costa rican coffee panna cotta with bittersweet chocolate-rum sauce

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
• 1/4 cup dark
• 1 1/4 cups whipping cream
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons dark colored corn syrup
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tablespoon dark
• 8 sprigs fresh mint for garnish

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Ready Time: 4 hrs 45 mins


• sprinkle the unflavored gelatin over 1/4 cup of dark and allow to soften for 5 minutes.
• meanwhile, stir together 1 1/4 cups of whipping cream, brown sugar, and espresso powder in a saucepan over medium-high heat. bring to a simmer, stirring until brown sugar has dissolved. remove from heat, then whisk in gelatin mixture until dissolved.
• whisk in the coconut milk, vanilla extract, and sour cream until smooth. evenly divide the mixture between eight 3/4 cup custard cups or molds, cover each with plastic wrap, and chill at least 4 hours to overnight.
• bring 3/4 cup whipping cream and corn syrup to a simmer over medium-high heat. once simmering, remove from heat, and stir in the chocolate until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. stir in 1 tablespoon of and set aside.
• to serve, run a knife around the edge of each mold, then set each cup into a shallow bowl of hot water for 10 seconds to loosen. invert the mold over a serving plate and remove the panna cotta. spoon chocolate sauce around each panna cotta and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Chocolate Dipped Mocha Rounds

Ingredients

• Servings: 5
• 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 tablespoons shortening

Recipe

• melt unsweetened chocolate squares in a heavy saucepan. cool slightly.
• in a large bowl beat 1/2 cup shortening and butter or margarine with an electric mixer on medium speed until butter is softened. add the sugar and brown sugar and beat until fluffy.
• dissolve the instant coffee crystals in the water. add the melted chocolate, egg and coffee to the butter mixture and beat well.
• stir flour, cinnamon and salt together and add to the butter mixture. cover and chill about 1 hour or until easy to handle.
• shape into two 7-inch long rolls. wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 6 hours or overnight.
• preheat oven to 350 degrees f.
• cut into 1/4-inch slices and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. bake for 10-12 minutes. remove to a wire rack and cool.
• melt the semisweet chocolate pieces and 3 tablespoons of shortening over low heat. dip on half of each cookie into the chocolate mixture. place on waxed paper until the chocolate is set.

Candied Carrots

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 pound carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons butter, diced
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper

Recipe

Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Ready Time: 40 mins


• place carrots in a pot of salted water. bring water to a boil, reduce heat to a high simmer and cook about 20 to 30 minutes. do not cook the carrots to a mushy stage!
• drain the carrots, reduce the heat to its lowest possible setting and return the carrots to the pan. stir in butter, brown sugar, salt and pepper. cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, until sugar is bubbly. serve hot!

Christmas Cake

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 2 (8 ounce) containers candied cherries
• 1 (8 ounce) container candied mixed citrus peel
• 2 cups raisins
• 1 cup dried currants
• 1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
• 2 (2.25 ounce) packages blanched slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 6 eggs
• 3/4 cup molasses
• 3/4 cup apple juice

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Ready Time: 6 hrs


• in a medium bowl, combine cherries, citrus peel, raisins, currants, dates, and almonds. stir in brandy; let stand 2 hours, or overnight. dredge soaked fruit with 1/2 cup flour.
• preheat oven to 275 degrees f (135 degrees c). grease an 8x8x3 inch fruit cake pan, line with parchment paper, and grease again. in a small bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, baking soda, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
• in a large bowl, cream butter until light. gradually blend in brown sugar and eggs. mix together molasses and apple juice. beat into butter mixture alternately with flour mixture, making 4 dry and 3 liquid additions. fold in floured fruit. turn batter into prepared pan.
• bake in preheated oven for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean. remove from pan, and lift off paper. cool cake completely, then wrap loosely in waxed paper. store in an airtight container.

Coffee And Cream Cocktail

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 4 ice cubes, or as desired
• 1 1/2 fluid ounces coffee-flavored liqueur
• 1 1/2 fluid ounces irish cream liqueur

Recipe

Preparation Time: 5 mins Ready Time: 5 mins


• fill a small glass with ice cubes; pour in coffee-flavored liqueur and irish cream liqueur. stir well.

Extra Caffeinated Brownies

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 8 cups strong black coffee
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ready Time: 1 hr 45 mins


• bring coffee to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat and reduce to 2/3 cup of a thick coffee concentrate, stirring constantly to avoid burning, about 30 minutes. set aside and let cool to room temperature.
• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c). grease an 8x8-inch baking pan.
• stir sugar and melted butter together in a bowl until smooth; beat in eggs, followed by vanilla extract. stir the coffee concentrate and cocoa powder into the wet ingredients until no lumps remain. whisk flour, salt, and baking powder together until thoroughly combined in a separate bowl; stir flour mixture into wet ingredients to make a smooth batter. spread batter into the prepared baking pan.
• bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out with moist crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. let cool and cut into bars.

Avocado Paletas

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 avocados, peeled and pitted
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 5 mins Ready Time: 14 hrs 25 mins


• bring water and sugar to a boil together in a saucepan; stir continually until sugar dissolves. set aside to cool.
• pour sugar-water mixture into a blender with avocados, lime juice, and salt; blend until smooth. pour the mixture into 10 ice pop molds.
• freeze until solid yet still soft, about 2 hours; insert wooden sticks and continue freezing until firm, 12 to 24 hours.