FOOD STEAMER BASKET RECIPES

Steps:

• In a 5 qt Dutch oven, bring pork, water, onion, garlic and 1 1/2 salt to boil.
• Simmer covered, about 2 1/2 hours or until meat is very tender.
• Remove meat from broth and allow both meat and broth to cool. (Chilling the broth will allow you to easily remove the fat if you desire to do so).
• Shred the meat using 2 forks, discarding fat.
• Strain the broth and reserve 6 cups.
• In a large sauce pan, heat the red chili sauce and add meat; simmer, covered for 10 minutes.
• To make masa beat shortening on medium speed in a large bowl for 1 minute.
• In a separate bowl, stir together masa harina, baking powder and 2 teaspoons salt.
• Alternately add masa harina mixture and broth to shortening, beating well after each addition. (Add just enough broth to make a thick, creamy paste).
• In the mean time, soak corn husks in warm water for at least 20 minutes; rinse to remove any corn silk and drain well.
• To assemble each tamale, spread 2 tablespoons of the masa mixture on the center of the corn husk (each husk should be 8 inches long and 6 inches wide at the top. If husks are small, overlap 2 small ones to form one. If it is large, tear a strip from the side).
• Place about 1 tablespoon meat and sauce mixture in the middle of the masa.
• Fold in sides of husk and fold up the bottom.
• Place a mound of extra husks or a foil ball in the center of a steamer basket placed in a Dutch oven.
• Lean the tamales in the basket, open side up.
• Add water to Dutch oven just below the basket.
• Bring water to boil and reduce heat.
• Cover and steam 40 minutes, adding water when necessary.
• To freeze these for future meals, leave them in the husks and place them in freezer bags. To reheat, thaw and wrap in a wet paper towel and reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes for one or two or re-steam them just until hot.

Steps:

• Steam the potatoes in a steamer basket over a pan of boiling water for about 20 minutes or until completely tender. While the potatoes are still hot, peel off the skins – wear rubber gloves or spear each piece of potato with a fork and peel the skin off with a sharp knife – they should slide off easily.
• Put 150g/5½oz of the flour and the baking powder into a bowl, with plenty of salt and pepper. If you have a potato ricer, mash the still-hot potatoes straight into the flour. Alternatively, mash the potatoes until smooth and add to the flour. Add the egg and butter – the butter should melt into the potato. Mix until you have a soft dough. If it seems too soft and doesn’t hold together, add a little more flour.
• Knead the mixture briefly until smooth, then turn out onto a well-floured surface. Cut the dough into six equal pieces, then roll out to form rounds of about 12–15cm/4½–6in in diameter and 5mm/¼in thick.
• Heat a little butter in a frying pan over a medium heat – not too hot or the butter will burn and the potato scones will brown too quickly. Fry one round at a time, flipping it over when the underside is brown. It should take 2–3 minutes on each side. When all the rounds are cooked, cut each round into four pieces.
• Eat hot from the pan or reheat by toasting. Serve with butter.