Instructions: I love Puerto Rican Food!... Its usually simple, yet rich with lots of cilantro and garlic!!. Enclosed are examples of 4 dishes that can be simplified to taste. I always add mucho mas cilantro, peppers and garlic with fresh ingredients (I never used canned foods).

I prefer to also add a pinch of red chili powder just to make it interesting (not a traditional ingredient in Puerto Rican food).

Pick over chick-peas, wash well, soak overnight in water and salt.

Drain chick-peas, rinse and place in large pot, together with pumpkin, chorizo, and 2 1/2 quarts water. Bring rapidly to a boil, cover, and boil over moderate heat 1 1/2 hours or until chick-peas are almost tender.

Uncover, mash pumpkin and add sofrito, tomato sauce, and salt.

Mix and boil over moderate heat, uncovered, about 1 hour or until sauce thickens to taste.

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