At Fox 4, we want you to know we are in your corner because we are part of your community. One of the faces behind the camera is Patricia Ling. She is the first person you see when you visit Fox 4. In addition to the countless tasks she does for the news and sales departments, she also heads up our station's healthy culture council.
Patricia is from Venezuela. Fox 4 anchor, Jane Monreal, caught up with her in the Fox 4 kitchen to make a healthy version of arepas. Patricia says, "It's pretty much our bread. We make our own bread at home." Most of her family still live in Venezuela. Patricia, her husband Guillermo, and dog Charlie have called Cape Coral home for about four years. They moved to Nashville. Patricia says, "We lived there for several years and we decided to come closer to the beach and family."
She also enjoys Zumba and tennis.
Recipe for carrot and sesame seed arepas:
2 1/2 cups water
2 1/4 cups of cornmeal (Harina PAN)
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. oil
1 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup roasted sesame seeds
Cooking spray
Directions:
Add water, salt, and oil to a deep bowl; begin incorporating the cornmeal while whisking the mix with a fork or by hand; start incorporating the carrots and the sesame seeds. The dough will start to get heavy and manageable; let it set for 5 minutes and turn on the skillet to medium heat.
Add some cooking spray to skillet and start making arepa patties (approximately the size of a tennis ball); add the patties to skillet and start flipping them over every five minutes until they become crispy (apprx. 30 minutes). Stuff with your favorite fillings!
