Pasteles are a Puerto Rican institution. Without fail, every Christmas, Puerto Rican kitchens the world over are packed with Abuelas and their acolytes, all with one mission: prepare, assemble, and package enough pasteles to divvy up amongst the family. Bundles of meat-filled, ground green banana patties are packed away into plastic bags. The family members disperse to their…
Pork
Chuletas Fritas (Puerto Rican Pan-Fried Pork Chops)
Let me introduce you to my go-to protein: chuletas fritas (CHOO-leh-tahs free-tahs). I marinate center cut, bone-in pork chops in a flavorful spice blend popular in Puerto Rican cuisine. After a nice rest in the marinade, I pan-fry the chops in a small amount of oil or lard until juicy and crisp. If you are…
Pernil (Puerto Rican Roast Pork Shoulder)
Let me tell you about the time my husband almost stabbed a guest in our home over the skin you see in the photo above. It was traumatic. It was scary. Totally justifiable, but still scary. That right there sitting atop that mound of deliciousness is chicharrón. Pork rind. Crackling. Heaven. It is one of…
Pinchos (Puerto Rican Grilled Pork Kebabs)
OOOP! Better watch out! Hector’s making his hand modeling-career debut! You don’t even know how excited I am to give you this recipe for Pinchos. If you have a day for marinating and a grill, this is going to be your next favorite recipe. Dozens of Hispanics (and people who live amongst them) can’t be…
Blueberry Balsamic BBQ Sauced Grilled Pork Chops
Grilled Pork Chops with Blueberry Balsamic BBQ Sauce are the answer to monotonous dinners. Like most people, I often find myself stuck in a food-rut. My go-to pork chop recipe involves frying. Not only does my scale hate me for it, my cardiologist is looking to quit me, too. Grilled pork chops are considerably lower…
Pork Picadillo Empanadas/Pastelillos/Empanadillas
I’m so excited to share this Pork Picadillo Empanada post, which is sponsored by the Wisconsin Pork Producers Association, with you! If you’ve been reading this blog for more than a minute, you know that I come from a family of pork lovers. If given the chance, we would eat pork seven days a week….
Baby Back Ribs Braised Low and Slow
I did a thing, you guys. It involved these baby back ribs, my oven, and a grill. Are you in enough suspense? As much as people may think ribs require loads of work to be good, that’s simply not true. Baby back ribs- all ribs, in fact- just need the right prep and you can…
Bacon-Wrapped Brined Pork Loin with Mushroom Gravy
I believe that Sunday dinners should be a big thing. You don’t have to have a large family (or even be a family) to do Sunday dinners- you just need people you love to join you. As a military family, we’ve spent our fair share of Sundays apart. Now that retirement is looming, I look…
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork in Mojo Sauce
You guys! I’m killing this healthy eating thang!! In doing so, I also realize how much I eat rice. I’m a Latina, okay? It’s what we do. This recipe is another workday/kid/mama’s-gonna-lose-her-ish-friendly recipe. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork in Mojo Sauce is a mouthful, but seeing as how mouthfuls are good around here, it’s also fitting….
Larb Moo: Laotian Sour Minced Pork Salad
I’m writing this post from the waiting room of a hospital’s surgery ward. The Soldier is beginning the process of repairing more than twenty-five years of beating up his body. I’m a pessimist by nature. Writing helps me keep my mind off of the variables associated with surgery of any kind. This Larb Moo is also helping me…
