Chile Forum

cazzy123 wrote:Anyone know of a Thanksgiving gathering happening in Santiago on Thursday? One that's public or open to new ex-pats in town?

Yes, the California Cantina http://www.californiacantina.net/ is doing an all day bash I guess, if leaving after dark take a cab, Providencia is getting dangerous..

We have to delay our T-day this year because a close family member has been in the hospital so we have been more or less living there, and will until the end of the week. But since our new kitchen is done, I´m really excited to make it. However, Thanksgiving just isn´t Thanksgiving without Brussels Sprouts. Has anyone seen them anywhere? I had intended to scout La Vega this week before the hospital stuff happened but haven´t gotten to. Also I plan to make Walnut Pie in lieu of pecans. I actually find it comes out better here using chancaca instead of brown sugar (and no corn syrup!!), and the walnut flavor is very pleasant and just as Thanksgivingy as pecan. Will have to try the onion recipe too!

Here´s my walnut pie recipe from my blog:

Bourbon Walnut Tart
1 pie crust (Have tried a couple of store-bought ones here in Chile and they are not worth it. Better to make it homemade here. Use Pillsbury in the US to cheat.)
1.5 c chopped walnuts
1.5 c brown sugar or grated chancaca or muscovado sugar
0.5 c softened butter
2 eggs
2 T bourbon
2 T whipping cream
1 T very good vanilla (don't bother if you only have imitation) (Real vanilla is on sale for cheap at Lider right now)
1 T flour
0.5 t salt--only if the nuts you use are unsalted

Spread the walnuts of the bottom of the crust which has been installed into a tart or pie pan. Throughly blend the remaining ingredients and pour over the nuts, moving them around a bit to make sure there aren't any air bubbles. Bake at 350 F/170 C for 35-60 minutes (really depends on the oven and ingredients) or until the tart doesn't jiggle anymore when you move it. Let it cool and enjoy with unsweetened whipped cream.

cazzy123 wrote: if leaving after dark take a cab, Providencia is getting dangerous..

question, wondering why you say that? bad experiance, or just bad feeling?

No he is being very Chilean and incorporating the ubiquitous "Cuidete" warning constantly given by the Chileans we know.

Actually, the parabolic seeming increase in crime violent and non-violent in and around Santiago RM over the past three years is unsettling. Glad I moved.

LOL, EEUU, my Chilean mother in law can't help herself and she's lived out of Chile for nearly 40 years. She does the wide eyes darting side to side thing when "passing the message" (in a hushed whisper, of course) to be careful. Cracks me up every time!

While I got quoted in the message, it wasn't me who said that about Providencia.

I've heard only good things about the safety of Providencia.

haha, sorry crazy123, my bad, i think i hit reply to your message then quoted mikieos message!!!!

so it is just the over cautious chilean warnings, must say i probably spend too much time, very early in the morning, rather than very late at night walking home in providencia by my self!!!,

i think i have a false sense of security as i cant read the spanish news to see how bad or good this city is

allegro wrote:We have to delay our T-day this year because a close family member has been in the hospital so we have been more or less living there, and will until the end of the week. But since our new kitchen is done, I´m really excited to make it. However, Thanksgiving just isn´t Thanksgiving without Brussels Sprouts. Has anyone seen them anywhere? I had intended to scout La Vega this week before the hospital stuff happened but haven´t gotten to. Also I plan to make Walnut Pie in lieu of pecans. I actually find it comes out better here using chancaca instead of brown sugar (and no corn syrup!!), and the walnut flavor is very pleasant and just as Thanksgivingy as pecan. Will have to try the onion recipe too!

Here´s my walnut pie recipe from my blog:

Bourbon Walnut Tart
1 pie crust (Have tried a couple of store-bought ones here in Chile and they are not worth it. Better to make it homemade here. Use Pillsbury in the US to cheat.)
1.5 c chopped walnuts
1.5 c brown sugar or grated chancaca or muscovado sugar
0.5 c softened butter
2 eggs
2 T bourbon
2 T whipping cream
1 T very good vanilla (don't bother if you only have imitation) (Real vanilla is on sale for cheap at Lider right now)
1 T flour
0.5 t salt--only if the nuts you use are unsalted

Spread the walnuts of the bottom of the crust which has been installed into a tart or pie pan. Throughly blend the remaining ingredients and pour over the nuts, moving them around a bit to make sure there aren't any air bubbles. Bake at 350 F/170 C for 35-60 minutes (really depends on the oven and ingredients) or until the tart doesn't jiggle anymore when you move it. Let it cool and enjoy with unsweetened whipped cream.

Sounds delicious-and I appreciate the adjustments made. Chancaca is great for cooking and baking. I'll do a practice run and then use it for Christmas dinner, which is a big deal here.

allegro wrote:However, Thanksgiving just isn´t Thanksgiving without Brussels Sprouts. Has anyone seen them anywhere?

Well, you can normally get brussel sprouts at many places. I´ve bought them at the supermarket, the vega, and even at the local feria a couple streets over. But, I hate to say that here in Chile, as far as from what I´ve seen, they are very seasonal. And if I´m not mistaken, brussel sprouts aren´t in season this time of year...I´m thinking maybe end of summer, beginning of fall, on through the cooler months. Not sure though. So, even though I buy them almost every time I see them, I haven´t seen them in at least 3 months. Sorry! I go to the feria tomorrow, so I´m going to look to see if they are any.

Reading this thread and thinking of all of you expats from the US that are part of ALLCHILE. I flew stateside just last week to spend T-Day and Xmas with family here (kids/grandkids) as I did last year as well. But next year I want to stay in Chile for T-Day at least. It would be such fun to host a big T-Day dinner and invite all of you!! So perhaps with enough advance planning...it can happen?!
I love all of your ideas/input. The pie recipe sounds divine, will try and bake one here as well...along with the pumpkin and pecan pies that I always make. BTW...we got a whole turkey here (in Maine) for .40 a pound (so we got a small 12 pounder for $5)!! Increible! As I recall the last time my hubby (who stayed behind in Chile) and I bought turkey in the supermercado it was something like $7 a pound. Why so expensive down there? Any ideas?

Anyway I hope each of you has a WONDERFUL, delicious and relaxing Thankgiving day and dinner. I am thankful for all of you and the ALLCHILE site...just wanted to express that.

Why turkeys are so expensive here is a question that I would like to know the answer to.

I wanted to get a fresh turkey this year, but the guy that I checked with didn't have any available. He is going to have some available around Dec 20 he said. I will try to get one for Christmas dinner. So I got a frozen turkey on Tuesday for this Thanksgiving. I got the turkey at the Arzitia outlet. 2004 clp per kg.

Since we haven't been able to find any canned pumpkin since the time I found two cans of it in Jumbo way back when, we have had French Silk pie instead. Which was a big hit with everyone.

if leaving after dark take a cab, Providencia is getting dangerous..



question, wondering why you say that? bad experiance, or just bad feeling?

Bad experience, I had a near miss with a bunch of flaites last week, they need to get a grip on the teens who hang out in the parks.