Cajeta Crock Pot Method Food

CAJETA (CROCK POT METHOD)

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Stir well, and cook on high for 10 hours.
• Stir occasionally the last hour.
• Strain through a fine strainer and then store in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
• Serve at room temperature. Good over cake, fruit, and ice cream. Enjoy!

TWENTY-FOUR HOUR CAJETA (DULCE DE LECHE) BY RICK BAYLESS

Steps:

• Dissolve baking soda in the tablespoon of water. Set aside.
• Pour the milk into the slow cooker. Whisk in the sugar. Add the cinnamon stick and the dissolved baking soda. Stir well.
• Turn slow cooker on high and cook, uncovered, for 24 hours, but see next step before leaving it alone that long.
• After about 18 hours, the cajeta will have darkened into light golden brown. That's when to keep an eye on it. Stir from time to time to make sure it cooks evenly.
• When it is noticeably thick and richly golden, test a couple of drops on a cold plate. The cooled cajeta should be the consistency of caramel sauce. If still a little runny, cook longer until it reaches consistency.
• When cajeta is ready, strain through fine mesh into a bowl or wide mouth storage jar.
• It will keep for a month or more, covered, in the refrigerator. But who could possibly leave it for a month? You'll be wanting to put it on everything!

CAJETA

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottom saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, and vanilla and place over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the dissolved baking soda. When the bubbling stops, return the pan to the heat, bring back to a simmer, and cook, stirring often, for 1 hour, or until the mixture starts to thicken and turn golden. At this point the cajeta will start to thicken fast, so don't leave the pan unattended. Continue to cook, stirring constantly so it doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan, for another 20 minutes, or until the cajeta is a rich brown color and thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. It should cool to a medium-thick caramel consistency. If it's too thick, add a small amount of water; if it's too thin, continue to cook until thickened.
• Transfer to a container, let cool, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Warm slightly before serving. It will keep for about 1 month in the refrigerator.

CAJETA FLAN WITH CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• PREHEAT oven to 350°F Place 1 cup of the sugar in small heavy saucepan; cook on medium heat until sugar is melted and deep golden brown, stirring constantly with wooden spoon. Remove from heat. Immediately pour into 9-inch round baking pan; tilt pan to evenly cover bottom of pan with syrup. Set aside.
• PLACE milk and cream cheese in blender; cover. Blend until smooth. Add remaining 1 cup sugar, the eggs, vanilla and salt; cover. Blend just until smooth; add cajeta and pour into prepared baking pan. Place filled baking pan in larger baking pan; add enough hot water to larger pan to come halfway up side of smaller pan.
• BAKE 50 minute to 1 hour or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool. Carefully remove flan from water. Cool on wire rack.
• REFRIGERATE several hours or unti chilled. When ready to serve, run a knife around the edge of the pan. Then, invert pan onto serving plate to unmold flan. Store any leftovers in refrigerator. If you have trouble getting the caramel out of the pan, place the bottom of the pan in hot water and then spoon the caramel on the flan.