Pastelon

Last Saturday I woke up thinking about the ground beef that had been in the freezer for 10 days. Sort of random thought to be on my mind at 7am. Stuff just does not keep super well in the freezer here so we needed to use it up soon. Hamburgers in my family are sort of hit or miss.... with me and Melanie loving them and the others kind of not so much. What to do with this ground beef??...... Lightbulb goes off... Pastelon!

A pastelon is a Dominican version of lasagna. This is actually my 2nd time making pastelon. My first time was pretty yummy, but I got sick the next day. Honestly, I don't think the two were related, but my body associated the two so it took me 6 months to try it again. In March I bought a small piece of pastelon at the supermarket deli and it was yummy. I decided that I was over the taste aversion and ready to move on in my journey of Dominican cooking. Hurray!

First disclaimer... Typical Dominican Pastelon is with mashed plaintains. However, I found this recipe that won me over with fried Plaintains. Yep, more grease, but so delicious. I think this is more the PuertoRican version, but Shhhh.... don't tell my Dominican family.  So here is the link to the recipe that I used.  Gather your ingredients:

1lb of ground beef
3-4 eggs
1-2 tbsp tomato paste
several cloves of garlic
one onion
cilantro or recaito as it is called here aka cilantro ancho
1/4 cup of raisins
6-8 olives chopped ( I don't like olives, but they added so much flavor)
4 ripe plaintains (see below, these could have been more ripe but it's what we had on hand)

Chop all the vegetables. Add the chopped green pepper, onion, garlic and cilantro to the ground beef. Add 2 tbsp of vinegar.  Mix well. Heat 1-2 tbsp of oil on medium high heat and brown beef.  When close to brown add olives, raisins and the Goya seasoning if following the recipe link or any type of general seasoning. This is what we had on hand. This stuff is not good for you.... but when in Rome...

Next you are going to peel the plantains. Google this if needed. I can't offer any tips really, because I'm so bad at peeling plantains. Fortunately ripe plantains or easier to peel than green ones.

 Slice the plantain down the middle. Carefully peel away the peeling. Slice the plantains into strips.

 Heat oil and fry until beautiful golden yellow. My first batch were a little too golden aka burnt, but they still tasted so yummy. I actually used one extra plantain because I knew that I was sure to be snacking on these way before the Pastelon was ready



Butter pan generously. Layer the plantains first into the pan, followed by the ground beef, then cheese. Repeat again, being sure to end with plantains and cheese.  Crack 3 eggs. Mix with 2 tbsp of milk. Stir well and pour on top.

I used 2 mini pans because I couldn't find the 8x8 or 9x9 pan.  Bake in  oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Enjoy with a nice side salad!

I used 2 mini pans buy any 8x8 or 9x9 pan should work! 

Bake in  oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Enjoy with a nice side salad!

March Update .... Pictures!

It's April already... wow time flies!  This post will be less writing and more pictures. Here goes, March in review. Lots of love to you all!

Two teachers from school who went with us. Adrys and Monica

The beginning of March our foundation was invited to be on a local News Program.... Lo Buena is Noticia. The Good is News. Basically the host was sick of hearing so much bad news and started a news program to share the good things that are being done in the city. Awesome idea, huh.

Shhh... don't tell. While we were waiting I decided to practice for my future cooking show!

Take #777, I gave up on trying to get a good group shot.

 Our kids enjoyed 2 field trips this month... one to the Monument. Well, ok the official name is the The Monumento a los Héroes a la Restauración, but that is way too long so folks just call it The Monument. There is actually a lot of neat history about the Monument as it was originally built in 1944 by the dictator Trujillo. After his death rather than tear down the monument, as he really was a dictator whose rule is still felt in certain aspects of Dominican culture (read more here), the decision was made to rename the monument. 








Inside is a history museum that provided a good lesson for our little ones.  You will also note the Carnaval costumes in the background as our visit was right after Carnaval ended.  While there we also took advantage of kite flying season y subimos chichewas aka cometas aka kites!

Now, here are pictures of our other field trip... a walking trip to the local fire station and the water plant.   Francisco tried on the fireman's gear .... maybe it's a tad too big! The fireman did a little demo with the pole that the kids really enjoyed!

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Pre-Primario (kindergarten) lining up for the walk to the fire station and water plant. They were so eager to go that they made a straight line in no time at all. Major accomplishment for us!  This picture is minus 3-4 who missed out on the fun :(.  It's hard but they have to learn consequences right??. I still remember the first day when I thought I would never learn all 20 names. Wow, now I can tell who is still talking even with my eyes closed, I can tell you who is crying when I'm a couple of classrooms away and most times I can tell when they are being truthful and when they are not.  Don't let their cuteness fool you....  but I heart these little ones!




We take for granted clean drinking water. Drinking water comes in the large blue bottles for about 35 pesos each. This place, Proyecto Bernabe, was started by a mission group from Indiana. They provide clean, filtered water for 15 pesos each! We are glad to support their work to provide clean water to the Cienfuegos community. (read more here)






I really like doing this overview. It's amazing all the things that happen in a month that you forget about. I was scrolling through and ran across this picture of me and the pregnancy class. Unfortunately do to a schedule conflict I missed most of their classes... BUT I did make it to the last one and we played Newborn Jeopardy (thank you J. Oh and the Centering curriculum at LCHC). The ladies had a good time and I did too! Maternal child health has always been a love of mine.... I think I forgot how much!

There were lots of joyful fun in March, but there were some hard times too. Our community, Villa Rosa II, suffered a large house fire. The kids ran to greet us that morning, out of breath they began to tell the story. Fire.... big fire... bomberos came (firemen).... died.... hospital....crying.... sad.... The words tumbled out of their mouths.

After hearing the version from several little ones it began to make sense. An infant died in the fire and another child was in critical condition. The funeral was to be held the next day and of course the family was devastated. In a community like Villa Rosa most of the kids gathered with their families outside the house as it smoldered. You see, folks, don't have much to give, but what they do have is time. So, they gather and spend time with the family, lingering around, talking, sharing, reminiscing, crying. In some societies we try and shelter kids from this hurt, but I've learned over the last months that pain is a sad reality of their lives. They often will tell me of someone being shot, or 'tigeres' (gangsters/bad guys/i don't know the translation) who beat someone up, shot or cut someone, motorcycle accidents, death, sadness and pain is something they accept as normal. So, I try to let them process it, talk about it, hear them out as they try to make sense of life. And I pray for them, that God would heal their community, their land, their hearts. That God would shine his light over their lives and protect them from the dangers that are so prevalent and surround them with loving arms to embrace and reassure them along their journey.

Lastly, I will wrap up with a few pictures from Holy Week aka Semana Santa. I enjoyed a sunrise service outside the city with a lovely group of folks from Santiago. We sang hymns and shared in communion to celebrate that Christ has risen! Cristo ha resucitado!  Amen!

Gazing at the beautiful sunrise!

Good Friday

It's Good Friday! I like the way it's phrased in Spanish much better, Viernes Santo. Good has never been the right word to describe today. Santo, Holy, yes, that fits the day. Even the nightly merengue blasting from the speakers are absent today. Viernes Santo, yes it is a holy day.  I spent half of the day taking a bus trip back from the northern border of the country, allowing for a lot of time to think. Good Friday, Christ died, punished, crucified, paying a debt that he did not owe, allowing himself to be uncomfortable, enduring pain to bring change, love, and HOPE to the world.

I've felt really easily overwhelmed lately. You know, simple, small decisions... or maybe not so small ... what to do with my life next? Should I go here? or there?  Should I hang out with this group?  Will they like me? What to wear today? Should I relax my hair or keep it kinky?? Little stuff and big stuff has felt really stressful and it all led to a big old pow-wow, a couple of days ago. Not pretty, I tell you.

You see, it's hard stepping out into the unfamiliar. We crave comfort. The comfort of people we know. Surroundings that are familiar. Routines that are known. Habits and customs that are understood. I sort of  feel like I'm getting my bearings on some of those things, BUT I can feel the ground beneath me shaking. What!! More unfamiliar territory. What!!  New people. What!! More change.

Just when I'm at the point of wanting to resist. Wanting to cave and go for the comfort zone, I'm reminded of Calvary. My Savior didn't cave, he agonized, he pleaded, yet he surrendered his will completely, totally to the will of the Father. His Love for me, kept him on the cross. Change, it's coming, but I'm figuring out how to be ok with it. I know it will be for My joy and for HIS glory!


"For nails would not have held God-and-Man fast to the Cross, had Love not held him there"  St. Catherine of Sienna



ps: artwork courtesy of my kindergarten babies!

Arepa Dulce Dominican Style

I have an insatiable sweet tooth! I will choose sweet over salty anytime! Yes, yes, I know the way to kill this sweet tooth is to avoid sugar and eventually the sugar cravings will disappear. But I like sugar... a lot! SO, I don't think I want it to disappear, but I've worked on my discipline and most days I can control myself.... but not TODAY!! 

So, the google search for recipes started. And I stumbled onto this blogpost for arepa de maiz dulce. Looks easy enough. Hey, wait... I actually know this lady. I forgot Molly writes a blog too. That made it extra exciting to try this recipe. I do have a competitive streak sometime, and it came out. If she can make Arepa Dulce.... well, I can TOO!! 

So here are the ingredients: That silver shiny pot thingy is a coffee greco. It makes the best espresso! good souvenir too! My cake pan cost me 180 pesos (almost $5.00).  Yes, that was a SPLURGE for me! 

1 lb of fine corn meal (I could only find 14 oz packages)

3/4-1 cup of brown sugar ( I used azucar crema - its the sugar thats most easily found here. I didn't feel like adding the molasses to make my own brown sugar. You did know that you can make brown sugar, right?)

1 tsp vanilla (Dominican vanilla is cheap and GOOD!)

1/2 tsp salt

2-8 tbsp of butter (you decide- can your heart handle it??)

1 can evaporated milk

1 can coconut milk (LOVE THIS)

1/2-1 cup of raisins ( couldn't find golden raisins. I like them a lot better)

1/4 -1/2 cup water

Cinnamon - ground or sticks

In one bowl mix the corn meal, evaporated milk, vanilla and raisins. If using ground cinnamon add it here - 1-2 tsp based on your preference. I added about a 1/4 cup water be/c it was stiff.  Let sit. 

Next you are going to find a big sauce pot. Turn stove on to med low heat. Add the coconut milk, salt, sugar, butter, and cinnamon sticks if using sticks. Turn oven on to 350 to pre-heat. If using a Dominican oven... well, your guess is as good as mine. Strike the match, throw it inside, guess the temperature. 

I tried to be fancy and added 2 cloves and 2 nuggets of allspice. They are both super cheap here. I wanted to use nutmeg, but someone (my host dad- Amalio) used it up either in the coffee or the habichuela dulce (sweet beans). I can't complain because I like how he makes coffee with a little fresh ground nutmeg.  Habichuela dulce will have it's own post, VERY, very, Soon!!! It's an Easter Classic, although I've had it at least monthly since October or November.

When you start seeing little bubbles, not boiling, but simmering/bubbling, add the corn meal mixture. and STIR, and STIR, and STIR for like 5 minutes until it becomes ssmooth and pudding like. Then turn the stove off and pour into your well greased pan. 

Remember, to take out the cinnamon stick, cloves, allspice, etc if you used them. This was a pain because it was hard to tell the cloves and allspice from the raisins. I probably wouldn't use them next time. I don't think it added much "depth". Also, I probably would simmer the cinnamon sticks and coconut milk a little longer on a lower flame just to build more cinnamon flavor. I'm sure there will be a next time :).

OK, so a couple of recipes on line suggested adding some pats of butter on top to ensure that crispy crust on the outside and moist center. I'm not sure that it was really necessary and my heart really didn't need it. BUT, if you are making dessert, just go for it.... maybe.

So bake maybe an half hour. It totally depends on the oven. You want a firm, golden brown outside, and the inside should be moist, but not wet or jiggly. My oven was being weird, like most Dominican ovens. The outside was a little too brown, and the inside was a little too moist. I guess I will just have to make this again until I get it perfected!! :)

And this was dinner tonight! Serve with coffee, milk, or  Dominican style hot chocolate. I enjoyed my slice with a chai tea that arrived in a care package from a dear friend. Enjoy!