Bunuelos With Honey Crema Food

BUNUELOS

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine eggs with 1/4 cup sugar and beat until thick and lemon-colored. Add the oil. Combine separately 1-1/2 cups of the flour, the baking powder and the salt. Gradually add this to the egg mixture and beat well.
• Turn dough out onto a floured board (use remaining 1/2 cup flour) and knead thoroughly until dough is smooth.
• Shape dough into sixteen balls. Roll each one into a circle about 5 inches in diameter. Let stand uncovered on waxed paper for about 10 minutes.
• Heat oil in a deep fry pan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry circles until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Store airtight.

CUBAN BUñUELOS WITH ANISE SYRUP

Steps:

• Prepare the syrup: In a saucepan, combine 2 cups water, granulated sugar, star anise, cinnamon stick and lime peel, and bring to a boil over medium high, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat to a simmer, then cook until the mixture is thin and syrupy, 15 to 20 minutes. Off the heat, add the fresh lime juice. Let the syrup cool while you make buñuelos.
• Make the buñuelos: To a medium or large heavy pot, add the yuca, boniato, malanga, ñame, salt and anise seeds and enough cold water to cover. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add the calabaza and cook, covered, until all the vegetables are tender, but not mushy, 10 to 15 minutes more, then drain in a colander.
• While the vegetables are still warm, press the vegetables through a ricer or food mill onto a large lightly floured surface or bowl. Form the mixture into a big mound, then make a well in the center. Pour the eggs into the well and use your hands (it will be sticky) to fully combine. Sift 3 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, over the dough and knead after each addition until it forms a smooth, soft dough that holds together. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons more flour if needed for the dough to come together.
• Cut the dough into 14 equal pieces, and transfer to a clean work surface. Roll each piece into a 16-inch rope about 1/2-inch-thick. Moisten one end of the rope with a little water, shape it into a figure eight, then press the ends together. Transfer to a sheet pan lightly dusted with flour.
• In a 10-inch skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high until it reaches 375 degrees. If you don't have a deep-fry thermometer, you can test the oil by dropping in a bit of dough. If the oil is hot enough, it will float to the top right away. Working in batches of 2 or 3 (don't crowd the pan), carefully add the buñuelos to the oil, and fry until they are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Spoon the syrup over the buñuelos and serve.

BUNUELOS WITH ORANGE SYRUP

Steps:

• combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small heavy saucepan. add the orange juice and water and simmer over medium heat until the mixture thickens and forms a light syrup.
• remove from the heat and set aside.
• rewarm if necessary before serving time.
• for the bread, sift together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon into a large bowl.
• add the shortening and mix with your fingertips to combine.
• stir in the orange juice and water, working the liquids into the dough until a sticky ball forms.
• dust a counter or pastry board with flour and knead the dough vigorously for 1 minute.
• the mixture should be earlobe soft and no longer sticky. let the dough rest, covered with a damp cloth for 15 minutes.
• divide the dough into 12 to 14 balls, each about the size of a golf ball. cover the balls with the damp cloth and let them rest for another 15-30 minutes.
• if not for use immediately, the dough can be refrigerated for up to 4 hours.
• dust the counter or pastry board with flour again and roll out each ball of dough into a circle about 1/4 inch thick.
• trim any ragged edges and discard them.
• To avoid toughening the dough roll it out only once.
• cover the bunuelos with the damp cloth. don't stack the dough circles, because they might stick together.
• pour enough oil into a high sided heavy skillet to measure at least 3 inches in depth. heat the oil to 375.
• gently drop the first bunuelo into the hot oil. after sinking in the oil briefly, it should begin to puff and rise back to the surface.
• avoid spooning oil over the top of the frying bread, as it will balloon too much.
• when the bunuelo's top side has bubbled and risen more or less uniformly, turn it over with tongs.
• cook the bunuelo until it is just light golden, remove it with tongs, and drain it on paper towels.
• repeat the frying process with the remaining dough.
• drizzle the syrup over the bunuelos and serve immediately.

NUTTY BUNUELOS

Steps:

• Whisk eggs together in a large bowl. Combine the cake flour, confectioners' sugar and salt; gradually stir into the eggs to make a stiff dough.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large heavy skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Pinch off walnut sized pieces of dough, and roll them out into thin circles on a lightly floured surface.
• Fry in hot oil for 3 to 4 minutes, turning once to brown evenly on both sides. Drain on paper towels, and cool. Drizzle honey over the tops, and sprinkle with chopped nuts.