Cuban Arepa Sandwiches

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for P.A.N. Cornmeal. 

I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Kick your sandwich game up a notch with these simple and delicious Cuban Arepa Sandwiches!

I've really been enjoying cooking with corn meal lately. Whether it's cornbread or muffins, or even waffles, I've been using it a lot and experimenting in the kitchen. Corn meal is rich in nutrients and really a very versatile ingredient, and I totally understand now why it's a staple in so many countries all over the world. 

With all of my exploring into corn meal, I decided to try my hand at making homemade arepas recently. An arepa is a flatbread made of pre-cooked corn meal, which is fried, then split and filled with sandwich ingredients. The arepas themselves are actually very easy to make. The dough comes together very quickly, and is then divided, shaped and fried in a skillet. You can have fresh arepas on your table in less than 20 minutes!

Cornmeal Belgian Waffles with Fresh Blueberry Syrup

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for P.A.N. Cornmeal. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

These waffles are perfectly sweet with a bit of crunch from the cornmeal and are topped with a warm, fresh blueberry syrup that's just perfect for a summer brunch.

Breakfast is definitely my favorite meal to make on the weekends. I just love to get creative in the kitchen first thing in the morning! Whether I'm making omelets or pancakes or oatmeal, I enjoy changing things up all the time. I'm pretty sure my kids love it, too!

Often times, especially on Sunday's, we will have brunch instead of breakfast. Then I really go all out! Homemade waffles or French toast, bacon or sausage, fresh fruit....all the fixins'. We go big! I try to get us nice and full, then we don't eat again until dinner time. It's something my mom did when I was growing up, and I've tried to keep the tradition with my family as well. Just two big meals for the day, with maybe a snack in between.

Raspberry Honey Cornbread Muffins

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for P.A.N. Cornmeal. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

These tender and sweet cornbread muffins go perfectly with any barbecue or southern style dish!

Growing up with family in Louisiana, I'm used to eating a lot of Southern foods and Southern dishes. Catfish, hush puppies, cornbread, sweet tea....all that delicious stuff. My grandparents lived there during my childhood so I spent a few weeks down there almost every summer. I'm fortunate I learned to cook some of that deliciousness from my grandma and mom, too!

I've always cooked with cornmeal, but I recently discovered a new ingredient that has quickly become my new favorite pantry staple, P.A.N. Cornmeal. Already a staple ingredient in most Venezuelan homes, it's now making its debut in the U.S. and has proven an ideal addition to many American pantries. P.A.N. Cornmeal is the number one cornmeal in South America.