Apple With Pecan Tamale Recipes

SPICED APPLE-PECAN LOAF WITH PECAN PRALINE TOPPING

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously butter a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Whisk the flour and the next 4 ingredients to blend in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mix in the flour mixture. Add the apples, 2/3 cup pecans and raisins and stir until just combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, smooth the top. Bake until the top of the loaf is set, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile: stir the pecans, brown sugar and melted butter to blend for topping. Remove the pan from the oven and spoon the topping carefully over the top of the loaf. Return the pan to the oven and continue baking until a tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 25 minutes, longer. Cool the loaf in the pan on a rack about 10 minutes. Carefully turn the loaf out and cool completely. (Bread can be baked 3 days ahead. Cover tightly with plastic wrap.) For Mini Loaves: Brush 3 (5.72 x 3.94 x 1.88) inch aluminum loaf pans generously with butter. Divide batter among pan; smooth top. Bake until the top of the loaves are set, about 25 minutes. Carefully top the loaves with the pecan mixture, dividing evenly. Continue baking until a tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 20 minutes longer.

APPLE PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Roll out dough to a 12-inch round on a lightly floured work surface. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim edges, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold edges of dough under itself until flush with edge of dish. Crimp edges with fingers, the tines of a fork, or a spoon. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make crumb topping.
• Crumb Topping: Combine flour, pecans, brown sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Massage butter into flour mixture with your fingers until mixture clumps together and no dry flour remains. Press into bottom of bowl and refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Filling: In a large bowl, toss apples and pecans with flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt until evenly coated. Stir together lemon juice and vanilla, drizzle over apple mixture, and toss to evenly coat.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees with racks in middle and lower third positions. Place a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet on lower rack. Pour apple mixture into crust. Break up topping into large pieces and sprinkle evenly over filling. Bake on center rack until bubbly and crust is golden brown, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. (If crust and crumb topping brown too quickly, tent with foil.) Let cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

SWEET CINNAMON TAMALE WITH APPLES

Steps:

• For the apple compote: Set a medium saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and green apples. Saute until the apples soften, 1 to 2 minutes, and then add the raisins, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice. Add 1/4 cup of water and simmer until the apples are cooked through and the raisins are plumped, about 5 minutes. Set the compote aside to cool on a plate.
• For the tamales: Mix the masa harina, 1 1/4 cups water, butter, salt and agave into a thick paste. Fold the apple compote into the masa mixture.
• Set a corn husk out on a flat surface (double up or shingle 2 husks if they are small or have tears). Add 5 tablespoons of the masa mix into the center of the corn husk. Push the mixture to 1 inch from the side of the husk. Fold one edge of the husk to the center and then fold the other side to cover the entire tamale. Fold the ends over by 2 inches and tuck under to hold in place.
• Place a colander in large pot of boiling water, but do not let the colander touch the water. Place the tamales in the colander, cover and steam the tamales for 30 to 40 minutes.
• Serve the tamales topped with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel.

SWEET APPLE DESSERT TAMALES

Steps:

• Soak cornhusks in hot water at least 2 hours or over night before preparation.
• For filling, combine sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Pare apples and chop into bite sized pieces.
• Put apples in a large bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar as you add the apples.
• When you have 8 cups, put apples, water and butter into a saucepan.
• Cover and cook over low to medium heat, stirring once or twice, for 15-20 minutes or until apples are tender.
• For the masa, puree half the cinnamon apples in a food processor, reserving the remaining apples for the filling.
• With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter, baking powder, salt and sugar on medium high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Combine 1 cup of warm apple juice with 1 cup instant masa mix until just combined.
• Add half of the combined masa to butter mixture on medium speed until just incorporated. Add remaining masa mix and mix until just combined. Slowly add the pureed cinnamon apple to masa mixing on medium speed.
• The masa mix should have the appearance of cake batter. If not add additional apple juice or water.
• Refrigerate covered 15-20 minutes.
• Mix together the remaining cinnamon apples, golden raisins and walnuts.
• To assemble, lay out a few drained cornhusks. Add 1/4 cup tamale batter to the center of the cornhusks (roughly 2" from the square end and 1 1/2" from the tapered end) leaving a 1/2" on both sides and spread it out.
• Place a tablespoon of filling in the center of the masa. Roll one side inward forming a roll of masa around the filling, the roll other side together.
• Twist each end in opposite directions forming a tight cylindrical tube and tie the ends with a 1/4" strips torn from soaked cornhusks.
• Place tamales between two slightly moistened towels as they are formed to prevent them from drying out.
• To Steam: Line steamer bottom with cornhusks, place tamales in single layer and cover with slightly moist towel. Steam for about 25 minutes and allow to rest for 15 minutes more in the steamer for masa to set up prior to serving. When first finished steaming, they are the consistency of polenta of cream of wheat. As it "sets" it will firm up.
• Optional: Top with a scoop of ice cream and drizzle the hot tamales with caramel sauce.

ULTIMATE APPLE PECAN CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• To make the filling--In a 9-inch pie pan that's 2 inches deep (or a similar baking pan), toss the apples with the sugar to taste, cinnamon, and flour.
• To make the topping--In a medium bowl, mix together all the topping ingredients with your fingers or a pastry cutter until small pebbly pieces of butter are distributed throughout the mixture.
• Sprinkle the entire mixture over the apples.
• Bake until the topping is golden and the fruit is bubbling and tender, about 1 hour and 15 minute.
• for a large crisp and 1 hour for individual crisps.
• Cool slightly before serving.
• You can make individual crisps by dividing the filling and topping among six ramekins or individual gratin dishes.
• Serve with heavy cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Serves six.