Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Las Posadas Recipes Cookie Nachos & Mexican Hot Punch For Hispanic Christmas Festival



Good Food



This is a sponsored post

#MisPosadas


Navidad Cookie Nachos, MommyBlogExpert.com
The Navidad Cookie Nachos and Hot Mexican Christmas Punch super easy and fun-to-make recipes you'll find below are my twist on a mashup of Mexican and American traditions. These were created especially for the festival of Las Posadas which starts tonight. 


Patricia Reyes & Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com
This 9-day celebration leading up to Christmas, which has its original roots in Spain, has mostly been practiced in Mexico for the past 400 years and, more recently, in Hispanic communities here in the U.S. The holiday's name, Las Posadas, originates from the Spanish word posada which literally means lodging, referencing the Catholic and Christian tradition that each night represents one of the nine months Mary was pregnant with Jesus.


Image by Norma Perez, MommyBlogExpert.com
Several traditions are particularly popular during the celebration. In addition to reenacting the scene at the inn in Bethlehem with modern celebrants dressed as Mary and Joseph along with shepherds and angels, everyone sings Christmas carols. Also, while the adults watch, the kids use a big stick to swing blind folded to break open a star shaped pinata to reveal the fruit and candy inside. 


Image by Patricia Reyes, MommyBlogExpert.com
However, the true highlight for many is the fantastic feast that follows which includes typical holiday cuisine like tamales, various dishes made with flour and corn tortillas and red and green salsas -- both staples of Hispanic cooking -- and a hot spicy fruit drinks. So it that spirit I created some brand new recipes to make celebrating Las Posadas even better this year.

Recipes


Navidad Christmas Cookie Nachos
MommyBlogExpert.com
This recipe is a mashup of two favorite Mexican and American traditions: nachos and decorated Christmas cookies. These "cookies" aren't sweet though, after you've cut out the festive holiday tortilla shapes they're fried in oil. Then you serve these to guests on a platter as a decorate-your-own nachos appetizer along with guacamole and sour cream for them to spread as "icing" and then garnish with chopped peppers for "sprinkles."

Time to Make: 30 minutes
Makes 8 Servings

Ingredients
Directions

1. Using Christmas cookie cutters of your choice, cut tortillas into holiday shapes. Use metal, not plastic cookie cutters to cut as neatly and easily as possible.


MommyBlogExpert.com
2. Heat several tablespoons of corn oil in frying pan. When pan is hot, place shapes into pan in a single layer with space in between and fry on both sides 10-20 seconds till light brown. You'll do this in batches, removing each as they are done and placing them on paper towels to drain and cool.


MommyBlogExpert.com
3. Line up nachos on a holiday platter as you would Christmas cookies, grouping shapes together by type for a beautiful presentation.


MommyBlogExpert.com
4. Serve with bowls of guacamole, sour cream, HERDEZ salsas and chopped red, yellow, orange and green fresh peppers inviting your guests to decorate their own Cookie Nachos.


Ponche Navideno - Hot Mexican Punch

MommyBlogExpert.com

Now that you've made those yummy Cookie Nachos, you're going to need a drink to wash them down. There are seemingly countless versions of this popular and delicious hot spicy punch which looks like fruit salad soup when you're making it. In fact, it smells even more wonderful than it looks, and you'll be tempted to taste a spoonful during cooking. Typically tejocotes, a crab apple like fruit, and piloncillo, dark brown sugar shaped into cones, and fresh sugar cane are used in this drink. But since those are often difficult to find here in the U.S. unless you live near a Hispanic food market, you can substitute those ingredients for others like I have done here.

Time to Make: 1 hour
Makes 8 Servings

Ingredients
  • 1 Orange, whole
  • 1 Tangerine, whole
  • 2 Apples
  • 1/2 cup Prunes
  • 1/4 cup Dried Apricots
  • 1/4 cup Raisins
  • 2 tablespoons coarse chopped Pecans
  • 1/4 cup Whole Cloves
  • 1/2 cup Raw Sugar 
  • 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon or 1 Cinnamon stick
  • Pinch of fresh ground Black Pepper
  • 1/2 cup Brandy (optional)
  • 1 Orange sliced for garnish
MommyBlogExpert.com
Directions

1. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a 3 quart pot.

2. Prepare the fruit while the water is heating. Cut the dry fruits in half. Wash all fresh fruit well. For the pear, remove stems, core and cut into chunks. Do the same, after peeling, with the apples. Leave the tangerine and orange whole and stud the later with the whole cloves.

MommyBlogExpert.com
3. When the water comes to a boil, add all the prepared fruits. Simmer for 30 minutes.

4. After the timer rings, add the cinnamon and ground pepper and cook 30 minutes more. 5 minutes before the end of boiling add the sugars.


MommyBlogExpert.com
5. Ladle the hot punch into glasses, making sure each has some of chunks of the different fruit. Garnish with fresh orange slices for a festive look and extra color. Add a splash of brandy to each cup, if desired. Serve and get ready, this is so good, they'll probably be coming back for seconds.


Spicy Watermelon Margarita, Image by Herdez


About HERDEZ
HERDEZ offers a range of salsas and sauces for authentic Mexican and South American dishes. To learn more about their products and many more delicious Mexican food recipes as well as How to Host a Traditional Mexican Posada, visit the official website, as well as follow the brand on Instagram to participate in the Share in the Magic of #MisPosadas.


MommyBlogExpert.com

#MisPosadas Promotion
To participate simply follow HERDEZ Traditions on Instagram and answer the questions each each using the hashtag #MisPosadas. Prizes you can win include a Grand Prize dinner prepared by a personal chef for up to 4 people at your house. Other prizes up for grabs are a $250 gift basket, a $200 gift basket and custom t-shirts. Contest runs from through 1/8/16. Official Rules.




FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, however opinions here are completely my own. See complete FTC disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

34 comments:

  1. Is a great idea to do for Christmas. I really like the idea of that. It looks delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh yum! We are MAJOR fans of Mexican food in our house, so I will have to try these.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is the most interesting idea for cookies I've ever heard of! I think these would be great with cheese "frosting".

    ReplyDelete
  4. These cookie nachos are such a great idea. I make my own nacho chips all the time and never even thought about doing something like this. My son would love this.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This looks like a great tradition. The nachos and the hot Mexican punch look quite tasty too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great idea with the tortillas. I need to try that, I bet my kids would just think it's incredible! - Jeanine

    ReplyDelete
  7. Whaaaaaaat? These look ridiculously amazing! I might have to shift my lunch plans for Christmas and make some of these...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the idea of Christmas cookie nachos! Seriously, brilliant! I want to make these for my party!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a fun idea on the nachos! My kids would love that!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a fun blend of holiday traditions. I've never heard of Las Posadas, but I'm all in when it involves such delicious food.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The Hot Mexican Punch sounds delicious. I will have to make some for our get together this weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can just imagine how amazing the house will smell when i make the Mexican Hot Punch. I am excited to give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is really cool! I didn't know about Las Posadas traditions! Your recipes sound delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  14. That sounds like a great way to make nachos! My kids would love them!

    ReplyDelete
  15. How fun. I never thought about making shaped tortillas for stuff. That looks fun and festive.

    ReplyDelete
  16. These look delicious!! I love the idea of using cookie cutters to make shaped chips.

    ReplyDelete
  17. These are some really great ideas! I'm going to have to try some at a party.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This looks appetizing and easy to follow.
    I love that you took lots of great pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I had not heard of Las Posadas. I found it fascinating it represented the 9 months Mary was pregnant.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh what a fun idea. I mean, who doesn't love tortilla chips and you just made them so festive. Thanks so much for sharing...

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love the way you added the cloves to the orange. The nachos look great and the punch sounds amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a great tradition! I love learning about other cultures and how they celebrate. The nacho's would be such fun to serve at a party.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I totally thought those were thin cookies at first. LOL. the nachos definitely makes more sense. Such a cute spread and idea. Not sure if I'm brave enough to try the drink... maybe for cinco de mayo next year though!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Brilliant idea ! I love how you think about cookies !

    ReplyDelete
  25. You have great recipes here! I am going to try one of these for our holiday party.

    ReplyDelete
  26. It looks like you've been having a lovely time. I love that you made nachos out of the holiday themed nachos.

    ReplyDelete
  27. This looks like such a wonderful family gathering! I would love to learn how to make tamales. But in the meantime - I will enjoy your nacho cookies!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I will have to get what i need to make these recipes. The cookie nachos are going to be a big hit in my house.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Whenever my husband and I go out to eat nachos are on my list! I love them so much and have never created them from scratch at home.

    ReplyDelete
  30. The Christmas nachos look so good. They would be perfect for an appetizer on Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  31. The cookie nachos look so cute and the Hot Mexican Punch sounds delicious. I have to try these recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Looks very good. I love making southern food.

    ReplyDelete
  33. My girls would love that first recipe. Maybe so much that they'll just make some for me!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I spent many years living in the southwest and grew to love the food and traditions. Great post.

    ReplyDelete