Crema De Piña Recipes

PINA COLADA

Steps:

• Mix ingredients in blender until smooth; pour into glasses; garnish with pineapple wedges and maraschino cherries if desired.
• Note: This recipe is my adaptation of "The Authentic Piña Colada" printed on back of the Coco Lopez Real Cream of Coconut® can, which is the same as this but uses all (3 ounces) regular rum only ~ It's a great drink but I just love the inclusion of part coconut rum to make it even better!

SEMITA DE PIñA (SALVADORAN JAM-FILLED PASTRY)

Steps:

• Add the milk, butter, sugar and salt to a saucepan and heat, stirring until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside to cool until lukewarm.
• Mix the warm water and yeast together in a small bowl and set aside for 5-10 minutes to activate the yeast.
• Add 4 cups of the flour to large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeast mixture, warm milk and beaten eggs. Stir with a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients and bring the dough together.
• Remove the dough to a floured work surface and knead, adding extra flour as needed until the dough is no longer sticking to your hands and is silky and elastic. Remove the dough to a large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm corner until doubled in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove the dough to a lightly floured work surface and punch it down with your fists to deflate it. Cut the dough into 2 equal-sized portions. Roll out one of the portions out to fit the bottom of a greased, 11x17-inch baking pan. Place the dough in the baking pan and trim it to fit, saving the trimmings. Mix together the pineapple preserves and cinnamon and spread over the bottom dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
• Cut about 1/4 of the dough off the second doughball and set it aside. Roll the remaining dough out to fit the baking pan as a top for the semita. Lay the second layer over the pineapple filling and trim it to fit the pan. Press down the edges of the semita with a fork to seal. Knead the remaining dough and trimmings into a ball and roll it out to around 1/4-inch thick and about 10 inches long. Cut the dough into long strips about 1/4-inch wide.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Beat the remaining egg with the milk or water. Brush the top of the semita with the egg wash. Lay the strips of dough on the semita in a criss-cross pattern, trimming them to fit. Brush the dough strips with egg wash and sprinkle the whole top of the pastry with a liberal amount of sugar. Set the semita aside to rest for about 30 minutes.
• Poke the semita all over with a toothpick to prevent the pastry from overpuffing as it bakes. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the semita is golden brown on top. Remove and cool. Cut into 12 portions and serve with coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
• Variations:.
• Pineapple preserves is the most common jam filling, but try other tropical fruit jams such as mango or guava. Other good choices are fig, plum or raspberry preserves.
• Grate panela sugar over the top of the jam, or sprinkle it with brown sugar to sweeten it up a bit.

CREMA DE PINON

Steps:

• Butter a 10 x 6 inch or similar size rectangular baking dish with 2 1/2 inch sides and set aside.
• In a medium heavy saucepan, bring the milk to a boil, being careful not to let it boil over. Remove from the heat and immediately add 1/2 cup of the pine nuts, the orange zest, and the vanilla bean. Cover and let steep for 30 minutes, then strain out and discard the nuts and orange zest and return the mixture to a clean pan (wash and dry the vanilla bean and reserve to use again).
• Bring up almost to a boil over medium high heat and add the sugar. Reduce the heat to low and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Place the cornstarch-sugar mixture in a small bowl and stir 1/4 cup of the hot milk into it, stirring until it is a paste. Add the cornstarch mixture back into the hot milk and stir it in well. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, until the mixture thickens slightly.
• In a small bowl, add about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture to the egg yolks and whisk together well. Return this mixture to the pan and continue to cook, stirring and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan to be sure none of the mixture scorches. Cook until the mixture is a thick coating consistency and you can see the bottom of the pan as you stir. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 3/4 cup pine nuts.
• In a shallow bowl, combine the Grand Mariner and the orange juice. Dip whole ladyfingers into the mixture, soaking for about 2 seconds, then lay an even layer of them in the base of the pan. For the sides of the pan, break the ladyfingers in half, soak them in the juice mixture, and prop them all around the sides of the dish, cut side down, like a picket fence. Scoop the cream mixture into the prepared dish and spread it evenly. Garnish with pine nuts.
• Cool to room temperature and serve within 4 hours.