The months of November and December are a very hectic season for our family. I realize this is true for the majority of families since the holidays are always a busy time, but our family also has a couple of extra celebrations. You see, both of my children and my husband all have birthdays in December – in a span of three days – the week before Christmas. To say that the holiday season, particularly December, presents scheduling issues for our family is an understatement.

First, we have to get through November and Thanksgiving. Our November calendar typically fills up with various blogging events, as there are many holiday happenings the local theme parks and attractions want to share with families. It’s super fun, but means every weekend has something going on. We definitely have to choose wisely, since it can become overwhelming.

Then December comes and it seems like it goes by in a flash. We usually have a birthday party for the kids (luckily I can still combine both birthdays into one party), so we spend quite a bit of time planning and preparing for the party. There’s also Christmas shopping to do, along with every day life and obligations (school, work, housework, etc.). We pretty much spend the first three weeks of December running around. But, we do it together.

That’s the thing about this hectic holiday season. Even though we have a lot going on, we’re together. We attend events as a family, we plan, shop, and prepare for the birthday party together, and even do some Christmas shopping together. All that time – even the time in the car and in stores – is time for us to talk, laugh, reminisce and just hang out. Sure, there are moments of frustration or impatience, but overall, we have fun. There’s just no other way for us to get through it. Humor is a part of who we are as a family, so naturally, laughter is how we keep it together. I’m just lucky to have a family that keeps me laughing and that laughs along with me.

How do you keep the humor going during the hectic holiday season?

Disclosure: This story is sponsored by Hallmark through their Life is a Special Occasion campaign. As always, all stories and opinions are my own. To receive special offers and discounts from Hallmark, sign up for their e-newsletter!

Photo © modernmami

I’m often asked what type of Thanksgiving my family and I have. The question arises from the fact that people know I’m Puerto Rican and that I don’t always eat dishes common to the American culture.

For example, my co-workers were recently very surprised to learn that I have never eaten green bean casserole. It’s not a dish that my family even knows how to make. Naturally, the next questions are, “What kind of food do you serve? Do you have rice and beans? Do you even make a turkey?” The answers to those questions are: 1) We serve a variety of dishes; 2) Yes, definitely rice and sometimes beans; and 3) Yes, we have turkey.

As I’m sure is true in your families, every household does things a little different. Side dishes vary. Desserts and appetizers vary. Such is the case in our culture and even within my immediate and extended family.

I decided to share with you the menu that I will be serving for Thanksgiving dinner, as a sample. It might help to put it all in perspective. Note that when my mami hosts Thanksgiving dinner, the menu slightly changes. The turkey, stuffing, and yellow rice remain, however. I have made notes next to each item to explain the dish and if there are any differences from what you might know it to be.

Puerto Rican Thanksgiving Dinner Menu Sample

1. Turkey - We season the turkey a bit differently using Adobo and Sazón as opposed to cloves, rosemary, etc. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we thaw the turkey and coat it well with a marinade of sazón, white vinegar, adobo, and meat tenderizer. After all parts of the turkey – inside, out, and under the skin – are coated, the turkey goes back in the fridge to marinate for the next two days.
2. Stuffing - My family’s turkey stuffing is meat-based (ground beef specifically) and then we add bread crumbs, potatoes, and carrots to it. Specifically, the night before Thanksgiving, we cook picadillo-ish ground beef and add the turkey gizzards and neck meat after having boiled them in salt water. On Thanksgiving, we boil some cube-sized potatoes, and mix them into the ground beef mixture along with bread crumbs. This then gets stuffed into the turkey.
3. Arroz con Vegetales – Translation is Rice with vegetables. This will be a yellow rice with some mixed vegetables (peas & carrots, corn, etc). Many households serve arroz con gandules or some other variation of yellow rice.
4. Sweet Potatoes – Standard sweet potatoes but instead of adding brown sugar or marshmallows and such, we just cut them up into thirds or quarters and boil them with salt. Sweet potatoes already have a great taste on their own.
5. Guineos en Escabeche – I see this being translated around the web as Green Banana Salad. I suppose that’s a fair translation. This picture and recipe from sazonboricua.com will help. The recipe is in Spanish, but here’s one in English from elboricua.com.
6. Macaroni Salad – Macaroni, shredded carrots, cut-up green olives, and mayonnaise.
7. Macaroni Pie - This dish is actually not Puerto Rican, but from Trinidad. It has been added to my menu in recent years because my husband is Trinidadian and I have begun to blend some of his traditions with mine so that our daughter can learn about both of her cultures. Macaroni pie is similar to macaroni and cheese, but slightly different. I’m unable to find the recipe I actually use, but this one uses the same ingredients. It just puts it all together in a different order.
8. Cranberry Sauce – Our house has always served it straight out of the can. Of course, I’ve been given some cranberry sauce recipes recently, but have yet to try them. The can just seems so easy.
9. Gravy - Growing up, my mom would just buy canned gravy to serve. However, I watch far too many cooking shows and learned how easy it is to make your own gravy. Now, if I’m hosting Thanksgiving dinner, I use the turkey drippings along with chicken broth and flour to make my own turkey gravy.
10. Pumpkin Cheesecake – This too is absolutely not a Puerto Rican dish. I found a recipe a few years ago from Kraft and it actually came out good on my first try, so it’s become part of my personal Thanksgiving now.

I hope that this peek into a Puerto Rican Thanksgiving dinner has helped you get a glimpse of our traditions. Remember, again, that not all Puerto Rican households are the same and many serve ham or pernil (roast pork shoulder) along with a turkey, while others don’t serve turkey at all. Everyone has their preference.

What does your family traditionally serve for Thanksgiving? I’d love to hear about any special dishes and/or traditions you and your family include as part of your Thanksgiving celebration.

Today’s the day and I haven’t done one thing to prepare for it. Unlike last year where I was hosting and cooking Thanksgiving dinner at our house, this year my mother will be hosting. So, my contribution is to show up and be hungry. I am bringing an apple pie that baby girl requested we make, though.

Anyway, the important thing is that my daughter will be around extended family and will have fun seeing all the different food, people, and sharing with her family. As she gets older, she’s understanding more and more about the different holidays and what they all mean. In previous years, she was just dragged along for the visit. But, this year, she knows we’re celebrating a special occasion and even understands the overall meaning of Thanksgiving.

When asked what she wanted to do for Thanksgiving she answered, “I want to give someone a BIG turkey!” Another day she came home from preschool with a picture of us she drew and at the bottom the teacher had written:

I’m grateful for…my family!

You can tell they asked each of the kids, as I saw different answers up on their board.

I love that family is her answer. I am so proud of her and am just floored by how much change I can see in her as she grows. It’s interesting that I share her answer, since I too, am grateful this year for the lovely daughter I have. I’m grateful for the family that we’ve become.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! Enjoy your families.

Share with us one thing you’re grateful for this year.

Photo: Coconut Recipes

I often get asked what type of Thanksgiving my family and I have. The question arises from the fact that folks know I’m Puerto Rican and that I don’t always eat dishes common to the American culture.

For example, my co-workers were recently very surprised to learn that I have never eaten green bean casserole. It’s not a dish that my family even knows how to make.

So, naturally, the next questions are, “What kind of food do you serve? Do you have rice and beans? Do you even make a turkey?”

The answers to those questions are: 1) We serve a variety of dishes; 2) Yes, definitely rice and sometimes beans; and 3) Yes, we have turkey.

As I’m sure is true in your families, every household does things a little different. Side dishes vary. Desserts and appetizers vary. Such is the case in our culture and even within my immediate and extended family.

I figured I’d go ahead and share with you the menu that I will be serving for tomorrow’s dinner, as a sample. It might help to put it all in perspective. I have made notes to explain the dish and if there are any differences from what you might know it to be.

Modern Mami’s 2008 Thanksgiving Feast

1. Turkey - We season the turkey a bit differently using Adobo
   and Sazon as opposed to cloves, etc.
2. Stuffing - My family’s stuffing is meat-based (ground beef specifically) and then we add bread
   crumbs, potatoes, and carrots to it.
3. Arroz con Vegetales – Translation is Rice with vegetables. This will be a yellow rice with some mixed vegetables (peas & carrots, corn, etc).
4. Sweet Potatoes – Standard sweet potatoes but instead of adding brown sugar or marshmallows and such, we just cut them up into thirds or quarters and boil them with salt. Sweet potatoes already have a great taste on their own.
5. Macaroni Pie - Ok, this dish is actually not Puerto Rican, but from Trinidad. It has been added to my menu in recent years because my husband is Trinidadian and I have begun to blend some of his traditions with mine so that our daughter can learn about both of her cultures. Macaroni pie is similar to mac & cheese, but different. I’m unable to find the recipe I actually use, but this one uses the same ingredients. It just puts it all together in a different order.
6. Guineos en Escabeche – I see this being translated around the web as Green Banana Salad. I suppose that’s an ok way to say it. This picture and recipe from sazonboricua.com will help. The recipe is in Spanish, but here’s one in English from elboricua.com.
7. Macaroni Salad – Macaroni, shredded carrots, cut-up green olives, and mayonnaise.
8. Cranberry Sauce – straight out of the can
9. Pumpkin Cheesecake – This one too is absolutely not Puerto Rican. I found a recipe a few years ago from Kraft and it actually came out good on my first try, so it’s become part of my Thanksgiving now.

Appetizers

There’s nothing particularly special about the appetizers I will be serving tomorrow, except for item #2.

1. Chips & dip – no note needed here
2. Pasta de guayaba w/ queso blanco & crackers – Enough spanglish for you there? This is slices of guava paste and white cheese served with crackers.
3. Chex Mix – This is actually a new one for me/us. I’m going to give it a try because I want a dish that my two year old can help me “cook.” She should have fun mixing it all up.

I hope that this has helped you get a glimpse into our traditions.

Now it’s your turn.

I’d love to hear about any special dishes and/or traditions you and your family include as part of your Thanksgiving. Looking forward to reading all about it in your comments.

A quickie today…

If I’m not posting for a few days, pick one of these as my excuse:

1. I’m cleaning, cooking, and preparing for Thanksgiving, which will be hosted at my house this year. I’ll be cooking for a group of 20+ family members.
2. I’m playing Guitar Hero World Tour and singing either Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer or Michael Jackson’s Beat It. I rock both too. Oh yes I do.
3. I’m working hard to get this site redesigned, reformatted and ready for the relaunching of ModernMami.com! No date set yet, but believe me, I’m working on it.
4. My laptop has died on me. I don’t do as good when I actually have to sit at desk to use desktop. It’s so restricting. Laptop + couch = much happier & productive mami. This makes #3 a little harder.
5. I’ve crashed on the couch due to lack of sleep.

But, fear not. You can get a daily dose of your Modern Mami addiction by following me on twitter.

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