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Banana Leaves

Preparing for WrappingTo prepare banana leaves for wrapping, cut them into pieces large enough to wrap the piece of meat or poultry you will be cooking. Simmer them in hot water to cover for 15 minutes to make them pliable. They are frustrating to work with since they tear so easily. Use a knife or scissors to cut them. When the leaves have cooled enough to handle, place a piece of meat or poultry on top of each of them. Add whatever else the recipe calls for to the package. Fold and tie the leaves.If purchased fresh, cut away and discard the tough center ribs of the leaves.If you have bought prepared banana leaves, hold them over the burner of a gas or electric stove for a few seconds on each side. This awakens their natural aroma and flavor.

Coconut
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Rajas
RajasChar and peel the chiles, then cut them into strips about 1/2 inch wide and 2 inches long. (Upload by user)

Refried beans
Refried BeansRemove beans from the juice they have been cooked in and mash them with a potato masher, leaving some unmashed. Cook them in a cast iron skillet with some bacon grease. Season with garlic and salt and pepper to taste.To make canned refried beans extra special, add abo (Upload by user)

Ristras
RistrasDark red chiles that have been dried and strung together with thread, they are completely edible as long as they are not sprayed with insecticide. Never ship them in plastic. They may rot or become infested with insects. (Upload by user)

Roma tomatoes
Roma TomatoesDo not refrigerate as they will lose their flavor.They are excellent in salsa. (Upload by user)

Self-rising flour
Self Rising FlourTo make, add 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt to each cup of flour called for in the recipe. (Upload by user)

Shredded meat
Shredded MeatBasic method is to cut meat into large pieces, then cover it with water. Add salt, onion, garlic and peppercorns, then simmer until it is just tender. Let the meat cool off in the broth. Drain and shred. (Upload by user)

Sierra cheese
Sierra CheeseRomano or Parmesan cheese can be substituted. (Upload by user)

Squash blossoms
Squash BlossomsThey are extremely perishable, so use them the day they are picked. The squash blossoms called for in Southwestern recipes come from winter squash, not zucchini. (Upload by user)

Stock
StockPreheat oven to about 400 degrees F. Put cleaned beef, chicken or fish into a large baking pot. Add any fresh vegetables you care to, including carrot tops, if desired. Carrots, celery, and bell peppers are good to use. Onions do not need to be peeled. Place in the oven and brown fo (Upload by user)
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Beans
BeansuCooking Dried Beans/uBefore cooking dried beans, rinse them well and pick them over for stones or inferior beans.If more water is needed when cooking beans, always add very hot or boiling water as cold water will discolor the beans.More flavor can be obtain (Upload by user)
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Superfine sugar
Superfine SugarTo make, put white granulated sugar into a blender and pulse for a few seconds. (Upload by user)
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Tamales
TamalesTo assemble, hold a prepared corn husk flat on one hand, smooth side up. If you need to overlap two husks, have the wide ends in opposite directions (so that it forms a rectangle) and spread the dough over the husks together, just as if they were one husk. With a rubber spatula, s (Upload by user)
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Tamarind
TamarindMust be soaked before using. Separate the tamarind pods, pulling away and discarding as much of the outer skin as you can. Cover with water and let the pulp soak for at least an hour (overnight, if possible). Squeeze the pulp well to extract the juice or rub as much pulp as you c (Upload by user)
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Tomatillos
TomatillosSelect tomatillos with their husks still drawn tightly around them. Husk and rinse off the sticky residue before using them. (Upload by user)
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Tomatoes
TomatoesRoasting tomatoes gives them an exotic flavor. Roasting works best with ripe, red tomatoes. To roast and peel tomatoes, set the oven to broil. Arrange cored tomatoes with their top surfaces about 5 inches from the heat. Broil, turning occasionally, until the skin is blistered and (Upload by user)
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