EspañolIf you’ve ever tried authentic Mexican food and thought, “I wish I could make this at home,” you’re in the right place. Here at Mama Latina Tips, I share real Mexican recipes, cooking tips, and cultural traditions straight from my kitchen in California—where I blend the flavors of my Mexican roots with my American life.
Why I Started Mama Latina Tips
I started Mama Latina Tips in 2009 as a lifestyle blog to connect with other moms online. But as I began sharing the recipes I grew up making, I realized just how deeply people were craving a connection to traditional Mexican food—especially those who had moved away from home, married into Mexican families, or simply loved the cuisine.
Many of my family’s recipes weren’t written down, so I started documenting them—in English and Spanish—for my children, my family back in Mexico, and anyone wanting to cook real Mexican food with confidence and love
Now, Mama Latina Tips is focused on celebrating Mexican culture through food, sayings, and festivities. I want to help you bring the warmth and richness of Mexican traditions into your own kitchen, no matter where you live.
A Little About Me
I was born and raised in the State of Guanajuato in Mexico, where I started helping in the kitchen around age 8 (peeling tomatillos for my grandma). By 12, I was learning to make rice, beans and gelatinas, and at 14 I officially became our family's main cook.
Even while studying Industrial Relations at the Universidad de Guanajuato, I would go home on weekends just to cook for my family.
When I was a child, I spent many days helping in my family’s gelatin shop (gelatinería), a business that was in our family for over 100 years. It was there that I learned the magic of combining simple ingredients into something beautiful and delicious. Gelatin was one of the very first things I learned to make, and those early memories of helping out—stirring, pouring, decorating—sparked the curiosity and love for cooking that still lives in me today.
In 2000, I met my now-husband—a Californian boy—and a year and a half later, I moved to the Central Coast of California. While pregnant with my second kid I became an American citizen.
Today, I live (with my husband, two kids and Duchess our sweet husky) in the sunny San Luis Obispo County and am proud to be both Mexican and American—a beautiful blend of two cultures.
I understand what it means to miss the flavors of home, and I love helping others recreate those comforting dishes, whether you're…
- Craving a dish you had on a trip to Mexico 🇲🇽
- Trying to keep family traditions alive 🫶
- Married to a Mexican and want to surprise your suegra 😉
- Surprising a Mexican friend or guest 🥰
…or just love delicious food that tells a story!
From the Blog to PBS (and Beyond)
In 2021, a casting agent reached out to me on social media about a new PBS cooking competition show and invited me to participate. I said yes—even though it was way outside my comfort zone—and I’m so glad I did.
In 2022, after 8 rounds and 18 recipes, I was honored to be named the winner of The Great American Recipe on PBS.
Competing on the show allowed me to represent Mexican home cooking on a national stage and reminded me that our traditions, our flavors, and our stories deserve to be celebrated.
In 2024, I was honored to return to The Great American Recipe—this time not as a contestant, but as a guest judge during the season three finale episode, filmed in Nashville. It was an emotional and joyful full-circle moment for me.
Being back on set, this time supporting other home cooks as they shared their stories through food, reminded me how powerful and unifying our culinary traditions can be.
I felt proud to represent Mexican cuisine once again and to see how far this journey has taken me.
What You’ll Find on Mama Latina Tips
- Traditional Mexican recipes, Mexican pan dulce how-to's and modern variations of comforting Mexican dishes (with step-by-step photos)
- Cooking tips for everyday life
- Seasonal dishes, Mexican sayings and celebrations
- Bilingual posts for those navigating life in two languages
- Behind-the-scenes family stores that bring the recipes to life
What I love
Food has always been one of the highlights of my life. It brings people together, evokes memories, and creates joy.
Whether you're Mexican, Mexican-American, or simply love the food and culture, my hope is that this blog helps you create something special—something that connects you with your roots, or builds new ones.
When I'm not cooking or watching a cooking show, I love to dance, read, watch movies or having cafecito with my friends.
Let’s Stay Connected!
If any of this speaks to your heart—or your stomach!—I'd love to invite you to join my email list. I’ll send you new recipes, festive ideas, cooking tips, and cultural insights to help you bring a little more Mexico into your home, one delicious dish at a time.
Gracias for being here. I’m so happy you found your way to my kitchen.
Con cariño,
Silvia
