It snowed again the day before yesterday... This time it stayed on the ground until last night when it was unusually warm - in the 50s... Here are Pancho & Bella trying - again - to figure that white stuff out...
Yesterday, we made Hallacas... Hallacas are a traditional dish in the Venezuelan Christmas folklore; they are made out corn dough and a filling made of a dry stew of chicken and pork; this year I added deer meat! It is usually a family affair in which many members of a family (or families) have different roles as follows (the corn dough was kneaded earlier in the afternoon, and the filling was made a couple of nights ago):
- The first 'work-station' makes the corn dough into small balls; pass them on...
- Second w/s flattens the dough, with the hands or a rolling pin or any other mean to a 1/16th of an inch thickness; passes it on...
- The third w/s puts the filling in the center of the flattened dough; passes it on...
- Fourth w/s put in some 'trimmings' (sliced olives, raisins, sliced almonds or crushed pecans); passes it on...
- The 5th w/s folds the package into a resemblance of an envelope and puts it on top of a square of aluminum foil; passes it on..
- The 6th w/s wraps the package - tightly - in the foil and puts it into a 375° F preheated oven for about 25 minutes. Traditionally, the hallacas are made on top of, and then wrapped in, smoked banana leaves - and then boiled. For logistics reasons (impossible to find the banana leaves), I substituted the leaves with aluminum foil and baked them instead of boiling them (a lot cleaner!).
- Last, but not least, there is the wild card who is helping when somebody needs a break, refilling drinks (because this is a drinking affair!) refilling supplies, and doing anything else that may be needed...
We (Jan, Alex, Leah and me) and the Douglas (Terri, Shelli, Hank, Paul and Mr. D) made about 70 hallacas yesterday evening... Many were eaten then, and some more this morning. Tomorrow, we will finish that batch!
No comments:
Post a Comment