Beef Cocktail Franks Enrobed In Masa Harina Food

SPINACH, BACON AND POTATO OMELET: TORTILLA DE PAPA Y CARNE DE CERDO CON ESPINACA

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Arrange the bacon on a baking sheet in a single layer. Place under the broiler, cook for 4 minutes, remove from the oven and flip each piece to its opposite side. Place back under the broiler and cook until crisp. Remove from the baking sheet and drain on 3 paper towels. Set aside.
• Boil the potatoes in 2 to 3 cups of water until tender. Drain and set aside.
• In a 12-inch nonstick oven proof saute pan heat the olive oil and butter on medium heat. Add the sofrito and stir-fry until golden brown. Add the potatoes and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste. Beat the eggs until fluffy and add the spinach, mix well.
• Pour the egg mixture over the potatoes and shake the pan a bit while the eggs begin to set. Using a heat resistant spatula pull the egg mixture from the sides of the pan slightly tipping the pan in the same direction allowing the eggs to fill up the space. Repeat 2 or 3 more times going around entire pan. Place the pan under the broiler for 10 minutes or until golden brown on top.
• Cut into wedges and serve with warm crusty bread or whole-grain toast!

ALCAPURIAS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil with the annatto seeds until the olive oil changes color; it should be a mild orange/red. Strain and set aside.
• Using a food processor, process the yautia and green plantain on medium speed until nice and smooth; add the salt and strained annatto oil. Now you have a fresh masa; place in the refrigerator.
• Preheat a large Dutch oven on medium-high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and sofrito. Stir-fry for 1 minute and add the ground beef. Brown the beef and add the Latin seasoning mix, garlic powder, onion powder and oregano mixing well. Add the beef stock and simmer on medium-low for 10 minutes. Remove the beef from the heat, strain the raisins and add them to the beef mixture mixing well. Set aside to cool.
• Remove the masa from the refrigerator and using 1 to 2 tablespoons (depending on how large you want them) scoop out of the bowl and into the palm of your water moistened hand patting into a round disk to prepare it for the filling (the masa can be a little too pliable; if you notice that you can't form a round disk, place the masa in the refrigerator to firm it up before proceeding). Add a teaspoon or more of beef mixture to the center of the masa and using a patting motion (as if you were making a snow ball) pat the masa around the beef to form a ball being very careful not to let the beef stick out of the plantain. Continue forming the balls until both mixtures are finished. Leftovers of either can be saved for your next meal (I'll show you what to do with them in a future recipe).
• Preheat a large Dutch oven on high and add enough oil to comfortably fry the Alcapurias (about 2 to 3 cups). (Heat the oil to 350 degrees F if you are frying them fresh; if frozen, lower the temperature to 325 degrees F.) When the oil has reached the desired temperature, carefully add the alcapurias 1 at a time making sure not to crowd the pan. Remove and drain on a thick bed of paper towels; transfer to a cooling rack once drained and store in a warm oven until you have completed frying them all.
• To serve: Alcapurias can be placed on a dish and passed around to your guests or on a serving platter and placed on your buffet. They do not require a sauce, topping or dip of any kind. Their unique taste will carry them on your buffet all on their own!

FRANK'S STEAK

Steps:

• Combine wine and sugar in a large pot and bring to boil; lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in cloves, orange zest, nutmeg, and cinnamon and remove pan from heat to cool. Put steaks in a large baking dish and pour marinade over them. Marinate steaks in refrigerator for at least several hours and up to 3 days.
• Take steaks out of the marinade, season with salt and pepper, and cook them in a very hot skillet, about 2 minutes each side for medium rare.