No Result
View All Result
Tampa Magazine
  • Tampa Culture
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Garden
  • Travel
  • Moving Tampa
  • Sporting
  • Health
  • Tampa Confidential
  • ADVERTISE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ABOUT
  • PURCHASE A COPY
  • DIGITAL ISSUES
  • EMAIL NEWSLETTERS
  • CONTACT US
  • SHOP
  • MY ACCOUNT
    • Your Membership
    • Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Login / Logout
Tampa Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Tampa Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Noche Buena

One Tampa family's Christmas Eve tradition goes back 45 years

by Marcy Sanford
September 19, 2018
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

You need sour oranges to make mojo pork, one of the dishes traditionally served in many Hispanic households on Christmas Eve. The Chiaramonte-Suarez family needs more than 100 pieces of the bitter fruit to carry on a tradition that started back in the 1970s.

“When I was a little girl, all the females in the family would gather at my grandmother, and then my aunt’s, house the day before Christmas Eve to begin making mojo pork,” says Westchase resident Debbie Chiaramonte, who now continues the family tradition at her own home. “My Tia Dinora had  sour orange trees at her house in Riverside Heights, and we would pick oranges from her trees and use the juice to make the mojo.”

Nora works to get the sour oranges off the tree for the mojo pork (PHOTO: Chiaramonte-Suarez Family)

In the ‘90s, Chiaramonte planted some seeds from those original trees. Although her family moved out of the house many years ago, the homeowners who have lived there since have allowed the Chiaramontes to come back each December to pick oranges. Unfortunately, Chiaramonte says that due to citrus greening, the trees do not produce as much fruit anymore. That has since led to a new family tradition.

“Everyone in the family begins the hunt for sour oranges in early December,” she says. “We’ve driven through neighborhoods looking for trees and met a lot of nice people, and we visit every Spanish grocery store we can find.”

On December 23 the family gets together to juice the oranges and prepare the mojo pork for the next day’s feast — with a 21st-century twist.

“My tia used to squeeze all the oranges by hand,” says Chiaramonte. “But we broke down and bought a nice juicer.”

On Christmas Eve, Chiaramonte, her mother and her four brothers’ families gather to enjoy the mojo pork served alongside white rice, black beans, bonitas, Spanish candies and natillas. Chiaramonte foresees the tradition lasting for generations to come; she even saved seeds from last year’s oranges to ensure it does.

Four generations of the Chiaramonte-Suarez family are keeping tradition alive, including Debbie Chiaramonte (left), her mother, Carolina Suarez (center), her daughter, Marissa Wilkins (far right), and Marissa’s kids, Cameron Chiaramonte (far left) and Nora Wilkins (second from right right)

Mojo Pork

Part one:

1 pound black beans (scan for and remove small rocks or leaves)
1 bay leaf
1/2 green pepper
Water

Sort and rinse the beans, and place in a large pot with the bay leaf and green pepper. Add water, 1 cup at a time, until 2 inches above the beans. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to a rolling simmer. Continue to simmer, stirring often to prevent sticking. Add water sparingly (only 1/2 – 1 cup at a time) to keep beans loose. Simmer 2 – 3 hours or until beans are tender.

Part two:

1 large Spanish onion, chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tsp. oregano
Olive oil

In a separate pan, sauté onion, garlic and olive oil. Do not burn garlic. When onions are soft, add oregano. Pour the onion mixture into the simmering beans. Stir and continue to low simmer, uncovered for 1-1 1/2 hours. Look for a film to cover the top of the pot; this means they are done.

Part three:

2 tbsp. white vinegar
Salt
Add white vinegar and salt to taste.
5 lb. Boston butt
1/4 cup dried oregano
Salt
Pepper
About 50 sour oranges, enough for 1/2 gallon of juice
1/3 – 1/4 cup chopped, bottled garlic

Juice the oranges. Salt and pepper the butt. Using a knife, poke holes all over the butt. Stuff garlic into holes. Put into large roaster pan. Sprinkle oregano liberally over the meat. Fill pan so that 1/2 – 3/4 of the pork is covered with sour orange juice. Do not completely cover pork. Refrigerate overnight. The next morning, preheat oven to 290 degrees. Cook for at least 4 hours. May need to increase heat to 300 degrees and cook longer as needed. When meat separates easily with a fork, it is done. Let sit for 30 minutes. Shred it while still hot, adding a little sauce in. Save the rest of the sauce to use as gravy.

Tags: christmas eveHispanic traditionsmojo pork recipetraditions
Next Post
A Beautiful Fall Table Setting

A Beautiful Fall Table Setting

INSTAGRAM

tampadowntown

TAMPA Downtown Magazine
Keep your car looking like new, longer with T-Fat’s Autospa. Specializing in high end detailing, paint correction, paint protection, ceramic coating, mobile detailing and more @tfatsautospa 
-
-
-
-
-
-
#tampa #tampamagazine #southtampa #downtowntampa #tfatsautospa #tampaautosports
Taking sign ups now for Tampa’s Best Burger cont Taking sign ups now for Tampa’s Best Burger contest 🍔 Think your restaurant’s burger has what it takes to take home the title? Email info@tampamagazines.com to enter! 
-
-
-
-
-
-
#tampa #tampamagazine #southtampa #tampafoodie #tampafood #burgers
Subscribe to Tampa Magazine and get a $25 gift car Subscribe to Tampa Magazine and get a $25 gift card to Ciccio Restaurant Group restaurants with code CICCIO, while supplies last. Hit the subscribe button on TampaMagazines.com @cicciorg 
-
-
-
-
-
-
#tampa #tampamagazine #southtampa #southtampamagazine #giveafk #tampafoodie #tamparestaurant
Dusk over the Riverwalk — is there anything bett Dusk over the Riverwalk — is there anything better? 🌄 Happy Friday, Tampa!
.
.
.
#tampa #tampamagazine #tampariverwalk #riverwalk #hillsboroughriver #downtowntampa #goldenhour #dusk #tampafl #tampabay
“Sticks of Fire” on the University of Tampa ca “Sticks of Fire” on the University of Tampa campus pays tribute to the Native American meaning of the city’s name 🔥 How are you enjoying Tampa this weekend?
.
.
.
#southtampa #southtampamagazine #sticksoffire #universityoftampa #ut #sculpture #tampaart #tampa #tampafl #tampabay #downtowntampa
Have you checked out any of the new murals that ha Have you checked out any of the new murals that have been added around the Channel District lately? 🎨 Happy Friday, Tampa!
.
.
.
#tampadowntown #downtowntampa #tampaart #channeldistrict #channelside #mural #publicart #tampa #tampafl #tampabay
A room with a view 🏙 At the link in bio, find o A room with a view 🏙 At the link in bio, find our guide to getting away without going far, with a peek into three of Tampa’s newest luxury hotels.
.
.
.
#southtampa #southtampamagazine #jwmarriott #waterstreettampa #downtowntampa #staycation #tampahotels #tampafl #tampa #tampabay
You could buy your avocados from the grocery store You could buy your avocados from the grocery store like everyone else, or you could grow them in your own front yard 🥑 At the link in bio, we’re going beyond citrus to look at four fruit-bearing trees that grow well here in Tampa.
.
.
.
#tampa #tampamagazine #avocado #avocadotree #landscaping #tampalandscaping #tampa #tampafl #tampabay
Meet the final six competitors in the Tampa’s To Meet the final six competitors in the Tampa’s Top Tacos contest! 🌮 Click the photos above to learn where to find each taco, and don’t forget to cast your vote at the link in bio!
.
.
.
#tampadowntown #downtowntampa #tacos #tampatacos #tampastoptacos #cafedufrain #mekenita #muchachas #renesmexicankitchen #saltshack #tikidocks #tampaeats #tampafl #tampabay
“The Super Bowl was such a major shot in the arm “The Super Bowl was such a major shot in the arm for everybody in the hospitality industry,” says Mainsail Lodging & Development CEO Joe Collier. “ I think it reminded all of the hotel staffs and all of the people who are in the hospitality business what our lives are normally like.” 🏨 At the link in bio, read more about Collier’s outlook on the rebound of Florida’s hospitality industry (plus his secret musical talent).
.
.
.
#tampadowntown #downtowntampa #mainsailhospitality #epicureanhotel #hospitality #tourism #floridahospitality #tampafl #tampabay
Load More... Follow on Instagram

  • Tampa Culture
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Garden
  • Travel
  • Moving Tampa
  • Sporting
  • Health
  • Tampa Confidential
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Purchase a Copy
  • Digital Issues
  • Email Newsletters
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2018 Tampa Magazine. All rights reserved. Part of the Tampa Magazines Network.

No Result
View All Result
  • Tampa Culture
  • Food and Drink
  • Home & Garden
  • Travel
  • Moving Tampa
  • Sporting
  • Health
  • Tampa Confidential
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Purchase a Copy
  • Shop
  • Digital Issues
  • Email Newsletters
  • Contact
  • MY ACCOUNT
    • Your Membership
    • Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Login / Logout

© 2018 Tampa Magazine. All rights reserved. Part of the Tampa Magazines Network.

THE BEST OF TAMPA

All In One Place

Subscribe

No Thanks