Ponche Mexicano Food

PONCHE

Steps:

• Combine 2 quarts water and the tejocotes in a large stockpot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the tejocotes start to soften, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the tejocotes to a medium bowl and let cool. Reserve the cooking liquid. When the tejocotes are cool to the touch, remove and discard the skins, stems and pits and tear the fruit in half with your hands. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, add the hibiscus flowers to the reserved cooking liquid and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the flowers and discard or save for another use, such as a second infusion for a jamaica agua fresca.
• Add the tejocotes, piloncillo, prunes, raisins, tamarind, guavas, sugarcane, apples, dates, cinnamon and vanilla, if using, to the pot. Lower the heat and gently simmer until the fruit is softened and the mixture is reduced slightly, about 30 minutes.
• Pour the hot ponche into mugs, scoop some fruit into each and garnish with a cinnamon stick and chopped pecans. Serve with spoons.

CHOCOLATE MEXICANO

Steps:

• Chop up the chocolate tablets (no need to be fancy since they are going to dissolve into the milk).
• Add the milk and cinnamon stick to large pot over medium-high heat. Once you see the first tiny bubbles begin to appear in the milk, add the chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and sugar and continue heating, stirring slowly but constantly, until the chocolate has melted. Add additional sugar if desired. Do not let the milk boil; if it looks as if it is going to start boiling, turn off the heat for a few minutes, continue to stir, then turn the burner back on at a lower setting. Once all the chocolate is melted, fish out the cinnamon stick and trash it. It's done its job.
• Carefully pour your chocolate Mexicano into your favorite mug and enjoy with your family and friends.

PONCHE MEXICANO

Steps:

• Halve all the fruit and place in a pot of water with the sugarcane and cinnamon. Bring to a boil and simmer until fruit is softened. In the event of not getting entirely ripened fruit, add sugar to water. Strain this mixture into a bowl and let cool. To garnish the drink, slice some apple and orange and sprinkle with cinnamon powder or use a cinnamon stick to stir.

MEXICAN CHRISTMAS PUNCH (PONCHE NAVIDENO)

Steps:

• Stud each orange with 6 whole cloves, using the pointed ends of the cloves to pierce the skin. Cut oranges into wedges. Reserve 12 wedges for garnish. Cut some slits into each hawthorn.
• Bring water, hibiscus petals, and cinnamon sticks to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until water is a deep pink color, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove hibiscus petals but leave cinnamon sticks in the water to infuse further. Stir in orange wedges, hawthorns, apples, sugar cane, pear, and brown sugar. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for at least 30 minutes.
• Ladle the punch into 12 mugs, making sure each mug gets some slices of fruit. Add 1 fluid ounce rum to each mug to give the punch an extra kick. Garnish mugs with reserved orange slices.