This post is brought to you in collaboration with JCPenney.
As a multicultural family growing up in Southern California, I find myself sharing my culture with my kids through food and stories of growing up as a Puerto Rican girl in Los Angeles. We talk about how my grandmother owned a restaurant where my father worked and perfected his skills in the kitchen. I share stories of Christmases filled with Puerto Rican fruit cake (one of my dad’s favorite desserts to make) and day-long pasteles-making adventures. While culture is worked in daily, it’s often during the holidays that I find myself nostalgic, longing to impart some of what makes us Puerto Rican to my kids.
From September 15th through October 15th, Latino cultures throughout the country celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, this 30-day time period celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans from all over the world. During this period of time, many Latin American countries celebrate their day of independence, and Columbus Day also falls within Hispanic Heritage Month.
As a Puerto Rican family living more than 3,000 miles from our ancestors, it is the stories, traditions, and food that I share with my kids to ensure our culture continues to live on through them. While the island, located in the Caribbean, is a U.S. territory, we have our own history, language, traditions, and culture (including food!) that distinguish us as Latinos. Within the country, it isn’t uncommon to celebrate through music, art, food, and remembering those notable people in Puerto Rican history.
I always find that sharing my culture with my kids through food comes easily and naturally. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing healthy meals, and very often I’ll invite my kids to measure and mix as we talk about the dish I’m preparing.
Today’s recipe is a simple Tembleque and in Spanish, the translation literally means to wiggle or tremble, referring to the dessert’s gel-like texture. This creamy coconut pudding is made with coconut milk, cornstarch and spices and widely popular among Puerto Ricans. What I love about this dish is that it is easy to prepare the results are mouthwatering. My kids love the wiggly texture and sweet, creamy flavor. Top this Tembleque with ground cinnamon, shaved chocolate, nuts, or dried fruit. You can also make a Pumpkin Tembleque by adding in 1 cup canned pumpkin and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin spice.
- 2 cans coconut milk
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 vanilla bean
- Garnish with cinnamon sticks and ground cinnamon
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In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine coconut milk, salt and sugar, stirring until the sugar is dissolved
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Whisk 1 cup of warm coconut milk with cornstarch
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Add coconut milk back into the saucepan and cook until thickened,approximately 5 minutes
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Stir in vanilla bean
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Pour into molds and cool
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Chill for 4 hours to set
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Garnish with ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks
After picking up my recipe ingredients, I headed over to my local JCPenney store in search of some festive molds and decor to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. You can use any mold for your Tembleque, but I prefer fluted molds to give your dessert that sophisticated look it deserves. I then plated my Tembleque on Wood Canape Plates, served the dish on beautiful linen, and accented the display with the colors of Fall.
How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Do you have a special dish you like to prepare or a favorite tradition? I’d love to hear about it. And if you want to see how Hispanic Heritage Month is being celebrated by Latinos, be sure to follow #HazValerTusPenneys, #SoWorthIt, and #HispanicHeritageMonth online.
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Never heard of this. Really interested to see how this taste.
I’ve never heard of this dish, but it sounds and looks incredible! I love introducing my kids to ethnic foods, so this is absolutely going on my to-do list. Thanks for the recipe!
Yum this sounds delicious and I bet smells really good too! Traditions are so fun to pass down to our children, good job mama.
xo, Nicole
Yumm! Thanks for sharing this recipe..I grew up eating this and loved it more than Flan..I too share my Puerto Rican heritage with our children through food, music and lots of stories 🙂
Wow, have never heard of this type of dessert before! I learned something new today.
never had the opportunity to try this tembleque before but oh wow it does sound yummy
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That looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve always wanted to try making something like this–I had no idea what it was called though!
I remember having tembleque for the first time in Fajardo PR. It was sold out of the front of an old man’s house. I was on vacation with my best friend’s family and loved every minute of it.
wow , this looks and sound amazing! I will need to try this recipe
This looks unique and delicious!
This looks yummy. You kids are lucky to have someone who teaches them about their history. It really does shape our perception of the world and the fights of those before us, really give us a lot to be thankful for, especially as women of color.
It looks a lot like panacotta but prepared differently! I love that you’re sharing your culture through food, that’s the best way for kids to learn their traditions and their heritage. This is a lovely recipe!
I love your intro to the recipe, and it looks delicious as well!
xx nicole
http://www.nicoleparise.com
I have no idea what this is as it’s the first time reading about the dish, but based on the ingredients it sounds delicious.
MMMM I have got to give this a try!
I think it’s wonderful that you share your heritage. Holidays make me nostalgic and longing for my family traditions too.
hmmm never had this before. Sounds good!
I really enjoyed reading your post. I thought your post was beautifully written. Thank you very much.