Saturday, August 25, 2007

Guatemalan Recipes

A few people asked for the recipes that I made for our Family Day dinner last night. So, here you go:

Guatemalan Chicken with Pineapple (Pollo en Pina)

2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
3-3 1/2 lbs broiler-fryer chickens, in pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pineapple, cut in 1 inch cubes or 1 (20 ounce) can unsweetened pineapple chunks, drained
1/2 cup dry sherry
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 dash pepper
2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped
hot cooked rice (can cook concurrently so all is ready at the same time)

Heat oil in lg skillet; cook chicken on med heat until brown on all sides-- approx 15 min.
Remove chicken, cook onion& garlic in remaining oil until onion is tender, stirring frequently.
Return chicken to skillet.
Mix all remaining ingredients except tomatoes (and rice!); pour over chicken.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 min.
Add tomatoes; simmer, uncovered, until thickest pieces of chicken are cooked through-- approx 20 min.
Serve with rice.

My notes for this recipe:

I used fresh pineapple - yummmmy

I had seen other versions of the recipe that didn't have you brown the chicken or anything, just throw it all in a pot and simmer. And they called for more liquid. I knew the chicken needed to stew and the liquid called for above wouldn't be enough. So, I used a good bit more of the vinegar and sherry and added some chicken stock until the chicken was mostly covered. I also moved everything into a stock pot since a skillet really isn't big enough for a whole chicken cut up.


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Arroz Guatemalteco



2 cups rice
2 TBL peanut oil( I used olive oil)
1 cup mixed vegetables (carrots, celery, sweet red peppers and peas)
4 cups chicken or beef stock
Saute rice in oil, until rice has absorbed the oil but has not changed color. Add vegetable, salt and pepper, and 4 cups of stock. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer until liquid has been absorbed about twenty minutes.


NOTE: I found there was a bit too much liquid in the rice, so maybe use about 1/4 cup less of the stock. Also, I would recommend using stock, not broth as it is richer. It is usually in a cardboard box vs. a can in the same section of the grocery store.

For the plantains, I always just buy the frozen Goya ones. They are 100% as good as if you fry them up yourself and a whole lot less messy as you just microwave them!

There are some more great sounding recipes here:



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And here are a couple of pics from today. We went to a park and met up with some families that are part of our local international adoption group. Gabriella had a blast running around. For the first time, she got to climb up on some stuff and go down a slide. She's got some work in the dexterity and depth-perception department, but as the weather breaks around here, we'll be visiting parks a lot more often and that should help. She missed her morning nap and all that running around must have worn her out. She slept for 3 1/2 hrs this afternoon and didn't get up until 6:15. I really thought she wouldn't go to bed when I put her down. Much to my surprise, she went right to sleep at 8:15. That was one tired girl!




14 comments:

Well-heeled mom said...

I loved plantains when I was in Guat and I had no idea we could get them here. The City is a lot more diverse than old town, so it may be easier for me to find such treasures.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting the recipes! I was going to ask for them! Love your idea of celebrating Family Day!

SBP

JuJu - said...

LOVED your forever family day post!!!!What a wonderful way to celebrate and what a great idea to honor her birth country too:) I loved that!!!!!! I also love the pics of the GORGEOUS Miss G:)

JUlia:)

Bekah said...

oh i can't wait to try out those recipes. thanks! and loved the post below. happy forever family day! hooray!

Sharon and Olivia Grace said...

Thanks for posting the recipes! They sound delicious. I can't wait to try them.

Sharon

Crystal said...

ooooh my goodness --Alleen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is sooo funny---I wanted to do a post asking for recipes but I didn't-- I thought I would just dig thru my old e-mails and look for an e-mail my coordinator sent me when we were adopting Sophie!!! Thank you for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved you FOREVER FAMILY DAY post too!!!!!!!! Made me tear up a bit!!!!!!!!! How special!!!---You are such a good momma Alleen I just love your big ole heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxo

Anonymous said...

Might have to try the chicken recipe, Al. It sounds good!

XXX,
Sares

Lori and Robby said...

Happy Belated Family Day! Thanks for posting those recipes and the link for other recipes. What a great idea!

Debra said...

Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to try them.

Amy said...

Congratulations on celebrating your one year, thanks for sharing the recipes. Gabriella is adorable as always.

The Frugal Countess said...

Score! I am so PSYCHED that you posted this!! I am totally doing it this weekend. We eat a lot of Cuban food since we are in South Florida but I miss the Guatemalan spice mixture.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

THE MERRILL FAMILY said...

Thanks for the notes on the recipes. I've looked at lots of recipes for Guatemalan food on the web (we mostly stick to Plato Chapin), and I've always trepidacious to try new ones. Can't wait to give your two a try -- and thanks for the suggestion about the plantains (my fried experience was interesting to say the least).

Carrie, Rich and the Kids said...

That looks like a super fun park and thanks for the recipes. I am definitely going to try the chicken, because the only way we get a little chicken in Savannah is to mix it with fruit.

Glad you got a nap and a good bedtime. No luck with that here no matter what we do.

nikki said...

Ohhh that recipe sounds sooo yummy.
Happy forever family day!!!! Looks like you had a wonderful celebration!!!!