Revisiting the Past!

Revisiting the Past!

During my recent New York visit; Eric Schoen (my best friend) and I traveled to Governors’ Island (Fort Jay). What a wonderful experience! Maybe for a different reason for those riding their bicycles, or for the out of country tourist, or even the kids arriving with their parents from Manhattan to see the revolutionary re-enactment… I was coming back home. I was born on this Island June 2, 1960 at 1:30 PM. My name is Gabriel Ocasio-Dàvila, the son of USA, SSGT Gabriel Ocasio-Vazquez from the 205 EP Company and Maria Teresa Dàvila, and the brother of Wanda, Miriam, Vivian and Zonia. Yes, the Ocasio kids from Building 844, Apartment 2b on the corner of Absecom RD. and Gresham RD; the ones laughing at the play ground, the ones that studied at PS 26; students of Ms. Korn and Ms. Rebecca Rosenberg; the kids that would say good morning to Lady Liberty from the roller-skating rink and had breakfast looking at Manhattan from our Kitchen window; the kids that fell asleep looking at the red light on top of the Empire State Building hoping that it was Rudolph the red nose reindeer.

We, the kids that competed at the theater in the Halloween costume contest, or hunted for the golden eggs at Easter at the air field. The kids that would wait with Mom, lying down on the grass of the parade field counting the clouds while Dad was marching at the Pass and Review. We, the kids, the real World ambassadors making friends with other kids from around this big blue marble and sharing the play ground and other fun places on our island, while our fathers served our country! Thousand memories that constantly are projected in our minds:

• Playing in the air field in the snow; making forts and having snowball fights; laying in the snow making snow angels

• Watching the fireworks in the field on the 4th of July

• The year we were snowed in and they had to send snow plows from New York to dig us out; making paths from the       housing area to different parts of the island (schools, church, commissary, PX). We were like little rats in a labyrinth going from place to place for about a week!!!

• Getting ready for Easter Sunday service and parade before the egg hunt

• Puppet shows at the library

• The Hudson Bay freezing and watching the icebreaker ships cracking the ice so that the ferry could get through.

I remember leaving early in the morning with my mother and her best friend Carmen Mangrich (two Puerto Rican Divas conquering the Big Apple), taking the base bus, transferring to the South Ferry and arriving to lower Manhattan. “I believe I became a “foodie and a “frugalista” with Mom and Carmen.” We would first go for breakfast at Ratners on the lower east side (no longer there) and then to shop on Orchard Street! They were masters in the art of negotiating: mom shopping for five children and Carmen shopping for three. They turned the task of shopping into a very refined science. Later that morning we would stop at KATZ’s for the mandatory hot dog and then to Macy’s, Gimbles and Alexander’s. Always stopping at “Chock Full O’Nuts” for their pick me up coffee; UMMMM Travel, History, Food and bargains - I think there is something familiar going on here! I wonder???

Now back to the present; as Eric and I visit the old stomping ground many of the players have changed! Starbucks for “Chock Full of Nuts”; Katz’s is always faithful; Macys always standing strong; the hot dogs at Grays Papayas are better than ever; Gimbles and Alexander’s are only mentioned in movies and the countenance of Orchard Street is constantly changing.

New York will always be the Mecca of shopping, food, fashion and excitement. The sun feels different and the energy of thousands of immigrants that built this city with their hopes and dreams still permeates the air. The image of two Puerto Rican ladies and a young child is still alive and traveling the streets of lower Manhattan; shopping, eating and building on the history of this fabulous city!

1964 World Fair, Hotdog Recipe’s

My father would prepare for us these recipe’s on Saturday Movie nights

Rice Crispy Hotdog Recipe

Make thin cuts along the Hot dog cover it with catsup and roll it in Rice Krispies
Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until golden; about 20 minutes.

Rolled Bread Hotdog Recipe

Take a slice of bread, flatten it with a rolling pin, place a slice of cheese the hotdog, and roll tight.
Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until golden; about 20 minutes.

Spider Hotdog Recipe

Cut each Hot Dog in 5 pieces, with a sharp knife cut an ex at one end of the piece about ¾ deep.
Deep fry in hot oil until golden. You will see the Spiders form!

The Beginning of a foodie

The Beginning of a foodie:

When did I first realize that I was a foodie??? I believe I was three years old and I had just discovered the existence of a four layer white frosting coconut cake. Seriously, I was a very precocious child and from an early age I knew the meaning of decadent food and how to get my hands on it!

It all began at Governors Island a/k/a Fort Jay, or as known by the New York settlers, “Nut Island”. My Father was stationed at this Army base for a period of seven years. We were located in the middle of the Hudson River across from the tip of Manhattan and neighbors of Lady Liberty. It was a piece of paradise on earth! ….OK I digress…..Now back to the main story. Every Saturday morning my parents would go grocery shopping and I would stay at home with my four sisters (Wanda, Miriam, Vivian and Zonia). Being the baby, with my early expertise in the gastronomic world and a lot of manipulation on the part of my sisters I was able to establish that every Saturday was My Birthday and it would be celebrated with a four layer coconut cake with a red Maraschino cherry on top.

Dad and mom would set up the table and bring out the fabulous cake. I... would look surprised and my sisters would celebrate with cheers and applauses!!! “It was my Birthday…They would sing Happy Birthday, I would blow out the candles and we would enjoy a scrumptious slice of cake …LOL… and then all over again next Saturday. My parents are the best things on earth; they are our inspiration and the goal we all aspire to become every day.

Desserts have come and gone during my life but a four layer coconut cake will always be my favorite and will be the best memories an individual could have!

Help yourself to bake this cake on a Saturday (this it is the best coconut cake, by far, I have ever uncovered) and remember, don’t forget to sing Happy Birthday to me! (Remember, it’s Saturday once again)!

Don't ever hesitate to use this one to impress company, whether the boss, important clients, or the even the in-laws. It is a crowd pleaser, to say the least.

Ingredients:

Filling:

1 ¼ cups heavy cream
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 T coconut cream
1 T cornstarch
1 T milk
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup shredded coconut

Cake:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 T baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
¾ cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, softened
1 T vanilla extract
1 cup milk

Frosting:

White chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting: 9 cups

3 cups White chocolate morsels
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
3 - 8oz cream cheese, room temperature
7 ½ cups powdered sugar/pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped pecans (sprinkle between cake layers)

Set Chocolate in a double bowl with hot water until they melt.
Beat butter and cream cheese and chocolate at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended. Beat at high speed until smooth; stir in vanilla.

Syrup and Garnish:
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
¼ tsp vanilla extract
½ cup shredded coconut and one Maraschino cherry

Prepare the filling:

Place the heavy cream, sugar, and coconut cream in a heavy saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
Stir the cornstarch and the milk together in a small bowl until there are no lumps.
Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the simmering cream until it's smooth; cook, stirring, for 3 minutes longer.
Add the butter and shredded coconut and continue cooking, stirring, for 3 more minutes.
Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until thickened, about 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease three 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with waxed paper.
Grease the paper and then flour the pans lightly, tapping out any excess.

Prepare the cake:

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Reserve.
Place the sugar and eggs in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 1 minute.
Gradually add the butter, vanilla, and milk and continue beating for 2 minutes.
Add the reserved dry ingredients and beat for 1 minute.
Scrape the batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool the cakes in the pans on a rack for 20 minutes. Un-mold the cakes, carefully peeling off the waxed paper and allow them to cool completely on the rack.

Prepare the syrup:

Place the sugar, water and vanilla in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
Boil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally
Remove from heat and brush the top of each cake layer with the syrup using a pastry brush. (You don’t have to use all the syrup).

Assemble the cake:

Place one cake layer on a serving platter.
Spread it with half of the reserved filling and top with another layer of cake.
Spread the cake with the remaining filling and top with the last cake layer. Ice the top and sides of the cake with the icing and then sprinkle the top with ½ cup shredded coconut.

As I said earlier, punch holes in the cake when it's still warm so the icing cane seep into the interior. It's not necessary to do this for an incredible coconut cake, but it does add sweetness and moistness to the cake part itself. Try it both ways. You can't go wrong. If you need help eating it all, just ship the leftovers to us. We'll pay the postage.



Gabo



Puerto Rico

My First Official Blog

It's funny because today the buzz word among your friends is "Blog" this, "Blog" that or Blog the other…

Placing your thought on cyberspace so the world can learn about your inner most thoughts; the way you feel, the way you think or the way you relate to others. Cyberspace it is just a blank canvas absorbing your inner most feelings, exposing them to the critics of the world either to relate to or to judge. The items your family and closest friends are tired of hearing about, and now... You have expanded your horizons and you are able to broadcast them to the world and beyond! Not only you can bore your family and friends… but now the universe is yours. I promise I will not bore you!

After a sincere talk with my inner self and many hours of thinking, I have came up with of list of things that interest me and that entertain my existence; they are as follows: travel, history, food and a good bargain! I hope to be able to combine all four of these elements and share them with my foodie friends around the World. The title of my blog ,"Trotamundo Epicurioso" is Spanish for "Epicurious Globetrotter" and that is who I am; going around the world expanding my history knowledge, transforming those stories I read from my classroom books, seeing them become reality before my own eyes, enjoying the nectar and food of the Gods everywhere I go and obviously keeping things under budget.

I would like to share my thoughts, the food, recipes, my pictures and my adventures with my friends and the foodies around the world.

I hope the Universe enjoys my thoughts!

Gabo
Puerto Rico