Casa Marcela: Recipes and Food Stories of My Life in the Californias

by Marcela Valladolid

Overview

California-Mexican-style recipes and menus from the beloved Food Network host

From the long-time host of Food Network's Mexican Made Easy and now co-host of The Kitchen comes Marcela's most personal collection of recipes yet, a reflection of her experience growing up in Tijuana and traveling back and forth to San Diego to see family and friends and for school. This book captures a culture centered around food, loved ones, and gatherings with mouthwatering recipes and in vibrant photography, all shot at Valladolid's home. Mexican food really is simple at its core, if you have some extra time for slow roasting meats or to prepare a few salsas, and the results are sure to impress. There are small bites like Cod Fritters with Chipotle Tartar Sauce and Grilled Steak and Cheese Tostadas; entrees such as Red Chile Lamb Stew and Roasted Tomatillo Salmon; and even drinks and desserts for special occasions, including Strawberry Layered Tres Leches Cake. With mouthwatering recipes and evocative photography, Casa Marcela presents Mexican food in a way never seen before.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544808553
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/25/2017
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 8.70(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

MARCELA VALLADOLID grew up in Tijuana and jumped straight into a culinary life with her first job working at her aunt’s cooking school in Baja, Mexico. She soon realized she wanted to pursue her growing love for food full time. After cooking school, Marcela eventually parlayed her classical training and skills to become a food editor at Bon Appétit magazine. Next she crossed into TV when she landed her own cooking show on Discovery en Español called Relatos con Sabor and was selected as one of the contenders on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. In 2009, Marcela was given the chance to showcase her family recipes when she released her first cookbook titled Fresh Mexico: 100 Simple Recipes for True Mexican Flavor. Soon after her book release, she landed a dream job as the host of her own Food Network show, Mexican Made Easy, which aired for five seasons. Marcela released a second cookbook called Mexican Made Easy in 2011, a companion to her Food Network show and an entryway into authentic Mexican cuisine. She she was a long-time co-host of The Kitchen, the Emmy-nominated talk show on The Food Network and is currently a permanent judge on Best Baker in America, also on Food Network. Her latest book is Casa Marcela, released in 2017. She lives in San Diego, California.

Editorial Reviews

02/20/2017
In Valladolid’s latest cookbook, the Food Network host warmly welcomes readers into her new southern California home. Her two prior cookbooks (Mexican Made Easy and The Kitchen) focused on quick and easy Mexican home cooking; in contrast, this lushly photographed book brings the reader into Valladolid’s dream house (it even includes an essay from her interior designer) and the organic garden that provides much of the produce for her recipes. Valladolid has put together an inspiring blend of everyday recipes, along with more time-consuming dishes meant for special occasions. She offers up classics and “house favorite” dishes such as picadillo-stuffed jalapeño peppers; crispy potato and poblano tacos; and oxtail, bean, and chili stew. Some of her most interesting recipes are mash-ups of different cuisines, including huitla waffles, pork shoulder in morita-hoisin sauce, and Mexican ramen. Her healthy and nutritious recipes are balanced by luscious-looking dessert offerings, including a chocolate cajeta brownie pudding and an upside-down mango cake. For readers without a kohlrabi-filled garden or access to the markets in Tijuana (Valladolid frequently crosses the border for Mexican specialties), she usually recommends substitutions. Valladolid’s fans will enjoy reading this book as much as they enjoy cooking from it. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Marcela and I both come from very close families that place huge value on food. The thing I love most about her recipes is the story behind them. Her new cookbook not only brings you into the heart of her home, but shows you how delicious tradition can be! This new cookbook feels like a memoir of her life told through food. You will enjoy the journey as much as the recipes! A great addition to your collection of Mexican cookbooks!” —Eva Longoria   “Food is life. That is true for Marcela and for me. In this collection, Marcela brings her delicious culture and recipes right to you. So spend time at Casa Marcela, and you’ll never want to leave.” —Rachael Ray   “I have always believed that our homes should tell our stories, and, no matter who you are, we all want to live beautifully. Marcela’s book exemplifies that . . . the story of food, design, and what matters most, all wonderfully woven together.” —Nate Berkus, interior designer and author “One of the greatest bonuses of The Kitchen has been getting to know Marcela. This is a woman who truly does it all, making it look so easy with style and grace, while having FUN. I have learned so much about Mexican cooking from her, and this cookbook is truly phenomenal. Make the sweet potato enchiladas and the jalapeño roasted chicken ASAP!” —Katie Lee, cookbook author and Food Network host “In this collection, Marcela shows us what food truly is: a bridge, not a wall, between cultures. Through each dish she tells a story of her upbringing on the border between Tijuana and San Diego, and she helps you to understand what it means to take pride in where you come from and where you are at this very moment. Marcela will make you appreciate the time, care, history, and love that goes into every Mexican recipe she shares, and will inspire you to want to spend a night, or more if you are lucky, with her and her family at Casa Marcela. I’m proud to call her my Mexican sister.” —José Andrés, chef/owner, ThinkFoodGroup and minibar by José Andrés   “Sharing your culture by cooking at home with your family and friends is so important. Furthermore, having a garden at home is such a great way to have a direct connection with the ingredients you are combining. Taking these homegrown items and manipulating them as little as possible to create fresh, authentic dishes is the best way to honor your heritage and culture. Getting back to the basics and really perfecting those family recipes are so crucial to carrying on tradition.” —Aarón Sánchez, chef/owner of Johnny Sánchez   “If you have seen Marcela on the Food Network or follow her on social media, you know, like I do, that this is a long-awaited cookbook. You have also probably witnessed the careful making, step by step, of her Casa Marcela, a place full of color, warmth, humor, and love for family, friends, and neighbors. A place with a gorgeous and unique style. A place with ridiculously delicious food, where past and present blend to show how tasty Mexican in America can be. With this book, Marcela, without any reservations, has swung the door wide open to her home, and has wholeheartedly invited us in. You can’t miss out!” —Pati Jinich, chef, author, and PBS host of Pati’s Mexican Table "In Valladolid’s latest cookbook, the Food Network host warmly welcomes readers into her southern California home ... an inspiring blend of everyday recipes, along with more time-consuming dishes meant for s —

From the Publisher

★ 05/15/2017
Celebrity chef Valladolid (Fresh Mexico) hosted the popular Food Network series Mexican Made Easy and currently appears on the cooking-themed talk show The Kitchen. Here, she presents flavorful recipes drawn from her life on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, including crispy potato and poblano tacos, roasted cauliflower steaks with pickled jalapeno vinaigrette, red chile lamb stew, and strawberry layered tres leches cake. These dishes are more elegant than those in her previous cookbooks, perfect for cooks who enjoy entertaining. Throughout, Valladolid shares interesting stories (who knew she competed on The Apprentice), which touch on the joys and challenges of balancing career, family, and home ownership. VERDICT This personal collection of vibrant and varied foods will satisfy many readers. Valladolid's fans will hunger for more.

Library Journal