Have you ever wondered what some traditional food recipes were throughout the holidays? Some foods range between different cultures and family backgrounds, but they all connect back to the holidays.

According to Mrs. Paula Prado, mother of three,  “In my family, during the holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, we like to celebrate by making some tamales. Tamales are made from corn leaves, corn flour, different meats, or even corn. They are normally steamed until cooked and ready to serve. It’s a long process, so I like to begin preparing in the morning and finishing in the afternoon.”

Some other popular recipes throughout the holidays, such as Thanksgiving, would be the turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, a ham with pineapple, green beans, pumpkin pie, and corn on the cob.

“Christmas in a Hispanic household would normally have menudo, sweet bread, Abuelita hot chocolate, or pozole. Menudo is made from the pork’s stomach and it is combined with a broth to make a traditional soup. Pozole is made from hominy, with either pork or chicken, and it is topped off with lettuce, radishes, and salsa. I enjoy the wide variety of food options we have, and I believe it is what makes the holidays memorable,” Mrs. Andrea Ortiz, mother of three, mentioned.

Here is a quick recipe and link for pozole by Makinze Gore, associate food editor for delish.com

1. Season pork with salt and pepper. In a large pot over medium heat, add pork, onion, garlic, cloves, cumin seeds, bay leaf, and broth. Add enough water to cover pork by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Let simmer 1 ½ hours, skimming foam off top as necessary.
2. Place dried chiles into a medium bowl and pour 2 cups boiling water over. Let soak 30 minutes. Place chiles and about ½ cup of their soaking liquid into a blender. Blend until smooth, adding more water as necessary.
3. Add chile puree and hominy to the pot with the pork. Continue to simmer, covered, until pork is very tender, 1 hour and 30 minutes more.
4. Serve pozole with radishes, cabbage, and cilantro.

Each different holiday will have its own special recipes depending on the family, but food will continue to bring people together from anywhere in the world.