So, I finally broke down and paid a little extra for the video upgrade. That means you can expect to see a lot more videos on Heavenly Springs since I am determined to get my money’s worth!
With Christmas approaching, I thought I’d post on a few traditional Puerto Rican classics. The first is pernil (pronounced per-neel). Pernil is a “pork shoulder picnic” that is slow roasted and seasoned to perfection with spices like garlic, oregano, sazon, adobo, olive oil and sofrito. Sofrito, by the way, is the base for most Puerto Rican dishes. It is very simple to make and it will mean the difference if you truly want to cook authentic Puerto Rican food.
One of the best things about the pernil is the crunchy skin that Puerto Ricans refer to as chicharrones. Yes, I realize that this is terribly unhealthy but that’s really not a concern for most Puerto Ricans! As Elba, who I am about to introduce to you explains, family members in Puerto Rican households will literally fight over these crusty pieces!
Now, I’d like to introduce you to Elba. I discovered her on You Tube. Not that she was waiting for me to discover her, but you understand what I mean. At any rate, I think she is pretty wonderful!
In the first video, Elba will teach you how to make pernil. But remember, you must make the sofrito first! The second video will teach you how to do that!
Buen provecho! Next week I will post on arroz con gandules!
Hmm….may have to take a swing at this….
Funny how the people who added the WordPress snow don’t have sufficient snow of their own. We could send you ours if you’d like. Watch the Weather Channel. We’re in one of those places in Northern Michigan that Jim Cantore is ranting about every winter that gets “lake effect snow” like Buffalo.
The LAST thing I need is snow on my blog….
How funny, Jeff! You are right! We still haven’t had a good snowfall here in Brooklyn! I even contacted WordPress to find out if there was a way to increase the speed of the snowfall? Unfortunately it is one speed for all!
If you do make the pernil, please let me know how it turns out!
Blessings!
Increase the speed of the snow? You have GOT to be kidding.
See our local forecast. The snow falls plenty swiftly here: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=49706&wuSelect=WEATHER
Brrr….ice pellets on Friday. How lovely.
But, on a more upbeat note, I did read that your forecast for today is actually warmer than yesterday! Haha!
Jeff might want to ignore the snow and roast some pernil, it looks delicious!!! Now I need to figure out some of these ingredients… any recipe with more than 5 basic ingredients scares me to death! (But I can build a snowman.) And where does the green stuff go? I know I need a lot of help/prayers (or dinner invitation)! 🙂
Blessings!
I’d ignore the snow if I didn’t have to shove it aside to get in the house and out of the house……hmph..
RE: “Warmer.” Not to be confused with “warm,” eh?
Jeff, I think you put on the oven and roast a pernil. The warmth and the delicious aroma of the pork will help take the edge off — make you forget about all the shoveling!
Petra, you can do it! It is so easy! I promise you!
And, when you say “green stuff” you mean the sofrito, right? LOL! Watch the video! You will be a pro in no time!
Easy? Oh boy, I need an ingredient dictionary for dummies! 😀
Oh, Petra! That’s ridiculous! You are one of the most brilliant people I know! A little old pernil is not going to scare you! : ) YOU CAN DO IT!
Uhhh…once you get past 50 you NEVER forget when you shovel.
Although, pork does have many healing qualities. Our kids raised hogs for 4-H when they were of age (approx. 1992-2006).
Gracias por publicar esta receta.
I need to try it!
Mucho cariño para ti.
You are very welcome, Becky! I know that it will be delicious if you make it! Y gracias por el carino! Te quiero mucho mi hermana!
Looks delicious. What are the little vegetables on top of the peppers at the beginning of the sofrito video? Are those tomatillos?
Si! Son tomatillos!
They are kind of tart…although I can’t play the video here at work to be certain but I’m guessing because that is one of the ingredients for sofrito.
Glad you made it back home! : )
Persis — Elba used aji dulce which is sweet peppers. No tomatillos in her recipe but you certainly could include it, as many in fact do!
Oh Yum, Yum, double Yum! Christina. I doubt I could even find sazon, adobo, or sofrito in Carson City, Nevada but if we ever come out there would make it for me????? 🙂
How fun to upload videos on your blog now. Looking forward to more!
Much love you my friend!
Diane
Diane,
If you came to visit me in New York I would make you anything you wanted. In fact, I would even break the cardinal rule of Italian cooking and make pasta that was NOT al dente just for Robert! 🙂
Love and blessings in abundance!
Hi Christina,
Thank you again for posting my videos on your blog, I was so honored and touched. I see that you have lots of nice comments already. I linked your blog site to all my subscribers and friends on my You Tube channel and asked them to make sure they read the story about your grand mother.
Feel free to share the gift of cooking with your Facebook and Twitter friends also.
To God Be The Glory,
Elba
Oh, Elba,
The honor was mine to be able to post your cooking videos on my blog. They are simply wonderful. And, an added blessing is the joy of finding out that you are not just a good cook but a dear sister in the Lord! Talk about unexpected! More and more I see that it is God who directs our steps, not us!
Early next week I will post on arroz con gandules and also a desert! I will ask my friends, on that post, to subscribe to your You Tube Channel and also your blog!
Lord bless you today! And I couldn’t agree more…To God be the glory!
If I can find all the ingredients Christina I am going to try (this could be amusing) to make this! Love Elba! I am going to have fun watching all your videos now….and these recipes are making me hungry. God bless!
Teresa, let me know if you do make it. I know that you a knack for cooking and so it won’t take long for you get to the swing of it! Even if you are a blanquita! LOL!! Much love to you my dear friend!