a tasty treat. With this baby, you can make 3 pops at a time in 7-9 minutes, right on your countertop!

Ingredients
2 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
1 ripe pineapple, peeled
juice of 2 limes

If you want to try other ice pop recipes, check out these great cookbooks.
Paletas: Authentic Recipes for Mexican Ice Pops, Shaved Ice & Aguas Frescas by Fany Gerson
Zoku Quick Pops by Jackie Zorovich & Kristina Sacci

Great Labor Day Recipes from Hungry Nation’s Virtual Potluck

Hungry Nation chefs are hooking you up! From cocktails, to bbq chicken, pork, and ribs, to sweet endings of red velvet cupcakes and pineapple ice pops, everything you need for a great labor day weekend is right here!

Winner: Zoku Pop Maker Contest
Thank you all for entering. Congratulations to the Winner!

Disclosure: I have received compensation by Zoku Quick Pop Maker.

Random Posts

Lime Soup (Sopa de Lima)

Claudia Yuskoff — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:10:49 +0000

I took a vacation to Mexico in July before starting my new job. I have all this great footage but as some of you may have experienced, a new job is entirely consuming so I haven’t had time to post that content until now. Trust me, this recipe is worth the wait. You’re going to learn how to make Lime Soup–a delicious recipe from Le Reve Hotel. This is a typical dish from that region of Mexico and great any time of year, especially in the Summer. Good luck!

Lime Soup
2 Pimentos
Cook Chicken, pulled
Chicken Stock
Lime juice
3 Tomatoes
Fried Tortilla Strips
Salt & Pepper, to taste

Lounging by the pool

Themed room. Our room was named after a nearby beach.

Le Reve Hotel

Breakfast!

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Horchata (Rice and Cinnamon Drink)

Claudia Yuskoff — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:46:20 +0000

Drinking horchata brings back memories of my family vacations in Mexico. The best taco stands in El Centro of any great city always served up awesome tacos and the freshest agua frescas, like Horchata. Horchata is made with rice and canela, one of my favorite Mexican ingredients. It’s the perfect Summer drink and amazing with anything fried, like my taquitos de papa (potato tacos)! To some it may sound strange but don’t knock it till you try it–then thank me for changing your life! Enjoy Megustinos!

In this episode, the very funny Shamikah Martinez joins the show. She’s a wonderful comedian, belonging to an all ladies comedy troupe. These ladies create such uniquely funny online content. Check out their first “viral” video, starring Shamikah, a behind-the-scenes set up of Beyonce and Lady Gaga’s Videophone, which racked up nearly 3 million YouTube views. Learn more about Shamikah’s comedy Youtube channel, Candy Slice, here.

Horchata
2/3 cup of long grain white rice
2 Canela sticks (cinnamon sticks)
1 cup of sugar, or more, as desired
2 cups whole milk
3 cups of warm water
1 cup of blanched almonds (optional)
shaved ice

Garnish
Fresh strawberries, peaches, raspberries, diced or whole–depending on fruit (optional)
Walnuts (optional)
Canela sticks

Random Posts

Meet & Eat (Hungry Nation feature)

Claudia Yuskoff — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:21:20 +0000

Megustinos, I was honored to have the Hungry Nation team here in my kitchen the week of VidCon 2011. We made Horchata (recipe to follow next Sunday) and chatted about the making of Me Gusta. Check it out and let me know what you think. You’ll get the inside story to why I created the show.

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Tortilla Soup (Sopa de Tortilla)

Claudia Yuskoff — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:22:26 +0000

Here’s the continuation of the Soup Opera! Noveleros, enjoy making this delicious rustic soup. Share it with your friends and let Chef Paola Petrella and I know how it turned out.

Ingredients
3 freshly roasted chicken breast (skin on- bone in)
6 cups homemade chicken stock
2 medium onions, rough chop
4 large cloves (for garlic paste)
1 ½ red bell pepper; rough chop, remove seeds
1 green bell pepper; rough chop, remove seeds
5 garlic roasted tomatoes
½ bunch cilantro
pinch of cumin
salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
favorite Hot Sauce, to taste
3 cups thin (thick makes soup starchy) yellow tortilla crisps
Light olive oil
Garnish
Avocado
Sour cream
Cilantro sprigs

Tortilla Soup, Part 1 – Chicken Stock

Chef Paola Petrella says the heart and soul of the tortilla soup is the chicken stock. She’s right. If you want good soup, then don’t short cut this step. It’s really worth every second and not complicated at all. Keep in mind, you stock perfectionist, we’re making stock that’s specifically for the tortilla soup. It’s so yum! I don’t know about you guys but soup and TV just go well together. As a teen, I use to love watching Novelas with my mamita while eating something hearty, like tortilla soup. Those were special times. I’m sure many of you can relate. This episode is a tribute to those times. Enjoy!

Chicken Stock
chicken backs and necks
1 cup leeks, roughly chopped
1/2 onion, roughly chopped
Water
Salt, a pinch

Behind the Scenes with Paola
Watch as Chef Paola shares her philosophy on cooking. Her company Two Peas Inc, a high end meal delivery service, is culinary brilliance offering nothing but the best. Some of Paola’s A-list clients include: Vanessa Williams, Cybill Shepherd, and Rebecca Romijn to name a few. Paola shares her awesome company with her handsome hubby, Craig!

Related Recipes

Lime Soup (Sopa de Lima)

Caribbean Ceviche in Edible Bowls

Claudia Yuskoff — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:31:55 +0000

One of wondrous things about making Me Gusta is all the chefs I’ve met that I’ve developed a special bond with. When a chef visits my kitchen, I learn a great deal about cooking–and for that, I’m grateful!

On this episode, the ever so charming, Chef Paola Petrella, visited. What I love about Paola is her health conscious approach to cooking without compromising flavor, and trust me she needs to teach this girl –a fanatic about anything fried–a little something about low-fat cuisine.

Her company Two Peas Inc, a high end meal delivery service, is culinary brilliance offering nothing but the best. Some of Paola’s A-list clients include: Vanessa Williams, Cybill Shepherd, and Rebecca Romijn to name a few. Paola shares her awesome company with her handsome hubby, Craig!

Pairings
Roberto Rogness from the Wine Expo (the best place for bubbly and Italian wines in Los Angeles) recommends the Prosecco Le Manzane Proseo Rosato with ceviche.

Caribbean Ceviche by Chef Paola Petrella

Serves 2-4
2 fresh Snapper Fillets (approximately 1lb)
7 large limes (squeeze all juice out–no seeds)
½ cup finely chopped red onion
¼ cup chopped red bell peppers (no seeds)
½ cup fine diced fresh ripe mango
½ bunch of cilantro (rough chop)
1 tsp fresh ground cumin
2 tsp grape seed or avocado oil (don’t use olive oil as it throws off the flavor)
Kosher Salt and pepper to taste
1 large seedless cucumber (peeled)
plantain chips (optional)

Edible Ceviche Bowls

Serves 2-4
mini peppers (remove seeds, keep stem)
fat cucumbers (peeled)
Kosher salt
Tool: melon ball scoop

See video for instructions.

Behind the Scenes with Paola
Paola shares her philosophy on cooking, plus we’ll reveal what celebs are on her client list.

Random Posts

Bacon and Cheese Omelet

Claudia Yuskoff — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:44:10 +0000

YouTuber Paul from GigaSnail is back and we’re making a bacon and Tillamook Sharp Chedder Cheese omelet. This easy and delicious omelet can be served with a generous dose of fresh, spicy Molcajete Sauce, from a previous episode.

I’m also running another fun contest called #SkillsWithSkillets for a chance to win a a set of Kitchen Collection Cookware by Better Homes and Gardens, available exclusively at Walmart. This is a fantastic set for any Megustino and includes numerous features like the non-stick Triple Performance Grid™. It makes for superior browning, and great taste–and clean-up is a breeze. You have to be a Facebook fan or YouTube Subscriber to win the set. Watch episode to learn how to enter.

The contest winner will be announced on my LIVE Youtube channel on Thursday, June 30 at 7PM PST. Contest closes at June 30, 3PM, PST.
Watch last week’s Me Gusta LIVE show.

Bacon & Cheese Omelet with Molcajete Sauce

Ingredients

2 organic, large brown eggs
1 cup, crumbled bacon
1 cup, shredded Tillamook Sharp Cheddar
Kosher Salt and black pepper, to taste
fresh chives, diced
butter or olive oil (optional)

Note: Because of Triple Performance Grid design, you won’t require too much oil. Your omelets will slide right off the skillet.

Heather Waters

Episode also features music by the very talented, Heather Waters. I met her on Twitter and fell in love with her music.

In this episode you’ll hear 2 of her tracks: Jome Comes Back to Me and Wait For Me.

She’ll be making a special appearance on an upcoming episode!

Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Better Homes and Gardens and have received compensation.

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Meet & Eat (Hungry Nation feature)

Sony Winner + Cyber Chocotini – MeGusta LIVE (Almost Forever)

Claudia Yuskoff — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:31:17 +0000

BlackNerd Comedy (Andre Meadow), Jonathan360 (Jonathan Naferreti) and SparklingLala (Lala Castro) join me and @Missilethecat on our FIRST Live episode of Mmm Me Gusta! Tune in for some spicy shenanigans!

In this episode we reveal the winner of the #SpicySnapShot contest announced during the Molcajete Sauce episode and create a cyber cocktail, which we let viewers name! Be sure to stay tuned for the ending because that’s the icing on the cake! All I can say is, we’re such noobs!

Cyber-Chocotini – (Named by Megustina Sukhjit)
1 disk Taza Chocolate Mexicano (Organic Mexican chocolate)
2 cups milk (Alternatives: Soy, Almond Milk, etc.,)
1 oz Kaulua
1 oz Chambord
1 oz Creme de Cacao

Use a Microplane to grate the Taza Chocolate Mexicano to a powder. Heat the milk just before boiling. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Stir well. Let chocolate milk cool in the fridge. Chill the martini glasses by putting them in freezer. Pour 1 cup of Taza Chocolate Mexicano milk, Kaulua, Chambord and Creme de Cacao into the shaker. Strain into chilled martini glasses. For garnish, grate some Taza chocolate on top of the drink creating a fine layer of chocolate.

Thanks to Sony Electronics for hooking up my Megustinos. SUPER Special thanks to Sukhjit from Sony for believing in Mmm Me Gusta!

Congrats to Laura Dolly, the winner of the Sony Cyber-shot WX9 !

Look at all the other wonderful entries! Some of you were so creative, especially SparklingLala who wins most original. Even my husband entered with his hot tamales picture, lol. I wish I had more stuff to giveaway as it was such a difficult choice. See all the photo entries and check out these awesome video responses.

Spicy Tilapia Ceviche by TastyMemories

Chili Recipe with Habanero & Bacon by PlatypusGuitar

Didn’t win? Still want to get your hands on a Sony Cyber-shot WX9 camera? Check out Wayfaring Wanderer who’s running a contest until June 23. Also check out my friend The Minty. A Los Angeles food blogger who also ran a Cyber-shot contest and regularly does cool foodie giveaways.

Random Posts

Ep. #40 Molcajete Sauce (with Chile de Arbol)

Claudia Yuskoff — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:34:48 +0000

I’m back. It’s been too long, oh my! I’m feeling spicy and so is my muy guapo guest, YouTuber, Paul Moore. We’re whipping up my mother’s Molcajete chile de arbol sauce: a recipe taught to my mother by her mother.

In this episode, I’m running a fun contest called Spicy Snap Shots for a chance win a Sony WX9 Cyber-shot camera. This camera shoots vibrant, high quality pictures, and with a “Gourmet Mode” setting, all your food shots will look delicious! You have to be a Facebook fan or YouTube Subscriber to win. Watch episode to learn how to enter.

The winner for Spicy Snap Shots contest to win the Sony WX9 Cyber-shot will be announced on my LIVE Youtube channel on Thursday, June 16 at 7PM PST. Contest closes at June 16, 3PM, PST. Update: Watch our FIRST LIVE Broadcast! We’re such NOOBS!

Behind The Scenes Me Gusta Cooking

Ingredients
3-4 tomatoes (Combine various types of tomatoes e.g., Purple Cherokee, Roma, Hot House)
3 chile de arbol (remove seeds for less heat)
1 large garlic clove
Kosher Salt to taste
Olive oil (optional)

Molcajete Sauce (with Chile de Arbol)

Preparation
Heat skillet on medium heat. Lightly coat pan with olive oil (optional). If you have a well seasoned comal you can omit the oil. Add chile de arbol. Don’t be dumb like me. Use a tong to carefully cook the chiles on each side. Careful not to burn the chiles (they burn easily). Cook them until their color goes from bright red to a burnt orange and the skin becomes toasted. Pick up the chiles with tongs and smell them. HOLY MOLY, right! Paul thought they smelled like popcorn but I think they give off a woodsy, smokey scent. Let peppers cool. Remove the stems, and for a milder sauce, pour out the seeds. Add the tomatoes and garlic (with peel) to the pan. Turn constantly. Cook tomatoes until skin is charred and center is soft (you may need to cut large tomatoes in half). Cook garlic until soft. Be careful not to burn garlic as it tends to taste nasty. Remove ingredients from the pan and begin adding ingredients to the molcajete. Begin pulverizing the ingredients. Start with the chile de arbol, followed by garlic (until you get a paste), then tomatoes (one at a time). Be careful not to get hot tomato juice in your eye when you pound the tomatoes. Been there. Done that! You’ll end up with a thick yet juicy textured sauce. Add salt to taste. Important: the salt will balance all the flavors. Remember to add a pinch at a time and taste as you go.

The winner for Spicy Snap Shots contest to win the Sony WX9 Cyber-shot will be announced on my LIVE Youtube channel on Thursday, June 16.
Contest closes at June 16, 3PM, PST.

Good luck! Besitos! Besitos! Besitos!

Lyrics to the Opening Song

I’m Back.

I’m back. I’m back. Oh my, it’s been too long.
I’m back to feed my hungry megustinos.

I’m back. I’m back. And who the heck are you!
I’m Paul. I’m Paul. I am your guest tonight.
I’m coming on your show, what do you know!

Let’s make this season too good for you.
Tonight!

Written by Claudia Yuskoff and Scott Waldman from Lido Beach

Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Sony Electronics and have received compensation.

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I’m back. You’re hungry. And I’m giving stuff away!

I’m back. You’re hungry. And I’m giving stuff away!

Claudia Yuskoff — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:13:43 +0000

Claudia and Paul dish it out with Better Homes and Gardens Skillets!

NEW Me Gusta episodes start on Thursday, June 9, 2011. My guest, YouTuber, Paul Moore from Gigasnail will be joining me for the entire month of June. Yeah! We can’t wait to share what we’ve got cooking!

Who will win the Sony Cyber-shot?!

In addition to brand new recipes, I’m giving away fun stuff all month long, Oprah style. On June 9, I’ll begin a contest to win a Sony WX9 Cyber-shot camera. Sony invited several food bloggers, dubbed #SonyFoodies, to visit Sony Electronics HQ and gave us preview models of the camera. This camera shoots vibrant, high quality pictures, and with a “Gourmet Mode” setting, all your food shots will look delicious! And, best of all, Sony offered a second camera to give away to my viewers!

On June 23, I’ll be starting a second contest to win Better Homes and Gardens skillets from their new kitchen collection. These skillets have a unique triple performance grid for superior browning and easy clean up. When BHGs approached me about testing their skillets, I asked if they would be willing to give away a set to my Megustinos and they agreed!
And, for the very first time EVER, I’ll be announcing the winners for my contest during my YouTube Live channel. I can’t wait to record LIVE and engage with all my viewers!

So don’t go hungry! Be sure to watch the season premiere of Mmm Me Gusta on Thursday, June 9.

Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Sony Electronics and Better Homes and Gardens and have received compensation.

Related Recipes

Ep. #40 Molcajete Sauce (with Chile de Arbol)