Rating:  Summary: Just like Abuelita. Review: Finaly I know the secret behind making 'pasteles' and 'sancocho'. Looking through the recipes I was so touched I felt like crying. Perhaps it's silly but food is a huge part of the Puerto Rican culture and there are many foods that take years to learn and perfect, (especially since Abuela didn't believe in measuring anything). A pinch of this, a dash of that. Now I have a strong foundation to build on. It's so wonderful to be able to bring our tradition into my home. This is the most authentic account of Puerto Rican and Nuyorican cooking I have ever read. It's given me a peek at my Grandma's magic in the kitchen and reminds me of home. I strongly recommed this book, no matter what culture you are from. Read, cook, and enjoy!
Rating:  Summary: You Cannot Go Wrong With This Book Review: I am learning Spanish and I have been told that I can learn the language quicker by immersing myself in both the language and the culture. The dishes in this book are mouth-watering. Mi plato favorito es arroz con calamares (My favorite dish is rice with squid). My fiance is not Latino and he also loves the dishes that I have tried from this cookbook.
Rating:  Summary: Easy to follow recipes. Review: I love this book. It has lots of recipes, and the instructions are very easy to follow. I have made several of the recipes including Pernil (Roast Pork), Aroz Amarillo, and Flan, they all came out perfectly. Some of the dishes even include more than one recipe. I wouldn't attempt to cook any Puerto Rican cuisine without first referencing this book. My husband and son love it too!
Rating:  Summary: Found recipes I thought I'd lost Review: I'd been looking for a good Puerto Rican cookbook..When I saw "Nuyorican" in the title I was like Alright!..I'm a Nuyorican and it's been years since I'd tasted any of the old recipes - papas rellenas (stuffed potatoes), pernil (roast pork), tostones (fried green platains) just even some of the basic spices used. There aren't alot of puertorican restaurants here, one cuban restaurant that I know of. I picked up the book and just reading about the spices used helped me figure out what I was missing when cooking some of my Mom's recipes.There are recipes that call for frying, that's true but as the author states, the idea is cook on very high heat and not to cook too much at once - for me having a deep fryer works great for the recipes that call for it. I've gone through some of the recipes so far and I haven't been disappointed yet. I've either taken them directly as stated adn/or compared them to my recipes to see what I might be missing. For those looking to make pasteles, this book even has a diagram on how to wrap them up. Just seeing the recipe for pasteles had my eyes lit up. If you think making tamales is a project, try making a pasteles :-) This book is definitely worth the price and if he makes another edition, I'll buy it :-)
Rating:  Summary: Found recipes I thought I'd lost Review: I'd been looking for a good Puerto Rican cookbook..When I saw "Nuyorican" in the title I was like Alright!..I'm a Nuyorican and it's been years since I'd tasted any of the old recipes - papas rellenas (stuffed potatoes), pernil (roast pork), tostones (fried green platains) just even some of the basic spices used. There aren't alot of puertorican restaurants here, one cuban restaurant that I know of. I picked up the book and just reading about the spices used helped me figure out what I was missing when cooking some of my Mom's recipes. There are recipes that call for frying, that's true but as the author states, the idea is cook on very high heat and not to cook too much at once - for me having a deep fryer works great for the recipes that call for it. I've gone through some of the recipes so far and I haven't been disappointed yet. I've either taken them directly as stated adn/or compared them to my recipes to see what I might be missing. For those looking to make pasteles, this book even has a diagram on how to wrap them up. Just seeing the recipe for pasteles had my eyes lit up. If you think making tamales is a project, try making a pasteles :-) This book is definitely worth the price and if he makes another edition, I'll buy it :-)
Rating:  Summary: A Nuyorican's Review Review: I've purchased several latino cookbooks, but this one by far captured the most popular dishes cooked at home by my family. The essence of the New York Puerto Rican experience and cuisine is accurately captured. Having moved from New York City to cities where there are few Carribean Spanish style restaurants I had to rely on cookbooks to get those dishes I was missing. In true Nuyorican fashion, it mixes its anecdotes with splashes of Spanish buzzwords. I use this book more than the others because of its simplicity and it's helpful tips on finding or making some of the ingredients. It even tells you how some things can be substituted in lieu of having to make it from scratch. I use the book now more as a template as I've learned to tweak the recipes to make them more to my liking, but it's a very good starting point. The historical background of our people was a welcome plus and each recipe is followed by a suggested wine to accompany it. I was really glad to have found this book. I highly reccomend it.
Rating:  Summary: This book is great for anyone with hispanic friends, family Review: My husband is Puerto Rican, and I love being able to make the stuff his mother and grandmother always made for him. Even his Grandmother loves when I make the stuff from this book!! I love it!
Rating:  Summary: great great great Review: Not only does this book have a number of touching and humorous stories to go with the recipes, but it takes the mystery out of cooking pasteles.
Rating:  Summary: About PUERTO RICAN CUISINE IN AMERICA: Review: Now in its fourth printing -- 240-plus mouth-watering recipes that range from traditional island dishes to the latest Nuyorican creations. There are also more than 90 tropical drink recipes. Puerto Rican cuisine, with its strong African and Spanish influences, captures a unique aspect of the new wave of Caribbean cookiong. Rice and beans are only the beginning! This food is spicy, hearty, healthy, sensuous and adventurous.
Rating:  Summary: Abuelita must have helped write this book!!! Review: The recipes in this book are easy to follow, and prepare. The first recipe i used was for the chicken noodle soup (Sopa de Pollo con Fideos). The aroma instantly took me back to those cold, rainy, fall days living in New York as a kid because that is when abuelita (grandma) took over in the kitchen and made a HUGE pot of this soup. WOW!!! I enjoy the tastes, aromas, and memories this book invokes. I always compare the tastes to what abuelita used to cook and so far i can not tell the difference. I can not put this book down. I enjoy using the recipes in this book, and my wife enjoys me cooking because it is one less meal she has to cook. These recipes (in my opinion) are as authentic tasting as you're going to get. I sincerely recommend this book to anyone who needs/wants to keep the "nuyorican" palette alive.
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