Wednesday, April 22, 2015

BOCADILLO DE GUAYABA (Guava sweet treat)

INGREDIENTS:
400g can guava fruit pieces (1can)
3 tbps sugar
A lot of patience
 
HOW DO YOU MAKE IT?
Very easy, but takes time and you have to be careful: the sweet guava paste can get VERY hot and you don't  want it splashing on your hands.
Just empty  the guava can in a small pot, add the sugar and let it boil covered at mid temperature for about 10 mins. Stir every now and then until the colour starts turning darker and it starts sticking a bit to the bottom. At that stage bring down to low temperature, stirring every 3-5 mins to ensure it doesn't  burn or sticks  too much to the bottom. When it looks something  similar to the pic below, it's ready! But don't  try to taste it, remember it will be very hot!
 
Once it cools down, let it set in the fridge for at least 2 hours before using. Enjoy on its own, with mozarella cheese, as a filling for cakes, breads, pastries, envueltos or a topping for crackers, cheeseboard, etc.
 
Love,

Isabel

Monday, April 6, 2015

Arepas de choclo / Yellow maize patties (with doñarepa)

INGREDIENTS (makes 6 arepas)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp butter
1 tbps sugar
1 cup doñarepa choclo
1/2 cup doñarepa regular (or maize meal)
100 gr of mozarella cheese
Salt to taste
 
HOW TO MAKE THE AREPAS
Bring the water and milk  to boil over medium heat in a medium sized pan (you need space to stir). As it starts simmering, add the doñarepa or maize mix, sugar, salt and stir vigorously, bring down the heat to low and add in the butter when it starts to come together into a dough. Set aside and let it cool for about 10 minutes whilst covered  (so the dough doesn't lose moisture).
Make balls of dough that fit towards the center of your palm, flatten out the dough in between your palms making a rounded flat pattie, once you have a few, you can start assembling. Cut the cheese into slices that can fit in the middle of your hand, then place a slice of cheese in between two maize patties and mold with your hands into a round pattie again, hiding the cheese in  the middle and smoothing the edges.
Place on a greased braai (barbeque grill) or pan and let it cook until golden and crispy on each side.
 
Serve for breakfast with eggs o as a side dish to beef, pork or chicken meat, sausages, chorizo, etc.
 
Love,
 
Isabel