I am a native of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, which is on the northern part of this beautiful island. Arecibo, in particular, is known for the tiny, transparent fish called, Ceti. Locals use it to make alcapurrias, a very popular fritter dish. Puerto Rico is best known for their beautiful beaches. For me, it is the people that make this island so special. We look for ways to make visitors feel welcome and at home. When there are challenges and difficult times, we pull together and help each other as a united front. We are resilient and strong people. A great example of this would be Hurricane Maria. As you may remember, this was a category 5 hurricane that hit us in September 2017. We came together and survived the best we could through courage and patience and understanding. Many of the island is still feeling the effects of this natural disaster, but we dust ourselves off every day to do the best with what we have and help our neighbors in any way we can. National Hispanic Heritage Month for me is an important celebration because it recognizes the positive impact that Hispanic Americans have made, and continue to make, in the United States. I feel proud to say I belong to this group of people who strive every day to make their lives better and in turn, make this such a grand nation. I arrived in the United States 4 years ago and began building the next chapter of my life in Florida. I soon learned that the sunshine state has such a diverse Hispanic population from many different countries. As I said, I am very proud of my Puerto Rican roots, but I have enjoyed learning about the different cultures, traditions, and delicious foods. And although I no longer live in Puerto Rico, I do my part to help keep my traditions and customs alive and well. You can find me dancing to a salsa song sung by El Gran Combo (our top band), or enjoying our most popular dish, arroz con gandules and pernil (rice and beans with pork shoulder). During Christmas, we enjoy drinking Coquito, which is our version of eggnog. This delicious drink comes in endless flavors, but my favorite is cheesecake. I am excited to share my recipe for Coquito because I know you will enjoy it. I hope you make it a part of your tradition for years to come!
CHEESECAKE FLAVORED COQUITO RECIPE
Ingredients:
1 – 13.5 oz can of coconut milk
1 – 13.5 oz can of coconut cream
1 – 13.5 oz can of evaporated milk
7 oz. of condensed milk
4 oz. of cream cheese
1 slice of original cheesecake (store bought or home baked)
1 Cup of White Rum
1 tsp- Vanilla Extract
1 tsp- Ground Cinnamon
2 Tbsp – ground graham crackers
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, add all ingredients and mix on medium speed until smooth (about 30 seconds).
2. Pour into a 1.75-liter glass bottle. Old wine bottles work great!
3. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to allow for ingredients to meld together.
4. When ready to enjoy, serve in 4 or 6-ounce cups.
5. Leftovers may be refrigerated