When shrimp empanadas are served, you know the Gonz\u00e1lez family is celebrating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEmpanadas, particularly these ones filled with shrimp, are intimately linked to Mexican holidays, like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Lent. The preparation of shrimp empanadas becomes a joyous and collaborative process, uniting people and my family members as we all pitch in to make and eat them together,\u201d says Emily Gonz\u00e1lez, 22, who lives in Chicago\u2019s Albany Park, which she calls \u201dthe most diverse neighborhood\u201c in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These empanadas de camar\u00f3n are a must-make at the Gonz\u00e1lez\u2019s annual Thanksgiving feast, deliciosamente representing the Mexican half of their family heritage. The other half is Cuban, which usually gets the most food representation at their Thanksgiving table, when they make: ropa vieja<\/a>, black beans<\/a>, congr\u00ed<\/a>, yuca<\/a> with garlic and lime, and pastelitos de guayaba<\/a> or guava pastries. Just wait until Christmas, though, says Emily, a college senior. That\u2018s when Mexico rules the holiday menu. She and her family make tamales<\/a>, pozole<\/a> and many more traditional recipes from her father\u2019s side of the family tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n