Hola mi gente!

I’m Wakena and I’m on a journey to connect with my Puerto Rican roots through authentic Puerto Rican recipes. Cooking is my love language – It’s how I show the people in my life that I care about them. It’s never just about putting a meal on the table. It’s about creating something that brings joy, stirs up memories, and brings us all closer together.

I want to recreate those cherished recipes from my childhood. These are the dishes that take me back to special times. My Madrina (godmother), grandfather, and grandmother filled our home with incredible flavors and love. Now I only have my Titi Nil and my bonus mom (she’s Dominican, but I love her anyway!) I’m determined to preserve these moments and flavors before they’re lost to time.

The Heart of My Kitchen

My fondest memories center around holiday tables. They were loaded with arroz con gandules, pernil, and both macaroni and potato salad. These are still some of my all-time favorite meals. These weren’t just dishes. They were expressions of love and heritage passed down through generations.

I’m not a professional chef, but I cook with amor. I can follow recipes from any cuisine. Yet there’s something special about Puerto Rican food that calls to my soul. It’s more than just ingredients and techniques. It’s a connection to the people who came before me.

Why This Journey Matters

As my daughter approaches graduation and life enters a new chapter, I feel drawn to deepen my connection with my cultural roots. I want to learn these traditions to pass on to my daughter and to one day bring similar joy to my grandchildren, continuing the legacy of love through food.

Success, for me, will be when someone tastes my food and says it reminds them of their abuela’s cooking – there’s no higher praise in a Puerto Rican kitchen!

More Than Recipes

This culinary journey is about so much more than just perfecting dishes. Through cooking, I hope to learn more about my Puerto Rican history and heritage. I’ve always learned best in practical situations, so I am looking forward to improving my kitchen Spanish while measuring ingredients and following traditional techniques. Ultimately, I dream of compiling these experiences and recipes into an authentic Puerto Rican cookbook that honors both tradition and my family’s story.

I’m particularly excited to share my take on Sancocho – a special dish my Madrina would make whenever I visited home. This hearty stew embodies everything wonderful about Puerto Rican cooking – generous, adaptable, flavorful, and meant to be shared with those you love.

Join Me at the Table

Whether you’re Puerto Rican, part of the diaspora like me, or simply someone who appreciates good food and cultural exploration, I invite you to join this journey. Let’s learn together, cook together, and celebrate the rich culinary traditions that connect us to our past while creating something meaningful for the future.

From my Puerto Rican Kitchen to Yours

¡Buen provecho!
Wakena