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If you, too, have ever wanted to sit down for coffee with Jennifer Lopez and ask her everything—beyond what we already know about how she gets such glowing skin, her adoration for all things taco-ed and her go-to hardcore workout—we now have something that allows us to at least be a “fly on the wall” of someone who was able to do just that!
On November 30,VogueinterviewerJoe Sabiapeppered the singer/actor/mom/designer/entrepreneur with the magazine brand’s signature “73 Questions.” During their11-minute Q&A, Lopez reveals details about her upcoming album “This Is Me … Now,” her most memorable fashion moments and her favorite bodega order (“ham and cheese on a roll with an orange drink—if you know you know—and a small bag of chips”).
Although Lopez now has a fullreal estate portfolioand several epic abodes to choose from, her roots are firmly planted in the Castle Hill neighborhood of the Bronx. (You might recall her tribute to this area in her chart-topping 2002 song “Jenny from the Block.") Noting that she was raised in a typical working-class Puerto Rican household, Lopez really perks up when the discussion turns to her favorite holiday of the year, Christmas, and the traditions her family shared during that most wonderful time of the year.
Giada De Laurentiis' Menu for the Feast of the Seven Fishes Is Golden
“We cook the same food every year, which I love because I wait for that food all year,” Lopez says, smiling widely. “Pasteles and arroz con gandules and pernil and all the…specialities. So, it’s my favorite.” All of which she likes to enjoy alongside some coquito, she adds.
Since we’re always looking for ways to spice up our holiday routine and have already fallen in love with our homemade take onJ. Lo’s go-to weeknight dinner, we look forward to adding these to our Friendsmas or Christmas menus, too.
Jennifer Lopez’s 4 Favorite Puerto Rican Christmas Recipes
Pasteles
Arroz con Gandules
A cousin toArroz con PolloandAsapao de Gandules, this side dish of rice with pigeon peas featuressofrito, plenty of fresh herbs and sometimes, chorizo or smoked ham. Our friends atAllRecipesalso have our hook-up with theirEasy Arroz con Gandulesthat serves 12.
Pernil
When you marinate pork in a purée or paste with citrus, vinegar, oil, onion, garlic, peppers, herbs and spices, you’re already off to a strong start. Then roast the meat low and slow for a couple hours in the oven or in the slow cooker. Not only will your entire home smell magical, but the pork will be remarkably juicy, flavorful and primed to pair with the aforementioned rice side dish. We’re already counting down until we can dive into this succulentSlow Cooker Pernil Pork.
How Cooking Tostones with My Daughter Helps Me Share Our Puerto Rican Heritage
Coquito
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