Good Eats

Courtesy of fellow Guatemala adoptive mother, Jenn, are some simple Guatemalan recipes for you brave of tongue!

Chicken stew from Coban, Alta Verapaz
4 lbs chicken
11 small tomatoes
1 whole garlic bulb
2 onions
6 cups water
1 cup tomatillos
1 tablespoon
1/4 teaspoon salt cloves
(The recipe doesn't specify how much. I think we used about a 1/4 teaspoon.)
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon red chile powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped mint
1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Wash chicken and place in pot with 6 cups water, onion, 5 tomatoes, and garlic bulb and boil for 25 minutes. Cool and reserve the broth and onion. Peel garlic and tomatoes. Bone chicken and chop meat into 1/2 inch pieces. Toast in skillet 10 minutes 6 tomatoes, tomatillos, and quartered onion. Cool and peel tomatoes. Place the boiled onion, tomatoes, and garlic with the toasted tomatoes, tomatillos, and onion in a blender with the salt and blend. Combine the sauce from the blender, chicken broth, chicken meat, remaining spices and herbs in a large pot and cook for 25 minutes. Accompany with rice. Makes 8 servings.


Tres Leches (Three Milks) Cakes
1 package yellow cake mix (w/out pudding in it)
1/3 cup oil
3 eggs
1 cup water
¾ cup milk
¾ cup evaporated milk
½ cup sweetened condensed milk
1-16 ounce Cool Whip
16 ounces fresh strawberries (optional)
1-1 ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

Prepare cake mix with oil, eggs & water according to package directions. Spread in 2 round, greased & floured cake pans. Bake according to package directions. Cool. Remove from pans. When fully cooled, use serrated knife & slice ¼” off top of each layer. Combine 3 milks, blending well.(I use a liquid measuring cup to keep track of how much I use, you’ll have ½ cup left over) Place 1st layer on cake plate, cut side up. Carefully drizzle ¾ cup milk mixture over top to soak in evenly (tilt plate, use ladle). Spread top & sides with Cool Whip. Layer with strawberries & pecans if desired. Place top layer, cut side up on top. Drizzle with ¾ cup milk. Spread with Cool Whip. Layer berries & pecans. Chill in refrigerator.