Mexican Pinata Pockets Recipes

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE PINATA CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease four 6-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cayenne. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, vanilla and eggs. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and then stir in the coffee.
• Pour the batter into the cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Begin checking for doneness at 23 minutes. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn the cakes onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
• For the frosting: Beat together the powdered sugar and butter in a large bowl until creamy. Add the heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon and salt and beat to combine.
• For the assembly: Once the cakes are cooled, use a biscuit cutter to cut out 2- to 3-inch circles from the centers of 2 of the layers. (Use these circles to make a mini cake or just eat them.) Place one of the uncut layers on a plate or cake board and spread on a layer of frosting. Stack up the 2 cut layers on top of that with a layer of frosting in between. Fill the hole to the top with the candy-coated sunflower seeds or your favorite candy. Frost the top of the cake, then top it with the remaining uncut cake layer and frost it all over.

MEDITERRANEAN PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• In a small bowl mix together the yogurt, parsley, hot sauce, cumin, and salt and pepper, to taste.
• Slice the top off of each pita pocket. Fill each pocket with 2 slices of brisket, a quarter of the pickled cucumbers and drizzle with the yogurt mixture. Arrange on a serving platter and serve.

ROUND 2 RECIPES -BEEF KEBOB PITA POCKETS

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat and spray pan with nonstick cooking spray. Grill kebabs 3 minutes per side until medium-rare.
• In a small bowl combine cucumbers and leftover reserved yogurt marinade.
• Slice the top off the pita pockets. Fill the pockets with the beef, couscous and yogurt cucumber mixture. Place on serving dishes and serve.
• In a large bowl whisk together canola oil, garlic, yogurt, cumin, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Reserve half the marinade, in a covered bowl, and refrigerate. Add beef cubes to remaining marinade, cover and refrigerate for anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.
• Preheat grill pan or outdoor grill to medium high heat. Be sure to oil the grill surface before grilling the kebabs.
• Thread beef cubes and onion pieces onto skewers, alternating 3 pieces of beef and onion per skewer. Set aside extra beef cubes. Place skewers on the grill pan and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare.
• Place kebabs on a serving platter along with Spicy Couscous. Drizzle with some of the reserved marinade and serve.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Saute garlic with red pepper flakes for 2 minutes being careful not to burn garlic. Add the chicken broth, turn up heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Stir in couscous, cover and remove from the heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and fluff with fork. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

CHEESE AND GUAVA POCKETS

Steps:

• Working with 1 empanada wrapper at a time, cut the dough down the center to make 20 half circles.
• Onto 1 half of each half circle, leaving a narrow boarder around the rim to pinch, add 1/2-ounce each guava paste and queso blanco.
• Using a finger dipped in water, trace the edges of the half circles to moisten the dough. Fold uncovered half of the dough over the filling, making sure to press out all the air as you work. The final product should resemble a triangle with 1curved side. Using the tines of a fork, dipped in flour, if needed, crimp the sides to seal. Repeat with remaining 19 pastries.
• Heat 1-inch of oil in a heavy-bottom skillet to 360 degrees F.
• Fry the pastries, in batches, until golden, about 2 minutes. Flip and fry 2 minutes more. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain, then transfer to a serving platter. Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with honey to serve.