Noche Muy Buena

I feel like I've been preparing for this day my entire life. My family in Guayaquil, Ecuador really knows how to do Cristmas right. This Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) has been the most food filled day I've had in a looooong time. Breakfast. Lunch. Second lunch. And a midnight feast to put all others to shame! My grandma in L.A. has spent years training me with large plates of Ecuadorian food, always teasing "Look, your cousin's almost done. Don't let them win! Eat!" This years Christmas spread included turkey; rice with corn and bell peppers; an Ecuadorian style stuffing of chicken meat, bread, olives, raisins, onion, hard-cooked egg; potatoes au gratin; and whiskey. And that was only the half of it! I may be out of commission for a few days...