Almond Sauce
Almond Sauce
2/3 cup slivered almonds
2 Tbsp lard
2 cups seasoned chicken broth
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
Salt
Pepper
1/2 tsp ground cumin
Lightly saute the almonds in lard
Place in a blender
Add 2 cups of the chicken broth & puree until creamy
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven & brown the flour until it is light brown
Add the almond mixture & cook over medium heat until creamy & thick, stirring constantly
Taste for seasoning & adjust, if necessary
Add ground cumin & cover
Remove from heat
The sauce must be the consistency of heavy cream
If it becomes too thick, thin it with a little reserved chicken broth & cook, stirring, until of the desired consistency
To use, arrange cooked chicken pieces in a casserole dish, cover with the almond sauce, & cover
Heat in the oven at 325 deg F
Serve with rice & a crisp salad
Papaya
Papaya
1 ripe papaya, slightly soft to the touch
2 to 4 wedges of Mexican lime
Cut the papaya in half or quarters, lengthwise
Remove all the black seeds with a spoon & discard them
Put each piece of papaya on a separate plate with a wedge of lime near it
Squeeze some lime juice over the top
Scoop out the papaya meat with a spoon & eat
Fried Custard Squares
Fried Custard Squares
This is a Basque recipe
4 egg yolks
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
Cinnamon
1 tbsp butter, softened
Flour
1 egg, beaten
Oil & butter (for frying)
Confectioners’ sugar
Beat the egg yolks & add sugar & flour a little at a time, beating with a wooden spoon until smooth
Add cinnamon to the milk & bring to a boil
Add the milk to the egg mixture while beating
Place the mixture in a saucepan with the tbsp of butter
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens (about 10 min)
Cool slightly, then pour into a buttered 8- or 9-inch square pan
Spread evenly & thinly, about 1/4 inch) & chill for several hrs
Remove from the refrigerator & cut into small squares
Dip lightly into flour & beaten egg, then fry quickly in hot vegetable oil & butter (about 40 seconds on each side)
Drain; sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar & serve