Guava Raisin Spread Recipes

GUAVA AND MANGO SHAKE

Steps:

• Put all ingredients, except mint, into blender. Puree until well blended.
• Serve with sprig of mint.

GUAVA BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• For the guava bread pudding: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan with the butter.
• In a large bowl, combine the brioche, 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, and the white sugar, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, milk, eggs, golden raisins and guava paste. Mix well. Transfer to the prepared baking pan.
• Bake until brown on top, about 45 minutes. Cool on a rack.
• For the marshmallow-vanilla cream sauce: Meanwhile, melt the marshmallows in a nonstick skillet over low heat. Add the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Continue to cook over low heat, stirring, until the sauce comes together.
• To serve, invert the bread pudding onto plate and spoon some sauce over the top.

FRESH GUAVA LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• To make the cake layers, position one rack in the top third and another rack in the bottom third of the oven, and preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly spray three 9-inch nonstick cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk the eggs and vanilla together in another bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter in a large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add the granulated sugar, beating until well blended. Add the egg mixture in three additions, beating until well blended after each addition. Then beat in the flour mixture in three additions alternately with the buttermilk, scraping down the inside of the bowl occasionally.
• Divide the batter among the prepared cake pans. Bake for 40 minutes, or until the layers are puffed and a tester inserted into the centers comes out clean. Transfer to wire racks and let the cake layers cool completely in the pans. Invert the cakes onto the racks. (The cake layers can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.)
• To make the guava filling, combine the guavas, 3/4 cup water, and the granulated sugar in a medium-size heavy saucepan set over medium heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes, or until the guavas begin to break and are tender. Drain the guavas, reserving the syrup. Cool both separately.
• Seed and coarsely chop half of the guavas (they may fall apart slightly). Set the chopped guavas aside. Put the seeds in a blender and add the remaining guavas, the cream cheese, and 1 cup of the reserved syrup. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Strain the mixture into a large bowl, whisking the mixture in the strainer to extract as much of the liquid as possible. (Discard the solids.) Gently mix in the chopped guavas.
• Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on a platter. Brush 3 tablespoons of the remaining reserved syrup over the cake. Spread half of the guava filling over the top. Top with a second cake layer, brush with 3 tablespoons syrup, and spread with the remaining guava filling. Top with the third cake layer. Refrigerate until ready to frost. (Reserve the remaining syrup for another use; see page 218.)
• To make the cream cheese frosting, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar. Cover and refrigerate for 25 minutes, or until firm enough to spread.
• Spread the frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Coat the sides of the cake with the pistachios. (The cake can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Cut into slices, and serve.

GUAVA PRESERVES

Steps:

• Place the guavas in a large pot and fill with enough water to cover, about 2 quarts. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat for about 30 minutes. Drain fruit and pass through a strainer or food mill to turn into pulp.
• Place the pulp in a stainless steel or copper pot and stir in 4 cups of sugar and orange juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is thick enough to peel off of the bottom of the pan.
• Cover the surface of a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan with about half of the remaining sugar. Pour the hot guava mixture onto it and sprinkle the remaining sugar over the top. Let it cool to room temperature. When cooled, cut into squares and wrap in dried plantain leaves if you like. You could wrap in waxed paper or cellophane if the leaves are not available.

CINNAMON AND RAISIN SPREAD

Steps:

• Place fat free cream cheese, cottage cheese, cinnamon and white sugar in a food processor. Blend until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in raisins. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until serving.

CREAMY GUAVA SPREAD

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add jelly; mix well. Cover.
• Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
• Serve with Cuban crackers and cut-up assorted fresh fruit.

GUAVA-RAISIN SPREAD

Steps:

• Boil raisins and water until water is absorded, mixing well.
• Stir in other ingredients.
• Re-heat, mixing well.
• Cool then store in refridgerator.
• Makes about 2 2/3 cups.