Apple Cranberry Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding)

This is not your Mama's Capirotada expect an unexpected burst of orange flavor mixed with cinnamon, cranberries and apples

1 1/2 cps. Brown Sugar
3/4 cp Water
3/4 cp Orange Juice
1/2 cp Butter
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon or 1 Cinnamon Stick
1/2 tsp Orange Extract
1/2 lb Queso Fresco or Monterey Jack, cubed
2 cps - Golden Delicious Apples, sliced
1/2 cp Dried Cranberries
1/2 cp Pecans, whole or chopped
1/2 Loaf of French or Sweet Bread or 3-4 Bolillos, sliced
Vanilla or Toffee Ice Cream

In a sauce pan add brown sugar, water, orange juice, butter and cinnamon and bring to a boil while mixing. Reduce heat then simmer for about 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Discard cinnamon stick if used. Cut bread into 1/2 inch slices and place unlayered on a cookie sheet. Toast in oven until lightly brown.

In a baking dish with cover, place a layer of bread, sprinkle 1/3 each of apples, dried cranberries, pecans and cheese. Pour 1/3 cinnamon syrup on top. Repeat layers and top with remaining syrup. Cover and bake in a 350 oven for about 15 minutes or until heated thoroughly. Uncover for last 5 minutes.

Serve 1/2 cup or more of warm pudding on an individual plate or bowl topped with fresh whipped cream or scoop of ice cream.

New Years Day Brunch Ideas

Here are New Years Day menu ideas. It always smart to have some Miraculous Menudo available for those who may have indulged themselves a little too much.

Eats

Menudo

Tamales (meat or dulces)
Eggs & Chorizo Scramble
Huevos Rancheros

Chorizo & Cheese Quiche

Spinach & Mushroom Quiche

Fruit Salad

Pan Dulce or Pastries

Drinks
Orange Juice
Agua Frescas
Champagne
Coffee
Mimosas
Bloody Marys

Chocolate Raspberry Tamale

Chocolate Raspberry Tamale
I made up this recipe on the fly at my last Tamale Making Workshop and it came out pretty darn good if I say so myself!

INGREDIENTS
7 cps Prepared Masa
2 cps Instant or Ground Mexican Hot Chocolate (Ibarra or Abuelita)
1 cp Sugar
1/2 cp Water or Milk
1 tbsp Vanilla
Raspberry Preserves
Chocolate Chips
Pecans (optional)
24 - 36 Corn Husks, washed & soaked for 2 hours

DIRECTIONS
Beat masa, hot chocolate, sugar and water together in a large mixing bowl until smooth.  Spread masa onto a corn husk in a square. Leave two inches clear on the narrow end of the husk and a minimum of one inch on the widest side of the husk. Spoon raspberry preserves down the middle and sprinkle chocolate chips on top keeping the fillings in the middle section. Add 2-3 pecans if desired. Fold husk over so the masa covers the fillings. Use the top of the corn husk to push the masa back, then roll it to close. Fold up the narrow end of the tamale. Place open side up in steamer for 25-35mins or until masa pulls from husk.

Serve warm with whipped cream or by itself
Makes 2-3 dozen tamales

Chipotle BBQ Sauce

 Slather this on top of Chicken or Ribs (Before or after grilling however you do it! I don't even want to touch that subject) for a great twist on a traditional BBQ sauce. A 'lil sweet and spicy never hurt anyone!

INGREDIENTS
1 7-oz. can chipotle in adobo
1 cup boiling water
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 12-oz. can tomato paste
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon Tobasco sauce

DIRECTIONS
Melt butter in a saucepan and add onion, garlic, cumin and thyme. Sauté until the onion is soft and translucent. Add finely chop chipotle chilies and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Aguas Frescas

This and other similar fruit drinks, which translate literally as "fresh water," are served all over Mexico and they're a cinch to make at home. The key is to strain the pulpy fruit to make a clearer liquid. You can use strawberries, pineapple, or mango -- any fruit that is soft enough to puree. Basically its lemonade but made with other fruits. Simple & refreshing!

Aguas Frescas
3 cups of Fruit Puree or Juice
1 1/2 cups water
2 to 4 tablespoons sugar
2 to 3 limes, juiced

Puree fruit and pour through a fine sieve to eliminate pulp. In a pitcher, mix strained fruit puree with water and season with sugar and lime juice. All ingredients can be adjusted to taste. Serve in a Jara or large punch bowl with slices of fruit.

Father's Day Memory Box

Last year I sent the following email out to my family to make a memory box for my Dad. It was very fun to sit around with the family at our annual Father's Day BBQ to read, reminisce and laugh with one another on all of our memories. Most importantly it was a gift from the entire family showing my father how important he is to all of us. Best of all everyone could participate no matter what age or income level.


ITEMS NEEDED:
Wooden or Sturdy Box
Colored or Textured Paper
Pens & Pencils or Computer & Printer

SAMPLE EMAIL:
I am going to make a memory box for Father's Day for Dad/Grandpa. So I would like each of you to write down your memories of Dad now and growing up. Use these three opening line to make simple sentences thanking Dad, Papi, Grandpa for memories he has given us. You can print the sentences up yourselves or I will print, cut them and place in the box if you email it to me by the Friday before Father's Day. I will have a box to put everything in. Also, if you have little items to symbolize stuff that you can get from the dollar store that would be good. See examples below.

Answer these questions:

Thanks for .........

I remember when .........

I love it when ...........

EXAMPLES
Thanks for teaching me your secret Guacamole recipe

I remember when you drove up with a trailer on the corner lot and my first horse came walking out. (Toy Horse)

Thanks for teaching me how to drive even though I rolled 3 cars (Mini Bug)

I remember when I would fill my bed with pillows and you would pretend to try wake me up, then act surprised when I popped from behind the bed.

I love it when you make huevos rancheros on a weekday morning for no reason at all


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MEMORY TRIGGERS
Five Senses - See, Hear, Taste, Touch & Smell

See - The perfectly manicure lawn, christmas tree lights,

Hear - Flamenco Music and Paso Doble bullfighter song

Taste - Guacamole, Huevos Rancheros, Mexican Coffees

Touch - Hacking down the tree and building stuff

Smell - fresh cut grass, BBQ on the grill,

Super Cheesy Garlic Bread

I'm going to share my recipe for my very popular Super Cheesy Garlic Bread. This bread is soooo good but I must admit it is not the healthiest thing to eat. It will however put a smile on your face so it all evens out.

Ingredients
1 Loaf of Sweet or Sour Dough Bread
1 cp Parmesan or Three Cheese Blend (Parmesan, Romano, Asiago), shredded
1 stick Butter
1/2 cp Mayonaise
2 Tbls Parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cp Garlic, finely chopped or minced (or to taste)

Directions
Set oven to broil or 500º. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Cut loaf in half lengthwise and spread mixture thickly on both sides. Place on baking sheet with garlic spread facing up into oven for approximately 10 minutes or until mixture is melted and bubbly with slightly brown edges. Cut into thick slices and serve hot.