
12/06/2022
I’m really happy with how these gorgeous pastel holiday cookies turned out. Even though I wanted to keep the palette simple and limited, I still had to mix 8 separate bags of icing to create these.
WE ARE CONDUCTING online Zoom cooking and cocktail classes! Corporate culinary team building progra
La Diva Cucina is an extension of my business with posts and information about my team building programs, recipe, foods, gardening and anything that tickles my fancy.
Operating as usual
I’m really happy with how these gorgeous pastel holiday cookies turned out. Even though I wanted to keep the palette simple and limited, I still had to mix 8 separate bags of icing to create these.
Mmmmmm…Hungarian chicken paprikas with sour cream drop dumplings. This comforting dish is a favorite amongst my friends and family, it’s a perfect rib-sticking winter dinner. Recipe in comments.
Ahm makin’ COOKIES! I’ve been way too busy to make many this year (I’m sorry!), but DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND, I will make be making limited designs in beautiful pastels for this season!
If you want to order, let me know ASAP, I’ll be making them this week and shipping on Dec. 5th! DM me for pricing.
Sweeten the holiday season with Sweet Fox Cookies!
THANK YOU!
Polish kapusta with mizeria in a small side bowl behind. (cucumber salad with dill and sour cream.) My kapusta is made with fresh cabbage, caraway seeds, bay leaves and a dash of apple cider vinegar. Also country pork ribs, kielbasa, potatoes and tomatoes. I grew up on this Polish comfort food and was happy to share it with my friend’s sick partner who is Polish. I really hope he likes it!
Polish kapusta (cabbage) in the making for my meal train contribution. It’s usually made with sauerkraut but I like to use fresh cabbage and apple cider vinegar because I prefer the texture.
I also prefer using country ribs over pork chops. There are many variations on this traditional Polish dish.
This will cook for at least an hour when the pork becomes fork tender.
Sautéed garlic shrimp with Marsala wine served over leftover polenta with roasted butternut squash.
I was inspired by the NYT recipe for slow cooker pumpkin polenta but wanted a lighter, quicker version.
I roasted cubed butternut squash and made instant polenta in my rice cooker with milk, chicken broth and water and a bit of dried sage. When done cooking, I added a k**b of butter, a few tablespoons of cream cheese, grated parmigiano cheese and the lightly mashed pumpkin.
1 cup uncooked polenta to four cups liquid yielded five good size servings. Polenta makes a great base for saucy foods.
Turkey kefte over garlic tahini yogurt sauce on baby spinach. Tabbouleh made with bulgur, grated onion, lemon juice, evoo, mint, dill, Italian parsley, tomatoes, cucumber and pomegranate seeds. So fresh, delicious and satisfying. Love those popping pomegranate seeds too! Using fresh herbs in all three components really makes a difference in texture and flavor.
This is my contribution to a meal train for a fellow gardener with a sick partner. He’s been craving pasta and needs to gain weight! And I just found out that he’s Italian and Polish, just like me. I really hope he likes it.
To keep the salad fresh and crisp, I layer the wet ingredients on the bottom of a tray, including feta cheese, kalamata olives, tomatoes and then sprinkle with Greek oregano. Then I add peeled and seeded cucumber slices, red peppers and thinly sliced purple onions. I seasoned with salt and pepper and covered with cling wrap.
Dressing is a simple fruity extra virgin olive oil and an aged balsamic vinegar in a small container that’s then wrapped in Press N Seal to avoid leakage.
Lettuce is crisped, washed in ice water, dried, chopped and then stored in a ziplock, it’s ready to add. A piece of paper towel in the bag will absorb extra moisture. Refrigerate until ready to deliver.
All my friend need do now is combine the salad ingredients, toss and mangia. These small but important steps will ensure a crisp and fresh salad that’s flavorful and not wilted and soggy.
Pumpkin bran muffins are perfect for the season! No sugar and low-fat, I tweaked a recipe I found online for banana bran muffins. Instead of banana, I used steamed, mashed butternut squash. I also added warm autumn spices of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cardamom. I also threw in some chopped dried dates, wow, they are yummy! Not sweet, satisfying and flavorful. About 130 calories.
Recipe in first comment:
Sub 1 cup mashed, cooked pumpkin or hard squash for banana
Add 1/2 tsp each cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger and cardamom
Add 1/4 cup dried diced dates
I’ve been waiting a long time to enjoy this particular meal!
When you grow up eating certain foods, particular flavors, ingredients and combinations of them, years later when you’re grown, it’s like memories are on a plate!
As I enjoy this specific meal, childhood dinners at my Great Grandma Rose’s house in Detroit come flooding back to me!
Tonight, we are relishing a slow-cooked tomato pork ragu over paccheri pasta, which is like a giant rigatoni! Included is a side of Babe Froman Fine Sausages Italian pork, parsley and cheese sausage, a crunchy salad and a beaut glass of barolo! OMG!
Breakfast! Mountain bread toast slathered with a Florida avocado, goat cheese, tomatoes, fruity olive oil, sea salt!
Roasted squash risotto with kale and spicy Italian sausage is a perfect autumn dinner.
It’s easy to make, flavorful and filling.
Making biscotti is easy! We often have one with a cup of herbal tea at night.
But they only come six in a box and at $4 a box, it’s too expensive, so I made my own. 153 calories each with chocolate chips, 100 calories without. Really delicious!
Making biscotti is easy! We often have one with a cup of herbal tea at night.
But they only come six in a box and at $4 a box, it’s too expensive, so I made my own.
153 calories each with chocolate chips, 100 calories without. Really delicious!
Needed this!
Mmmmm…grilled tandoori chicken breast served over fresh spinach with a sauté of zucchini, corn, red onion, cumin and cilantro. Dressed with fresh lemon juice and a dash of fruity olive oil.
Starting the week off right with a lovely whole grain salad! I cooked farro in the rice cooker, added some cooked baby black lentils, added a glug of really fruity olive oil, fresh lemon juice and salt and pepper: MIX. Served 3/4 cup over baby arugula greens, 1 oz feta cheese, roasted baby tomatoes and one hard boiled egg! YUM!
A fistful of fresh vanilla pods, straight from Madagascar! A lovely friend risked a Customs fine to bring me back this gorgeous gift! Madagascar vanilla has a rich flavor and the highest vanillan content in the world! What would you make with this delectable vanilla?
Savory brownies, WHU? Spinach, feta cheese and other tasty ingredients combine to create the flavor profile of Greek spanikopita but can be made in the style of a brownie in minutes!
They smell heavenly as they come out of the oven and were hard to resist, but please do! The taste and texture are much better when they’ve had a chance to cool a bit.
Recipe courtesy of , link in first comment.
My shrimp and avocado dinner plan did a 180 tonight! At the last minute, I decided to go light and cool, and made a Mexican-style shrimp cocktail! No cilantro though, so used fresh dill and Italian parsley to give the salad an herbaceous note. Served it chilled in a martini glass with crackers. Perfect, easy dinner for a hot Miami night!
I decided to make a special Sunday dinner today. Savory lamb ragu with the lightest ever pappardelle pasta by . Seriously, Cipriani makes the lightest dried pasta on the market. Even with a sauce made of ground lamb, the meal is satisfying but not heavy! Because this pasta is light as a feather! Just divine! Paired it with a Tuscan red I was lucky enough to get as a birthday present! (Thanks !) Saving it for a meal that deserved it, this was it! As my great grandma Rose would say, “Mangia! Mangia!” (Eat! Eat!)
#
A lovely cool and refreshing salad of steamed shrimp and hard-boiled eggs. The dressing was inspired by the classic Louie salad: mayo, ketchup, lemon juice, chopped capers and cornichons, and a dash of Tabasco. Light and delicious but very satisfying!
Tamarindo margarita with cinnamon and salt rim and cinnamon stick garnish. Tamarind pairs perfectly with tequila and lends a sour flavor to the cocktail. Think you don’t know what tamarind tastes like? Of course you do, it’s the main ingredient and flavor component for many sauces and condiments including Worcestershire sauce and A1steak sauce!
Another glowing review from a very satisfied customer of I curate the best vendors to make your event dreams come true!
Another glowing review from a very satisfied customer of I curate the best vendors to make your event dreams come true!
Yummy braised Bell and Evans chicken breasts with acorn squash and spinach served over grilled polenta slices. I browned the chicken skin side down, added garlic, deglazed with wine and broth. Added a pinch of saffron! (Whee!) Added cubed squash and braised until just cooked through. Tossed in the spinach to wilt! Delicious! Quality chicken = good flavor!
Percussionist Leticia Manfieldadded beats and Latin flava to the music for my event on Saturday night! DJ Mike Trotter provided music and base while Letty enhanced the night with her lively percussion! FABULOUS!
DJ Mike Trotter from Brooklyn was in the house on Saturday night! Playing house, old school rock and pop from the 80s and 90s, he kept everyone dancing! The birthday boy was happy!
Leticia Manfield was on percussion and brought the Miami vibe to the event. Our host’s guests from out of town loved the experience!
My client wanted simple burger and taco stations for his birthday bash, but the food was anything but! Chef Todd Erickson Todd Erickson of The Todds The Todds presented an elevated taco and burger experience!
ALL freshly-made and no frozen food, even the salsas were made just for this event.
Slider bar:
Major Cheesburger: black Angus, pimento cheese, bourbon-bacon jam, brioche.
Impossible Burger: Impossible burger patty, almond ricotta, pickles, red onion, bibb lettuce.
Cuban Frita: chorizo patty, shoestring fries, red onion, spicy ketchup, bibb lettuce.
Incredible passed appetizers from The Todds who catered my client’s party on Saturday night!
Beautifully presented and really delicious and clever flavor profiles, all freshly made!
Watermelon “Elotes”: Heirloom watermelon, cotija cheese, chipotle cream and corn dust.
Shrimp Ceviche Jicama Cups: coconut, lime, passion fruit, cilantro, aji amrillo.
“Cuban Cigars:” Cuban sandwich eggrolls, ham, roast pork, pickles, swissh cheese, cilantro-dijon ailoi.
Ropa Vieja Empanadas: chimichurri sauce, black truffle-huitlacoche aioli.
La Diva Cucina was lucky enough to partner with catering team for my event on Saturday night!
Chef Todd Erickson and Chef Todd Schneider come with a combined 40+ years of experience and spent many of them working for the stars, celebrities, and politicians! But they bring their high-end food and service to every event!
True professionals and perfectionists who don’t take cheap and easy shortcuts, The Todds caterers delivered five-star quality, fresh food for my client’s big event. NOTHING is FROZEN or purchased pre-made.
It was fantastic to work with such a great team who had my back and left me (and my client) without worry.
We’ve all heard the saying “teamwork makes the dreamwork,” well, having a g̶o̶o̶d̶ GREAT team behind La Diva Cucina is crucial to our success at events!
Natasha and Jazmine from my company worked as a “blended family” with the catering company The Todds to create a team that was hard-working and service-oriented.
The guys passed around endless food trays while my staff handled the bar. Jazmine was always ON THE FLOOR serving guests by pouring wine and refreshing drinks! When was the last time you went to a party and someone walked up to you and poured you a drink instead of going to the bar?
This is the extra bit of professional service, the “lagniappe” if you will, that we provide to keep our clients and their guests happy at our events!
Call us to plan your event today!
Here’s a quick, delicious lunch: steamed Yukon gold potatoes and fresh green beans doused in a fruity extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Add a can of drained yellowfin tuna, a squeeze of lemon and serve it over baby spinach. This simple meal is perfect for the hot weather! Feel free to add tomatoes, red onions, even capers! Hint: best to add oil and salt when potatoes are hot!
Signature drinks are a fun and creative way to make your clients and their guests feel special on the Big Day at their event.
I created a version of a classic Paloma for my client’s 50th birthday and recent divorce. I named it “The Fresh Start” to celebrate his new beginnings!
I rimmed half the glass with citrusy-spicy Tajín seasoning and adorned each drink with a pearly rose gold star pick and grapefruit slice!
Guests were served upon entry to the party, which reduced the crowd surge to the bar. A well-thought-out signature cocktail can be batched ahead of time for ease in pouring and serving large amounts at once.
This is the venue from Saturday night’s event for La Diva Cucina. Tables, booths, comfy sofas and all art was included. All we added were colorful uplights to highlight the decor!
If you have an important event coming up, why not hire La Diva Cucina to take the headache out of planning it?
Miami Beach, FL
Monday | 10am - 4pm |
Tuesday | 10am - 4pm |
Wednesday | 10am - 4pm |
Thursday | 10am - 4pm |
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when La Diva Cucina posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to La Diva Cucina:
Percussionist Leticia Manfieldadded beats and Latin flava to the music for my event on Saturday night! DJ Mike Trotter provided music and base while Letty enhanced the night with her lively percussion! FABULOUS! #ladivacucina #eventprofessionals #eventprof #dj #deejays #birthdayparty #eventplanner #percussionist #música #live #housemusic #eventprofessionals #djmiketrotter #miketrotter #leticiamanfield
DJ Mike Trotter from Brooklyn was in the house on Saturday night! Playing house, old school rock and pop from the 80s and 90s, he kept everyone dancing! The birthday boy was happy! Leticia Manfield was on percussion and brought the Miami vibe to the event. Our host’s guests from out of town loved the experience! #ladivacucina #eventprofessionals #eventprof #dj #deejays #birthdayparty #eventplanner #percussionist #música #live #housemusic #eventprofessionals #djmiketrotter #miketrotter #leticiamanfield
Delectable raviolo with spinach, pancetta, ricotta and egg yolk in brown butter sage. #ladivacucina #italianfood #sardellihollywood #ravioli #pasta #housemadepasta
Lasagna sauce bubbling away on the stove yesterday! I made it the day before so that it would be full of flavor today with all the seasonings and herbs beautifully melded. I’ll be putting the lasagna together shortly. #ladivacucina #lasagna #italianfood #italianamerican #comfortfood #casserole #pasta #feedacrowd #italiansauce #tomatosauce #savory #supper #dinnerideas
Slow-roasted jerk pork just out of the oven! Been cooking all night, what a wonderful smell to wake up to! I used good ol’ Walkerswood jerk paste for authentic flava! Recipe in next post!
Roasted Hatch chile chicken bake! I made the sauce in stages a few days before: Roasted the chilis on the grill, removed skin and seeds. Next day, caramelized onions, garlic, added the chili’s, chicken stock, cilantro, salt and blended until smooth. Mellow flava! Next day for dinner: Spread some chile sauce in the bottom of a casserole, placed good quality corn tortillas on the bottom, another thin layer of sauce. Layered with seasoned chicken breasts halved lengthwise, smeared with black refried beans, spread a thick layer of the chili sauce, a layer of reduced fat shredded “Mexican” cheese and the added dollops of low fat sour cream! No recipe, just cleaning out the fridge and freezer. Baked at 400 45 minutes until beautiful and bubbly! Mellow and delicious! #ladivacucina #hatchchile #chickenbake #pollo #chicken #chilepepper #casserole #newmexican #southwesternstyle #comfortfood #winnerwinnerchickendinner #bearfood
One of the benefits of conducting cooking classes for my business La Diva Cucina is that I’m all set up to cook anywhere! Maduros poolside is very Miami! Hermosa noche!!
Teriyaki salmon! Sizzling hot from the broiler! #teriyakisalmon #freshfish #atlanticsalmon #sizzlinghot #fishdinner #salmon #easydinner #ladivacucina #husbearapproved #bearfood #husbear #happybear
Deevs has had a VERY productive few hours in the kitchen! I made a feta spinach omelette and fresh strawberries and yogurt for breakfast. Made brown basmati rice, hard-boiled eggs and garlicky greens for grain bowls for the week. And....I have started a Moroccan-influenced chickpea and veggie stew with a spicy base made from fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, fresh turmeric and spices like ras el hanout, cumin and coriander! Pool time!!! #ladivacucina #sundaysupper #veggies #vegetarian #vegetarianrecipes #eggs #brunch #freshveggies #food #foodofinstagram #moroccanstyle #spices #freshfood #comfortfood #breakfast #pooltime #greens #garlic #brownrice #wholegrains
#ladivacucina #virtualcookingclass #letscelebrate #cocktailparty #virtualcocktailparty #smallbitesbigdrinks #cocktails #appetizers #mushrooms #mushroomtart #holidayappetizers #teambuilding #production #zoom #virtualproduction
Look at da little birdies, they are “out” enjoying brunch on a lovely day! Sweet little sparrows are fluttering about eating the seeds from the amaranth (callaloo) plant in my garden plot in South Beach. I often let plants go to flower and seed to feed the birds and the bees! #ladivacucina #livingladiva #greenthumb #floraandfauna #southflorida #southbeachvictorygarden #soflolife #communitygarden #tropicalgardens #sparrows #amaranth #callaloo #faunaofflorida #birds #feedthebirds #bees #savethebees #honeybees
Shrimp with pancetta, zucchini and lemon or gambine, zucchine, pancetta e limone! This is my friend Peter’s @afoodobsession recipe and it was DIVINE! A wonderful combination of lightly floured pan-fried shrimp, crisped pancetta, diced zucchini and shaved garlic, finished off with a dry Marsala (it’s what I had, he uses dry white wine or brandy) a squeeze of lemon and a garnish of finely chopped Italian parsley! I zhoozhed it up with lemon zest! Served over rice, delicious and dare I say, this would make a very more-ish first course for company?! #ladivacucina #livingladiva #shrimp #italianfood #friedahrimp #gambine #camarones #zucchini #pancetta #instafoodie #sundaysupper #afoodobsession
Chile verde with freshly roasted Hatch chilies! Instead of pork, I’m using skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs for plenty of flava! On a foil-lined sheet pan, I roasted garlic, a big, fat white onion and tangy tomatillos until brown and blistered. Into the blender they went with cilantro, salt, cumin, oregano and chix stock. Now I’ll simmer until the chicken is tender, about an hour! Delicioso! #ladivacucina #livingladiva #hatchchilies #newmexicanchiles #newmexicanfood #chicken #chileverde #pollo #slowfood #chilies #greenchile #tomatillos #roastedveggies
I bought this yummy sparkling wine for my Aperol Spritz demonstration because it was on sale as a BOGO! Much to my dismay, I found the wine itself was blue, not the bottle! It was definitely unusable with the screaming orange brilliance of Aperol! But that didn’t stop me from enjoying it on its own last night. It’s allegedly colored by blueberries, on the sweeter side and definitely a “novelty” sparkling. AND most importantly, it matches my hair! Blanc de Bleu: Blanc de Bleu is a premium California chardonnay with an added hint of Blueberries and is a delicate sparkling wine reserved for memorable celebrations. It offers seductive flavors and fresh aromatic effervescence - vividly pasteled with Blueberries. All of this is contained in an impressively sexy bottle with tasteful flair. #ladivacucina #livingladiva #sparklingwine #blancdebleu #cuvee #californianwine #cocktaildemos #virtualcocktailclasses #cocktailmaven #bartendress #bartendersofinstagram
Husbear doing it LIVE on our balcony last night for “Sunset Sessions.” Our neighbors loved it (no one complained or called security or code) and the neighbors in the next building clapped and asked for more! #livingladiva #ladivacucina #thefullpike #saferathome #djunclebear #musicsoothesthesoul #fucovid19 #sobelife #lifeinthe305 #miamibeach
Fridays are for fajitas!! Here’s my recipe for home made fajita/taco seasoning with spices you probably already have in your cupboard. If you can't get the two Mexican chiles just use more premixed chile powder from the grocery store. I use equal amounts of each and store in a jar, start with 2 Tablespoons per spice. To make tacos, add salt and seasoning to taste to browned ground meat, turkey, chicken, etc. then sprinkle with Wondra (to thicken) and add about a 1/2 c of water and cook until water is gone. For chicken fajitas: Slice up one white onion, one green pepper, one red pepper. Set aside. Slice chicken breasts lengthwise into thirds and then cut each strip on the bias leaving short strips of chicken pieces. Add salt and seasoning until we’ll coated. Heat up a heavy bottom skillet with oil and saute chicken until just brown. Add the onions and peppers, cook until almost tender and then add seasoning, 1/2 cup water and sprinkle with Wondra. Sauce will thicken and chicken will cook through. Serve with sof flour tortillas. Taco/fajita seasoning: ground guajillo chile ground ancho chile chile powder garlic powder oregano salt cumin smoked paprika #ladivacucina #livingladiva #fajitas #fajitafriday #homemadetacoseasoning #tacoseasoning #quarantinecooking
What a gorgeous piece of salmon! The trick is to not touch it for a good 5-8 minutes before flipping. It will let you know when it’s ready by releasing easily. If it sticks, cook a bit longer. I used medium heat. #salmon #traderjoes #seafood #sustainable #bearfood
There’s nothing quite like waking up to the smell of slow-roasted Jamaican jerk pork shoulder! Oh, MY! Think a spicy pork with jus in a French dip style! #ladivacucina #livingladiva #jamaicanjerkpork #porkroast #porkshoulder #slowroasted #walkerswood #walkerswoodjamaicanjerkseasoning #hotandspicy
What a FUN & FANTASTIC group La Diva Cucina hosted in South Beach on Monday night! This short video shows the shenanigans we get up to for our team building competitions. Winning team is based on creativity, taste and performance! This group from France were totally engaged and into it, which makes it an enjoyable night for our team as well! A win win! Contact La Diva Cucina for your 2020 event today! #corporateevents #ladivacucina #culinaryclasses #culinaryevents #teambuilding #miamiteambuilding #miamiteambonding
Why I love to paddle...busy busy on the Bay but chill, quiet and calm on Sunset Lake just down a canal from the crazy! Beautiful houses and boats to gaze upon too. #ladivacucina #sunsetharbour #kayaking #urbankayaker #miamibeach #soflolife #watersports
Sunday sauce that’s actually for Monday! Gonna be delicious tomorrow! Happy Sunday! #ladivacucina #sundaysauce #italianfood #instafood #comfortfood
Searing fresh Scottish salmon from @bluerunnerseafood that will be finished in the oven with a soy ginger sauce to create a savory, sticky sweet glaze. Mmmmmm....#ladivacucina . . . . . #scottishsalmon #bluerunnerseafood #freshfish #seafood #freshsalmon #instafood #foodporn #dinnertime #bearfood #food #fishdinner
Saturday night La Diva Cucina hosted "Influencers" from all over the country (and world!) for hair care company DevaCurl. We had guests from Alaska, Chicago, Vancouver (US), Tampa, Orlando, New York and London (originally from Zimbabwe!) At the client's request, La Diva Cucina matched ingredients from the products with the recipes including matcha, rosemary, quinoa and seaweed. Menu: Matcha Mojito Tostones and garlic mojo sauce Asian rice paper wraps with various fillings and wakame seaweed salad Prosciutto wrapped shrimp with Sambuca orange rosemary sauce The guests had a great time and were totally engaged as well as stopping for many InstaGram photos and of course, eating, drinking and dancing as DJ Nevah L8 4 Dinnah (aka Felix Pike) was spinning! One of our best events to date, so much fun and we were proud to partner with DevaCurl to "bring their vision to life." (client's words!)
Do you ever come home from the garden or store only to find that your fresh herbs have already wilted? Or perhaps they've gone limp in the fridge? Check out my quick tip for bringing them back to life! #ladivacucina #freshherbs #ladivatips
La Diva Cucina will often partner with a high end furniture design show room for corporate team building events. There is plenty of room for guests to spread out and they feel comfortable and pampered in a beautiful setting. NO KITCHEN IS REQUIRED to do a LDC team building event, we conduct the class on tables with burners and guests are split into teams. The upscale branding of Design Within Reach aligns wtih the La Diva brand and our Fortune 500 corporate clients. #ladivacucina #teambuilding #corporatecookingclasses #corporateevents
High Intensity Productions & Publicity (Miami
Collins AvenueThe Impression Group South, Inc.
S Pointe DriveWardo Events - Miami Yacht Parties
Biscayne Street