In our family Christmas Eve is the big day when we all get together! I love being able to spend time with family and friends and I even like all the cooking that involves.
I usually day before by running up to Union City to get some Cuban pastries, the port leg and other essentials. Later that night I prep the pork leg for slow cooking the morning of Christmas Eve. That involves squeezing a lot of citrus for the marinade, chopping tons of garlic as well as a number of other spices.
On Christmas Eve day I get up early, get the pork leg into the oven and begin with all the other cooking. A typical Christmas Eve meal is a mix of Italian and Cuban food. Shrimp cocktail. Grilled octopus. Stuffed calamari over linguini. Rpast pork with rice and beans. Yuca and plantains (maduros and tostones). Avocado salad (nom nom). Baked ham.
Although I like to bake, I don’t usually have time to do that on Christmas Eve so friends and family bring the desserts. Flan from my sister and delicious cookies from my friends.
It’s usually midnight by the time we finish cleaning up and then we hit the sack to wait for Santa and afterwards, visit family in Brooklyn Christmas Day. Another wonderful fun time!
What are your holidays like? I’d love to know!
