How to Make Holiday Pernil: Crispy-Skinned Roasted Pork Shoulder by Cleo Coyle

Easy to make yet impressive to serve, this slow-roasted, crispy-skinned pork shoulder is a beloved treat in many Latin American homes, especially during the Christmas season. 

Like a stunning holiday turkey, a roasted pork shoulder will wow your dinner guests. They’ll think you worked a lot harder than you did because there’s no basting, just pop it in the oven and turn it a few times.

Cleo Coyle has a partner in

crime-writing—her husband.

Learn about their books

by clicking here and here.

Years ago, my husband and I shared a smaller version of this recipe. This is a bigger and better version, perfect for large gatherings or more intimate ones--with plenty of tasty leftovers.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Feliz Navidad! 

~ Cleo Coyle, author of 

The Coffeehouse Mysteries

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Frito Shepherd’s Pie from Cleo Coyle #glutenfree recipe

 To download a free PDF

of this recipe, click here.

Our readers may recognize this pie from our 13th culinary mystery, Billionaire Blend. In the book, Detective Mike Quinn tells the story of solving a homicide with members of the NYPD Bomb Squad (historically known as the Italian Squad). 

When the case is done, members of the squad take Quinn to a pub for a night of Frito Shepherd’s Pies. Well, this is the very pie that Detective Quinn devoured. 

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Eat with joy! 💗☕

~ Cleo

                                                                      

Mini Taco Cups or Muffin Pan Quiches by Cleo Coyle

For more than two decades, my husband and I have been full-time professional fiction writers; and, believe me, any New York City household that makes its entire income on building castles in the air had better be pinching pennies on the ground. :) 

Marc and I don’t have a car. We don't have a dishwasher (at least, not the electric kind)...

My husband, Marc, in our little
Queens (NY) kitchen.
Who says tough guys don't do dishes?

We schlep our groceries (like any determined Italian nonna) with a hand-push cart. Sure, it's a pain when it rains, but even Michelangelo would covet my husband’s calf muscles.

We cook at home most nights; and, of course, when it comes to using leftovers, we’ve got game. Tacos make quick, easy meals for us, as I’m sure they do for many of you. So... 

What do we do with the

leftover filling from these?

We make six of these...

The technique is very versatile, and you can adapt it to any kind of mini quiche. For instance…

Replace the taco filling with crumbled bacon and shredded Swiss and you have a mini quiche Lorraine. Or go vegetarian with sauteed mushrooms and onions and a bit of Gruyere. Try shredded chicken and sharp cheddar; chunks of ham and green pepper with Monterey Jack…

The only limit is your imagination...and the leftovers in your fridge. :)