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
