Mexican Cajeta Caramel Crepes Food

CREPAS DE CAJETA

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE CREPES, combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Refrigerate for 1 hour and blend again before using.
• Heat a small nonstick pan (about 8 inches) over medium heat and brush lightly with butter. Ladle or pour about 1/4 cup of the batter into it, tilting it all around to coat the bottom (the crepes should be thin but not completely see-through). Cook until the top is a nice golden color, flip carefully with a spatula, and cook until the second side is browned, 2 minutes total. Transfer to a plate and repeat to use up all the batter. When all the crepes are stacked up, separate them one by one and stack them again (this is to prevent sticking). The crepes can be made ahead of time and cooled, wrapped well in plastic, and frozen for up to 1 month. Let thaw before proceeding with the recipe.
• TO MAKE THE CARAMEL SAUCE, melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat until it begins to turn a slight brownish color and gives off a nutty aroma. Add the cajeta and milk and cook until bubbly and thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the brandy, and return to the heat, tilting the pan slightly to light the alcohol and burn it off (be careful). Add the crepes, one by one, submerging them in the sauce and folding them in half and then in half again so they look like triangles (alternatively, you can form the triangles beforehand and then submerge in the sauce or pour the sauce over them, but if you fold them once they are in the cajeta, you will ensure that they are evenly coated). Place about 3 on each plate and top with some of the toasted pecans.

MEXICAN CAJETA - CARAMEL CREPES

Steps:

• In a frying pan, melt the caramel or Mexican cajeta or dulce de leche, and add the rum.
• Let boil for 3 - 5 minutes; then dip the tortillas, one at a time in the caramel, making sure to cover completely.
• Place two tortillas, folded into four parts on each plate, and add a scoop of coffee ice cream on each and sprinkle with shredded coconut.

CAJETA (CARAMEL CANDY)

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine 1 quart of the milk with the sugar and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until mixture turns golden.
• In the remaining quart of milk, stir in the soda and place in another saucepan.
• Add the cinnamon stick and bring to boil.
• Discard the cinnamon and add the hot milk very gradually to the caramel mixture, stirring constantly.
• When all the milk is incorporated, place over a low heat and cook very slowly until the mixture is thick like melted caramel.
• Cool slightly; then pour into a glass container and chill.
• Please note that the cooking times and yield are approximate.

CREPES WITH CARAMEL SAUCE AND TOASTED PECANS

Steps:

• For crepes:
• Combine first 6 ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature. Blend again before using.
• Brush 8- to 9-inch-diameter nonstick skillet lightly with melted butter. Heat over medium-high heat. Pour scant 1/4 cupful batter into skillet, tilting to allow batter to coat bottom of skillet. Cook until crepe is golden on bottom, about 1 minute. Turn crepe over and cook until brown on bottom, about 45 seconds. Transfer to paper towel. Repeat with remaining batter, making about 24 crepes and stacking crepes between paper towels. Cool.
• For sauce:
• Combine cajeta, milk, and butter in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until sauce is reduced to 2 3/4 cups, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in Cognac.
• Place 1 crepe on work surface. Spread with 1 tablespoon sauce. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon chopped pecans. Fold crepe in half over filling, then in half again, forming triangle. Repeat with remaining crepes, sauce, and pecans. Arrange crepes in two 13x9x2-inch glass baking dishes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill crepes and remaining sauce separately. Rewarm sauce just until pourable before continuing.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour remaining sauce over crepes. Bake until heated through, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with any remaining pecans and serve.

REAL MEXICAN CAJETA (GOAT'S MILK CARAMEL OR DULCE DE LECHE)

Steps:

• In a large, heavy pot (not iron), combine the milk, sugar, and vanilla, and place over medium heat. Stir regularly until the milk comes to a simmer and sugar is dissolved. Remove the pot from the heat and add dissolved baking soda; it will bubble up at this point, especially with goat's milk. When the bubbles have subsided, return it to the heat.
• Adjust heat so that the mixture is simmering briskly but not boiling. Cook, stirring regularly, until the mixture turns pale golden, about one hour.
• You will now need to stir the milk more regularly as it begins to thicken and turns a caramel-brown color. Don't allow the milk to stick to the bottom of the pot. You can drop a few drops into a small glass of water. If a soft ball forms, the cajeta is ready.
• If you take the pot off the heat and allow the cajeta to cool, it should be a medium-thick sauce. If it's too thick, add hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time until it is the proper consistency. If it is too thin, return to the heat until it thickens.
• When the cajeta is cool, remove the vanilla bean. Strain the cajeta through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl or wide-mouthed jar, then scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the cajeta. Refrigerate until ready to use. Cajeta is best served warm.