The day arrived with big hope and much enthusiasm, presidential elections in Venezuela. How can I forget my dear Venezuela? I had my three kids in Venezuela, my first job in Venezuela, and my first kiss in Venezuela. Even though I have lived there in three different times, each time I saw a vibrant city, happy people, magnificent nature, and wonderful weather all around.
Today I am making Venezuelan arepas. They are a round bread made of pre-cooked corn meal.
You can fill them with almost anything: cheeses, meats, fish, chicken, vegetables, sauces, creams.
The dough is usually made with water, though I sometimes make it with vegetables juices and add more nutritious things like toasted sesame seeds, oats, flaxseeds and spelt flour.
This is the pre-cooked white corn meal seen in all Venezuelan households.
These are my colorful arepas: for the yellow I added turmeric, for the blue, cabbage with baking soda, and for the red, beet.
For the orange I added carrot, the green, spinach, and the white I did with water and added the additional spelt flour, flaxseed, sesame seeds, and oatmeal.
There are particular things that I miss. The aroma of coffee every morning, the smell of freshly baked bread from the bakeries. Dawn with the view of the mountain El Avila, the friendly and joyful Venezuelan people, and of course, las areperas. They are everywhere and some are open 24 hours a day.
Arepas filled with carne mechada (shredded beef), avocado and chicken, black beans and cheese, and tomatoes with veggies.
This my version of “Reina Pepiada.” It is made with avocado, chicken and mayonnaise. This arepa was made with beet dough and garnished with micro purple radish.
In a very personal sense, I always remember the good times with families and friends in Venezuela. All those memories are linked through food:
Eating at the big table at my grandparents home, my grandfather David going to the market Sunday morning and coming back with huge boxes of fresh food ready to be shared with everyone.
Las cachapas at my abuela Theo’s, the welcoming big Sunday soup (hervidos) de mi tia Marisol, the pan de jamón, and the smell of hallacas on Christmas.
The gourmet dinners with written menus at my Dad’s and Orietta’s, having a fresh juice with my Tita.
Fresh fish (pargito frito) at the beach, tequeños at the piñatas, cachitos from the bakery.
Early Sundays buying flowers and having breakfast to catch up with my friend Maria Ines.
The Shabbat at Jacob’s mom’s.
The chicken brassery with yuca for lazy days.
The nanny, Luz Marina, helping me make scrumptious meals.
My mom’s super healthy meals, way before people used to even talk about organic.
My grandmother Dolores cooking for me special food because I didn’t like anything….And today I have my heart set on a peaceful, secure, and happy Venezuela to come…
All my love to Venezuela!
It’s great. I like color in my plate.
Gracias por el cumplido y por visitarme, un abrazo grande.
Amiga Lola en tu blog he descubierto un abanico de posibilidades para mi cocina, me encanta que seas Latína y además que cocines tan bien ….gracias por ofrecer lo mejor de tu experiencia. Desde España el Chef Gonin.
Lola es la mas creativa de mis amigas en la cocina!!! Esas arepas de colores wow!…y ademas super naturales. Perfecto para este momento de tanta alegria para los venezolanos porque por fin se ve la luz en EL CAMINO! Gracias Lolita por todas tus recetas pero esta en especial.
I’ve never seen arepas in such vibrant colors. I need to try this!This is a beautiful post…I enjoyed reading about your Venezuela memories. Made me feel like I had traveled there.
Whoaaaa!! I’ve never seen such colorful food (not dessert) before! I’m in awe, and I am so fascinated by this dish! I’m jealous of your international background! :)
Such beautiful breads! The colors are so vibrant and lovely…and free of any artificial dyes! Thanks for sharing your memories of Venezuela with us :)
Hi Anna, It was the other way around I was born in Spain, raised in Venezuela, studied in England and I live in USA. I feel like home is wherever I am living. xo
Stunning colors of your arepas! What a great story of memories too. I am inspired to make some myself. I love your filling combinations…and EVERYTHING! Now I am wondering how you got from Venezuela to Spain.
Hola Jackie, si tienes totalmente razón a mi me gusta mas la luz natural y es lo que usualmente hago.
Pero en este caso era importante tomar fotos en el proceso de cocinar y que las vieran en la sartén.
Un abrazo grande.
No hagas caso, Lola, cada quien usa la luz que mas le gusta, que costumbrita la mia de dar consejos no solicitados!
Hola Lola
El post es una belleza, un viaje en el túnel del tiempo, me hiciste recordar algunas cosas que ahora en mi cabeza son un blur.
Y es la primera vez que veo arepas de colores, no me imagino como saben, pero se ven bellisimas.
Por que usas luz aritificial? Te sugiero usar luz suave de una ventana, te van a quedar las fotos mucho mas lindas. Te lo prometo.
Saludos desde Montreal.
I love arepas! but what you have done here is just beautiful. above all i love the reine pepiada. great work!
So colorful and pretty! What a great idea. I love arepas.
Cheers,
Rosa
Espectaculares con esos colores. Y esa reina en esa bandeja de corona. Que ricas se ven todas. Pero lo mejor es tu amor por Venezuela y todos esos recuerdos bellos.
Yo me he quedado muy triste con los resultados del domingo, pero creo que lo bueno es que el país saldrá fortalecido y la oposición seguirá adelante con mucha más visbilidad.
Ahora voy a ver tus tortillas. Yo lo vi en una revista que no pude encontrar con el reguero postvacacional ;-) Pero seguro las tuyas están más ricas y las fotos espectaculares.
Un fuerte abrazo.
Vero
Hola!!!! Tu blog esta espectacular y este artículo ni se diga! Definitivamente tengo que probar algo de esto en casa.. una alternativa creativa para vegetarianos también! Gracias y éxitos, Saludos desde Caracas!
Hola! tu blog esta increíble en especial este artículo de las arepas! felicitaciones!!! de verdad que lo voy a intentar, una alternativa creativa para vegetarianos!! Saludos desde Caracas!
Dear Lola, It is so good to hear from you again.
These arepas look beautiful…I love how you got all those bright colors. I must try these soon.
Beautiful post my dear…I hope you have been well. Take care. Blessings to you, your friend, Catherine xo
mañana mismo desayuno arepas de colores! las arepitas are the best food in the world! besos y abrazos
mañana desayuno arepas de colores woohooo! Eres una gran venezolana! you makes las arepitas look better! besos y abrazos
wow! I love those lights Lola and those buns looks playful and good to eat. Who says we can’t play with food? hehe… Hope all is well and do stay in touch! xoxo, Jo
wow! I love those lights Lola and those buns looks playful and good to eat. Who says we can’t play with food? hehe… Hope all is well and do stay in touch! xoxo, Jo
Your arepas are beautiful! I love the colors. I want to try making these. The filling look lovely in them.
oh wow! I have never seen anything like this- I just love all the colors!