Holiday Cooking - "A comer pasteles, a comer lechon"

I love to cook! The holidays are no exception.  However, this year, so far, I have been blessed enough to not have to be in the kitchen.   But now that Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I thought of some of those wonderful cultural specific traditions I grew up loving from my Puerto Rican heritage.  Not at all forgetting, the dancing all night long, drinking and listening to family and friends tell jokes.  Many that I didn't understand because I was a kid!  But I loved hearing everyone laugh until it hurt. Then get up and dance when a good Merengue or Salsa came on.    So out of nostalgia, I thought I would include some of the foods the whole community talks about until they fall over, stuffed!  Hell even el Grand Combo de Puerto Rico (legendary Salsa band), wrote an entire song dedicated to eating during the holidays.

I included different websites to check out.   Just to give you heads up,  Pasteles, take a long time to prepare.  They can be made days ahead.   I also included how to make traditional American Eggnog from scratch as well.  Have a great Holiday!

COCONUT RICE AND PIGEON PEAS:
 http://www.goya.com/english/recipes/rice-with-pigeon-peas-and-coconut
 http://www.food.com/recipe/puerto-rico-style-pigeon-pea-rice-477306

PASTELS:   http://boricua.com/comida/pasteles-de-masa-pasteles-recipe

PERNIL (roasted pork shoulder):   http://www.food.com/recipe-finder/all/pernirl















 
COQUITO (Puerto Rican Eggnog made with
Coconut Milk):
http://www.hispanickitchen.com/profiles/blogs/coquito-puertorriqueno
http://coquitorecipe.com/






American EGGNOG:
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/holiday-eggnog-recipe#slide-1 

D'AMORE WINEBAR & CAFFE

118 EAST 116TH STREET 

NEW YORK, NY 10029 

646-678-3681

http://www.damorewinebar.com/


Its called Cafe D'Amore in East Harlem and it delivers. 

A few weeks ago, I walked in to have lunch, I was deciding previously, before settling on D'Amore, to grab a quick lunch. However, my day started horribly and I was feeling rather low.  I figures a little laughter, a glass of wine and some chatting may help lift my spirits. Cafe D'Amore is always a pleasure to visit. The hosts, Rafael and Luigi are always welcoming, funny, polite and just good folks.
       So I decide, Cafe D'Amore could only be a good thing and was it.    It was quite simple. I ordered the Basil Marscapone Cheesecake. (Homemade), Basil Marscapone? oh,  Yes, I must try.  It came with a small bit of Nutella.   The host puts it in front of me and says, "you know chocolate makes people happy because it releases endorphins" or something like this.  I was surprised that he could see that I was sad, even though I giggled and smiled as I normally do. (If  you know me, you know I am a walking corn ball with a little bit of sass).
       I was kinda shy about it.  So I said, "oh well, I guess you can see how I feel."  Well, he went on, "look you can't eat it yet, hold on".  So , I sat there, waiting to see what else was coming to join this desert.  Lady fingers. " Ohhh" I said, "Wait!" he said, "there is more."
Now, my eyebrows are up and expressing a real curiosity, as to what else will accompany my Basil Marscapone Cheesecake. I mean dag, this must be like a serious process.
 Anyway, he served, Espresso.  Now, I am...ooooohhing, "espresso". "WAIT!" he says, stopping me again.  "UGG!!" Come on!   Luigi begins,  "This is how you eat it. You take the lady finger and dip it quickly in the cafe and then in the chocolate and then you eat it. You must dip it quickly in the espresso because the lady finger will melt. It is so delicious and it will make you so happy.  Chocolate is wonderful to make you feel better."
       Here I am sitting at this cafe, feeling like a dam kid.  Mr. Luigi was so kind, which was really what I was hungry for.  A little kindness,  at that moment, was so greatly appreciated,  that I held back the tears and I said, "look if I start to cry, its not biggie folks, its just what it is."  It was a simple little thing, that someone else didn't get, but I got to be treated with a little tenderness. I told him. "Luigi, you always make me feel like a little girl in a candy store. EVERY TIME I come in!"  I smiled a silly smile...and well, Cafe D'Amore doesn't just serve lovely light Italian meals, Brunch on the weekend and homemade deserts.  What they are serving is Love,  to their customers and community with  a few chuckles and genuine sincerity.