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Capirotada~ Mexican Bread Pudding {#MuyBuenoCookbook Spotlight and Cook-off}

Monday, October 15, 2012 5:12

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Me amo Mexican Food

{I love Mexican Food}

You could say I grew up on the stuff! Here in California, we have no shortage of excellent Mexican restaurants, markets and authentic little hole-in-the-wall joints that have a near-religious following. I love spending a Sunday afternoon filling my basket with fresh produce and colorful ingredients from the local Mexican market. I know my nopales from my aguacates, but when it comes to traditional Mexican desserts I’m still a bit of a novice.

I’m pleased to be sharing my first adventure in making a traditional Mexican dessert as part of the Muy Bueno Cookbook Spotlight and Cook-off. This beautiful cookbook was lovingly written by three generations of family and is filled with vibrant pictures, rich stories and recipes for authentic Mexican comfort food.

For week one, we were given a choice between a sweet or savory dish. I’m a believer that some of the best culinary experiences come from pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zones, so I went with the sweet! The selection, a dessert containing cheddar cheese and raisins (which I loathe), was a perfect challenge.

“Say the word capirotada to a Latino and it conjures up all sorts of childhood memories…the smell of the piloncillo and spices simmering on Mom’s stove….” — Muy Bueno ~ Three Generations of Authentic Flavors

Capirotada, a Mexican bread pudding is often enjoyed by Latino families during Lent, Christmas and other religious holidays. Bolillos (Mexican French rolls) are soaked in rich spiced syrup made from the piloncillos (pressed unrefined sugar), cinnamon and cloves. Layers of the bread are alternated with raisins and grated cheese, and the whole thing is baked until golden and bubbling.

Each ingredient is symbolic — the bread for the body of Christ, the syrup for his blood, the cloves are the nails on the cross, the cinnamon sticks symbolize the cross, and the melted cheese represents the Holy Shroud.

I was eager to cook with piloncillos, but dubious about the raisins and cheese. The verdict — loved it all! The balance of flavors is perfect — the cheese is subtle, the raisins plump, tart and sweet, the syrup complex, but not overly spiced. It’s a beautifully choreographed dish, well worth the four hours it takes to make.

Capirotada

(Mexican Bread Pudding)
from the Muy Bueno Cookbook

Yield: 8-10 servings

4 bolillo rolls or French rolls
4 tablespoons butter
4 1/2 cups water
12 oz. piloncillo cones (Mexican brown sugar)
4 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
3 cups cheese (Longhorn Cheddar or Colby), shredded (I used a mild domestic cheddar)
1 cup raisins (I used golden)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut rolls in ½ inch slices and butter both sides, layer on a baking
sheet and bake for 3 minutes on each side, until lightly toasted and
dry. Remove and cool.

Combine water, piloncillo, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in a large
saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, creating a syrup. Simmer syrup
uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep, covered for 2
hours. Pour through a strainer and discard cinnamon sticks and cloves.
Set syrup aside.

Spray 8 x 10 ½” baking dish with non-stick spray, layer ingredients
in the following order: a third of the toasted bread, third of the
raisins, third of the cheese, and 1 1/2 cups syrup evenly over cheese.
Wait 15 minutes and layer another third of the bread, raisins, cheese,
and 1 1/2 cups syrup evenly over cheese. Let soak for another 15
minutes, and again top with the remaining bread, raisins, cheese, and
syrup evenly over bread. Before baking let set for another 15 minutes.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil that has been sprayed with nonstick
spray and bake 40 minutes, uncover and bake until cheese is golden
brown about 10 to 15 minutes more. Serve warm.

—————————–

Stay tuned for weeks 2 and 3 of the Muy Bueno Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-off.

Next week is “Blogger’s Choice”. I can’t wait to pick a recipe! Right now I’m torn between Stacked Red Enchiladas, the Scallop and Cucumber Cocktail, and the Beef Brisket Tacos. What sounds good to you?

In WEEK 3 I’ll be sharing a full review of the book along with an opportunity for you to win a copy!

*This post is part of the Muy
Bueno Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-Off sponsored by Hippocrene and hosted
at girlichef*

CRAFT, BAKE, GET INSPIRED

http://www.rookno17.com

2012-10-15 05:02:46

Source: http://www.rookno17.com/2012/09/capirotada-mexican-bread-pudding.html

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