Puerto Rican Turkey!

Thanksgiving is an all American celebration and according history it all began when Native Americans help out a group of Pilgrims whom were about to starve. Some how this American Tradition made it all the way south to Puerto Rico. It was established   after the American Invasion of 1898 and it has taking a life of its own. Puerto Ricans in our " indiosincracia" native ways and for the lack of proper pronunciation we have called it "San giving" and all we know that it is a Holiday and we get to have the day off to give thanks for something We give thanks every day. But now we have a little problem, Puerto Ricans traditionally roast pork for Our holidays and turkeys are not native from the island so cooking one was virtually a new thing for us. How do we go about it, should we follow the old American recipe or maybe cook it the Hawaiian way? This were the questions some Puerto Ricans hade to ask them self once the Turkey was introduce to the Puerto Rican culinary.
Then some one came out with this new idea to season the bird the way we do pork and there and then the "Pavochon" was born. "Pavo" meaning turkey and "chon" from the word "Lechon" that means pork, and people it was the best idea since slice bread, to make a bird taste like pork was something unheard of, nobody has try it before not even the Americans with all they technology 'lol' been able to accomplish such task. Here Aim going to laydown how Puerto Ricans do Turkey, the only way we know the Puerto Rican way!


Pavochon  Recipe


We start with a nice middle size bird cause we don't wont to get overwhelmed with the turkey it self. Then defrost and taw out well. Now the bird most be clean to take the 'fish' out, the animal smell that all raw meet has, a nice lime or lemon will do the trick just slice it in halves and rub them all over the bird in and out. That done now is time for bone breaking, start with the legs and spread them till both legs touch each other on the back of the bird that will losing him up a lot, now grab one wing at the time and break them too don't be shy it wont hurt the bird. Here is the tricky part, slide your hand underneath the skin and separate it from the flesh this is so the seasoning stays inside the bird. Take a sharp knife and poke the bird with  many holes has you can just avoid cutting the skin this holes will become the pockets filled with the seasoning . Now we have a turkey ready to 'adobar' season. Next take a pealed garlic head and a regular size union put them  in the  blender or food processor add salt, pepper and oregano a touch of vinegar and oil mix them all together till it become like a paste, rub the seasoning staring from the inside out and make sure the holes are well filled in now your turkey is ready for the oven. Preheat to 375 degrees put the bird in for a good 3 hours and a half then 500 degrees for 20 minutes to give it a nice golden brown crisp. Be hold the Pavochon Puerto Rican Turkey!            

On of the hardest thing  to do is  to work while trying to get a degree in College. Everything seems to oppose  that goal . Car problem, Family issues and the monetary factor are some of the main things everybody confronts. Plus on top of all that We are physically and mentally tire and stresses out and even mad at the whole situation. But there is light ta the end of the tunnel all We have to do is to look at things of a different angle. Just ask someone dear and close to you there opinion about what you doing so One may see things with fresh eyes. I know this for a fact because my Sons and Daughter are the ones that reminded  Me all the time of the importance of what Am doing. When they tell Me that It is Dynasty in the making. That Aim blazing a Path for them to follow and the start of a Family Business that may stand the test of time in Generations to come. So all this non sleeping running around like a chicken with out a head, eating cheap food and running out of gas is only the immediate situation but not a permanent one. So strap in hold on tight on this journey with destination Degree.  

TAINOS OF PUERTO RICO

The Taínos landed in the island of Borinken what is now Puerto Rico around 900 AD. Their origins are in the Orinoco River delta in Venezuela and Guayanas area, there is not much evidence of their exsistance, just a few archealogical artifacts and Conquistadores writings.Yet one can stiill see the Taino heritage in the every day of the Puerto Rican living and in my life.If I was to research my Taino heritage I will have to start with my Grandfather Simon Melendez

and my Grandmother on my Mother side Maria Rolon. Grandpa a native "Cimarron" had all the physical atributes of the Tainos, bronce skin, black hair one can see the "Indio" in him from a mile away, He also spoke in that soft Taino voice and always had a smile and a laugh in every thing he said. Maria Rolon was not much defferent story the only two things Spanish about her was here name and the language she spoke."Abuela" was the vivid example of a Taino woman the way she cooked and ate with her hands on a "dita" a dryout shell of the Dita fruit her bronce skin, long black hair and those tainos eyes that could pierce strait in to ones soul and just know everything about ones Self. I can also see how that heritage was handle down to me by my parents whom have more Spanish and African coming from my other grand parents.An that is why I can say with certainty that, Iam a Boricua Taino from Borinken

To truly anwser the question where does my Taino heritage palys a roll in my life at this point and time, One most understand frist the Island of Borinken or what we call "La Isla del Encanto" one most go to an imaginary trip in time over 24 centuries ago.When the Tainos landed in the island that was called Boriken. It was a place ruled by the Gods of nature, almost completely a rain forest from shore to shore. Filled withyagrumos, alelís, ceibas, orchids, wild mushrooms , hundres species of palm trees, bamboo,elephant ear leaves of the yautía, giant philodendron, mamey and guava trees. A placewhere wildlife such as cangrejos, manatees, giant sea turtles, iguanas, cotorras, and carpinteros lived. Fish jumped out of rivers and oceans. It was a magical and enchanted island. Rich in gold , silver,bronce and metalic wood. Each evening Boriken was cooled by the breezes of the Mar Caribe and serenaded by millions of coquíes. This was our Isla del Encanto during the reign of the brave Taíno people. There in Puerto Rico was the stage set up were the "Boricuas" will play a unique role in the Taino Kingdom, the very same Pride that gaves us drive in those days is the very same pride that give us drive and makes us proud to be Boricua.

"Historically, two versions about how Salcedo was lured to his death have collided. Many

books assert that the soldier had been told he'd be taken to a lake filled with Taíno women that

he could have sex with, and, once there, he found not women, but men who then proceeded to

drown him. The other version has Salcedo being offered a ride across a river by Taínos who

carried him on their arms, and then drowned him and kept him for days, afraid he'd still be alive

and until they were certain he was dead. A third, and most accepted version of Salcedo's death

says that the Tainos fearing that the Spaniards might be gods refrained from harming them.

After suffering under the Spaniards for so long the Tainos, by order of Agüeybaná, ambush

Salcedo as he is drinking water at the edge of a river. Fearing that Salcedo may resurrect after

three days -based on their understanding of the Christian teachings wielded by Catholic priests-

that sat around for three days waiting for Salcedo to comeback from the dead, but all they saw

was Salcedo's body rotting due to the heat just as they would. At that moment the Tainos

realized that these were no gods. It was with Salcedo's death, that the Taíno Indians were

encouraged to declare war on the Spaniards in Puerto Rico. However, the Indians were quickly

defeated due to the Spaniards' better weaponry and war expertise."

Within two decades the Taínos were alomost completley wiped out by the Spanish

Conquistadores. Yet they left us their heritage and legacy.

Legacy

There is not much physical evidence or recording other then a few archaelogical

artifacts and Spanish Conquistadores writings. Characteristics of the Tainos are found in

descendants "cimarrones" clustered in areas of Puerto Rico. The names of many towns

Aibonito ,Mayagüez, Coamo, Cayey, Caguas, Maunabo, Arecibo, foods and fruits

cassabamamey, yautia, name , batata, guayaba, jobo. Instruments like the maracas and guiro

are original Taíno names. Inventions like the Hamaca "hanging bed" El Canuco "planting

method and El Pilon "mortal" are still use to this very day. Taino language has influence the

modern world with words such as barbacoa "BBQ". Juracan "god of storms" still vists us as

Huracains. We have little detailed knowledge of Taíno culture, religion and daily life what we

know comes from Spanish documents and from recent excavations and every day Puerto

Rican "Indiosincracia" living.

Social Structure

Agueybana was Boriken head Cacique when Christoper Columbus arrieved.

The island was divided into 20 cacicazgos Caciques will rule the island that was divided into

provinces,districts, and villages, each with a Cacique.The Cacique was an inherited position of

great privilege, which transcended individual yucayeques "townships". The cacique was

polygamous. Some of his wives were from political marriages that would unite yucayeques and

form alliances .Nitaínos were the noblemen and were the warriors, craftsmen & artesans.

Caciques were inherited positions and came from the Nitaíno class.The social structure was

matrilineal, the lineage was carried by the mother.It is not clear if Nitaínos were born into or

earned their social class. Bohikes "Witch doctors" were from a lineage of bohikes. Naborias

were the servants and workers who fished, hunted and worked the conucos "plantations" and

generally did the hard labor. The Nitaínos ruled over the naborias

Buenos dias como se encuentran mi gente? Ya que no me gusta escribir mucho en ingles, le pedi permiso a City College para hacer mis bloggs en espanol. Es al dificir tradudir mensajes de espanol al ingles, se pierde la esencia muchas veces y el contenido no se siente igual.