Inclement weather calls for FOOD!

Note the pilon on top of the pan. 

I have great memories of childhood when school would be cancelled due to the threat of snow. It doesn't even matter that not a drop of the white stuff had fallen, we were already making a beeline for the grocery store and surely either chili or vegetable beef soup would be on the menu for dinner that day. There is something about inclement weather that brings out the need for comfort foods.











Today I sampled one of the Dominican comfort foods, Sancocho. Well, I more than sampled... I consumed quite a large quantity!!  Of course, here in the caribbean it was not a threat of snow, but rather Hurricane Sandy that generated the craving for Sancocho. After braving the storm for a half day of school I arrived home to an impromptu gathering of faces, some known and some brand new, hanging out and having a good time.  (See my previous post on dropping by down below). One of the women was in the kitchen stirring a big pot and everyone else was milling around waiting eagerly for the pronouncement that LUNCH was ready!

Note the wool caps for the "cold"
-- a temp of 72 degrees is cold here.

Everyone was quite amused when they found out it was my first time eating Sancocho! It was also quite hilarious listening to the animated descriptions of Sancocho. I made the mistake of asking is it basically rice and beans? NO, emphatically, NO!!! Then the animated responses began.... Sancocho has delicious meat, chicken, beef, pork  and plaintains, and yuca another person yelled, and potatoes.... ay, si, they were pretty hyped
 about this meal. The avocadoes were sliced, and even fought over as everyone wanted the largest chunk, the rice was ready and lunch was served.

Yum-O! Sancocho is pretty good stuff....