I don't post much here but wanted to share this....

[one_voice]

My husband is Puerto Rican and I cook many things from the cuisine. However the one thing I wouldn't try was Pastelitos/Pasetlillos (depending on where you're from). The reason is his paternal grandmother, grandma nana made them and no one and I mean NO ONE could come close to making them as good as her. When we were married--23 years ago on the 29th--we cooked for our reception and did a blended American/Latin food buffet she made those and they were a hit.

She sold them from her home--literally out her living room window--yeah I know--she moved to Delaware from Puerto Rico and that's just how things were done. When she died she had 25,000 stuffed under her mattress and in a pillow cases in her closet from selling these, $2 a piece.

Before my father in law died he tried to make them the same way and couldn't get it like hers. He could cook--usually. He would say to me come on and help me, but I was always intimidated no way did I wanna go up against that legend. He got really sick but managed to pull through. He lived with me for a year and we were always 'gonna get around to making them' but never did. I never got to try and make them with him before he died (2 years ago Nov. 22).

My mother in law just died Dec. 3--she taught a lot of what I know about cooking--Chris Coons was at the memorial service he said some very nice things about her. The family I married into are avid Dems. I have pictures of my mother in law with Joe Biden. Sorry off on a tangent there.

Anyway, I guess her death got to me on levels I didn't realize. So yesterday I was out with my son and decided spur of the moment I was going to make these pastellillos. Now I didn't make the dough from scratch, I'm unable to knead it. I do have a bread machine that will do it for me, but I went with the pre made thingies.

My husband said they were amazing. He actually teared up and said his dad would have been so proud of me. So today was for pop.

pics..












edited spelling.

[elleng]

1. Very nice,

nice of you, and nice for your family.

[Major Nikon]

2. Many Latin cultures make similar types of sweet and savory pastries

You'll find similar things in Cuban, Mexican, and other South American cuisines.

I generally always keep puff pastry on hand in my freezer for leftovers like stew, sloppy joe fillings, BBQ, etc. Puff pastry works the best, but you can also use the "grand" type canned biscuits and roll those out if you don't want to make your own dough.

[one_voice]

3. yeah, they're called different

things depending on where you're from, but they're basically the same thing--what I made I mean.

these are what I used.

Thanks for the tip on the canned biscuits.

[Major Nikon]

4. I've seen those before, but only at hispanic markets

I've never tried them, but it seems like the easiest solution.

[KC]

5. Are these

fried or can they be baked?

[Major Nikon]

6. I've made them both ways

I've made sweet ones by deep frying in 350F oil and flipping when brown on each side and I do savory ones in the oven at 400F for about 20-30 minutes until golden brown.

[KC]

8. They sound

delicious. I've never used puff pastry
before but watching a few shows on TV
it doesn't look too difficult. I looked up a few recipes and wonder if the dough is like pie dough? ( if not using puff pastry )

[Major Nikon]

10. There's a few tricks to working with puff pastry

I've never seen it sold in anything besides the tri-fold frozen sheets. It takes a bit of work and you have to be patient to get it back into a flat sheet or it will break apart into 3rds on you. It also needs to be kept cool while you are working it because of the butter content. The directions on the box leave much to be desired, but I'm sure there's plenty of stuff on the youtubes which show how to do it.

[KC]

11. I do

remember seeing that part on various Foodnetwork shows. My kitchen is so tiny
I'm not sure if I'd have enough room to really spread it out like that. My counter space is awful.
Thank you for the information.

[Major Nikon]

12. You don't really need much room

The sheets aren't very big. I think they are 12" square at most, IIRC.

[KC]

13. Oh that's

not bad. I will try using it then.
Thanks

[Kali]

7. what a great tribute and I am sorry for your loss

but...ahem...some hints on your recipe please!

[KC]

9. I'm glad

your husband thought yours were delicious. I know that you making them really meant a lot to him.
This was a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to the family.
Thank you for sharing.

[Callalily]

14. What a wonderful tribute

to your mother and father-in-law. We should always keep family food/recipe traditions. Food connects us with our families in so many ways.