Agua de Jamaica - Hibiscus Flower Tea

I brewed a large batch of this refreshing Hibiscus Flower Tea recipe for a bridal shower this past weekend. Everyone really loved my added touches of cinnamon and brown sugar.

   

16 cps Water

1 cp Flor de Jamaica or
Dried Hibiscus Flowers
1 cp Brown Sugar
1 cp Baker's or White Sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
2 tbls lime juice (opt.)

Boil 8 cups of water in a large pot. When bubbly, immerse dry flowers in water. Leave for 5 minutes. Add sugars and cinnamon and place on simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from stove and let tea simmer and cool down.

Add 8 cups of cold water or ice cubes. Serve in tall glass with ice and lime slice.

Makes One Gallon

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

INGREDIENTS

Cake Mix

2 1/4 cp Flour

1 1/2 cp Sugar

1/2 cp Butter

3/4 cp Milk

1/2 cp Crema Mexicana or Creme Fraiche 

3 Eggs

2 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Salt

2 tbls Pure Maple Syrup

Pineapple Topping

1/2 cp Butter

1 cp Brown Sugar

1 cp Crushed Pineapple

3/4 cp Sliced Almonds or Chopped Pecans (opt)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Grease a 10" spring form pan. May substitute a 9"x13" baking dish or 10" bundt pan.

Place all of the cake mix ingredients in a large mixing bowl and blend until smooth with no lumps. Set aside. Mix pineapple topping ingredients in a medium sauce pan just until butter is melted. Pour half of the mixture into bottom of pan and spread evenly. Pour cake mix over pineapple mixture and bake 30-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. Baking times will need to be adjusted depending on the pan size used and your own oven.

Continue to cook the rest of the pineapple mixture on stove top over medium heat until mixture bubbles and slightly thickens. Pour warm mixture over top of cake before serving.  May be served with ice cream. Make additional pineapple coating to pour over ice cream if desired.

Bah to Basic Burgers!

Here are some ideas to liven up your next home-made burger.

BREADS

Hamburger Buns (Sesame Seed, Onion, Honey Wheat), Bagels, Sour Dough, French Roll, Ciabatta Roll, Bolillo, Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese Roll 

SPREADS 

Mayonaise, Ketchup, Mustard (yellow & brown),BBQ Sauce, Hot Sauce, Dressings (thousand Island, Bleu Cheese, Ranch, etc..), Pizza Sauce, Pickles, Relish, Salsa, Chipotle Mayo 

TOPPINGS

Sliced Tomatoes, Lettuce (Iceberg & Spinach), Avocados, Jalapeños, Pineapple Slices, Ortega Chilies, Sauteed Mushrooms, Roasted Peppers, Onion Rings, Bacon Slices, Ham, Fresh or Grilled Onion Slices (Red, White), Cole Slaw, Onion Shoe Strings, Apple Slices, Fried Egg 

CHEESE

Cheddar, Monterey or Pepper Jack, Swiss, Blue Cheese, Manchego, Brie, Provolone, Gouda, Queso Fresco 

SIDES

French or Sweet Potato Fries, Baked Beans, Chips, Onion Rings, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Fruit, Green Salad, Corn 

BEEF PATTY SUBS 

Ground Turkey, Chicken Breast, Veggie or Soy burgers, Seafood Patties (Fish, Shrimp, Crab), Portabello Mushroom & more

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.