I hope all of you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and didn't give in to too many temptations. I can't say that I was as good as I should've been and I paid dearly each and every time.
Mami & Papi came for Thanksgiving week and we had a lovely time in Vermont and even took a day trip to Montreal. I enjoyed every minute with them, and of course, was severely depressed once they left. It happens. I hope to someday get used to it, but I doubt that.
Christmas was lovely. I hosted my first Noche Buena and I must say that it was excellent! I actually wasn't going to do anything -- I have to admit that I've become a bit of a Grinch since I moved away from home -- but I came across this recipe for lechon asado made in the crockpot! I've mentioned before that I read some blogs for entertainment, but Marta at My Big Fat Cuban Family is my favorite Blogess! You can read her blog here and check out this amazing lechon! I had to work on Christmas Eve, but since I could set the pork in the morning, I wasn't worried. The grocery, as I've mentioned, sells Goya products so I bought some frozen platanitos maduros & yuca. I also called Abuela for her mojito recipe. I was set! Los Suegros came by for a bit and it was a nice evening.
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| I happily took leftovers to work! |
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| It snowed on Christmas Day! |
I would love to say that I partied until the wee hours on New Year's Eve, but I'd be lying to you. Mi Gringito and I were fast asleep by 9:30pm. We are total party animals. We toasted to the New Year at about 8pm and called Mami, Papi & Abuela. I put our phones on silent and called it a night (year?).
I do have to say that this was a wonderful and life-changing year. Learning to live with my new plumbing (it's the term of endearment I have given my surgery!) and the hits and misses of all aspects of life. It didn't kill me, so I guess it made me stronger!
I have met so many new people this year with school and work and they have all latched onto a spot in my heart!
I have to single out two people, though, Sparkles & Mrs. Nesbitt.
Who would've thought that I would meet and become friends with two foodies at work. I swear that we spend both breaks and lunch time talking about food. Non. Stop. The good thing is that we also exchange recipes and talk about triumphs and defeats in the kitchen. We setup food days for the office then excitedly talk about what we will possibly make. The day after one of our food days, we get a little sad then set up another one and the cycle begins again!
Sparkles mentioned a dish her grandmother made on Christmas. It was a cheeseburger stromboli. She didn't get the recipe but tried to recreate it at home. She brought a piece to work for lunch and Mrs. Nesbitt and I were practically drooling. I asked for the recipe because I knew it was something Mi Gringito would like--then again, is there anything Mi Gringito doesn't like?
As I read her recipe, the wheels in my head began to turn--I could turn this into a Cuban Sandwich Stromboli! Yes! I had leftover lechon asado from Noche Buena so I could really make this right...I was doing a happy dance all the way to the grocery store!
Cuban Sandwich Stromboli
Ingredients
1 can Pillsbury French Bread
Yellow Mustard
Sliced Dill Pickle Chips (drained)
Swiss Cheese
Sliced Ham
Pulled Pork (optional)
McCormick's Cuban Seasoning
Spray Cooking Oil
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray and carefully roll out the bread dough so that it is laying flat
- Leaving about a 1-inch border, spread the mustard on the dough
- Arrange the pickle chips over the mustard
- Put one layer of Swiss Cheese over the pickles
- Put one layer of Ham over the cheese
- Layer the pulled pork over the ham
- On a diagonal, begin to roll up the dough
- Seal the ends
- Lightly spray the top with the cooking spray and sprinkle the Cuban Seasoning on top
- Bake for about 30 - 35 minutes -- you're looking for a nice golden brown crust
- Let stand for about 5 minutes or so. Slice & Enjoy!
This tasted so amazing, I can't wait to make it again. This is another one of those recipes that are very versatile. You can add anything, really. I'm planning to make a buffalo chicken version with buffalo sauce and blue cheese sometime this week. Oh man, my tummy is grumbling just thinking about it!
Enjoy readers and let me know if you try it out or what new things you added to it! Can't wait!!
