Hallacas - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs diced beef
1 1/2 lbs diced pork
2 cups water
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup canned chick-peas
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 tomatoes, chopped
4 onions, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground dried chili
4 tablespoons chopped parsley
4 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons capers
1/2 cup seedless raisin
1/2 cup sliced stuffed olives
3 cups cornmeal
4 cups boiling water
1/3 cup butter
2 eggs, beaten

Preparation

Combine beef, pork, water, and garlic in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook over medium heat for 45 minutes. Drain and chop coarsely. Add the chickpeas, mixing lightly.
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the tomatoes, onions, peppers, chile, parsley, 2 tsp of salt, vinegar, sugar and the meat mixture. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
Add the capers, raisins, and olivs. Mix lightly, set aside.
Mix the cornmeal with a little cold water. Add to the boiling water in a saucepan, stirring constantly. Add the butter and remaining salt. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the eggs, beating until a smooth dough is formed.
Butter a 3-qt round or square baking dish. Line it with 2/3 of the cornmeal mixture and pour the meat mixture into it. Spread the remaining corn meal on top. Cover the dish with a piece of foil and tie it. Place in a pan of water. Bake at 350 deg. F for 1 hour.
Venezuelan method: The dish is prepared in teh form of tamales. Banana leaves are used for warpping the hallacas, but foil or parchment paper will serve as a substitute. Cut 10in squares of either. Spread about 4 tbsp of the cornmeal dough in the center and press as thin as possible. Place 2 tbsp of the meat mixture on the dough and fold over, sealing the edges as well as possible. If the dough breaks, patch it wiht a little more dough. Fold the paper around the hallacas carefully and tie securely. If foil is used, it is not necessary to tie it. Boil in a large saucepan of salted water for 1.5 hours.