La Piña en la Cocina

Embracing my Mexican heritage and sharing all the wonderful flavors, colors and foods I grew up with. Join me on this journey as I also learn new foods and cooking techniques. Dedicated to my parents Ramiro and Blanca.

Masa For Tamales

Masa For Tamales

Here we are! Right in the middle of tamal season! Masa for tamales is much easier than you think. It's not an exact science, but more like mixing it up a little until you like the results. The masa for tamales recipe featured here is prepared with masa harina corn flour. I grew up enjoying fresh ground masa directly from the tortilla factories in Los Angeles and Houston. Unfortunately for me, it's not available to me all of the time. Give Masa Harina a Chance! The masa harina works ...

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Fresh Corn Tamal with Cheese, Green Chile and Jalapeño

Fresh corn tamales with red and green salsa

I know for most, tamales are just prepared at Christmas time. But, for me, I crave tamales year round. I crave them more when the fall season arrives and the thought of tamales steaming on the stove top is all I can think about. Late last year, I experimented with using fresh corn in my sweet tamale dough. I really liked the results! For this recipe, I decided to make it savory instead of sweet. My favorite cheese varieties to use for these tamales are Oaxaca, fresco, manchego, mozzarella or ...

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Chile Colorado Pork Tamales(Tamal de Puerco)

Chile colorado pork tamales. The word colorado is used to describe the red, dried chiles used in this recipe and not the state of Colorado. If I had a nickel for every tamal I helped assemble while I was growing up at home, I would have quite a savings account, lol! This is truly the one tamal recipe that I remember the most from my childhood. The only difference is that I am using masa harina to prepare the masa because that is all that is available to me. These tamales are also called tamales ...

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Calabaza en Miel. Pumpkin in Piloncillo Syrup

Pumpkin in Syrup

Pumpkin)cooked in piloncillo(natural cane sugar) is also known as calabaza en tacha. The name tacha is in reference to the cauldrons that the sugar was produced in. This is the sugar used to prepare the syrup and the name tacha(not tacho) became synonymous with this recipe. Most people simple say calabaza en miel(in syrup) or endulzada(sweetened) . Pumpkins are not just for Halloween! Most of us see a fresh calabaza(pumpkin) and automatically think of Halloween or fall season. The fact ...

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Masa For Tamales

Masa For Tamales

Here we are! Right in the middle of tamal season! Masa for tamales is much easier than you think. It's not an exact science, but more like mixing it up a little until you like the results. The masa ...

Read More

Chile Colorado Pork Tamales(Tamal de Puerco)

Chile colorado pork tamales. The word colorado is used to describe the red, dried chiles used in this recipe and not the state of Colorado. If I had a nickel for every tamal I helped assemble while I ...

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Tamachile garnished with salsa served with rice and beans

Tamachile!

It's a tamal! It's a chile relleno! It's a tamachile! Two of my favorite recipes in one! Last year I prepared a similar tamal with a whole picadillo stuffed chile relleno inside. It was the size of a ...

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Suadero Tacos

What is suadero? It's pink, looks like pork, but it's not pork. It's beef! Looks like brisket, but it's not quite the same texture. It's delicious! It's often referred to as rose meat. Finally, I ...

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Menudo Rojo

You mention the word menudo rojo and you either get a smile or a yuck face, lol! I have to say that menudo is not for everyone. I grew up eating menudo and currently have a pot on the stove top as I ...

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