Sunday, December 16, 2012

The Christmas Tamalera - a la Petit

a
"tamalera"
is
tamale-making
extravaganza

you can
really
NOT
make
tamales
alone

you must
have
gaggle
of
friends
(or family)
...
each assigned
to a task

First,
you need
to think about
what
you
want
to stuff
inside 
your tamales
                            our Christmas tamales this year were:

1.  Ashley's slow cooked chicken and corn
2.  slow cooked chipotle pork
IMG_1864

3.  Black bean and roasted corn with cotija cheese
IMG_1880

4.  Jack cheese and jalapeño strips



while 
you
prepare
the fillings
you
must
soak
 the
corn husks
(I had to put a plate over the husks to keep them from floating to the top of the sink)


for
a minimum of
two hours
    then
IMG_1848

you can mix up
 the masa
(we used Crisco instead of lard)

and
then the
tamale-making begins


*****
Ashley
spread the 
masa
on the softened corn husks
IMG_1854

just
like
this
IMG_1851 
Emily
aka M.C.
spooned
the filling
in
the middle of the 
masa
IMG_1850
and
Annie
folded
the corn husk
around
the filling
IMG_1852

it is
quite
the social
event
IMG_1856

I
tried
to keep the
troops
ON TASK,
but.....
IMG_1859


thought
it was
time
to help
get
back on
the
tamale-making task
IMG_1867

(and
am
known
for
always
"staying on task"
...NOT)
.....IMG_1870

fast forward
three tamale-making hours
 later

we
spread, filled and folded
just about
 109
tamales

John readied
the
large pot and a small pot
for 
the tamales
to steam
IMG_1877
and
they were
ready
after about
11/2 hours

Deliciousness!
(photos in next post)



here's
the
masa recipe
we
used:

1 c. Crisco
1 TBS. sea salt
2 tsp. baking powder
3 1/2 c. masa harina
2 1/2 c. warm water

In an electric mixer, beat shortening, salt and baking powder
until light and fluffy
-about 5 minutes
(scraped down the sides often)

add the dry masa harina
and
mix until
just incorporated

with mixer on low
slowly add
 1 1/4 c. water
increase speed,
continue mixing
and 
stream in remaining
warm water

Masa
should 
have
the consistency
of cake batter
and
is ready
to spread 
on corn husks

Fillings
can
be 
just about anything!
  I cooked a pork butt in the crock pot with a can of pureed chipotle chiles for 6 hours - delish!
  Chicken or turkey thighs can be slow cooked the same way.  Ashley added Trader Joe's Roasted Corn to her slow cooked chicken.
   Black beans, the same roasted corn and Cotija (or Jack Cheese) is good
   Apples, raisins, cinnamon and cream cheese is good
   Jalapeño strips and Jack cheese strips is super yummy
   Cooked pureed sweet potatoes, or cook pureed butternut squash with chevre and toasted pecans is divine
   Shredded beef - YUM!

         


Sunday, December 9, 2012

Persimmons and Really GOOD Advice


persimmon
is
a berry 

"God's Pear"

divine fruit

if heart shaped
eat when squishy (Hachiya)

if squat and tomato shaped
eat when firm (Fuyu)
(Fuyus are my favorite addition to salad with chevre and toasted hazelnuts)


the information above
is
VERY IMPORTANT



..
(we were
given a
huge bag of
persimmons
and in 
my 
blind
excitement,
I sliced 
up
a
hard
heart shaped
persimmon
and
took a 
BIG BITE
    blech...)

learn from my mistake, people!!!


patience
makes 
for
squishy persimmons
ready to
bake
 into
coffee cakes
breads
muffins
 and
 doughnuts

Emily
aka MC
baked
these
squishy beauties
into
Persimmon Doughnuts
Image 1s

yum,
right?
Image 4

they
are light
and delicious
Image

you will 
need a doughnut pan

here's one
from

.....
Persimmon Doughnuts

2 medium Hachiya (squishy) persimmons, ripe [puree should yield 1 cup] 

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup soft unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups + 2 TBSP granulated sugar, divided

3 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup sour cream

350 degree oven

Peel persimmons and 
puree 
jelly like fruit 
in a food processor.  Set aside.

Mix dry ingredients.  Se aside.

Beat together softened butter and sugar  until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs until combined.
Add 1/2 of dry ingredients and 1/2 of persimmon puree
to the butter mixture
 and mix together.
Add sour cream and the remainder of the dry ingredients and the persimmon.  Mix until combined.
Spoon or pipe into doughnut pan.
Bake for 15 minutes.

There is a 
Vanilla bean Buttermilk glaze,
but
it is very watery

(a cream cheese glaze (or frosting would be delicious)

 powdered sugar is perfect, really...