TITLE: CHOCOLATE TAMALES W/ KAHLUA CARAMILIZED BANANAS
CATEGORY: DESERTS

MASA                                                                 
- ½ CUP CHILLED VEG SHORTENING          
- ½ CUP FIRMLY PACKED LIGHT BROWN SUGAR
- 1 WHOLE VANILLA BEAN, SPLIT LENGTHWISE
- 2 CUPS MASA HARINA
- ½ TEASPOON SALT
- ¾ CUP WHOLE MILK
- 1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER

KAHLUA BANANAS

  1. ¾ CUP UNSALTED BUTTER
  2. ¾ CUP FINELY PACKED LIGHT BROWN SUGAR
  3. 7 TO 8 BANANAS PEELED CUT INTO DIGIONAL SLICES
  4. ½ CUP KALUA LIQUER
  5. 2 TEASPOONS VANILLA EXTRACT

TAMALES

  1. 19 DRIED CORNHUSKS, SOAKED UTNIL SOFT ( 15 FOR TAMALES, 4 FOR STRIPS)
  2. 1 ½ CUPS SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS
  3. 1 CUP FRESH WHIPPED CREAM
  4. SHAVED SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE-GARNISH
  5. KAHLUA BANANAS

FOR THE MASA:

  1. IN AN ELECTRIC STAND MIXER FITTED W/ THE PADDLE ATTACHMENT.
  2. CREAM THE SHORTENING & BROWN SUGAR TOGETHER UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY.
  3. SCRAPE THE SEEDS FROM THE VANILLA BEAN WITH A PAIRING KNIFE AND ADD TO THE SHORTING MIXTURE. BEAT MIXTURE FOR ANOTHER 1 TO 2 MINUTES, THEN SET ASIDE UNTIL NEEDED.
  4. COMBINE THE MASA HARINA & SALT. ON MEDIUM SPEED, ADD ALTERNATIVELY ADD THE MASA HARINA MIXTURE AND THE MILK TO THE CREAMED SHORTENING TO MAKE A FIRM DOUGH. ADD THE BAKING POWDER AND BEAT ONE MORE MINUTE TO LIGHT & FLUFFY MASA.

FOR THE TAMALES:

  1. PLACE 2 TO 3 TEASPOONS OF MASA IN THE CENER OF THE SMOOTH SIDE OF THE CORN HUSK. USING THE BACK OF WET TABLESPOON MAKE INDENTION IN THE CENTER OF THE HUSK , SPREAD OUT AND 1 ½ TABLESPOONS SEMISWEET CHIPS.
  2. FOLD BOTH SIDES TIGHTLY AND TIE AT BOTH ENDS. STEAM TAMALES UNTIL MASA PULLS AWAY EASILY FORM THE CORN HUSK, ABOUT 40 TO 55 MINUTES.

FOR THE BANANAS:

  1. IN A LARGE SKILLET, HEAT THE BUTTER & BROWN SUGAR TOGETHER OVER MEDIUM HEAT UNTIL THE SUGAR IS MELTED.
  2. LOWER HEAT AND CONTINUE TO COOK UNTIL THE SUGAR BEGINS TO CARMLIZE, ABOUT 8 TO 10 MINUTES.
  3. ADD BANANAS, STIR KALUHA & VANILLA.
  4. SERVE HOT