Pastel de Tres Leches y...

May 10, 2024.

by Bridget O’Donnell


Last May PPLD's What’s Cooking Blog offered belated holiday blessings with Mexican-Inspired Fish Tacos, Two-ways. As suggested in that post, there’s no need to limit the celebration to a single recipe. In addition to fish tacos made any number of ways, there’s enough traditional fare to observe Cinco de Mayo until the next holiday. Enjoy tamales, chalupas, enchiladas, taquitos, guacamole, salsa [verde], carnitas, empanadas, street corn, fajitas and burritos, to list a few(!).

Burritos used to be a regular part of my diet and, as I continued working on this blog entry the more I tried to remember the last time I had one, the bigger my craving got. Boil, mash and season your own refried beans to regulate the amount of salt (and cumin). Or, for a quick plant-forward lunch packed with fiber, protein, essential vitamins and minerals, opt for a can of organic low-sodium refried beans. …Reheat the beans then add a few small scoops to a street sized taco wrap with a shredded cheese blend and un poquito de salsa. Estimated assembly time: minutes and, dos burritos were filling enough to get me through the day without feeling like I had to take a siesta.

Helping to maintain balance between savory and sweet, this month una usuaria de la biblioteca suggested a recipe for “Pastel de Tres Leches con Chocolate” or "Three Milks Cake with Chocolate." This popular Mexican dessert is a light sponge cake that's been soaked in a mixture of three milks - sweetened condensed milk, whole milk or heavy cream and evaporated milk. It also happens to be another dish traditionally served during holidays like Christmas, birthday parties and... Cinco de Mayo(!).


Title of cookbook: Los Mejores Postres Paso A Paso

Author of Recipe: Kiwilimón

What prompted you to check out this recipe?

A library patron submitted this dulce recipe suggestion and photograph to my coworker after being introduced to the What’s Cooking Blog.

What did you like about this recipe?

The cookbook is still checked out so I haven’t actually seen this recipe but, it must have been mucho bien. Gracias, I love seeing other perspectives from la cocina!

What didn’t you like about this recipe?

Based on a few recipes that I found online, Pastel de Tres Leches may have more sugar than I can tolerate without feeling like I have to jog a 5K or half marathon. Maybe I can repurpose some of my leftover refried beans into a "Korean Chapssaltteok" or "Chinese Sticky Rice Cake." Food fusion?

Favorite recipes (that you tried from the cookbook/website):

Pastel de Tres Leches con Chocolate.

Did you alter the recipe or make any substitutions?

You could say I altered the recipe, that I turned it into a simple bean burrito (hahah…) but, I’d definitely try a small bite of el pastel.

Would you recommend this cookbook?

Based on the excerpts shown in Amazon's listingthis cookbook looks muy tasteful. The photos are hermosas and the text gives me practice translating Spanish because an English edition doesn’t seem to be available.

 

Guess which one is for dessert? đŸ˜‹

 

 

Pastel de Tres Leches con Chocolate

References:

Books - 

Los Mejores Postres Paso A Paso / Kiwilimón.

Websites -

Clark, Julie. “Chocolate Tres Leches Cake.” The Best Cake Recipes, 4 June 2023, https://thebestcakerecipes.com/chocolate-tres-leches-cake/.

Esposito, Shaylyn. “What to Really Eat on Cinco de Mayo: Put Down the Margaritas and Tacos, and Pick Up a Chalupa.” Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Institution, 3 May 2013, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/what-to-really-eat-on-cinco-de-mayo-50767054/.

Linares, Krista. “Are Refried Beans Healthy? Latina Dietitian Explains the Benefits.” Nutritionconsabor.com, 23 April 2024, https://nutritionconsabor.com/refried-beans-healthy/#:~:text=Refried%20beans%20are%20a%20nutrient%20rich%20food!,healthy%20diet%20with%20minimal%20problem..

Lowder, Camille. “51 Mexican-Inspired Party Ideas Perfect For Cinco de Mayo: Let’s Party (Respectfully! No Sombreros Allowed).” Delish.Com, 4 April 2024, https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/cinco-de-mayo/g652/mexican-party-menu-recipes/.

Orozco-Moore, Isabel. “Chocolate Tres Leches Cake.” Isabel Eats, 18 April 2024, https://www.isabeleats.com/chocolate-tres-leches-cake/.

Orozco-Moore, Isabel. “42 Cinco de Mayo Recipes.” Isabel Eats, 22 April 2024, https://www.isabeleats.com/cinco-de-mayo-recipes/.

Quick Subject/Concept links to the Discover Online Library catalog:

Cook* - (Results narrowed down by Literary Form: Non-fiction; Language: Spanish)