Family Meal Plan: Venezuelan Cheesy Pea and Corn Arepas + Garden Pea Guacamole + Citrus Story Time Spritzers

Venezuelan Cheesy Pea and Corn Arepas

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

• blend :

  to stir together two or more ingredients until just combined; blending is a gentler process than mixing.

• chop :

  to cut something into small, rough pieces using a blade.

• knead :

  to work dough by pushing, pulling, and folding it by hand or with a stand mixer.

• mash :

  to reduce food, like potatoes or bananas, to a soft, pulpy state by beating or pressure.

• peel :

  to remove the skin or rind from something using your hands or a metal tool.

• pour :

  to cause liquid, granules, or powder to stream from one container into another.

• slice :

  to cut into thin pieces using a sawing motion with your knife.

What are Arepas?

• The arepa is a flat, unleavened round of ground maize meal or maize flour, like a corn pancake, sweetened or unsweetened, that can be baked, boiled, fried, grilled, or steamed. 
• An arepa is a traditional South American dish, prepared and used much like bread. However, unlike most breads, arepas are made with corn instead of wheat. They play a significant role in the cuisine of many nations, especially Venezuela and Colombia, and are available in street stands and restaurants all over South America. Outside of South America, you can sometimes find arepas in communities with a large South American population. 
• The origins of arepas lie in pre-Columbian times, before Europeans arrived, in the region where Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama are now. Arepas have changed little since that time.
• Plain arepas are very common, but so are an assortment of filled and topped arepas. In Colombia, cooks often top their plain arepas with cheese or eggs. Venezuelan-style arepas, called "arepas rellenas," are stuffed with various fillings, such as meats, vegetables, eggs, and cheeses. 
• You can eat arepas at any time of the day. In some countries, nightclubbers typically feast on arepas after a long night of dancing.

Let's Learn About Venezuela!

• Venezuela's official name is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Caracas is the capital and largest city.
• Venezuela is on the coast of northern South America. It is the 33rd largest country in the world, with a total area of 353,841 square miles and a population of over 28 million people.
• The country's official language is Spanish, but many official indigenous languages and various regional dialects are spoken throughout the country.
• The climate in Venezuela is primarily tropical, with temperatures in some areas that can reach more than 100 degrees. However, a few parts of the country at higher elevations can get below freezing. There are two seasons: the summer or dry season, December to April, and the winter or wet season, May to November. 
• Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves and is a leading oil exporter. 
• Venezuela is home to Angel Falls, the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall at 3,212 feet tall and a popular tourist attraction.
• The world's largest rodent, the capybara, is found in Venezuela and other parts of northern and central South American countries. 
• Although football (soccer) is the most popular sport in South America, it comes second to baseball in Venezuela.
• Indigenous, European, and West African traditions influence Venezuelan cuisine. Food staples include corn, rice, plantains, yams, and beans. In addition to "arepas," other popular foods include the national dish, "pabellón criollo," consisting of rice, stewed shredded beef and black beans with fried plantain, and "hallaca," corn dough filled with meat or beans and other ingredients, similar to a tamale. It is traditionally served during the Christmas holidays.

What's It Like to Be a Kid in Venezuela?

• Schoolchildren in Venezuela can choose between attending classes in the morning or the afternoon throughout their entire school career. Older children can even choose to take classes from early afternoon until 6 pm.
• In Caracas, on Christmas Day, it is traditional to roller skate to mass with your family, as the streets are closed. Many Venezuelans attend church then eat a feast with their families to celebrate the holiday.
• Young kids like to play with traditional, colorful, wooden Venezuelan toys, like the "perinola," a cup-and-ball toy, the "trompo," a top with a string, and the "gurrufío," a button whirligig (or spinner or buzzer).  
• Typical sports Venezuelan kids may play include baseball, soccer, basketball, and rugby.
• A popular, sweet breakfast and snack food in the western state of Zulia is a "mandoca," a deep-fried cornmeal ring similar to a doughnut. For lunch or dinner, kids like to eat several "bollo pelónes," small, round balls of corn dough filled with beef or chicken stew, boiled, and served with a tomato-based sauce.