Chocolate with a Twist! -{Mole Poblano}-

In my constant search of a authentic recipes across the world, nothing sounded more intriguing than the Mexican Mole Poblano, which is a version of the many kinds of mole (which is basically a sauce) from Pueblo, Mexico.

Mole has been regarded as the national pride and culinary touchstone of Mexican cooking. Mole is often the dish of choice at large celebrations. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of this traditional meal. There is however a legend which dates the origin of mole to Mexican colonial times. According to this legend, mole originated in the great kitchens of the convents found in the state of Puebla in Mexico. These convents perfected and strengthened Mexican culinary arts given that they frequently had to wine and dine important religious and civil figures. The legend states that during a particular occasion Juan de Palafox the viceroy and archbishop of Puebla visited his diesis. A banquet at one of the convents was to be celebrated in his honor therefore all of the cooks in the religious community worked especially hard preparing the dishes which were to be served that night. The head cook was brother Pascual, he spent all day running throughout the kitchen giving orders. As the story goes brother Pascual was so nervous that he started scorning his assistants for having such a messy kitchen. He put all of the ingredients which were scattered throughout the kitchen on a tray and as he rushed to put them away he tripped directly in front of a couple of turkeys which were just about ready to be served. He dropped chiles, a piece of chocolate and all of the rest of spices on the turkey ruining the banquet’s main course. Brother Pascual was so distressed by his predicament that he started praying with all of his faith, just then they announced that the guests would be taking their place at the table. Minutes later he was in awe when all the guests were complementing him on the dish which was accidentally created.
This legend is so popular that in small towns you can still hear housewives asking San Pascual for help. Most likely mole was not created by accident, it is probably a result of a long and arduous process which began in pre-Hispanic America and was perfected during Mexican colonial times when Mexican dishes were enriched with ingredients from Asia and Europe. Many regions of Mexico came up with their own variations of mole, which is how mole poblano, mole negro de Oaxaca and mole amarillito del sureste among moles many others came about.

Recipe for Mole Poblano

Ingredients:
• 1/2 lb. Ancho chiles, toasted lightly
• 2-1/4 lbs. Poblano chiles, roasted, peeled, seeded
• 9 oz. fresh Jalapenos, roasted, peeled, seeded
• 2-1/2 cups tomatillos, crushed
• 1/2 mole spice mixture (recipe below)
• 1-1/4 oz. garlic, peeled
• 3 oz. vegetable oil
  
• 8 oz. raisins, fried in oil 5 seconds
• 8 oz. apricots, dried, fried in oil 5 seconds
• 3 oz. sesame seeds, toasted
• 12 oz. almonds, sliced, toasted
• 3 oz. pepitas, toasted
• 8 oz. Ibarra chocolate, chopped
• 1-1/4 gal chicken stock
• 7 oz. corn tortilla chips, fried crisp
• 1 qt. water

Procedure:
1. Weigh and measure all ingredients
2. Soak ancho chiles in hot water for at least 30 minutes
3. Deep fry the poblano and jalapeno chiles for 2-3 minutes to blister. Cool and peel. Seed.
4. Seed ancho chiles and save seeds. Toast seeds.
5. Make the mole spice mixture recipe.
6. While spice mixture cools, toast sesame seeds, almonds, and pepitas in separate pans. Do not blacken or burn.
7. Fry and cool raisins and apricots.
8. Mix almonds, pepitas, raisins, and apricots in a lg. mixing bowl and mix very evenly. Place in food processor a little at a time until you have a granola type consistency.
9. Grind sesame seeds and spice mixture in spice grinder until you have a fine powder.
10. Place corn chips in food processor and chop until very fine.
11. Place the 3 chiles in food processor and blend until you have a thick paste. Add water as needed to achieve thick paste.
12. Melt Ibarra chocolate un a double boiler.
13. Now you should have: a) a bowl of chile paste, b) a bowl of nuts and fruits, c) a bowl of spices and sesame seed powder, and d) a bowl of finely chopped corn chips
14. In a large stainless steel bowl place spice and sesame seed powder, corn chips, and tomatillos; blend until you have a smooth mixture.
15. Put vegetable oil in a large shallow pot over medium heat. When oil is very hot, add chile paste and cook for 2 minutes while stirring constantly. Add tomatillo and spice mixture. Stir constantly for 3 more minutes. Note: adjust heat as needed.
16. Add chicken stock and set heat to low. Add fruit and nut mixture breaking apart while placing in the sauce.
17. With large whisk stir sauce until you have a nice, smooth consistency.
18. Add chocolate while continuing to stir sauce with a large whisk. Don't let ingredients settle to bottom of pot and burn!!
19. When sauce has reached a smooth constisency, set heat on very low and let simmer for 8-10 minutes; add water as needed and stir occasionally.
20. Let cool. Place in plastic containers. Refrigerate.

Mole Spice Mixture

Ingredients:
• 1 oz. Coriander seeds
• 1-1/2 oz. ancho chile seeds
• 1 oz. black peppercorns
• 1/2 oz. cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 oz. anise seed
• 1/2 oz. cumin seed, whole
• 1-1/2 tsp. allspice
• 1 oz. cloves, whole

Procedures:
1. Weigh and measure all ingredients
2. Place all ingredients in shallow pan or sheet
3. Set in 500 degree oven for 5-6 minutes.
4. Don't let spices burn!
5. Shake spices every couple of minutes
6. Set spices aside to cool

If you really like it but dont have the time. I suggest you go to Maria Bonita's Taco Shop in Dubai :)

Tagged by M

1. What does "love" mean to you?

I think love is a personal feeling that no one can describe fully. It is a feeling of wanting something so bad and never to let go. Love in a relationship should be expressed in one thing RESPECT.

2. What does "marriage" mean to you?

Marriage is the completion of ones life. An essential part of the circle of life. It is sharing and loving and understanding and helping. It provided a mother when a mother is lost. It provides a father when a father is lost. Marriage make you stronger, it makes you determined, it makes you love life.

3. Do you beleive in 'love at first site'?

Well only I know a few stories of grandparents here and there who died, which happen to have been hooked together throu the so called "love at first site"

4. How many children would you like?

Ideally 4, but then I would have to think whether I can afford it, and by that I mean sending them to private schools, travelling around, college, car, etc.

5. If given the opportunity, what is the one song that you would sing for me on my wedding day?

Mmmm tough one. I'm a bit claustrophobic, so the idea of having a single song that I like makes my world smaller. I would rather write the song that I would sing.

6. What is your favorite holiday destination?

My favorite holdiay would be in a place I havent heard about. The joy of discovery! Next on the list South America.

7. What three qualities you would look for in a woman?

Honest, Intelligent, Talkable.

8. What are the three qualities and three bad habits that you have?

Qualities: Honest, Respectful, Friendly
Bad Habits: Bad listener, Impatient, Moody

9. Did you have any previous relationships?

Yes

10. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

Married with children living in a house and being a successful entrepreneur.

Memorable Meals

There are alot of good meals,but only the ones served in a good setting or with a nice view are memorable. Eating is no longer a function of survival (for the the fortunate ones with a good income) but rather a lifestyle. We eat to enjoy (again I am not inffering that I am fortunate and with a good income ;p), we eat to have a conversation, to celebrate, or for some who are saddened or depressed see it as a way out, almost. I am sure that some of you had very memorable meals, whether for a birthday or for any other occassion or simply by accident. I could imagine a person having the best meal of his life being stranded in a small sea side mountain village in Mexico eating freshly made fish tacos, or in a south Indian jungle eating rice cooked in bamboo and served with rasam. Whatever it is I am sure you have something to share.

This is a strange meal of deep fried soft shell crabs in a bed of fried dried chillis. The chillis are not meant to be eaten! its just a flavor enhancer. This meal was served on the 24th floor Hutang restaurant in Kowloon facing Hong Kong which specializes in Szechuan regional Chinese cuisine. Although this wasnt the best dish, it was picture worthy! FYI the best dish I had was the steamed fish covered with an "ocean" of fried chopped garlic, crushed peanuts and chilli. Yummmy

Kuwaits Best Food Joints

Since I am a foodie and dont care much about service and all (at the moment) I would like to point out the best of the best restaurants serving the best food. Here it goes:

• Best Indian : Mughal Mahal - Although the restaurant has very good food, I have had better in India and the states beleive it or not!
• Best Kebab : Marafie Restaurant and Sweets - There are many varieties of kebab in Kuwait. There are shamee (levantine style like kabab-ji), Iraqi and Persian. This restaurant serves the juiciest and tastiest persian kebab in Kuwait! but you have to eat it on the spot.
• Best Pizza : La Piazza - This is one of the few places in Kuwait serving authentic italian food. The pizza is terrific with thin crispy crust and mouth watering toppings.
• Best Burger : B+F Burger Boutique - This homegrown burger joint seves the best and juiciest burgers in town. Their mini slider burgers are phenomenal! ask for their specials.
• Best Sushi : Kei - Kuwait is turning into a sushi jungle but only one establishment was able to consistently serve excellent sushi and that is Kei at the JW Marriot. Unfortunately their other Japanese items are OK.
• Best Falafel : Dodo - This is a relatively new establishment with its falalfel sandwich being the best thing on the menu. The sandwich is filled with all the goodies and more, its a meal in itself.
• Best Shawarma : Kurdo - You know the shawarma tastes good just by the look on the faces of the people stuffing it in their mouths, I know I did the same!
• Best Date Cobbler : Lorenzo - This thing takes 20 minutes to prepare, but it is definately worth the wait.
  
• Best Chinese : Golden Chopstix - This is the best chinese restaurant relatively speaking. Unfortunately the quality keeps going down as substitute ingredients are constantly being used.
• Best Steak : Gaucho Grill - The steaks here are from beef flown in from Argentina, home of the best grass-fed beef. The filet mignon melts in the mouth like butter.

Got any more to add?? lets see what you got.