Naranjas En Dulce Recipes

Steps:

• Simmer the husks in water to cover for about 10 minutes. Weight with a plate to keep them submerged, and leave to soak for 1 or 2 hours, or until they are completely flexible. Place the raisins in a small bowl, cover them with the apple juice, and leave to macerate. With an electric mixer, beat the lard or butter until it is light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the sugar and half of the fresh masa, and beat them into the mixture. Little by little, alternate adding the milk and the remaining masa, beating in between each addition, until the mixture is the consistency of thick batter. Beat in the salt, baking powder, and cinnamon and continue beating for 1 minute longer.
• Separate out 12 of the largest and most flexible husks, they should be at least 6 inches wide and 6 or 7 inches long. Reserve the remaining husks for tieing the tamales. If there aren't enough large husks, overlap them to give a nice wide surface to spread the dough on. Pat the leaves dry with a tea towel. Place about 1/3 cup of the batter in the center of each husk, top with a few raisins (use a slotted spoon to remove the raisins from the apple juice) and figs, and wrap and tie the husks as usual to enclose the dough. Steam the tamales for 2 1/2 hours, or until they come easily free of the wrappers. Cool slightly and serve, with crema and chopped mango or papaya, if desired

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large saucepan, slowly boil the syrup, star anise, cloves, orange and cinnamon stick. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes. Strain the mixture into the masa harina, stir to incorporate and discard the strained spices and fruit.
• Add the corn, pine nuts, sultana raisins, asadero cheese, and banana pieces to the masa mixture.
• Thaw a package of banana leaves by placing the still sealed leaves in a shallow pan of hot water, until thawed. Open package and rinse leaves in cool water then cut into 8-inch pieces. Assemble the tamales by placing 4 ounces of the mixture in the center of each banana leaf. And fold in sides to create a package. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes.