All Puerto Rican recipes begin with El Pilon . The name of the art piece on the cover of this book. Hence, a true Puerto Rican kitchen always has a pilon. El Pilon will bring you back to abuela’s (grandma’s) house where you might have observed her smashing ajo (garlic) and other herbs to make your favorite treat. Puerto Ricans when they visit the Caribbean also look for very decorative pilones to gift to their mothers, daughters, sisters and dear friends. You can not make traditional Puetro Rican dishes without EL Pilon. El Pilon has brought me back to Cooking and Telling Stories about my growing up years next to mami, abuela and titi. Read through the stories and the recipes, cook from them and remenice with me and get your pilon to work. Yo quiero, arroz con gandulez con lechon y pastels pero que le hechen salsa……if you don’t know how to cook it, open the book and grab your children, family and friends put on some Salsa and get your Pilon!