Fiestas Patrias, Sept. 18th

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Another "dieciocho" (18) has past and one again I had too many empanadas and too much meat. I am convinced that this holiday exists purely to indulge yourself in all the worst things for you. But hey, no complaints here!!!

This year we went to Santiago to spend the long weekend with Carlos' family. The actual holiday is Sept. 18th but the 19th is a national holiday as well. And most people take off Wed. so it ends up being a 5-day long opportunity to eat and drink. This year we had an "asado" at Carlos' parents house on 18 and the next day went out to Lampa, where his brother and family live and had another asado outside in this big field. Great times!

cueca - the national dance of Chile. It is said to be about a rooster and a hen and the mating rituals. The man and the woman both have a "pañuelo" (hankerchief) in their hand and wave it around throught the dance.
choripan - small red, bratwurst looking sausage that they put in mini buns. They put these on the grill first and eat them while the other meat is cooking. Its kind like your first course.
asado - asado means BBQ. And not on a gas grill but with charcole briquets. They are big into meat here: beef, steak, pork, pretty much anything.
chicha - a really sweet, thicker wine traditional for the 18th. It is normally made out of grapes and a lot of sugar.
anticucho -these are kabobs on a stick. They use onion, carrots, and meat.
empanadas -small pastries in the shape of a half circle traditionally filled with "pino" which is ground beef, onion, 1 olive with the pit and a slice of hard-boiled egg. They can be cooked in the oven or fried on the stove top.
vino- wine...usually red wine for the 18th
mote con huesillo -cooked barley in a thick nectarine juice and a dried whole nectarine floating on top. They eat this out of a glass with a spoon.
manzana confitado- similiar to a caramelled apple on a stick but instead of caramel they use a hard red candy coating

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Photos

The Master Chef at work
Carlos in charge of the grill.

Carlos sister Yari
Yari is wearing a semi-traditional outfit for 18th. A not so dramatic square dancing dress(without the poof) is pretty much what it looks like.

Pichanga
This is a pickled salad with small onions, carrots, pickles, olives, cubed ham and cheese. All together and pickled. Did I mention it's pickeld. Weird for me. I usually pick out the ham and cheese! Bad girl.

The salads in Chile
Here they have a salad for everything. This is tomatoe salad (aka tomatoes). Nothing out of the ordinary except they put lemon juice and oil on it.

Another salad
This salad is, yeah thats right you guessed it, lettuce. Also with LOTS of lemon juice, salt and oil. Gets kind of soggy so you have to eat it first so there is still some crisp on the lettuce.

The Horcos Family Asado
Here is the family (including Pato, Naty's boyfriend) around the table for 18 BBQ. I dont usually eat meat but I definately took advantage this day.

Carlos' cousin
This was Scarlett's birthday party. She is dresed in her 18 outfit. She just turned 6.

Nadia and Daniella
This is Carlos' sister nadia and a cousin, Daniella. Typical teengers, trying to look cool. Country boundries don't change how teenagers act.

Tia Marisol
Aunt Marisol making the empanadas.

Simple and easy recipes
They are made with a "masa"/dough similiar to pie dough. They only complicated part is you ahve to cook the meat and onions the night before and let them sit over night to absorb all the flavors.

The empanada Queen
Carlos' mom's empanadas are pretty famous within the extended family. They brought a portable gas tank with a burner to fry the empanadas

Mmm.....the best thing about 18
I ate 3...I know, I know. They are really bad for me. Really bad. But they are really good.

The Empanada Dance
Carlos' mom's side of the family are Palestinian. So they like to dance adn have a good time. Viriginia was dancing while frying the empanadas.

The great wide open
This you cannot find in Santiago. You have to get out of the city to find it. Carlos' brother lives in Lampa where there are pastures and open spaces. We set up camp in a large field, next to the grazing horses.

Tio Solomon
Uncle Salomon, my mother-in-laws brother, is prepping a kite. They have kite flying contests using these small square kite made of tissue paper and wood dowls.

Horcos Family 08'
Here is the entire (well not really but everyone who was there) family.

The boys
Back row: Tio Solomon, Pato (Naty's bf), Edgardo (Carlos' nephew), Daniel (his other nephew) and his cousin Elias. Front row: Carlos, his dad Carlos and his brother Cesar.

The girls
Back Row: Daniella (cousin), Dani (sister-in-law), me and Nadia (sister). Middle Row: Marisol (aunt), Virginia (mom), Naty (sister). Front Row: Scarlett (cousin) and Yaritza (sister)

Soccer...the national obession,...I mean sport
We had a fun 6 on 6 game of soccer in the field. I was the only girl until about half way through. Women dont usually play sports here.

Just Hangin' out
Naty, Virginia and Marisol relaxing during the soccer game

Comments

[Robert Salazar]

Too Much!
That has to be the cooest thing I have ever seen Tori you are enjoying life to the max Continue your happiness and how do I get my hands on one of those grills. Tell your family I cook with charcol to and mine is big but also has a lid. I want to cook for you and Carlos when you come and visit I cannot wait!! Take care and be safe!

[Terry Litton]

Good Times!!
Looks like a great time! Good clean fun. Your new extended family looks like a great group. LOVE the picture of you and Carlos.