December 22nd, 2020

El Coquito Navideno, Puertorican Eggnog, Christmas Traditions, Puerto Rico, The Caribbean, La Isla del Encanto, Feliz Navidad

A simple mantle, a hot fire, Christmas is just a few days ahead. Growing up in Puerto Rico the weather is constantly warm. It does have a cooler season from January until the beginning of March. Best time to visit.

Holidays in Puerto Rico are very long. They last until mid January, when other festivals will also take place. It is like anything, it is not the same way now. In my youth there were great family parties during Christmas and then during Three Kings Day or El Dia de Los Reyes there were roasted pigs, blood sausage, which by the way are the best, tripe and all those things someone other than a foodie would think is so foreign. A Spanish island full of history and tradition. Three Kings Day is the Epiphany. Very Catholic too.

Pasteles are typically eaten during the Holiday Season. My grandmother Juanita made the best. Very labor intensive. They almost look like a tamal. Made out of plantains with and an adobo stuffing, olives, chickpeas, raisins, chicken, pork or beef, then wrapped in banana leaves. They are also made out of yuca, a root vegetable.

The photo above shows the ones I had flown from Orlando, Florida for my Three Kings Day dinner where my friends tasted them among other things like fried plantains called tostones.

Getting to the purpose of my post is the Coquito or Puertorican Eggnog. They said the Spanish invented it. Who knows. It is indigenous to the island, though. Everyone has a recipe, adding a little bit of this or a little bit of that. Rum being a main ingredient for sure. I love drinking it in a small aperitif glass.

The glasses here were my grandmother’s Palmira Pereyo Lopez. I love them and they are perfect for my Coquito. I used the Barcardi Gold Rum. I almost forgot, but you fill the empty rum bottle and give it as presents.

This recipe I have comes out delicious. I even got glass bottles to give some away. So this is how it goes:

Mi Coquito Navideno

4 cans (12 ounces each) of evaporated milk

1 can of condensed milk

2 cans (15 ounces each) of coconut cream, not coconut water

2 teaspoons of Vanilla

2 teaspoons of Cinnamon

6 egg yolks

1 bottle of rum (750ml) I used Bacardi Gold

a cap of Brandy or more

Beat by hand the 6 egg yolks in a small container

Blend separately the following in a large container 1 can of the evaporated milk, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Add the beaten egg yolks, the rest of the evaporated milk, the condensed milk, the coconut cream and the Brandy.

Then the whole bottle of rum. Mix well.

NOTE: Some time the Coconut Cream has separated. Mix it well. If the Coquito is lumpy use a sieve and put through the whole mixture.

The Coquito is not thick. It does get a little thicker when refrigerated.

Drinking it cold is the way to enjoy it. It can last in the refrigerator for some time because all the rum it has. It won’t last long though.

Anyway, play with it and make it your own.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Feliz Navidad.

December 4th, 2009

At the Delaware Beaches…and Ocean City, Maryland…a Little Holiday Cheer…

 

I love Eggnog.  Too bad it is so high in calories.  I like it on Christmas morning when everyone is opening presents.  It’s true.  I just do, but I rarely do that anymore. 

If you live in Delaware, you most likely buy Lewes Dairy products. It is a family operated business.  You can learn more about them by visiting www.lewesdairy.com.  The cream is exceptional and during the Holiday Season they do make eggnog.  I have added rum to the eggnog and then whipped some of their heavy cream and folded it into the mixture.  It will be thick.  You can almost eat it with a spoon. Don’t get on the scale next day.  I have a few friends that buy the eggnog and put it in the freezer and eat it like ice cream. So good!!

One eggnog recipe that I have and make every year is the following:

 

Eggnog

6 egg yolks (save the egg whites)

1/2 lb. confectioners’ sugar

3 cups of dark rum

1 quart of whipping cream (I use Lewes Dairy)

1/2 cup peach brandy

Freshly grated nutmeg

 

In a large bowl, beat egg yolks and gradually beat into them 1/2 lb. of sugar. 

Add very slowly, beating constantly 1 cup of the rum.  Let the mixture stand covered for about 1/2 hour to get rid of the egg taste.

Add, beating constantly the rest of the rum. If you just want to use one cup then do so.  Add the brandy.  Refrigerate the mixture, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours.

Beat until stiff 6 egg whites and fold them lightly into the other ingredients.

Serve the eggnog with freshly grated nutmeg.

 

The next 2 recipes are for Coquito.  It is like eggnog but it really is a traditional Puerto Rican drink.  It is served during the Holiday Season, including the Spanish festivities of Three Kings Day.

I have to laugh because if I were to make the Coquito in the purest way, then I would have to get coconuts and grind the pulp to get the milk, etc. etc. I already could picture the looks I would get at the supermarket when I carried 5 or 6 coconuts to the cashier line.  The easiest way is going to be opening a can of coconut milk.

 

Coquito

2 14-ounce cans of coconut milk

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 cups premium white rum

 

Combine the coconut milk, condensed milk and rum in a blender.  You will probably have to do this in batches.  Puree until frothy.  Pour into a pitcher. Refrigerate until nice and cold.  Another way is to pour the coquito into an empty bottle of wine or liquor that has a screw top and then refrigerate. You will need 2 bottles.

 

Coquito #2

2 cans evaporated milk

1 can cream of coconut

2 cups rum

1 dash of salt

Some ground cinnamon, optional. A dash or two will do.

 

This is very easy.  All you have to do is mix all ingredients.  This will make about 1/2 gallon.  Pour the mixture in about 3 bottles of liquor or wine with screw tops.  Make sure the bottles are rinsed out.  Refrigerate.

 

Remember that you can add a little or a lot of the rum.  It’s up to you.  Even if you do not drink alcoholic beverages, it would be nice to have in the refrigerator for those unexpected guests in the days to come. 

Note:  You can also make the Coquito without liquor.

 

Enjoy…talk to you later…