5 de Julio de 1811: Venezuelan Declaration of Independance

As Americans finish celebrating the 4th of July, Venezuelans around the world celebrate the 5th of July. Why? Because it is the day that Venezuela made the  Declaration of Independence. For those Venezuelans living outside the country, it is a reminder of what is going on inside the motherland as we speak or should I say write this post. Since Chavez gained power Venezuelan history has been edited to eliminate what he calls "The Fourth Republic." What does this means? It means that the Simon Bolivar he revered and the dictators since then made it but those who were democratically elected presidents were cut from the textbooks and forgotten in the classrooms of the educational institutions. How are the Venezuelans not to repeat their mistakes when history is being forgotten?
Since Simon Bolivar has not disappointed Chavez yet, we will concentrated on what happened on that important date. Before I can tell you about the fifth, I must take you to what happened on the 19th of April of 1810. On this date a group of citizens who were loyal to king Fernando VII organized an autonomous movement on behalf of Caracas. Once Caracas joined the movement, it was a matter of time that the separation from Spain was imminent. As a result, on March 2,1811, the first Venezuelan Congress was installed in Caracas. This congress represented the following congresses: Caracas, Cumaná, Barinas, Margarita, Mérida, Barcelona y Trujillo.These seven provinces formed what was called " American Confederation of Venezuela in the Meridional Continent." These provinces became the seven stars in the Venezuelan flag.
 What about the eighth star? That was added by Chavez who by reading Bolivar's writing discover that in 1819, Simón Bolivar wanted to add the eighth star for the still disputed territory of Guayana. Is Guayana part of Venezuela? No, Venezuela is disputing any territory east of the Essequibo River. (dispute meetings continue to occur to settle it in a peaceful and cordial manner). It is important to note that the following provinces were excluded because at the time they were still dominated by the Spaniards: Coro, Maracaibo and Guayana.

A provisional president was elected for the Congress created on March 2, 1811. In addition, the members swored to  protect the rights and those of the king Fernando VII  and reject on behalf of the church any influences from the French Revolution in the process of the Venezuelan Independence.Next, the Co-federation of the political constitution which would take place in the Congress and dominate most of the XIX Century.

Last, the declaration of absolute  independence from Spain and any other European countries.

As more sessions of Congress occurred, the idea of independence began to take root. At one time, Simon Bolivar stated loudly his famous question:  "¿Trescientos años de calma, no bastan?" "300 years of Calm, aren't they enough?.

On the morning of July 5th the Congress continued to debate  until the vote was concluded that afternoon at three PM the president of the congress Juan Antonio Rodriguez Dominguez announced the absolute Independence of Venezuela. According to some witnesses at the time, it is said that there were spontaneous manifestation of great joy and celebration. Although the original document with the 41 signatures has not been found, its original writing of the Act can be seen in the reproduction of the local publication of that month called "El Publicista de Venezuela y la Gaceta de Caracas" dated July 16, 1810.

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First Spanish Newspaper

In September 15, 2008, Newseum had an article about the First Spanish-Language Newspaper Founded 200 Years Ago.  Acording to the author of the article, this paper was issued for the first time on September 15 in New Orleans 200 years ago. The name of the newspaper is El Misisipí.
 It was published for those who were exile because Napoleón had conquered Spain. According to this article, the newspaper was not very long and reported news from Spain. It was printed in both languages: English and Spanish and lasted only two years. El Misisipí was only the beginingof what is today a thriving Latino presence in the United States.

 The following are just a few links to Spanish papers in the USA(I'll add more links as I write other posts about Latin Culture everywhere.):
http://www.azteca21.com/n/
http://www.cnylatino.com/
http://www.diariolasamericas.com/
http://www.elsolnews.com/
http://online.wsj.com/public/page/espanol-inicio.html

Most newspapers in the USA began because the locan Spanish Speaking community wanted to expose the injustices that existed and still exist in their communities and place of work. Some of the older newspapers include El Habanero ( www.elhabanero.cubaweb.cu). El Habanero was first published in 1824 and advocated Cuban independence from Spain. In 1855, El Clamor Público (http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/assetserver/controller/view/ECLAM-1856-01-05~3 ) exposed the violence  against Latinos after the United States conquered the Northwest part of Mexico. In 1892 in New York , La Patria started  to promote Cuban and Puerto Rican independence from Spain. La Prensa debuted in New York City nearly a century ago to serve the growing immigrant population. Now called El Diarió La Prensa (http://www.impre.com/eldiariony/home.php), it is the nation’s oldest Spanish-language newspaper. In 1926 La Opinión (http://www.laopinion.com) was launched for the first time.

Cinco de Mayo

Every year I get asked how the "Cinco de Mayo" is celebrated by the Mexican comunity. In the US this holiday is seen as Mexican Independence day.
Let's make it clear, Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810.  And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.

History Begins...  The battle at puebla in 1862 happened at a violent time in Mexico. Mexico had finally gained its independence from Spain in 1821. In addition, Mexico went through many internal political takeovers and wars such as the American war between 1846-1848 and later the Mexican Civil war of 1858, The national economy was in ruins! During this period of struggle Mexico had accumulated heavy debts to Spain, England and France. They were all asking for repayment. The Us had been paid after the Mexican- American war and France took over the territories once owned by Spain and england. The result was Archduke Maximilian of Austria now ruler of Mexico and backed by Napoleon III. The US was involved in its own Civil War and could not assist Mexico's cause against the invasion. The French army continue to march toward Mexico City until it encountered the strong resistance of the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe near Puebla. Lead by the General zaragoza an army militia of 4500 men and the townspeople were able to stop the invasion. This short lived victory is the celebrated holiday of the Cinco de Mayo. Unfortunately, the victory of the General Zaragoza and his militia was short lived. Napoleon III sent to Mexico a troop of more than 30,000 men who eventually were able to depose the Mexican army, take over Mexico City and install Maximilian as the ruler of Mexico. Maximilian's rule only lasted between 1864 to 1867. The US began to assist mexico to expel the French after the Civil War was over. Maximilian was executed and his shirt full of bullet holes is kept in a museum in Mexico City. A Cinco de Mayo celebration in Puebla and some regions in Mexico include dancing, music, and reenactments of the battle. In many parts of the U.S. where there is a large Mexican or Mexican-American community, you will often find Cinco de Mayo celebrations with food, parades, dances, music and activities for school children.

Vocabulario para celebrar los bailarines dancers la batalla battle el ejército army los franceses French los músicos musicians la reconstrucción reenactment

How to make spanish rice

There many ways to prepare food. The same is true for rice. I have eaten many times Mexican rice which has been prepared in different ways.In this post, I'll attempt to give you some of the ways ways I've seen it made. I will let you decide which one is the one you like best.

Ingredientes para Arroz Mexicano:

Dos tazas de arroz largo en vez del corto
Cuatro tazas de caldo de pollo o agua
1 diente de ajo grande o 1 1/2 dientes
medianos
1/4 de cebolla mediana o la mitad de una pequeña
Cuatro o cinco cucharadas soperas de tomate triturado crudo fresco o enlatado
1 cubito de caldo de pollo
Aceite de oliva
Un puñado de guisantes frescos o congelados
Sal al gusto

1. Se mezcla bien y se deja sofreír durante unos minutos.

2. Cuando el arroz está listo y el tomate ha tomado el color que nos indica que está frito, se añade las cuatro tazas de caldo de pollo, los guisantes y la sal al gusto. Se mezcla un par de veces y lo dejamos a fuego medio.

Cuando vemos que el caldo está casi evaporado, se apaga el fuego y se tapa la cacerola para que termine de cocerse por unos diez o quince minutos o hasta que este listo. El resultado debe de ser un arroz suelto.

The same recipe in English for those of you who are not fluent in Spanish.

Ingredients for the Mexican Rice

2 cups of long grain rice
4 cups of chicken broth or water
1 large clove of garlic or 1 1/2 medium size cloves
1/4 medium onion or 1/2 small onion
4 or 5 tablespoon of crushed fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes
1 chicken bouillon
Olive oil
A handful of fresh peas or frozen peas
Salt to taste

1. Mix all ingredients well and let them sauté for a few minutes

2. When the rice is done and the tomatoes have the color of fried tomatoes, add the four cups of chicken broth, the handful of peas and salt to taste. Stir a couple of times and let cook on medium fire.

3. When the broth has been evaporated, turn the stove off and cover the pan to allow the rice to cook for approximately ten to fifteen minutes or until the rice is cooked. As a result, you should have a rice that is fluffy and loose.

I'll be back with other recipes for the Mexican Rice in future posts. In the meantime have fun trying new foods.

Pan de Jamón

There are as many variations of Jam Bread as there are Venezuelans in the world. In 1997, I visited my friend Manuel who runs a Bakery. After catching up, I requested the recipe of his Jam Bread. Manuel smile from ear to ear and asked me to come back the next day. I could not sleep with excitement just thinking about how many years I have been practicing with American ingredients!! Now, I would finally have the recipe that started my bread making fever. As usual the bakery was filled with people wanting to buy the freshly made bread at 6 PM. I bought some too to transport me to my teen years. All of the sudden, I heard my name being called from the other side of the bakery and there was Manuel. My heart sounded like the drums play by the drummers from Barlovento until I realized that what Manuel was handing me was two loaves of Pan Jamón made specially for me in the month of June. At first, I thought that he wanted to wait to hand me the recipe and make me promise that I would not tell anyone. Soon, I realized that there were no papers with the explanation on how to make the bread I was about to eat. In spite of my sadness, I was feeling special for having my friend tell everyone in his bakery that I could get anything I wanted on the house because I was his friend!! Manuel sat with me at a table and provided me with a plate filled with all my favorites while I was a student at the local High School. After 20 years, my friend Manuel remembered what I like to eat everyday for at least 6 years.
I enjoyed the Ham Bread he gave me like someone who eats a fine piece of chocolate or drink a wonderful glass of wine or beer. I savor each morsel in an attempt to separate the taste of each ingredient and recollect each flavor and smell. As soon as I arrived home, I began my bread making fever to find the closest Ham Bread to Manuel's. At the end, it was my quest since everyone I gave loaves of Ham Bread felt fortunate to receive one from me and remembered it for a long time. I realized then that I had done for them what Manuel had done for me!!!
As 2010 Christmas approaches, my friends remind me that it is time for the wonderful bread I continue to share with them. As for Manuel's Ham Bread? It will exist in the memory of those who have had the chance to taste it and share it with their friends and families. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

PAN DE JAMÓN Ham Bread
(3 panes, 24 a 30 porciones en total) (3 loaves, 24 to 30 portions)

INGREDIENTES (INGREDIENTS)

1 cucharada de levadura (1 Tbsp of yeast)
1/2 taza de agua tibia (1/2 Cup of warm water)
1 cucharadita de azúcar (1tsp of sugar)
11/2 taza de leche a la temperatura ambiente (1 1/2 cup of milk at room temp.)
1 kilo de harina (1 kg of flour)
5 cucharadas, 75 gramos, de manteca vegetal (5 Tbsp of vegetable shortening)
6 cucharadas, 90 gramos, de mantequilla (6 Tbsp of butter)
1 3/4 cucharadita de sal (1 3/4 tsp of salt)
6 cucharadas, 100 gramos, de azúcar (6 Tbsp of sugar)
3 huevos (3 eggs)
1 kilo de jamón cocido, molido grueso o picadito (1 KG of ham shopped or sliced)
3/4 de taza de pasas (3/4 cup of raisins)
la pulpa picadita de 30 aceitunas medíanas (chopped 30 olives into small pieces)
1 cucharada de mantequilla (1 Tbsp of butter)
2 amarillos de huevo (2 egg yolks)
2 cucharadas de agua (2 tsp of water)
1/8 de cucharadita de sal (1/8 tsp of salt)

PREPARATION

1.In a small bowl place the yeast, warm water and the sugar. Mix it and cover with a clean kitchen towel to let it rest around 20 minutes.

2 In a bigger bowl place the milk and the yeast mixture. Sieve 1/2 kg of flour and mix well. Let it rest and cover with a towel for approximately 4 hours.

3. In the same bowl add the rest of the flour, mixing constantly, if dried add 2 Tbsp of cold milk. Cover and let it rest in the fridge for 6 to 8 hours or until the next day.

4. Take the dough out of the fridge and on a table begin to add the shortening, butter, salt, sugar and the eggs one by one. Mix well while lifting and dropping the dough until the dough detaches from the table and the hands. This would take approximately 100 times.

5. Dive the dough into three equal parts.

6. Extend the dough on the surface covered with flour until the rectangle is 1/2 to 1 centimeter thick.

7. Add the ham, raisins and olives until the ingredients cover the dough 2 to 3 centimeter from the edge.

8. Roll the dough and close the ends as if you were making a jelly roll. Remember to grease the cookie sheet with butter. Place each bread on a cookie sheet if you do not have a stone. Cover with a towel and let rest for 2 hours approximately.

9. In the meantime heat the oven to 400 degrees.

10. Place the cookie sheet in the oven for 15 minutes then take it out and with a brush apply the yolk mixture(2 yolks + 2 Tbsp of water+ 1/8 tsp of salt). Continue baking for 5 minutes until it is golden on top.Take it out of the oven and let cool down before cutting and sharing with friends and family.

Las Elecciones del 26 de Septiembre del 201o en Venezuela

Vamos a votar y prevenir el fraude virtual como paso anteriormente!

A movie to practice your Spanish- La Voz del Corazón

This movie is about the illegal deforestation of the Venezuelan jungles. In order to stop them, a man infiltrates the operation by gaining employment. Watch a find out if you can pick some of the language used.

Please note that this movie is not for minors since there is Language, some violence, suggestive vocabulary and scenes.