FEASTING WITH FAMILY

What a joy to be part of this big family gathering for Christmas this year.  I'm visiting with my son, Daniel,  his wife Eli, and my two grandsons, Lucas and Nico, in Atlanta, Ga. Eli's extended family is from Venezuela, so we feasted on specialties from that country on Noche Buena. 

Gathered for Christmas Eve. The theme this year, Christmas pajamas. My son Daniel and wife Eli are on the right with their two boys, Lucas and Nico.

The main dish was pernil, a bone-in, skin on pork shoulder. Juana, my consuegra (fellow mother-in-law) put it in a citric and herb marinade 24 hours before.  It roasted at low temperature for nearly five hours, the scored skin turning a deep brown.  

Roast shoulder of pork. The meat was marinated in orange juice with many herbs, lots of garlic and capers, then slow-roasted until browned and fork-tender. The skin, scored and studded with cloves, crisps beautifully--chicharrones--is a real treat. 

 

The previous week, Juana and Eli had made hallacas, which consist of a rich meat and chicken filling with olives and raisins enclosed in corn meal, rolled in banana leaves and cooked. They are very labor intensive, so are a once-a-year treat.

Juana serves hallacas, a beloved Venezuelan Christmas specialty.

Jorge serves the chicken salad. He likes it with onions, but there's a second bowl with no onions.

Daniel enjoys dinner of just a few of the many dishes brought by all the family.

Good food, family, fun.