Since moving to Virginia something that I’ve missed is having Christmas Eve with my Mom’s side of the family. The main thing I miss besides my family of course is all the delicious foods.
My Grandma and Grandpa do a lot of the cooking and make traditional Puerto Rican food like pasteles. My absolute favorite. They’re basically meat patties made out of yucca and are seriously delicious. I’m trying to find a picture but all the pictures I see are made the way my Aunt makes them in banana leaves and boiled (not my fav at all). I love them baked and crunchy! I haven’t had one in far too long. I really hope they’re making some this year (although I’m pretty sure they’re not).
In the last couple of years before moving to Virginia I started going to my Aunt’s House for Christmas Day Brunch. Tons of food is constantly be churned out by my Uncle and they even have seafood options. I LOVE seafood so that’s always my favorite part about Christmas Brunch.
I’m really excited because this year we decided that we’re going to start our own tradition and do a Seafood themed meal.
When I think back to a lot of my family memories they’re food centered. I think a lot of it has to do with everyone being “forced” to gather around the dinner table. And of course when you do it around the holidays you can’t help but share memories. And if you’re lucky like me there are *so* many memories with new ones being made every year.
Stuck on what to get someone?
Do what we’re doing and get them gift cards to eat at a Darden restaurant like Red Lobster , Olive Garden or LongHorn Steakhouse. They can use the gift cards to gather with other friends and family or like us a much needed date night.
I know we’ll be heading to Red Lobster
once the holidays are over to save ourselves some time and of course to have some yummy cheesy biscuits.
Bonus: Right now for every $25 gift card purchased at Olive Garden, Red Lobster or LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants you get a $5 Bonus coupon!
So kill two birds with one stone, cross yet another person off your list and create some memories around the dinner table!
joanna garcia says
OMG i am half puerto rican so i love pasteles!! arroz con gandules OMG and COQUITO!! YUMMY!!!
Anne Hedricks Crane says
I'm excited to have a lot of family over this year!
Laura Grace Andry says
I love seafood dinners. But I have to be careful what I eat right now until this baby comes. I could really go for some lobster, salmon, tuna, and shrimp….okay I love it all. I haven’t been to a Red Lobster in over a year and I adore their cheesy biscuits! Thanks for sharing.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
We were planning on visiting family this Christmas, but had to cancel our plans at the last minute–I am SO going to miss my grandma’s holiday cooking. 🙁 I guess we are going to have to start our own traditions this year too!
Anne says
We love Red Lobster, and always give my in-laws a gift certificate for Christmas.